Why is my journey to the world of anime a strange tale of rules?

Is it another Crimson Moon-level item? These villagers can control and utilize the power of two different Crimson Moon-level core obsessions?!

Kaguya frowned slightly, then noticed that the paper doll in the wedding dress, which had been disturbed by the blood arrow for a moment, had recovered and was heading towards them again.

{Miki-san, are you confident?}

She looked at Consort Zhen, who was standing at the back as if deliberately avoiding something, and asked.

{Hmm, we can try that, but that alone might not be enough; we'll need to add my great-aunt's trick too.}

Consort Zhen nodded slightly and took another step back.

It seemed she hadn't done anything, hadn't produced any new objects of obsession, hadn't activated any blessing power, and was simply continuing to stand at the back of the line.

But almost immediately, Li Duosun noticed the abnormality.

The paper dolls had barely stabilized a little before falling back into chaos.

And the power that was eroding the opponent's red defense suddenly slowed down, as if it had been interfered with by something, or as if... the power of the rules itself had been slowed down in time.

"call……"

Kaguya took a deep breath and focused her gaze directly on the strange object in the wedding dress.

The second effect of the [Soul-Stealing Bow] activated, granting the girl a small amount of power belonging to the wedding dress-clad monster, which she immediately applied to it. At this moment, both the speed and intensity of the obsessive object's effect were significantly increased, and the corrosive side effects gradually developing within her body also slowed considerably.

The blood-red paper figure in the wedding dress slowly turned around and looked at the villagers behind it.

One by one, the paper figures following it turned around and, at that moment, switched their targets, turning their attention to the villagers.

"What...what's going on? Are these people's sorcery really that powerful?!"

Li Duosun, who had not expected this to happen, retreated repeatedly, his face changing drastically.

But out of his sight, in a very secluded thicket, a black camera lens was pointed directly at the area where the two sides were clashing.

Judging from the screen behind the camera, everyone present except for Shijou Maki was captured in the shot.

The camera in "Ordinary Town" is the name of this obsessive object, and its level is Red Moon level.

From its appearance, this thing seems to be just an ordinary, large, black, fixed camera, with the Chinese characters for "Ordinary Town" marked on one side of the body. This coveted item comes from the "Red Society," and was a Red Moon-level coveted item that was agreed upon by this player team before exploring Nightfall Mountain Middle School.

To be honest, Gao Hai was quite troubled for a while when he first got his hands on this item, and he also had some minor complaints about the [Red Society]. The reason he thought this was simple: this object of obsession was too difficult to use. The conditions were complex and varied, and just figuring out the mechanism and limitations took a lot of time. Moreover, there were many problems in actual use; it was the kind of thing that looked cool but was actually very troublesome.

First, to use this object of obsession, the user must find a suitable location in advance to fix the camera and start it to enter the recording stage.

During this process, no one except the user can know the location of the camera, including when the recording begins and ends. From start to finish, this device must not be discovered by any living person except the user who activated it. Once someone sees the camera, this obsessive object will immediately go out of control and frantically summon dozens of strange creatures at an alarming rate to relentlessly hunt down the user and the discoverer.

Next, this device cannot be used immediately after activation; its abnormal effects can only be activated and used 10 minutes after filming begins. At this time, the user of the camera will become aware of the camera and can observe the entire area within the filming frame from the camera lens's perspective. In this state, the user will have the ability to adjust the activated entities and supernatural beings within the lens, and can adjust the target and speed of the supernatural powers to a certain extent. For example, changing the locked target, or speeding up or slowing down the activation speed of different supernatural power effects.

However, this obsessive entity is still prone to going out of control during this phase, because it requires the user to never appear on camera during filming. If the user accidentally enters the shot, they will immediately be possessed by the entity within the camera. This possession is extremely powerful; even Gao Hai struggles to break free. Once possessed, the user becomes an "actor," acting uncontrollably according to a script. In the existing records of the Red Society, each time this entity goes out of control and possesses someone, the script they act out is completely different, so it's impossible to summarize it yet. However, one thing is certain: the script acted out by every possessed user inevitably leads to the user's death in the end, without exception.

Finally, this thing has a shooting time limit; a single recording session can only last a maximum of one hour. After that time, it automatically shuts down and generates a roll of old-fashioned tape. This tape can be preserved for three hours; after that, it disappears. It's said that this thing can occasionally record special images within the film, such as the psychological activities of people within a particular shot. Furthermore, playing back the film can causally reinforce events that have already occurred within its recorded footage. How this reinforcement works was something that Takami and Miko researched for a long time but couldn't figure out. They only discovered that if the tape wasn't played back after filming, the user would immediately suffer a cursed death.

A series of complex conditions and a high risk of losing control led Gao Hai to eventually give up on this object of obsession, leaving it to gather dust in his black watch.

However, Maki took it out during this operation and, through Takahiro's command, ordered the "Teacher," who possessed the power of intangibility, to place it. Because the "Teacher" was not a living person, its placement wouldn't trigger any rules; Takahiro only needed to disconnect his senses and not observe where the "Teacher" placed it. After setting it up and activating it, Maki carefully controlled her movements, ensuring she never appeared in the camera's view, and promptly regained control of the object of her obsession after the attack.

As for how Maki could know exactly when to activate the camera, that's a problem Ichiri can solve. It's simply a matter of camera activation time, and Ichiri's guitar is perfectly suited for this kind of situation.

The activation speed of all the ghostly powers released by the enemy was slowed down under Maki's control.

All the supernatural powers released by allies became extremely fast and rapid, making the villagers question their existence as if they had been activated.

Then, after Kaguya used the power of the blood arrow to attack the core obsession, Maki adjusted the target of the obsession, focusing all the power of the camera on the paper doll, on this thing that was trying to break free from the villagers' control.

Rule applied to... successfully changed...

Slightly dizzy and weak from overusing her obsession, Maki confirmed the result before she could no longer hold on.

"This is impossible! There has never been a problem before. This has never happened before..."

Looking at the paper figure that turned around and was radiating intense resentment towards him, Li Duosun opened his mouth wide. He felt like a clown on a stage.

pat-

However, after a red die landed, the creature's behavior changed again, as if it was momentarily stunned and unable to find its target.

Has it finally appeared?

Although she couldn't see where the other person was, the commotion just now was enough for Princess Zhenfei to confirm the situation.

The treasure hunters, who had been hiding in the shadows, finally couldn't hold back any longer and started to move.

Chapter 96: Do you believe in fate? Are you ready to face fate?

Gao Hai could hear the sounds around him.

He could hear everything, whether it was the cooperation between Maki and Kaguya, using items of obsession and blessings for offense and defense, the constant attacks from Tangyuan and the Taoist, both Red Moon level players, or the actions of the villagers.

The sobbing and sighing sounds emanating from the twisted paper figures, and the repeated wails of the strange creatures sealed within them by some mysterious ritual, all reached Gao Hai's ears.

Their state was becoming increasingly chaotic. After Maki used her obsession to change the target of the rules, the villagers immediately began trying to regain control of them. As a result, the paper figures fell into a chaotic state where they could not distinguish friend from foe, and they all crowded together in the fields and roads, colliding with each other.

Then, after the [Treasure Hunter] joined the fray, the players on her side fell into a disadvantageous situation. Even though Maki was able to use the temporary remote mental link with Goto Ichiri to constantly adjust her tactics and ensure that the team wouldn't be immediately overwhelmed, she gradually fell into a disadvantageous position under the enemy's escalating attacks.

"call……"

Kaguya's breathing was somewhat erratic. Because she had activated a protective barrier, almost all attacks, both tangible and intangible, landed on the crimson domain she had summoned, which meant they struck her directly. Coupled with the continuous use of Crimson Moon-level artifacts, her condition was rapidly deteriorating.

Zhenfei and Tangyuan were still actively defending and counterattacking. Even though the Treasure Hunter was assisting the villagers from the shadows, the two of them still managed to launch several counterattacks. Four or five villagers either disappeared or collapsed unconscious. Judging from the reactions of the other villagers around them, most of the villagers who were killed here could not be resurrected like in the first playthrough. In other words, this time they had truly suffered permanent casualties.

"It's all over...it's getting worse..."

The Taoist priest was still attacking, but his condition was also deteriorating rapidly. Although he wasn't being attacked much while inside the crimson domain, his condition was declining even faster than Kaguya, who was in a tanking position. His face turned deathly pale, his spirit grew weaker and weaker, as if something had drained his life force, and his body was gradually turning into skin and bones.

There was no way to retreat or escape.

The surrounding space has been severely distorted, making it impossible to evacuate by physical means.

These villagers showed no intention of fleeing. On the contrary, after suffering casualties, they became frenzied, resorting to even more aggressive tactics to intensify their resistance. Even after another dozen or so villagers fell and died, they refused to stop. This relentless, mad-dog-like behavior undoubtedly increased the pressure on the players, making their disadvantage increasingly apparent.

Of course, the reason they were in such a disadvantageous situation was ultimately because Gao Hai, the strongest among them, did not make a move.

In reality, Gao Hai wasn't just watching from the sidelines or deliberately trying to appear superior by holding back his attacks. He didn't have the penchant for the typical villainous trope found in fantasy novels; his style was to eliminate his enemies in one fell swoop.

He didn't make a move because he really couldn't make a move at the moment.

Consciousness has been imprisoned.

Even if you can perceive your surroundings, you can't control your body to react, and you can't really shift your attention to look around.

After Gao Hai tried to use his mental power to sense the twisted statue where flesh and rock were intertwined, he found that his consciousness was being sucked in by the thing and he couldn't break free. As a result, he could only stand there motionless and was unable to help Zhenfei and the others.

Damn it, I just felt that these villagers were in such a hurry, acting like they were ready to fight us to the death, so I wanted to test if I could make a wish on this statue and wipe out these bastards in one go. How come I'm the one who can't move now?!

Very urgent.

To be honest, Gao Hai was a little anxious when he first realized this.

Maki's combat tactics were quite effective. Because it was a positional battle, she and Chika analyzed the surrounding environment of [Water Ghost Lake] from the start and ultimately decided to bring along the camera artifact that Takahashi had been obsessed with, which actually gave them a temporary advantage. However, even so, as time went on, they gradually shifted to a defensive posture. Especially with the [Treasure Hunters] constantly attacking from the shadows, coupled with the villagers' desperate counterattacks, the players could barely defend themselves. If the stalemate continued, things would definitely get out of hand.

Despite his anxiety, Gao Hai still couldn't make a move.

He could only tell Zhenfei through their mental link that something was wrong on his end and that they needed to hold on a little longer. But Gao Hai wasn't really sure how long that "little longer" would be.

The feedback from mental energy was extremely strange.

It's like going deep into a bottomless abyss, never being able to reach the bottom.

Unable to detach himself from the statue's presence, Gao Hai could only try to accelerate his perception, attempting to find the thing blocking his senses. The result was that he discovered his mental energy, once inside the statue, was like entering a bottomless abyss; no matter how fast he increased his speed, he couldn't reach the end.

The feeling... was as if the statue itself was a medium for some kind of passage, a door through which one could pass. One's unintentional touch had opened this previously closed door, and one was drawn in by something within, unable to escape, only able to wander further and further into the darkness.

Teacher, can you feel it? It's getting closer and closer!

Alice's voice suddenly rang out again at that moment.

After Gao Hai officially arrived at the bottom of the [Water Ghost Lake] and came into contact with the flesh and blood rock statue, the mountain god, with Alice's personality template loaded, uttered a nonsensical sentence and then went offline without responding. Even when Maki and the others were talking to the villagers earlier, the villagers' prayers and pleas were able to receive a certain degree of response from the mountain god, but Gao Hai didn't get a response from Alice.

But now, her voice rang out again, and it no longer had that deliberately affected, childish quality it had at the beginning.

Something is not right.

Is the mountain god of Xiaoheishan Mountain really communicating with me using the personality template of "Alice"?

What am I approaching?

After thinking for a while, Gao Hai still used his mental power to ask Alice.

Alice doesn't know~ Hehehe~

But then this thing's reply suddenly reverted to Alice's style, even carrying a hint of teasing.

{Huh? You don't know what you were talking about?}

Gao Hai frowned, not expecting this kind of response, and for a moment he wanted to punch her.

[This is a misunderstanding, teacher. Do you think Alice and the mountain god can be considered the same person?]

Alice's voice rang out again with a cheerful laugh, and the sound source seemed to be constantly changing, as if she were talking while circling around Gao Hai.

Gao Hai didn't pay attention to her behavior, but realized that there might be a misunderstanding in his thinking.

{A simulated personality is not the same as the mountain god himself. How many of the mountain god's memories you possess, and how much you know about the events that have happened on this land, depends on the strength of my connection with the mountain god and how much of the truth I personally know, is that correct?}

After a brief moment of thought, Gao Hai offered his conjecture.

[Bingo, Teacher got it right! So Alice can't answer everything for Teacher. Alice only knows that this ugly statue was probably made by these silly villagers themselves. And, if we could figure out the hidden information inside, maybe Teacher wouldn't have to worry about these villagers anymore. But in return, Teacher would have to face another, more serious, and more difficult problem~]

Alice's voice changed again.

It was hard to describe this strange feeling, but Gao Hai vaguely sensed that the person he was talking to in this state might not be entirely Alice. After he figured out and understood some things, the invisible spiritual bond connecting him to the mountain god seemed to bring something unexpected.

No matter how ugly or distorted, everything is ultimately the result of human choices. Even though this choice is confined to a specific time and a specific group, it is still a choice made by humans. Heh heh, perhaps to those outside this group, this is utterly inexplicable; after all, without their knowledge, the entire world could be driven to destruction by a group of bandits. But, for beings beyond humanity, do the decisions made by this group really need to be viewed differently from those made by others?

After all, when faced with things that are difficult to understand fully, people tend to label them and use isolated examples to represent the whole. As teachers of humanity, we should understand this, right? Whether it's stereotypes or racial discrimination, the information available to people is always limited. Limited information often forms incomplete and biased impressions, and people who form such impressions are unlikely to consider broadening their horizons or trying to see things more comprehensively.

If humans are like this, then wouldn't gods be the same, teacher? Perhaps, due to the difference in life form and power level, gods' perspective might be even more extreme and distorted than humans', especially if "gods have become abnormal." Teacher, what would you think? Would you curse your filthy and ugly fellow beings, feeling angry at their foolish actions? Or would you curse the gods who don't grant your wishes, hating those who condone evil, responding only to the worship of one or two ant colonies without studying all the ants in the world before drawing conclusions?

Gao Hai couldn't detect any emotional fluctuation in Alice's voice.

She didn't seem to be entirely communicating with herself, nor was she explaining or asking him anything.

This feeling... it seems more like she has temporarily become something else, or has formed a connection with some kind of will, and has spoken out and told Gao Hai about something that Gao Hai was unaware of.