Dragon Raja's Number One Player

Chapter 152 Half-Withered, Half-Flourishing, the Level Appears

All the players who were taking the 3E exam in the teaching building logged out, but Lin Zhiying, who was the fastest to do so, is still in the game.

A perfect completion of all eight games is indeed a remarkable achievement, befitting Lin Zhiying's status as the number one player in the Dragon Clan. But the question is, what's the point?

A perfect completion of the game grants an extra score bonus, but all players have already finished the game.

Many players have successfully completed all eight games. Even with the boost, Lin Zhiying's game ranking has only just broken into the top 100.

He was ultimately a little too slow.

"One Cut Through Water" expressed deep sympathy for Lin Zhiying's plight and shook his head with some regret: "If the big boss could have passed the level without taking any damage the first time, he would definitely have been the first in the 3E exam. In the current situation, unless he can really find the hidden ninth level..."

Although "One Cut Through Water" is currently in first place, he doesn't feel particularly excited. Instead, he feels that his victory is somewhat unfair.

Compared to Lin Zhiying, who perfectly completed all eight game levels, his first place was simply too easy.

"Ninth level? There's no ninth level!"

There were many people in the classroom, and one player spoke up to refute.

"Look, the screen now shows that we've already cleared the level, right? Where's the entrance to the next level?"

What he said was true.

Apart from the World Tree that has rejuvenated, there is nothing unusual in the scene.

"This World Tree is probably an Easter egg designed by Xuanyu Company for perfect completion of the game, but it would be too much of a loss to give up the first place that was originally within easy reach just for this Easter egg."

Some players sighed, feeling sorry for Lin Zhiying from his perspective.

This kind of thing can be produced in large quantities by having AI run it outside.

"When it comes to playing games, everyone has their own way of playing; some people are perfectionists."

"Five seconds of hand speed," he said, trying to make amends for Lin Zhiying in this way.

However, despite saying that, he also felt a little sorry for the big boss's fate. It was such a pity that he was so close on his first try.

Lin Zhiying was unaware of the gossip circulating about him, and even if he had, he wouldn't have said anything to him.

Just like the saying "five-second hand speed" suggests, everyone has their own choices, and the most important thing about playing games is to have fun.

Some people are all about the numbers, while others are all about the looks. There's nothing wrong with playing games and collecting things; it's just that everyone has different choices.

"Does this mean there really isn't a ninth level? No hidden levels?"

Lin Zhiying looked around. All he could see was the World Tree, which had regained its lush greenery. Its branches swayed in the breeze. People say that spring brings joy, but he couldn't feel happy at all.

Above their heads, a one-minute countdown was slowly ticking away.

wrong.

Lin Zhiying suddenly realized that if there really wasn't a ninth level, then why was there this countdown?

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After completing the game normally, shouldn't I be teleported back to reality just like everyone else?

He is still in the King of Fighters game interface, with Andy, who was knocked unconscious, next to him, and his three teammates, Mai Shiranui, standing behind him.

Why do something that's unnecessary?

Xuanyu Company's actions only served to make things more obvious.

This made Lin Zhiying even more convinced that there should be a ninth level, but he had not yet found the right way to enter it.

It wasn't mentioned in the previous life's guide, so now he'll have to figure it out himself.

The only clue at present is this World Tree, which is full of life and has sprouted new green leaves.

Lin Zhiying circled the World Tree, examining it closely, before hesitatingly placing his palm lightly on the trunk.

In an instant, it was as if an invisible force swept by.

Where he touched it, a pale yellow energy spread to both sides. The left side remained vibrant, while the right side's tree trunk became even more withered and yellow.

On the affected side, the leaves that were originally hanging on the tree turned from emerald green to withered yellow at a visible speed, and then gradually dried up and fell off.

This sudden turn of events startled him.

What's going on?

Lin Zhiying stepped back a few paces to observe the scene.

He discovered that the change only occurred in the one place he had been in contact with; everything around him remained the same.

This is negligible compared to the entire enormous World Tree.

This subtle change was completely imperceptible to everyone except him, who was standing right in front of the World Tree.

Could this be the clue to level nine?

During the time he was thinking and testing the waters, the countdown was running out quickly, with only 10 seconds left.

10, 9, 8——

The mechanical tone of "Norma" echoed from the surrounding space as the final seconds began.

The same sound was also broadcast live, allowing all the players in the entire teaching building who were participating in the 3E exam to hear it.

"Sigh, time's up. It seems there's absolutely no chance now."

One player said with regret that after putting in so much effort, this was the only result he got. As a fellow player, he also felt it was a bad deal for Lin Zhiying.

"What do you mean there's no chance? There's no ninth level at all! This is just something he made up in his own head."

O

Although what this player said was harsh, it also represents the mentality of some players.

In their view, Lin Zhiying's behavior of exploring the game for something that doesn't exist, thus giving up the chance to win first place, is extremely foolish.

The 3E exam is over, and Lin Zhiying has also emerged after the countdown ended.

Many players chose to silently turn around and prepare to leave the classroom first.

"Wait, look! What is Lin Zhiying doing in the picture?"

Suddenly, a player nearby exclaimed in surprise.

Those players who were about to leave rekindled their interest upon hearing this and turned back to look at the screen.

In the video, Lin Zhiying throws punch after punch with all his might.

But when he hammered at it with all his might, it was the World Tree right before his eyes?!

What is this? Are you angry and embarrassed because of your failure?

"The tree is innocent; there's no need to vent your emotions on it, is there?"

One player commented.

"I'll remember you. When we get out, I'll make the big boss vent his anger on you."

Other players were quietly stirring things up.

In the game, Lin Zhiying wasn't venting his emotions, because with each punch he landed solidly on the trunk of the World Tree.

The World Tree, which was originally normal, began to wither away little by little, just like it had withered from previous contact.

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Strangely, the withering only occurred on one side of the World Tree; on the other side, the World Tree remained lush and leafy, and no matter how strong Lin Zhiying was, not a single leaf fell.

"Wait, look, what's going on there?"

Some players pointed in surprise at the scene on the screen.

"The World Tree is starting to shed its leaves!"

The leaves of the World Tree fell with a rustling sound, as if it had encountered a harsh winter.

"No, it's not losing leaves, it's withering rapidly."

One player spoke up to correct them, and only then did the other players realize that the trunk and branches of the World Tree on that side were also beginning to wither and dry up, a completely different state compared to the other side.

Upon seeing this, the players began to discuss it amongst themselves.

Upon seeing this situation, "One Cut Cuts Water" suddenly had a guess in his mind.

He looked up at the top of the podium, and "Lan Mengtian" and "Five Seconds Hand Speed" also looked up in that direction, as if sensing something.

"What are they looking at?"

Many players around them followed them and looked over, but the vast majority of them couldn't understand it at all.

One of the players couldn't help but scratch his head and asked in great confusion.

He couldn't understand why everyone was so excited about it when there was nothing there except the "Kassel College" emblem.

In China, it might be a slogan like "Study hard" along with a hanging clock.

But in the game, what's so interesting about holding up a shabby school badge? Aren't there them everywhere in the academy?

"Look closely, what does the school badge look like?"

"Five seconds of hand speed," he said.

"A world tree that's half lush and half withered."

One player immediately responded, saying that this is basically common sense.

"What does the World Tree look like in that scene? What is Lin Zhiying doing? And can you still hear the countdown?"

"Five seconds of hand speed," he asked quickly.

As he spoke, many players suddenly realized something.

They hadn't heard the countdown to "Norma" for a while.

On the screen, as more and more leaves fell, the World Tree in front of Lin Zhiying changed to a state where the left side was lush and the right side was withered!

The once lush World Tree now looks exactly like the emblem of "Kassel College"!

An aura emanating from the World Tree before them grew increasingly intense.

Lin Zhiying seemed oblivious to the changes in the World Tree, mechanically throwing punch after punch. The changes in the World Tree before him seemed to have reached a critical point, and the atmosphere became different from before.

Quantitative changes eventually led to a qualitative change.

Lin Zhiying threw a punch, and other voices flashed behind him, including Mai Shiranui, Kyo Kusanagi, Iori Yagami, and even the gold miner wearing a helmet and the strange green-hatted Mario from the previous game.

At this moment, all the pent-up energy from the previous levels burst forth completely.

We are of one mind!

"Bang."

His punch slammed heavily into the trunk of the World Tree.

The World Tree, no, it was as if something in the entire space had shattered.

"The portal has been opened."

Then, accompanied by the sound of fragments falling, a rotating portal of light appeared in front of Lin Zhiying.

Immediately afterwards, Lin Zhiying was sucked in right in front of all the players.

"Holy crap, what is this? Did he really get into the hidden level?"

The screen abruptly stopped displaying the message: "Player Lin Zhiying has entered the 3E exam. Hidden level. The level's content involves the game's storyline and cannot be explored further."

The content on the screen instantly went black.

What does that mean? Can a level really be related to the game's storyline?