My players are too fierce!

Dead End Town, Tavern Street.

The haze in the sky grew thicker again, making it difficult for the scarlet moonlight to penetrate.

Inside the tavern, Hakimed and his companions listened as the colorful toad vividly described the hidden map on the other side of the rift.

"I have a feeling," Hamimed concluded, "that you were probably just wandering around recklessly, going to maps that weren't even open yet, and the developers were afraid you'd create some kind of bug, so they kicked you offline."

Roland, who was listening in the dark, glanced at Hakimed.

Goodness, he actually guessed the truth pretty accurately?

But this reason is indeed effective, it works!

The colorful toad thought about it for a while and it seemed to make sense.

After he logs off, he'll have that bastard group admin give feedback to the development team, telling them to remember to add an invisible wall to the maps that are off-limits!

After speaking, there was nothing more to say.

The only sound in the tavern lobby was the crackling of the fireplace.

As everyone could see, the number of zombies on the streets had increased again.

[Defense Mission: Protect the Flame!]

[Failure Condition: The flame is extinguished]

[Failure Penalty: Closed Beta Test of "Gods of Ashes" Ends, Open Beta Launch Postponed]

[Estimated remaining preparation time: 00:20:00]

A gloomy atmosphere hung over all the players; everyone knew the penalty for failure.

The swordsman was sitting on the floor in front of the fireplace, holding a cup of risotto coffee, having released all the pent-up frustration of reality.

With the broken sword across his lap, his mind calmed down.

This store has been updated quite a bit.

Although he looked very dashing just now, he still died several times when surrounded by zombies.

Having a coconut coffee that I usually can't bear to drink is quite nice.

At least farming gold in games isn't as tiring as it is in real life.

Kashima was holding the original notebook, comparing it with the translated version he had just exchanged from the store, studying it carefully, his state of mind comparable to a final exam cram session.

Bloodshot veins appeared in his eyes, and he was starting to panic.

Damn it! Why is it so hard to change jobs in this profession?!

Current progress: 67%

David Day was standing far from the fireplace, at the boundary between light and darkness, with his eyes closed, seemingly meditating.

The scroll at his waist seemed to open its eyes, mocking his overestimation of his abilities.

Hakimed held the flintlock pistol, struggling to get the grip right.

Are we going to waste resources and buy a piece of junk this time?

Toad and Ah Wei rushed to reinforce the tavern and check for any gaps in the defenses.

Even Emma, ​​the 'NPC' bound by the contract and who could have stood by and watched, was inspecting the Hellfire Bomb and some gadgets.

Roland glanced around, feeling quite gratified.

He didn't spoil these employees for nothing; their initiative was truly mobilized!

I just participated in the beginner lottery three times. The prizes were pretty average: two cups of coffee and a flare. The coffee is now listed in the shop.

He plans to distribute flares directly to players as strategic resources or mission items, free of charge, in order to boost morale.

However, the effect seems to be limited, and the atmosphere among players remains somewhat subdued.

He himself can't be a comedian, so he has to find someone else to do it.

After thinking for a moment, Roland had an idea.

Moreover, this siege mission was a first for Roland; in the past, Roland would have mainly focused on hiding at this time.

If six players might not be enough to defend, then I can just bring in another player—someone with some real-world strength—and that will solve the problem!

A two-birds-with-one-stone strategy!

With a slight twitch of the finger, a link invitation is sent.

Almost immediately, the other party responded!

It's like always being by QQ's side.

Six young players gathered around, especially Awei, whose pre-battle tension was eased by the novel experience.

She was ranked sixth among the six players, and what she wanted most was to be ranked seventh, so that she could also show off her seniority.

The beginner's outfit bulged.

"Uncle, who are you?"

Ah Wei was shocked.

The newcomer in front of me was a square-faced middle-aged man with an upright demeanor, and his age looked similar to the character model of the swordsman.

Those who start at forty have faces full of stories.

The fact that the game's models are almost a one-to-one replica of reality has become a tacit rule among several players.

But everyone tacitly refrained from pointing it out. Even Awei only said that he made a mistake in modeling and realized it was too late to fix it, thus shifting the blame to the planner.

Nobody wants to meet someone in person right after playing a game; it's better to keep some distance from online friends.

Even if it's just an act.

only...

Ah Wei was somewhat desperate.

How could she possibly act like a 'henchman' who's a few years older than her dad, putting her arm around his shoulder and recognizing him as a henchman?

In the end, she was still the youngest?

"Seventh Brother!"

She shouted loudly, attracting the uncle's attention.

He frowned as he adjusted to his body in the game. At first, his legs seemed a little limp when he moved, but he quickly adjusted.

Like a normal person.

"Who are you?"

"Hakimed asked warily."

He was worried that this person wasn't someone he knew in the group, so he would have to be a little more careful and not casually greet his family.

That's how it is, at least until we're familiar with each other.

Hakimed sensed that the atmosphere was somewhat awkward...

Like accepting a new colleague in the workplace?

interesting.

"Ahem," the uncle blushed, staring at Ah Wei, seemingly a little embarrassed to speak.

"It's not impossible for me to reveal my ID..."

He hesitated for a moment before adding.

"The woman turned her back and covered her ears."

"?"

Ah Wei's small eyes held a big question mark.

The others were also confused, but Hakimed had a guess in his mind.

[Remaining preparation time: 00:15:03]

Given the limited time, Ah Wei pouted and obediently did as instructed.

The middle-aged man hesitated for a long time, his face flushed with embarrassment, before finally reading out the string of words: "..., level eight gale".

I casually displayed my ID above my head, but unfortunately this feature requires payment, so I turned it off after a short while.

"Oh, a fellow group member?"

"Yes."

The group understood instantly.

Only Ah Wei was still a little confused when he turned around.

"Young lady, you can call me Gale."

He extended his hand to Awei, and the two, one big and one small, shook hands.

Of course, Ah Wei had no idea that when this person in front of him was still a group admin, he dealt with her the most severely.

Roland didn't dare say it before, and he probably won't say it in the future either.

Avoid saying things that could disrupt unity!

"Oh, right, Uncle," Hakimed said, as if suddenly remembering something, "do you know how to use this thing?"

The pistol was placed in front of the raging wind.

"This thing... I've never used such an old relic before, but I feel like the shooting should be about the same."

Kuangfeng frowned, considered for a moment, and then spoke.

"I can only say I'll try my best. I've heard about the principles behind this thing. Besides, I used to be a shooting champion in our provincial team."

The whirlwind laughed, its confidence infecting its companions.

[Remaining preparation time: 00:9:33]

-

Deadly Town, Fourth Ring Road area, next to Tavern Street.

A figure staggered up the steps and slowly descended to the ground from an open underground drain outlet.

Its torso, limbs, and even forehead were wrapped in gauze, but the gauze had turned yellow and was soaked in some kind of dark green liquid.

The liquid flowed from its body and dripped onto its footprints, emitting a foul stench.

Carrion insects kept emerging from and burrowing into its tattered body, and from a distance, these insects vaguely formed some kind of barrier.

It staggered and wandered aimlessly.

It seemed to have a purpose in mind, but it couldn't quite remember it.

Perhaps its brain rotted along with it.

What is it looking for?

Oh...

The gray fog in the sky gradually obscured the moonlight.

It seems to have remembered.

Is it seeking redemption?

The insects on its body whispered in its brain.

There was a fire nearby.

Redemption lies hidden in the fire.