Chapter 100: Chapter100-Rule Loophole
In less than ten minutes, Exiled Immortal returned, bringing Lily back with him.
Seeing this, Helena quickly stepped forward and embraced Lily, letting out a long breath.
"You scared us to death. Thankfully, you're okay..."
"I was pretty scared too."
"Where did you go, Lily?"
Helena grasped Lily's shoulders and looked her over, making sure she wasn't injured before relaxing a bit. "While you were gone, you were offline, and we couldn't contact you at all."
"I actually don't know either. Johnny, I think you might have some idea. At the start of the event, I suddenly disconnected from the game and found myself in an endless starry sky. There, I met a very beautiful woman."
"Starry sky? Wait, are you saying that after you went offline, some force took you to outer space?"
"I'm not sure, but I think so."
"Did that woman say anything? Her name? Or anything about you?"
Hearing this, Lily fell into deep thought.
After a long pause, she replied, "That beautiful woman said that my power comes from there. She also said that I look very much like someone she knows. When I asked her for that person's name, she wouldn't tell me. Oh, and she also said that until she can tell me the whole truth, John will protect me."
Upon hearing this, John was momentarily stunned.
"Lily, are you sure she said the name John and not someone else? She mentioned my name specifically?"
"I'm sure. She definitely said your name, John."
"This... how is that possible?"
John pinched the bridge of his nose, his thoughts becoming increasingly muddled.
Someone who could take Lily to an endless starry sky, say such enigmatic things, and even accurately call out John's name—John couldn't help but think of the word [deity].
But in the end, John couldn't say it out loud. He just shook his head and said regretfully, "Although I'm also very surprised, I have no idea what's going on."
"Well... at least there's one thing to be happy about: I didn't completely miss the event, right?"
"Actually, there are two things. The most important is that you came back safely."
"John, I think the time we have left might be running out."
At that moment, John suddenly spoke up, interrupting everyone.
Looking at the event leaderboard displayed by Exiled Immortal, the top position had already been taken by the team led by S.
In fact, they had surpassed John and his team by twenty kills!
"It looks like if we want to get the top rewards, we need to hurry up!"
...
"It seems my idea was correct."
drew his short sword, flicking off the blood on the blade, and struggled to stand up. A strange gleam flickered in his pitch-black eyes.
"By killing other teams, we can acquire all their hunting points. I'm a genius! Maybe there was a hidden rule or a loophole like this during the last major event, the Goblin Invasion, but I just didn't notice it."
"Better late than never, right? We've already surpassed Helena's team and reached first place, twenty kills ahead of them! It's crazy."
Donovan panted heavily, struggling to pry his axe out of a skull.
He continued, "But it's strange. The bodies of these poor souls didn't disappear. They should have turned into a bunch of light particles and vanished by now."
"Maybe it just takes some time. Anyway, stop talking. If others notice this, we might get overtaken soon. Let's find a few more targets, kill them, and secure our lead."
As S. spoke, he opened the event leaderboard, quickly locking his gaze on the team currently ranked tenth.
"These unlucky souls will do. I'll locate them right now, and then we'll sneak up on them. Boom! We'll take them out!"
"I think we should go directly after Helena's team. If we take them out, no one will have a chance to compete with us."
"Dono..."
turned and walked slowly towards Donovan, getting closer and closer, without any intention of stopping.
"Hey, hey! You're getting too close!"
"This is my team. I'm the leader. I don't want to repeat myself. So, don't question my words. Just follow my orders. I don't want to hear any dissent.
If you want to die, you can leave anytime, but don't drag us down with your foolish ideas. Understood?"
Facing S.'s cold gaze, Donovan swallowed hard, nodded dumbly, and said in a low voice, "I understand..."
"Does anyone else have any objections?"
scanned the group, and seeing no one speak up, nodded in satisfaction.
"Good, it looks like you all have grasped the essentials. Now, we can set off."
found it laughable.
He couldn't understand where this bunch of useless individuals, who were only good for killing, got the courage to want to challenge Helena's team.
It should be known that in the last major event, an anonymous player in Helena's team had secured the top spot within four hours, and no one could displace them.
That team had amassed 28 hunting points solely through their own strength, with each member having astonishing combat power!
Helena, whose level ranked among the highest in the entire server, Exiled Immortal, who ranked third on the combat power leaderboard, and Qing, who had suddenly made a comeback after a period of inactivity.
Not to mention Lily, the only Priest in the entire server who had mastered the magic of the stars, and the enigmatic player whose identity was almost unknown to everyone.
Unless S. had manure for brains, he would never provoke that team. It would be nothing short of suicide!
"But who could this anonymous player be? They were on the dungeon first-clear list back in Calia City. What kind of talent supports such strong combat power while also allowing for such rapid level advancement?"
grew increasingly curious about this anonymous player.
...
"Why do I feel... a chill down my spine? Exiled Immortal, are you sure there's no danger nearby?"
John shifted uncomfortably, then turned to Exiled Immortal and asked, "Earth dragons or any players hiding in the shadows trying to take us down for points, are you sure there's none?"
"I've checked very thoroughly, John. I haven't found any other players. As for earth dragons? Those things usually just lie on the ground, indistinguishable from rocks unless you enter their territory and provoke them."
"Alright... Qing, Helena, come here for a moment."
John waved, signaling the others to come closer.
"I think I might know why this team's hunting points are increasing so quickly. Five minutes ago, the team ranked tenth suddenly disappeared from the leaderboard, and S.'s team's hunting points instantly increased by 14 points. There's no gradual progression—it's all these huge jumps. Do you understand what I'm saying?"
"Are you saying that S. and his team are hunting other players to steal their points?"
"We can't rule out that possibility. Otherwise, how could they surpass us by so much? A team composed of thief class players? I suspect they never intended to hunt dragons from the start. Their target has always been other players."
John took a deep breath, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.
"So, what should we do? Should we also hunt other players?"
"Hunt other players? No, of course not! I'm not that ruthless. It wouldn't be fair to the other players."
John waved his hand, rejecting Exiled Immortal's suggestion.
"But the fact is, our speed in gaining points by hunting earth dragons can't match theirs," Helena said helplessly.
"So! We don't need to worry about other players. We just need to find S.'s team, keep a close eye on them, and then take them down. That will be enough!"