"It should be crazy, after all, it's a famous cheater!"

"Hahaha, that's what I'm saying, since it's a cheater, isn't it appropriate to bear the pressure of public opinion? Psychological quality is not good! ”

"Humph! …… That's the best when you're crazy, I hate these cheating guys the most! ”

Their unbridled laughter could be heard from afar, not only because it was early in the morning, but the main street district was quiet.

It is also because they are deliberately speaking loudly, raising the decibel level to an abnormal level, as if they are afraid that the object of their ridicule will not be able to hear their ridicule because of the distance and the volume of the voice.

They didn't believe in any danger in the safe zone, and they didn't even pay attention to what the other person was saying.

The emotions of jealousy and resentment all came to their hearts after they instantly recognized the identity of the other party's so-called cheaters, blinding their eyes and thinking ability-

These damn players who have participated in the closed beta, if it weren't for their existence, they would definitely be better off!

They all feel that their skills and strength are absolutely not bad, and the reason why they can't become top players or even first-line players is because of the fault of these cheaters!

It's all these damn guys who use the knowledge they gained during the closed beta to get monster resources before anyone else after the official operation...... That's right, those resources should belong to them, and they were all snatched away by these cheating scammers!

Usually you can't touch it head-on at all, you can only curse behind your back angrily, and it is better to die in the wild immediately after cursing the other party.

Now that they have finally met it, they naturally have to be ridiculed well, otherwise they will not be able to vent the resentment and depression in their hearts.

“……”

The black-clothed swordsman clenched his teeth, and then without any hesitation, his footsteps did not stop at all, but continued to rush forward.

Some people are destined to die, and they don't have the ability to save each other...... I can only do what I have to do, and after all, I am just a lone player.

The one who gave up all the other players in order to survive in this world is the coward who turned his back on his only friend and ruthlessly turned away on the day the game officially started more than a month ago.

Even friends will be abandoned by themselves, how can they be desperate to save these people?

- There is no ability, and there is no need.

"Cut, just ran away like that, what a coward...... I don't think he's very powerful, he really doesn't have the ability at all, he just relies on cheating! ”

The players looked at each other's figures rushing directly from the street over there with disdain, and then said with undisguised sarcasm.

But at this moment, they suddenly saw a knight in full armor with a shield on his back and a sword in both hands striding at the intersection of the road.

Probably because he saw a few of them standing on this side at a glance, the knight directly gave up the pursuit of the black-clothed swordsman as soon as he turned around, and charged over with a murderous sword in both hands!

What's going on?

A few players who didn't react at all for a while watched as the knight charged murderously in front of them, raising his long sword—

Then, swing it down!

"Ahhhh——!!h

A violent scream came from behind him, and although the black-clothed swordsman looked unbearable, he did not slow down, but sprinted faster.

Sure enough, it seems that the rules of the safe zone have been broken, and there will be no more safe zones, and monsters will not only be able to enter the town, but even attack...... And they also occupy the portal square.

What the hell is this trying to do? Is Akihiko Kayaba going to open the expansion?

Ayn Grant, second floor.

The atmosphere of the peaceful and beautiful town was soon completely shattered, covered in all kinds of roars, screams, and angry roars...... Completely unexpected, the players were caught off guard.

Even if a skilled strongman comes out to turn the tide, the ending is often quite tragic.

Although the monsters known as the "Ashes of No Fire" are few in number and do not appear to be of high rank, each of them is a formidable warrior who is skilled in the use of the weapons in his hands.

No matter how skilled the strongmen among the players are, it is often difficult for them to gain the upper hand in front of these terrifying AIs - as if they were nothing more than gifted "players" who have honed their skills in peacetime, and each of them is a true "warrior" honed in battle.

Not to mention, some of the enemies use "magical" powers that are said to be non-existent, and the art of combat, which combines combat skills and spells, is unimaginably beautiful and fluid, as well as deadly.

As a result, after the players reacted, they clearly thought that the number of these monsters was not many for the time being, and they could work together to repel the opposing ......

However, in the end, they suffered heavy casualties and retreated.

Eventually, the players were forced to move out of town, and then headed for the third level of Ayngrant, which had already been overrun by the fireless ashes.

Not only the town's portal square, but also the entire floor of portals, no matter where they are located, have been replaced by burning campfires.

The ashes had taken up an entire floor before moving on to the second floor, and this was just the beginning...... But even if it's just the beginning, the players have already been beaten to the head and bloody, and the casualties are heavy.

Although there are not many players on the second floor, twenty or thirty ashes will drive two or three hundred players out of the town...... This is a great disgrace.

Players are not only angry because of the opening of this expansion, but also afraid of Akihiko Kayaba's madness - actually designed such an AI program that does not give people a way to live at all.

In the past, the kind of monsters that could observe, learn, and modify their own attacks based on the battle with the player were already very terrible, but now the refreshed ashes are even more terrifying.

They no longer have to observe, learn, and then become more tricky, but are incredibly tricky from the start.

Perhaps only one adult among the players is an expert with rich combat experience, and all the ashes are basically combat experts or even combat masters......

Even gifted "players" can go one-on-one with these real "warriors", but the number of people alone is completely overwhelming. And the Ash Men are continuing to march through their teleportation facilities.

- And as they obtained more "firewood", the originally faint campfire began to burn, and more figures became solidified through the power of fire and came to this world......

It was an existence that had a greater power than the fireless ashes from the beginning.

They regained their self under the "Apocalypse", and saw in their dreams the hope of restoring their world to its original light.

The fear of darkness, the desire to perpetuate the Age of Fire, has led them to action.

However, the players, who didn't know that the clouds of calamity were getting denser and thicker, only decided that this was a conspiracy by Akihiko Kayaba, the purpose of which was to continue to persecute them.

From beginning to end, they just felt that it was still part of the game-

Those so-called Ash People are just data files manipulated by AI programs.

……

……

The third floor of Ayn Grant, above the town square.

Players were constantly transferred here in the blue pillar of light, wrapped in their bodies, and then saw the crowded black crowd around them.

At first glance, I don't know how many people there are, but it is very likely that all the players in the current game have been transferred directly to this square like them.

It was precisely because of this transfer instruction that seemed to come from the system that these survivors were able to gather here on the third layer in a short period of time and escape the hunt of the ashes.

But the players didn't appreciate it at all, and the people who escaped the death cursed, and the people who believed that it was Akihiko Kayaba's conspiracy issued the most vicious curse.

There are still a few people who don't know anything, but they are also excited by the stories of others, and they try their best to denounce the damned kidnapper!

This is not to give them a way to live at all, first without warning to make a monster siege scene, and then when they have casualties, they are all transferred over...... What is this trying to do? Do cats cry mice?

In the midst of the cacophony, everything was as if it had been more than a month ago, and suddenly a wonderful scene appeared in the sky.

A red pattern that covers the entire sky, the central part of it is like a huge drop of blood that is quite thick, slowly dripping downward. But instead of dripping to the ground, the blood suddenly changed shape in mid-air.

It turned into a giant nearly twenty meters tall and wearing a crimson cloak.

"Guys, I believe I don't need to introduce myself this time......" The man's deep and clear voice came from far above, compared to the last time, this time there was only a deep frustration and a trace of unspeakable fear in his voice.

The mood of the player group is like a barrel of explosives, and at this moment, it is directly stimulated, and the sound and movement of the explosion are almost as if they are about to turn the sky upside down.

"Ladies and gentlemen, I know your feelings, and I understand them very well, but this time, please listen to me first-" Akihiko Kayaba's voice raised and suppressed the noise of the crowd, "The situation is very urgent! It's out of control at the moment! ”

"I'm going to reopen your logout...... Yes, you can go back to the real world directly, the previous conditions are invalid, I no longer need you to attack the hundred floors and defeat the final demon king......"

“……”

“……”

The scene suddenly fell silent, and everyone looked at each other, unable to believe what they had just heard.

After a slight pause, giving them a few seconds to digest, Kayaba Jinghiko spoke again and said solemnly:

"However, not everyone in the room will get this opportunity...... Don't be noisy! Listen to me first, I'm not trying to kill you, I'm just trying not to make it worse! ”

The red-cloaked giant seemed to be seriously bowing his head, coldly glancing at the people below.

"I hope you can provide as much information as possible about other players you know, as much as possible, and that will determine how long it will take me to get you through the review and reopen the ......"

"Aren't you trying to make us accuse each other and turn us against each other? Are you going to say that there are only half of the places, and only half of us will make it out alive?! Some players angrily stood up and accused.

Others are also waking up from a dream, this kind of request is simply clear!

"Enough is enough——!!"

The red-cloaked giant increased his volume and let out a deafening roar, forcibly suppressing the crowd that was once again noisy and boiling.

"I'm not interested in you killing each other, I just want to make sure who among you is the real player!!"

“……”

“……”

There was silence again, because everyone couldn't understand this sentence at all, what is a real player?

Could it be that this kidnapper is going to see who is the active player during this time, and those who choose the strategy of shrinking are not "real players" and are to be abandoned?

Some breathed a sigh of relief, some looked frightened, and the voices of discussion were set off again.

But because Akihiko Kayaba didn't speak, just stared at everyone coldly, the voice of the discussion became smaller and smaller, and finally turned into a silent dead silence.

In this atmosphere, the red cloak giant then spoke again:

"I know what you're thinking, but I can tell you, it's all wrong! Including the "Ash Invasion" incident that happened just now, I didn't do it......"

"Quiet, listen to me...... While this kind of thing may be alarmist, what I'm saying is true, the world is out of control, and I don't know when this trend started! ”

"It could be a virus, it could be the mastermind of this virtual world who is self-aware, or maybe something else...... By the time I found out, I couldn't contain the change. ”

Speaking of this in one breath, Akihiko Kayaba seemed to stop, and after taking a few breaths, he continued-

"I created this world for my dreams, not because I want you all to die here, so now, there is no reason to continue to sustain it, I will let you go......"

"However, I must confirm the true identity of each and every one of you, for I have every reason to suspect that something is hidden among you and that I want to take this opportunity to enter the real world......"

“……”

“……”

The black-clothed swordsman standing in the crowd raised his head in surprise, and vaguely felt that he understood. Realizing that this was not a joke, he immediately turned around and ran away, away from the crowd of monsters hiding around him.

But he's not alone.

Countless people stiffened violently, and an indescribable fear enveloped them, making their throats seem to be choked, and they could not speak.

- What is this? Is this a horror game in itself?

。 m.