Chapter 214 – Ice Labyrinth (Part 2)

The Ghost Server Legion had been in the maze for half an hour. Saying they made no progress would be harsh, but their progress was indeed limited. This slowness wasn’t due to the system’s random PvP but rather the dynamic nature of the maze itself. In fact, after 438, no other Ghost Server member had been randomly selected for PvP. Instead, the maze itself had shifted its layout twice, rendering their hand-drawn maps completely useless. The Ghost Server comrades could only rely on intuition to move forward—

Polly: “Uncle, which way do you think we should go?”

Your Uncle: “Left, maybe…”

Polly: “Got it. Everyone, go right.”

Your Uncle: “TAT!”

Several other teams were equally frustrated. Outer Flame’s first team, of course, had been randomly selected after the Ghost Server to fight against Iceborn’s Grave Sweeping Scroll and the Dutch Chamber of Commerce’s No Birds Over a Thousand Mountains, both times ending with them back at the starting point. After accumulating three losses, they thought they could finally focus on navigating the maze, only to discover that the maze itself could change shape. Outer Flame’s second team was randomly matched against the Dutch Chamber of Commerce’s Rain Through the Woods, lost the PvP, and returned to the start. After that, they found themselves trapped in a maze where every path seemed to lead to a dead end. The Dutch Chamber of Commerce and Iceborn had two and one losses respectively, so they weren’t worried about random PvP, but the maze’s shifting nature still drove them mad. Silence had smooth sailing, never once being selected for random PvP, yet even they couldn’t stay calm in the face of the ever-changing maze.

As the saying goes, while some feast in luxury, others chew on husks and remember their comrades—

[Local] Milk is Mom: Friends in the maze, how are you doing~~~~~~~

[Local] Don’t Stop the Meds: Doing great.

[Local] ice Iceborn: Not bad.

[Local] Silent Hill: Very good.

[Local] Milk is Mom: Do you feel like punching the maze designer?

[Local] Don’t Stop the Meds: Very much.

[Local] ice Iceborn: Extremely.

[Local] Silent Hill: Don’t let me find out where he lives.

[Local] Milk is Mom: Seeing you all struggling so much puts my heart at ease~\(≧▽≦)/~

[Local] Milk is Mom: Huh, why isn’t Wang Wang saying anything?

[Local] War of the Gods: Lost three times in a row. If it were me, I wouldn’t have the face to speak either.

[Local] Grave Sweeping Scroll: It’s kinda weird hearing this from someone with your ID…

[Local] War of the Gods: =_=

[Local] Mad Lad: Fuck this, is this even a map meant for humans?!

[Local] X: Completely agree. The guy who designed this map definitely had a grudge against society!

[Local] Refined Into a Demon 715: Society is so warm and harmonious, why would anyone do this >_<

[Local] Grave Sweeping Scroll: Kid, you’re still young. You don’t understand the negative energy a man carries when he’s heartbroken.

[Local] Lantern Granny: What do you mean =_=

[Local] Grave Sweeping Scroll: Clearly got dumped by his girlfriend. So he could only channel his emotional pain into his work, taking out the hurt he suffered from women on us.

[Local] Mocha: Damn, what a loser.

[Local] Rain Through the Woods: In conclusion, the Ice Labyrinth designer is a loser who just got dumped by his girlfriend, channeled his emotional pain into his work, and is now trying to take revenge on society through the game.

[Local] ice Iceborn: Very comprehensive, but I have just one question.

[Local] ice Iceborn: Why are we, in the midst of such a tense first-kill race, creating a backstory for a game designer we’ve never even met?

[Local] Silent Hill: …

[Local] Don’t Stop the Meds: …

[Local] Milk is Mom: Because we’re bored~~~~

[System] Attention, Passing Master has entered the PvP zone!

[Local] Passing Master: It was the team leader who said they were bored, not me! Why pick me?! I curse you to never find a girlfriend!! [Crying][Crying]

…

Beijing Time 20:15, Huaxia Online Design Department

“Xiao Zhang, Xiao Zhao, are you two on duty today?”

“No, boss. It’s just that the first batch of players has reached the Ice Labyrinth. We’re worried about bugs, so we wanted to monitor it for a while.”

“Didn’t you run several internal tests after designing it? Were there any issues?”

“Not really, but since we designed and tested it ourselves, our thinking might be limited. We wanted to see the players’ real reactions and see if they come up with any unexpected strategies.”

“Alright, then you… Wait, is the office cold? Xiao Zhang, why are you wearing such thick clothes?”

“It’s not my body that’s cold, it’s my heart.”

“Huh?”

“The players cursed me TAT”

“Why would they curse you for no reason? What did they say?”

“They said the maze is too hard and cursed its designer to never find a girlfriend!”

“You didn’t design the maze alone, Xiao Zhao was part of it too. Look at Xiao Zhao, his mental fortitude is much better.”

“Of course he’s fine! He’d be thrilled if I never got a girlfriend!”

“……”

“……”

“……”

“You two carry on. I just remembered I have an appointment with Technical Monitoring Department’s Team Leader Li to catch the No. 2 bus…”

…

As the G-cup healer of Fairy Dreamland, Passing Master’s only hobby was healing. Every piece of gear he wore was dedicated to boosting his healing output, with zero offensive stats. Thus, his Willow Leaf Blade and Five Animals Play did pitiful damage, barely more than basic attacks. A pure healer like him entering the PvP arena alone was nothing short of a tragedy.

Unless he ran into another healer ╮(╯_╰)╭

[Combat] Beckham used Zephyr Jinx.

[Combat] Passing Master used Willow Leaf Blade.

[Combat] Beckham used Five Animals Play.

[Combat] Passing Master used Five Animals Play.

[Combat] Beckham used Silent Nourishment.

[Combat] Passing Master used Revival of the Withered.

[Combat] Beckham used Crimson Lotus Holy Fire.

[Combat] Passing Master used Crimson Lotus Holy Fire.

[Combat] Beckham used Revival of the Withered.

[Combat] Passing Master used Silent Nourishment.

[Whisper] Beckham: I feel like this fight will never end…

[Whisper] Passing Master: Fighting is so tiring, and it’s not fun at all TAT

[Combat] Beckham rested on the spot.

[Combat] Passing Master gathered materials.

[Whisper] Beckham: What are you gathering? There’s nothing good in the PvP arena.

[Whisper] Passing Master: Anything, really. For our team’s Demon Refiner. He’ll take anything, haha.

[Whisper] Beckham: Speaking of your team, any news about Sister Blood Bull?

[Whisper] Passing Master: Blood Bulls Don’t Graze? Seems not. Even the real reason her account got hacked was only told to Milk is Mom by another Ghost Server member via text, who then told us.

[Whisper] Beckham: From how you talk, you’re not from Ghost Server?

[Whisper] Passing Master: I’m not. Didn’t you see my server? Fairy Dreamland.

[Whisper] Beckham: Then why are you teamed up with them?

[Whisper] Passing Master: Couldn’t find anyone in Fairy Dreamland. Then an old friend of mine joined Ghost Server Legion. I teamed up with some of their members in Sky Arena before and thought they were all really nice. When I ran into them in Lover’s Constellation and they needed one more, I joined!

[Whisper] Beckham: Maybe… this spot was originally Sister Blood Bull’s…

[Whisper] Passing Master: Don’t say that, you’re making me sad. Blood Bulls Don’t Graze will definitely come back.

[Whisper] Beckham: How do you know?

[Whisper] Passing Master: Milk is Mom said so. He said Ghost Server Legion has sent their hottest hunk to retrieve Sister Blood Bull’s lost heart…

[Whisper] Beckham: The way you describe it makes me feel like Sister Blood Bull is never coming back =_=

…

The battle had been going on for thirteen minutes.

Yet neither Iceborn nor Ghost Server knew the details, so they could only ask the participants—

ice Iceborn: “Beckham, how’s it going?”

Beckham: “Uh, it’s kinda tough.”

Milk is Mom: “Passing, how’s the PvP?”

Passing Master: “Uh, it’s pretty even.”

[Whisper] Beckham: So you’re saying that 2B Fighter Jet, the one sent to find Sister Blood Bull, is actually her in-game partner?

[Whisper] Passing Master: In-game, yeah. As for real life, Milk is Mom said it depends on whether Fighter Jet puts in the effort.

[Whisper] Beckham: Noooooo, I wanted to pursue Sister Blood Bull TAT

[Whisper] Passing Master: Then you’re out of luck.

[Whisper] Beckham: How do you know!

[Whisper] Passing Master: Think about it. In school, didn’t the girls who were good at studying always like guys who were even better at studying, or at least guys who weren’t great at studying but were amazing at sports—the athletic types? At the very least, they’d go for the bad boys who sucked at studying and didn’t play sports but were great at fighting and had tons of charisma. When would they ever go for a younger guy who’s worse at studying, worse at fighting, and sends TAT emojis when upset?

[Combat] Beckham used Crimson Lotus Holy Fire!

Telling the truth is so hard in this world TAT

[Combat] Passing Master used Ten Thousand Blossoms.

…

The battle had been going on for nineteen minutes.

Mad Lad: “Passing, you’re amazing! Not dying is a victory!”

Ice on Fire: “Still fighting? I finished a whole bowl of instant noodles.”

Little Lucky Charm: “I never thought it’d be this evenly matched. You’ve gotten stronger, haha!”

Lantern Granny: “At this rate, the other three teams will overtake us.”

438: “Commander, say something encouraging to Passing too.”

Liaodong Iron Cavalry: “Iceborn, maybe just let Beckham surrender.”

Milk is Mom: “…”

ice Iceborn: “…”

Milk is Mom: “Passing, chug some major health potions! We’ve got your back!”

ice Iceborn: “Beckham, surrender.”

One battle, two teams, all mentally exhausted. Whether they had to return to the starting point or could press onward, everyone had learned a profound lesson—the greatest tragedy in Huaxia Online isn’t healers fighting in PvP, but healers fighting other healers!!

“I wonder if Don’t Stop the Meds has already found the exit,” Your Sister said worriedly.

“No way,” the Ghost Server Legion Leader said firmly. “If he’d reached the exit, he’d have bragged about it in chat already.”

The Ghost Server comrades nodded in agreement, thoroughly reassured.

Just then, Polly made a discovery: “Wait.”

Fang Zheng: “Hmm?”

Polly: “Turn left up ahead.”

Fang Zheng: “Why so sure all of a sudden?”

Polly: “This maze seems random, but there are actually only three map variations. That means the maze cycles between these three layouts. I’ve been comparing the sketches I’ve made recently. They look different, but when pieced together, you’ll see there are only three.”

Fang Zheng: “You mean you kept drawing maps even after everyone else gave up when the maze started changing?”

Polly: “Yeah.”

Fang Zheng: “What would I do without you~~~ Who would dry my tears~~~”

Polly: “Help yourself, and you’ll never go hungry.”

Fang Zheng: “…”

[Legion] Crossplayer’s Blessing: I’ve always wondered—why would such a lively, romantic team leader end up with such an unromantic deputy?

[Legion] Refined Into a Demon 715: Not just unromantic, but always pouring cold water on the leader’s happiest moments.

[Legion] Drink Your Sister 3X: Don’t you think the leader actually enjoys being doused like that?

[Legion] Crossplayer’s Blessing: Actually…

[Legion] Refined Into a Demon 715: We do.

[Legion] Milk is Mom: Do I need to remind you all that I can see this?!

Mad Lad: “You guys still have time to gossip? Just because no one’s reached the exit yet doesn’t mean they won’t soon. Since Zombie’s figured out the maps, we should strike while the iron is—”

[System] Attention, Little Lucky Charm has entered the PvP zone!

Mad Lad: “Again?”

Your Uncle: “Aaaaaahhhh—!”

Mad Lad: “Who’d you get? Why the screaming?”

Your Uncle: “Don’t Stop the Meds TAT”

Mad Lad: “Damn, don’t tell me we have to start over…”

[System] Attention, Little Lucky Charm has rejoined the team!

…Do you also have a gourd?!

The Ghost Server team wasn’t the only one confused—Your Uncle was too: “Uh, he surrendered immediately.”

Ghost Server comrades: “Why?”

Your Uncle: “No idea. But it was weird—he seemed to know my hotkey setup.”

Ghost Server comrades: “How so?”

Your Uncle: “He asked if I still had over a dozen different HP and MP potions in my quick slots, all maxed at 50 stacks, including cash-shop HP potions.”

Ghost Server comrades: “What’d you say?”

Your Uncle: “I said no, most were around 40 stacks because I hadn’t refilled after using them while grinding. But I did add some cash-shop MP potions ~\(^o^)/~”

Ghost Server comrades: “So he thought there was no way to drain your HP and just gave up to start over?”

Your Uncle: “Seems like it…”

Ghost Server comrades: “Giving up without even trying isn’t Don’t Stop the Meds’ style. And how the hell did he know your hotkey setup…?”

The Ghost Server Legion Leader silently turned away, pretending the night was young and that world had nothing to do with him.

Despite having Birdy’s maps, the Ghost Server Legion was ultimately a step too slow.

At 20:55 Beijing time, the Dutch Chamber of Commerce was the first to reach the exit. The moment the maze vanished behind them, their quest progress finally updated to 99%, and a world announcement flashed—

[Constellation] Demon King Azazel has left the Secluded Lake and returned to the mortal realm!

The long-awaiting Lover’s Constellation server erupted in excitement. The final boss had arrived—the first kill would happen tonight!

[Constellation] Purple Star Lord: Which legion is it?! I’m so hyped!!!

[Constellation] Dragon Slumber: Instead of hyping, just check the quest progress leaderboard, dumbass. The one at the top is it!

[Constellation] Only One Truth: It’s the Dutch Chamber of Commerce!

[Constellation] Spring Breeze Doesn’t Get It: I wanna join them! Anyone know how to apply?

[Constellation] Hydrangea: Saw them recruiting in the main city a few days ago, but it seems closed now. Maybe they’re full.

[Constellation] Giordano: Iceborn is at 99% too! Just a dozen seconds behind!

[Constellation] White Rhino: What about Ghost Server Legion?

[Constellation] Sugar-Free Cola: Small legions are small legions. When it really counts, they can’t keep up.

[Constellation] Born in 1994: Woah!!! They’re at 99% too!!!

At this point, three of the six teams had broken through. The remaining three:

One, demoralized after three PvP losses.

One, losing confidence because the veterans had lost theirs.

And one, never selected for PvP and never lost confidence—simply, hopelessly lost.