Worlds’ Apocalypse Online

Isn’t this what I told her in the letter? Why is she telling it back to me?

Gu Qing Shan quickly thought about it.

After they talked for a bit, Su Xue Er seems to have something to do so she quickly hung up.

Gu Qing Shan was concerned, asking: “Impartial Goddess, are there any problems with Su Xue Er’s real time status?”

[The Blazing Angel’s control unit says that everything is normal] Impartial Goddess answered.

“Hm, then that’s fine” Gu Qing Shan calmed down.
…
Let’s rewind a bit.

A desolate plateau.

Endless. Lifeless.

Su Xue Er was take large strides moving forward.

In front of her, the other 8 Lords were also heading forward.

Even though they used their favorite shuttles to get here, as they reached the forbidden zone, even they couldn’t help but get off their shuttles and walked on their feet as per the old rites of inheritance.

This is the North Pole.

The more they went forward, the harsher the cold became.

Right now, the sun was on the South horizon, bright sunlight not followed by warmth stretched across the entire icy plains.

This ‘daytime’ will last for the whole summer.

It won’t be for another few months that the North Pole will finally welcome dusk.

To these 9 noble figures, the good news is that right now was the middle of summer, so the weather here was still at least acceptable to humans.

They all donned in their star cloaks, not using any transportation or any servants, each of them went forward on their own feet.

A few hours later, they decided to take a rest.

“Every time I come here I always need to rest for a long time after returning” an older Lord was massaging his calves, complaining.

“With the starlight’s support, you’d be lying if you said you felt tired” another Lord smiled and replied.

The Lords were chatting with one another.

One of them slowly closed their eyes, saying nothing.

Seeing that, one of the Lords besides patted him.

“What are you doing?” he opened his eyes and asked.

“What are you doing then? Falling asleep?”

“No, I’m just watching some gladiators fight during rest”

Hearing that, everyone else had an expression of understanding.

The Game of Eternal was currently going on.

“The people joining this time’s Game of Eternal are all weaklings, what is there to watch?” a Lord said.

“People have all been scared stiff by that Murder Clown” another Lord replied.

They were very casually chatting about it, as if they knew the Game of Eternal well.

Sitting among them, Su Xue Er felt nothing but eerie.

Suddenly remembering Gu Qing Shan’s words, she couldn’t help but ask a Lord that she knew: “Everyone seems to understand that game really well?”

That Lord answered her: “That’s right, we do. Now that you mention it, I forgot to tell you about it”

“Lord Su, think about it carefully, ever since the beginning of the game, have you seen a single person of the 9 Lords participate?”

“I think… not”

“Correct, your grandfather and all of us banned anyone and everyone from participating”

“But why?”

“If this ‘game’ is really as good as it claims” another Lord chimed in, “trust me, we have suicidal soldiers, the Champions can be no one but the 9 Lords”

The Lord who was close to Su family continued: “You have yet to receive the inheritance, but since we’re just about to get there anyways, I might as well tell you”

He looked around at the other Lords.

All of them nodded lightly, signaling agreement.

That Lord cleared his throat and said: “The Game of Eternal feeds on souls”

“Feed on… souls?” Su Xue Er instinctively tensed up.

“Right, all the dead participants, their bodies and souls become its nourishment”

“What about the Champion?”

“The Champion will become its eternal slave”

Su Xue Er instinctively asked: “There has never been any exceptions?”

As soon as she asked that, all the Lords went silent.

Their casual expressions all disappeared, seemingly thinking about something, both a bit scared and anxious.

“…You’ll find out soon enough” a Lord vaguely answered.

Su Xue Er didn’t ask any further, because she suddenly thought about Gu Qing Shan.

Could be it, Gu Qing Shan heard something about this?
But there’s no way he knows the whole truth!

Su Xue Er quickly asked: “Aside from we 9 Lords, does anyone else know about this?”

Hearing that, everyone’s expression calmed back down.

The Lords spoke one after another.

“Some notice the traces that it leaves, but not the entire truth”
“Such people usually tell others not to join, but instead join in the game themselves to seek out its secret”
“They die even quicker”
“Right, there’s quite a few exceptional people who felt the danger from early on, but couldn’t help but join the game”
“They’re all greedy, thinking that they’re the only exception when faced with such danger”
“But in reality, no one is an exception”

Su Xue Er became even more tense.

The 8 Lords would definitely not lie about such a thing, not all of them.

Gu Qing Shan definitely noticed something, that’s why he warned me not to participate.
But what about himself?
No, I have to stop him from looking into that game!

Su Xue Er started to walk away.

“Where are you going?” a Lord asked.
“I’m just leaving for a bit, be back soon” she responded without turning back.

The other Lords didn’t bother to ask anymore.

After going far enough away, Su Xue Er found somewhere that was away from the view of the Lords and quickly turned on her Holo-Brain.

After inputting Gu Qing Shan’s number, she stopped and stared at it for a bit.

Then finally she clicked to dial.

“Qing Shan ge, I have something really important to tell you”

She spoke quickly.

“Absolutely do not join the Game of Eternal, it’s a trap”
“You have to promise me, definitely do not participate”

Hearing him promise, Su Xue Er finally calmed down.

“That’s fine, that’s ok then” she muttered.

[Have you gotten what I sent you?] the other side of the phone asked.

Su Xue Er couldn’t help but smile and said: “I did, a jade bottle and a book”

[What about the card?]

“I saw the card too”

[That’s great then, I originally wanted to come myself, but I got a bit wounded so it’s hard to move around. I was afraid I would leave an even worse impression with your father and mother]

“You were hurt? What happened? Is it serious?” she became worried and hurriedly asked.

[It’s fine, it’s fine, I’m better now] Gu Qing Shan laughed.

Su Xue Er breathed out in relief.

Thinking for a bit, she said: “After a while more, I’ll invite you to the Lake Island. You don’t have to worry, my mom and dad won’t be saying anything about you again”

[Ah? Really?] the voice on the other side sound surprised.

“Really” saying so, Su Xue Er assured herself.

At this point, she suddenly felt that all her anxiety, fear and pain were gone without a trace.

Right, that’s right.
From now on, I decide what goes on in the Su family.
No one can ever force me to do anything ever again.

She clenched her fist and said in her heart.

Then Gu Qing Shan’s voice came again: [The book that I gave you, remember to practice it, it’ll be good for you]

“Ah, ok, I’ll make sure to do it”

[Is it tough being secluded at home for training?] the other side asked.

“Hm ———“ Su Xue Er looked up.

The 8 Lords were resting not too far away.

And she herself is also a Lord now.

Not knowing why, she wants to wait until they can meet face to face again to tell him all about what has happened recently.

“It’s not tough, I can handle it” she said.

[Has your 4th stage Wind Element stabilized?]

“It has been stabilized for a while”

[That’s awesome] the other side praised her.

“Hmph, just you wait, I still remember our promise, just wait until I’m a 5th stage Elementalist, you’ll be working for me then”

Saying that, Su Xue Er suddenly felt herself returning to the past, back to the happy times that used to be.

She just now realized it had been a long time since she spoke that way.

[Ahahaha, alright!] Gu Qing Shan’s laughing voice was heard from the Holo-Brain.

At this time, some of the Lords had already stood up, about to continue going.

Su Xue Er hurriedly said: “I have to go now, we’ll talk more later”

[Ok, do your best to cultivate] Gu Qing Shan said.

She hung up.

Su Xue Er felt her mood improved greatly.

“Elementalist… 5th stage… I have to reach it” she bit her lip and clenched her fist tight.

Right now, black clouds have blocked the sunlight as rain started to fall.

At first it was just a few drops, but the rain quickly became heavier.

Catching a drop of rain on her hand, Su Xue Er shivered.

This is the start of a hailstorm, bringing with it bone-shaking chills.

The 9 Lords once again resumed on their tough journey towards the center of the North Pole.

The rain kept pouring down without stopping.

The wind was screaming.

Even Professionists wouldn’t necessarily be able to handle such intense weather.

But miraculously, the rain and wind had no way to touch them.

Su Xue Er only now noticed, ever since she came here, the starlight cloak she wore has been slowly fluttering.

Within the range of the coat, there was plenty of fresh air and the temperature was just right.

This is also what’s protecting the Lords and allowing them to go on.

On the way, a few dried up corpses began to appear.

All the corpses have lost their structural integrity long ago, curled up in place, being blown away by the fierce wind.

“No need to look, all of them are people who attempt to peek into the secret of we 9 Lords” one of the Lords said.

“How did they die?” Su Xue Er asked.

“Without the starlight cloak, any living being who enters this place will die” another Lord answered.

“This rain is quite troublesome, let us speed up!” the Lord who was leading them group yelled out.

Su Xue Er nodded and followed closely.

On the way, the hailstorm began to worsen.

The wind and ice thrashed about, crashing down, letting out ‘clonk, clonk’ noises.

Some of the more levelled areas were being washed by the rain, revealing the hard metal floor underneath.

Su Xue Er was shocked.

Why would there be a metal floor here?

Instinctively, she rubbed the ground with the sole of her foot, which transmitted a hard feeling to her.

Su Xue Er took note of that.

She avoided all the areas covered by mud and rocks, only stepping on the levelled areas to walk.

Very quickly, she found out an incredible truth.

The entire ground beneath her were made of metal.

“No need to test it out, there’s almost nothing below our feet right now, so you can touch the outermost layer of the control center” a Lord said.

“The outermost layer of the control center?” Su Xue Er asked further.

“It’s a type of metal alloy, but there’s no material to replicate it on this planet” that Lord answered.

“This planet?”

“Yep, this planet ——–truthfully said, even if there are material, with the current level of technology, there’s no way to make such an alloy”

“Current level of technology… can’t make this alloy…” Su Xue Er felt her entire body frozen from shock.

Another Lord chimed in: “We’ve almost reached the center, so the entire area below our feet right now is part of the control center”

Su Xue Er was stunned.

Suddenly, an inconceivable thought surfaced in her mind.

“It couldn’t ——–“ she exclaimed.

“That’s right, you’re not wrong” the Lord from before answered.
“This spaceship is so large that the ship itself lies on the entire North Pole”