Chapter 63: Night Has Fallen
Mo Tan’s feelings at this moment were hard to describe; he was equally panicked, lost, and at a loss, but time was running out.
Bannai’s almost insurmountable strength was evident to all; no matter how much Salazar delayed, he couldn't erase the absolute disparity in their power.
The threat of death had never disappeared; it had only paused, making it even more terrifying.
If Ned hadn't said what he did earlier, perhaps Mo Tan would have chosen to stay and face it with Shuang Ye, but after learning that Ned hoped to make the intelligence detailing the Marshall Family’s crimes public, he ultimately decided to choose the ‘correct’ path, even if it was cruel…
It wasn't cruelty towards those who stayed to die, but more so cruelty towards himself.
Forcing oneself to let go of a companion's hand and leave alone often requires more courage than recklessly stepping forward.
Mo Tan actually didn't know what he should do; after all, like most of us, he was always so indecisive, easily swayed by too many things, so he forced himself to put himself in someone else's shoes…
If it were himself at another time, how would he judge?
If it were himself in another state, what decision would he make?
He found the answer and no longer hesitated.
“We must leave!” Mo Tan forcefully tugged at Shuang Ye’s slender arm, trying to bring the emotionally out-of-control girl back to her senses.
He had thought this girl would be calmer than him, but he hadn't expected that the heart hidden behind her codename ‘SUN’ was far less resilient than its outer shell.
Shuang Ye struggled free from his grip, shaking her head desperately: “I don’t want to go, I’ve had enough, really, you run… ”
【This can’t go on. I must find a way to make her leave with me, but with my current self, it’s hard to convince her in a short time.
If it were me at that time… if it were me who was good at guiding or confusing others’ emotions…】
Mo Tan suppressed a sudden wave of dizziness, trying to think and feel how he would act at this moment if he were in the state of another personality.
At the same time, he also had to maintain his current ‘self’.
It’s not difficult to put oneself in someone else's shoes, but for Mo Tan, it was very difficult to simulate the thoughts of another self…
And being judged by the system as being in combat, he couldn't forcibly log out of the game.
If he were kicked offline due to a personality switch, the consequences would be even more unimaginable.
Players cannot reasonably disappear in front of two NPCs; Black Vatican’s body would most likely remain in the game under system protection, just like when he used the ‘Mo’ character before.
That kind of protection is only effective against harassment and other malicious behaviors; preventing death is impossible…
Otherwise, if you could just log out whenever your life was in danger, wouldn't that be too good to be true?
Although he hadn't experienced it personally, he could guess…
So, he must remain ‘Black Vatican’ and absolutely not go offline due to a personality switch, and he must also think in the mindset of another personality under these circumstances!
It was difficult, but not impossible.
If it were him…
If it were his current, most ordinary self, this self with no particular characteristics or ‘personal style,’ there should be a chance!
…
Painful times always feel extra long.
When the seemingly long-lasting dizziness receded, only a few seconds had actually passed in the outside world.
He seemed to hear a system prompt, but Mo Tan didn't pay attention; he just shook his head gently at Shuang Ye, a disdainful arc forming on his lips.
“So, this is all you are capable of…” His slightly raised tone was full of sympathy and grating malice: “Hypocritical, impulsive, childish, and nonsensical.
Tsk tsk, I’m almost moved to tears by this innocence~”
Shuang Ye, however, was completely unmoved; she simply drew out two scrolls indifferently and turned her back to him: “Say whatever you want.”
“Hmm, how noble.
This is what you call sacrificing yourself for a cause, right?” Mo Tan lazily cast Holy Healing on Ned and Tenacity Prayer on Yinna, while continuously murmuring into Shuang Ye’s ear: “Talking about data, AI, and such, but in the end, you’re not even as good as these guys.
Or is it because you think you’re a high and mighty ‘player’ that you choose to make their deaths meaningless?”
“Stop talking…” Shuang Ye covered her face with her sleeve, sobbing softly: “Leave me alone.”
“Don’t flatter yourself; I don’t want to bother with you.” Mo Tan scoffed, leaning closer to Shuang Ye and whispering: “I just feel a little sorry for those intelligent data that died in vain.
After all, these days, even a used tissue can create some value, while Krab and Salazar, and Ned who chose to stay here and wait for death, have been made meaningless by you.”
Shuang Ye suddenly turned around, her eyes red, staring at Mo Tan, her voice a little hoarse: “They are not meaningless…”
“Their existence is meaningless!” Mo Tan coldly interrupted her: “As weaklings who can be bullied at will, as data that will be thrown into some recycling bin after death, as small fries who struggle desperately but ultimately fail to make any waves, what is their meaning?”
He subtly gestured to Ned and Yinna, who were looking their way, signaling them not to speak, then continued to look at Shuang Ye with cold eyes.
“You leave now and find that thing to give to that chieftain!” Shuang Ye, who fully understood the meaning of Mo Tan’s words, shouted: “Then everyone won’t have died in vain!”
“Yes, I do intend to do that.” Mo Tan rolled his eyes, actually turning to walk away, laughing without looking back: “Of course, you might also want to do a little calculation, think about how much chance I have of surviving, and if there are any other options… to make those sacrifices a little worthwhile…”
Other options, are there any?
Just a subconscious thought, and Shuang Ye immediately came to a conclusion: two people leaving together and then splitting up to escape was the optimal choice.
As long as one person survived, or even if they didn't completely shake off Bannai, as long as one of them could get out of combat and successfully log off… then it would be a success…
Only then could Krab, Salazar, Ned, and Yinna—these data, AIs, NPCs… become valuable…
“I’m sorry.” Shuang Ye whispered to Ned and Yinna: “I might not be able to stay with you until the end…”
“Thank you.” Ned smiled from the bottom of his heart: “Hurry, there’s not much time left.”
…
Mo Tan, walking alone, heard footsteps behind him and finally showed a trace of a tired smile; he knew that girl had indeed understood.
“Walk a little further, then we’ll split up and run.” Shuang Ye, having caught up with him using acceleration magic, said quickly: “I’ll create a lot of traces with magic along the way.
You move as straight as possible.
If my estimation is correct, we should exit combat status if we avoid attacks for about ten more minutes.
Log off immediately then.”
Mo Tan gave a dry laugh, running a hand through his hair: “Well, thanks a lot for that, but I can also create traces…”
“I’m better.” Shuang Ye shook her head while gently waving her staff to cast a movement speed buff on Mo Tan: “That bastard should be more interested in me.
It seems the scrolls earlier had quite a psychological impact on him.
Theoretically, he’ll choose to come after me first.
Of course, if he wants to save me for last, then I’ll need your help to buy time.”
Calm, sharp, and rational, that hard shell had clearly returned to Shuang Ye.
“Alright, I’ll listen to you.” Mo Tan nodded, then said a little awkwardly: “Um… what I said just now was a bit…”
Shuang Ye glanced at him: “You were quite cool just now, though I did want to tear your mouth off.”
Mo Tan gave a dry laugh, taking it as a compliment.
…
Three minutes later, Shuang Ye refreshed Mo Tan’s acceleration spell and then ran eastward without looking back, continuously firing small fireballs and ice cones from her staff, creating numerous traces around them.
It was as if she was provoking him.
Mo Tan, meanwhile, began to move in the opposite direction from Shuang Ye.
According to their plan, he needed to walk as far as possible and log off immediately once he exited combat status.
His stamina was almost at its limit.
The time they had delayed earlier wasn't entirely meaningless; if they hadn't stopped, he might not even be able to walk now…
Shuang Ye’s situation should be similar…
Speaking of which, he actually did it, thinking like another personality.
Although he still felt very unaccustomed and anxious during the process, it seemed to have worked out well…
But, is that it?
Only he survives?
Although this was still the correct choice, if Shuang Ye were caught by that guy, she would probably suffer some torture.
Even though the pain in the game wasn't intense, for a girl…
Is it appropriate?
Unconsciously, Mo Tan began to think from another perspective…
The conclusion, of course, was – inappropriate!
He stopped, briefly calculating the time.
There were still five or six minutes left until Shuang Ye’s estimated time to exit combat.
If he pushed himself to the limit, could he survive against Bannai?
Impossible, but Shuang Ye should still be moving… Thinking this way, it wasn't entirely without hope…
He had some healing methods, and he hadn't used the healing potion he got at the very beginning.
From this perspective, players who can directly restore health have an advantage over NPCs who need to wait for potions to take effect slowly.
He might as well take a gamble.
If he could help Shuang Ye survive…
At worst, he would just have to restart his character.
No matter how miserable he got, could he be more miserable than Cordova?
Having made up his mind, Mo Tan stopped moving forward and slowly walked back in the direction he had come from.
What he didn't notice was that at this very moment, his health and stamina were recovering at an extremely fast rate…
Another minute passed…
Mo Tan, who had just walked a short distance, suddenly stopped in his tracks, noticing a dark shadow rapidly falling towards him from mid-air.
He instinctively dodged, and then saw…
A bloody, mangled corpse.
The face, stained red with blood, was clearly that of Ned, who had been laughing freely not long ago…
The spy who collaborated with Fire Claw Territory, a victim of the Marshall Family’s atrocities, the captain of Fenrir Squad.
He was dead…
No miracle occurred, no unexpected turn of events…
He died, as was logical and expected.
His still-bleeding body lay limply at Mo Tan’s feet, his expression calm and serene, with a hint of longing.
It was unclear if it was reluctance to part with life, or…
“Killing that elf wasn’t very difficult, yet this useless fellow still kicked the bucket first, heh~” A sharp voice chuckled from above.
Bannai, covered in blood, lightly flipped down from mid-air without making a sound.
He grinned at Mo Tan: “Don’t misunderstand, this isn’t my blood; I just got a little carried away earlier~”
Mo Tan didn't answer him; he just knelt down and gently closed Ned's still-wide eyes, then bowed his head in silent prayer.
It didn't involve any deities, merely a wish for this 'small fry' to find some peace…
“Boring priest.” Bannai walked menacingly in front of Mo Tan: “I tortured this poor spy as much as I could.
His death was long and painful; it wouldn’t be surprising if he turned into an undead creature~”
“What is this…” Mo Tan smiled bitterly, shaking his head, and murmured softly: “In the end, I still can’t do anything.”
“You can go join him.” Bannai rubbed his shoulder, his face full of impatience: “I’ve had enough fun.
Before I go find that little girl for the final interrogation, you can just die first…”
“I cannot comprehend the meaning of your existence in this world.” Mo Tan slowly stood up, looking at the Nueslaughterer, who was like a demon before him, preparing to buy the last bit of time.
At the same time, he was also trying his best to suppress his increasingly out-of-control emotions; if he suddenly went offline at this moment, Bannai would very likely catch up to Shuang Ye before she could exit combat…
But the effect of that desperate control was still not significant…
“Meaning?” Bannai scoffed, shaking his head: “Only the weak need meaning to sustain their lives.
I don’t need such a thing.”
His smile was twisted and sick, his body covered in the blood of innocents…
His sin was too ugly to look at…
Mo Tan was momentarily stunned, as if finding it hard to accept that everyone had died at the hands of such a person…
This world is truly beyond saving…
His head felt a little dizzy, yet his consciousness was clearer than ever before…
【Ah… so that’s how it is…】
【It’s truly ugly beyond measure…】
【This reason is even worse than having no reason…】
【Because…】
“Are you, very strong?”
Mo Tan, whose eyes were originally clear and bright, suddenly lowered his head listlessly, murmuring softly as if in a trance.
Bannai no longer wanted to say anything more to the person in front of him.
He raised his hands, filled with blades, and lunged forward, eager to quickly dispatch this boring prey!
Then…
He was gently pressed in place!
An indescribable fear and pressure almost suffocated Bannai.
Lord Buffy, who had once made him unable to even think of resisting, was like an ant compared to this.
This assassin, widely known among the Violet Empire's high ranks, now had a blank mind.
Though every cell in his body fought desperately, he could not move his feet even an inch!
His soul had already submitted…
“Then now, can you tell me?” The ‘priest’ in front of him raised his head, his eyes, calm as an abyss, blinked gently.
“As a ‘weakling,’ what exactly is the meaning of your existence?”
Night fell.
Chapter 61: The End