2026-04-14 20:37:40
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Through the Gate
The Central Plaza was a battlefield of shifting alliances and desperate screams. Factions clashed over control of the Ascension Gate while scattered monsters from the lingering tide still prowled the edges. Li Ming crouched behind an overturned bus, supporting his father with one arm while his mother pressed close on the other side.“We’re too exposed here,” Li Ming muttered, eyes scanning the chaos. “The Gate is two hundred meters ahead, but three factions are fighting over it right now.”His father grimaced, trying to stand straighter despite the pain. “Then we wait for an opening, son. You’ve kept us alive this far.”His mother touched Li Ming’s bloodstained sleeve. “Ming’er… you’re hurt too. That penalty you mentioned — is it making things worse?”Li Ming shook his head. “It’s manageable. Just stay behind me and run when I say. No hesitation.”A massive explosion rocked the plaza as two rival guilds collided near the Gate. Li Ming saw his chance.“Now!”He surged forward, half-car
Descent
The Ascension Gate spat Li Ming out onto the blood-soaked ruins of Qingyun City’s Central Plaza like an unwanted memory. The moment his feet touched Floor 0 ground, the penalties slammed into him like a physical blow.His body felt heavier. Slower. Weaker.[Floor Descent Penalty Active: All Stats -15% for 72 hours. Throne absorption quality -60%. Cross-floor range further restricted.]Li Ming staggered for half a second, then forced himself upright. The familiar cracked blue sky overhead looked almost comforting after the oppressive crimson of Floor 1. But there was no time for nostalgia.He moved.The plaza was still a graveyard of the Second Tide. Piles of monster corpses rotted under the sun while survivors picked through the remains. Li Ming kept the Shadow Veil Cloak active and his head low, slipping through the chaos like a ghost. Even with the penalties, his base power was still far above most Floor 0 survivors.He headed straight for the residential block, heart pounding harde
Echoes from Below
Zhao Feng winced as he leaned against the rocky outcrop, clutching the fresh bandage Li Ming had tied around his torso. The crimson sun hung low, casting long bloody shadows across the wastes. They had been moving for hours, putting as much distance as possible between themselves and the collapsed cave.“You should have left me,” Zhao Feng muttered, voice rough with pain. “I was dead weight back there.”Li Ming scanned the horizon before answering. “Dead weight doesn’t complain this much. Save your strength. We still have a long way before we can rest.”A weak chuckle escaped Zhao Feng. “You know… when you first saved us, I thought you were just another strong loner looking for cannon fodder. But you pulled me out. Twice now.” He paused, studying Li Ming’s face. “Why do you fight like this? Most people with your power would’ve built a big group by now. Ruled something.”Li Ming remained silent for a long moment, eyes distant. “Big groups attract attention. Attention brings betrayal. I
Fractured Alliances
Zhao Feng slammed his axe into the ground, still buzzing from the latest ambush. “Did you see their faces when the wolves hit? Lin Mei looked like she wanted to kill her own men!”The group had gathered in their newest temporary shelter — a shallow cave system hidden behind a collapsed tower. A small crystal lantern cast flickering red light across their faces. Su Ling was bandaging a cut on one man’s arm while the others counted loot.Li Ming leaned against the far wall, arms crossed, listening.“We’re actually doing it,” said a wiry man named Guo Wei, grinning as he weighed a pouch of Floor Coins. “Three supply convoys in five days. They must be bleeding resources by now.”“Keep your voice down,” Su Ling warned. “We got lucky today. If that wolf pack hadn’t shown up—”“Lucky?” Zhao Feng laughed. “That was the boss’s timing. He always knows when to strike.”All eyes turned toward Li Ming. He met their gazes steadily but said nothing at first. The praise felt hollow. Praise often prec
Hunter and Hunted
Li Ming moved through the narrow crimson ravine like a wraith, his Shadow Veil Cloak making him nearly indistinguishable from the jagged rock walls. Three days had passed since Captain Lin Mei began her personal hunt. The Scarlet Vanguard had increased patrol frequency and started offering bounties for any information on the “Crimson Shadow” and his small band. His group of six had become surprisingly effective. They struck fast, looted efficiently, and vanished before major reinforcements arrived. Li Ming’s leadership — cold, precise, and always one step ahead — had raised their average levels and given them renewed purpose. But the pressure was mounting. “Boss,” Zhao Feng whispered from behind a boulder as they observed a Vanguard supply route. “They’ve reinforced this convoy. At least forty guards. Lin Mei might be with them.” Li Ming studied the formation below. The carts were heavier, protected by shield-bearers and crystal mages. Captain Lin Mei was indeed present, her silver
Slow Bleed
Li Ming crouched on a narrow ledge overlooking a winding ravine, Shadow Veil Cloak rendering him nearly invisible against the crimson rock. Below, a Scarlet Vanguard supply patrol of eighteen soldiers moved in tight formation, escorting three heavily loaded crystal carts. His six followers were positioned according to his instructions — Zhao Feng and two others on the far side, Su Ling and the rest ready with ranged support. “Patience,” Li Ming whispered, though none could hear him. “Wait for my signal.” This was their third ambush in two days. The strategy was working. Small, precise strikes against supply lines and isolated patrols were slowly draining the Vanguard’s resources without provoking an all-out hunt. Yet. The patrol entered the kill zone. Li Ming activated Brutal Intimidation. The shout echoed through the ravine, stunning the front and rear guards simultaneously. He descended like a crimson ghost — Spiked Charge slamming into the lead cart’s guards, short sword flashin
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