Chapter 17: Virtual Showdown: The Game Unleashed

(TN/AN) Hey, everyone. I hope you're doing well. I'm dedicated to bringing this beautiful novel to you, but lately, I've been feeling a bit down. Can you guess why? It's because I haven't been seeing much support from you all.

Please consider voting with power stones, commenting on chapters, and sharing this novel with your friends. Every little bit helps, and even the smallest act of support means a lot to me.

I know there's someone out there who's supporting me, but it's disheartening when I can't see it.

If there's an issue or any suggestions to improve, please let me know. I'm committed to making this better for all of you.

And here's a special incentive: when the power stones vote reaches a certain milestone, I'll reward you with a bonus chapter. Your support means the world to me, so please, let's work together to make this novel even better. Thank you!"

_______________________

At that moment, seven individuals gazed in a specific direction, and among them was Lin Luoer. Their attention was drawn to a striking figure approaching.

Chu You, a formidable presence with crimson streaks on his body, projected an unmistakable sense of power with his bare, muscular torso. His unusually long arms hung over his shoulders, and his eyes resembled serene, undisturbed lakes.

Chu You's commanding presence steadily advanced toward them. The seven people, seemingly immobilized by an unseen force, refrained from any hasty actions. Lin Luoer, too, stood frozen, taken aback by the unexpected sight of her old friend, yet puzzled by his presence.

Chu You scanned the group and, with unwavering certainty, identified the leader among them. His extensive experience made distinctions unnecessary; he instinctively understood the situation.

As he reached Lin Luoer's side, a distinctly masculine aura enveloped her. Unconsciously, her pale cheeks flushed, and her gaze briefly dipped to his bare body.

Chu You's slender, knife-like finger slowly pointed towards the other individual, an audacious challenge to celestial norms. With a haughty look and boundless confidence, he uttered a single word.

"Leave!"

"What's the plan, boss? What's your take on this?"

"What other option do I have? I can't endure his direct targeting any longer. Let's go for it!"

"The opponent's already at level 5, and his equipment looks quite impressive."

"Shall we dive into the battle? You haven't had a taste of combat in this game yet. We've got three level 3 players on our side, and the enemy is a warrior. What's there to be afraid of?"

"Are we seriously going to get into this?"

Mo Yun remained silent, his unwavering gaze fixed on Chu You. He opened his mouth, but it became apparent that anything he said would be ineffective, unless he resorted to explicit language.

Chu You's words had the desired impact, effectively trapping both sides with no room for negotiation.

Mo Yun's anger blazed in his eyes, and he made an attempt to utter another curse.

"My damn luck..."

In a swift move, Chu You thrust his sword forward while activating the 'Decapitate' skill.

The boss being efficiently dispatched by someone else sent shockwaves through the remaining players. The mage and priest players quickly retreated, while the other two warriors engaged Chu You with their weapons.

Chu You deftly evaded their attacks with a swift body movement, and his health had been restored to 74, enabling him to initiate a full-on offensive. He moved with lightning speed and elegantly swung his slender blade. A priest positioned three meters in front took a direct hit.

-90. The high damage left the level 2 priest with only a quarter of his health.

The two warriors were taken aback by Chu You's ability to evade their attacks. At this moment, the level 3 wizard finished casting a fireball spell.

Chu You effortlessly tracked the trajectory of the fireball's movement, not needing to glance at it directly. With a hint of disdain in his eyes, he knew exactly how to respond.

Chu You paid no further attention to the fleeing priest and instead noticed another incoming fireball. He allowed his long sword to stab forward at the retreating priest, and an ominous aura surrounded the blade.

The length of his slender sword was immediately apparent to the priest.

The priest, who had retreated about 3 meters, arched backward, blood gushing, and his legs gave way as his body crumpled to the ground, lifeless.

Chu You grinned and swung his dual swords once more.

"So, you're eager to meet your end? Then, so be it..."

With effortless grace, Chu You moved back, taking two steps towards the wizard's location. He simultaneously waved one of his swords at a warrior who had ventured outside the range of his allies.

-88.

The opponent's health dipped, but it seemed the warrior hadn't yet realized the severity of his situation. He stubbornly raised his training sword and continued to advance toward Chu You.

In the early stages of the game, many players, especially melee professionals, paid little attention to their health. Fueled by passion and adrenaline, they often underestimated their injuries, brushing them off as minor annoyances. However, when combined with Chu You's sardonicsmile at that moment...

Chu You had successfully baited the enemy warrior's wrath.

In a swift move, Chu You leaped backward, avoiding two incoming fireballs. He then swung his sword toward the oncoming soldier.

-89.

At this moment, Chu You stood behind a pair of mage players, with two bewildered warriors in front of him. The battle situation was heavily in favor of Chu You.

The opponent's warriors struggled to match Chu You's lightning attack speed, and the difference between their skills was so vast that after he swung his two swords again. The opponent's warrior had only a sliver of health remaining.

"Do you realize there's no escape?" Chu You sneered, allowing the other person little time to ponder. He swiftly passed Chu You and turned around, closing in on a mage player who was already in close proximity.

Behind Chu You, one of the warrior players fell to his knees.

The mage player, noticing that Chu You had locked onto him, felt his heart race. They had unleashed a flurry of attacks just moments ago, but none had landed on their agile opponent. As the sight of the bloodied Chu You sank in, the mage player was overcome with deep fear, quickly realizing they were facing a formidable foe.

Attempting to engage Chu You now appeared futile. Recognizing he was the primary target, the mage player's best course of action was to flee and create a diversion, buying time for his comrades to escape.

The mage player shouted, "You run, I'll lead him away."

"No one can escape," Chu You stated with unwavering self-confidence, firmly rejecting the plea.

The mage player turned and bolted, believing that as long as he continued running, his opponent would not catch up.

-89.

As the mage player distanced himself, he was astonished to find that the gap between them remained the same, and he ran on with a sense of foreboding.

-90.

Why hadn't he escaped the reach of his pursuer's attacks yet? The mage player glanced back in surprise.

Chu You's grin took on an almost devilish quality, and the two players didn't manage to separate. Chu You brandished his unusually long sword and struck at the mage player once more.

With the momentum of his sprint, the mage player tumbled headfirst to the ground, rolled a few times, and came to a halt.

The remaining two players realized that the situation was dire, yet they didn't flee; instead, they stood there, observing. They watched Chu You, who was moving at high speed, relentlessly pursuing his companions.

In their minds, after all, this was just a game, wasn't it? No one would actually die in real life, so why not sit back and enjoy the spectacle of someone else meeting their demise?

"Now, it's your turn," Chu You declared.

After dealing with this player, Chu You swiftly turned and locked onto another mage player.

The mage and the warrior exchanged anxious glances, their hearts racing, their breaths shallow. A sense of urgency hung in the air as they faced the relentless pursuit of Chu You, a player whose skills exceeded their own.

Chu You, his crimson aura still ablaze, demonstrated a prowess that left them in awe and terror. His slender, elongated blade moved with an almost otherworldly grace, a stark contrast to their futile attempts at evasion.

The mage, struggling to cast protective spells, found his incantations faltering under the mounting pressure. Beads of sweat trickled down his forehead as he tried to concoct a last-ditch effort to survive.

The warrior, his grip on his weapon trembling, could feel the cold steel against his palm. He had faced countless battles in this virtual world, but nothing had prepared him for this showdown against a player of Chu You's caliber.

Desperation and fear drove them in opposite directions. The mage veered left, weaving between the trees, while the warrior chose to break through the dense underbrush to the right. They hoped that separating would improve their odds of survival.

But they couldn't escape the inescapable. Chu You's relentless pursuit was unyielding, his crimson aura casting an ominous shadow over them.

"Chu You, please stop," Lin Luoer implored, her eyes wide with shock and panic. Witnessing in-game killing for the first time had left the gaming enthusiast deeply unsettled.

But Chu You paid no heed. He had his eyes set on another mage player, closing in with precision, his sword slashing through the virtual space with deadly intent.

Casting an indifferent glance at the warrior who had managed to put some distance between them, Chu You abruptly changed course, his movements like a shadow in pursuit.

The chase continued, both Chu You and the warrior aware that their stamina was nearing depletion. Chu You, however, was banking on his superior speed, confident in his ability to quickly overpower the warrior player.

In a low-level monster area, where novice players diligently honed their skills by battling creatures, a sudden commotion shattered the tranquility. Startled, other players instinctively turned their gaze toward the source of the disturbance.

Their eyes widened in disbelief as they witnessed a warrior player, his face etched with terror, plowing through a dense thicket. His frantic cries for help pierced the air, a desperate plea that seemed unending.

Then, a grim and unsettling sight unfolded before the onlookers, those players absorbed in their grind.

From the midst of the overgrown jungle that the fleeing warrior had dashed through, a towering figure emerged. This player shouldered an abnormally elongated blade, an eerie crimson aura enveloping his entire being.

He moved with an air of malevolence, resembling a demon or a sinister specter summoned from the depths of virtual hell. In one swift and brutal motion, he raised his exaggerated longsword, its blade gleaming ominously, and brought it down upon the warrior's head.

A torrent of blood and a harrowing scream pierced the serene air, and the unfortunate warrior player crumpled to the ground, meeting an untimely demise.

In the wake of this chilling spectacle, the once bustling leveling area, where players had previously engaged in lively skirmishes with mobs, descended into an eerie silence.

_______________________

"Hello everyone, I kindly request your support by giving power stones, voting for this novel, commenting on chapters, recommending it to your friends, and adding it to your collection. I'll strive to bring you more chapters like this. Or are you, like me, experiencing a friendless, eternal single life?"

"Anyway, please vote and show me that I'm not alone on this journey. While I can manage 2-3 chapters in a day if I didn't have work to do, my work commitments sometimes mean that a single chapter can take anywhere from 1 to 2 days to complete. Any support during this journey would be greatly appreciated."