I Will Leave Dawn

Bai Yi pressed on, his focus unwavering as he glanced at the panel, then sprinted towards the Godly Evil Manufacturing Room. The previous attack had been disheartening; not only had his curses and poison failed against Pu Sheng, but he had inflicted no damage at all. This left Bai Yi feeling frustrated and vulnerable. It was reminiscent of their encounter in the nightmare world, where he and Charles had exhausted their trump cards to no avail, while Pu Sheng emerged unscathed.

He had exploited the White Plague's contract to break free from the ancient gods' constraints, embracing the abyss with ease. Once could be a coincidence, but twice?

The White Plague burst through the gate, entering the realm where the evil spirits were bred.

Plop! A young man collapsed on the ground, his life force rapidly waning. Bai Yi rushed over, quickly administering a vial of Life Sigh.

"Cough, cough." The young man's vitality surged back to life. After taking additional anti-curse and detoxification potions, his breath stabilized, no longer fluctuating wildly.

At that moment, a piece of paper fluttered down from above, its haphazard red script glaringly familiar.

[Bai Yi, you are so unkind—Pu Sheng.]

"Hey, Captain, you're here!" Ryan opened his eyes, his voice weak but determined. "I completed my mission. I gathered the information."

He raised an ancient parchment, emblazoned with a black rose and radiating a faint, eerie power—an artifact left in this world by the Lady of Night.

Bai Yi waved his hand, dismissing Pu Sheng's message and the parchment. After leaving the mayor's residence, Ryan had disguised himself as a Night Cultist to infiltrate the patrols. The Lady of Night held significant sway in this realm, but her influence was hampered by Xia's isolation. Just as the will of the Lady of Night was delayed for the members of Night Rose, so too was her perception of this world.

Bai Yi had informed Ryan beforehand about the impending siege on Night Town by monsters. Seizing the chaos, Ryan had slipped in and, once Bai Yi and Pu Sheng began their sweep, Bai Yi had ensured his friend's safety by concealing him.

Now, during the confrontation, Ryan had managed to probe the means of creating the evil spirit, leading to the White Plague's backstab.

"Don't worry, it's fine," Bai Yi reassured, his voice calm as he surveyed the room. Chaos reigned, with the only thing absent being the evil spirit cultivation container—clear evidence of Pu Sheng's anxiety.

"Hoo... Captain, I've discovered a secret," Ryan said, sensing the deathly aura fading away.

Bai Yi paused, channeling his mental energy to search the space. "What is it?"

"The core of Night Town is likely the code held by the mayor. If we destroy that, the mayor will perish!" Ryan's eyes sparkled with confidence.

Bai Yi's expression turned thoughtful, then relieved. "Really? Excellent work. But we need to move quickly; Lilia is still waiting for us outside."

"Lilia..." Ryan's expression shifted, seriousness etched on his face. "I know you'll protect her, Captain."

Bai Yi met Ryan's gaze, suddenly understanding the depth of his concern. After a moment of silence, he nodded. "I'll share another secret: Lilia isn't unlucky. In fact, those with ill intentions towards her will face misfortune. That's why her teammates have fallen."

Ryan nodded resolutely, standing up despite his earlier weakness. He steadied himself, and as confidence surged within him, the aura of uncertainty dissipated. He took a step forward, then paused to glance back at Bai Yi, a smile playing on his lips before he disappeared into the shadows.

Bai Yi retracted his mental energy and began collecting equipment scattered around the room—high-end gear from Night Rose. While Pu Sheng and Charles might have deemed it worthless, Bai Yi saw its potential, recognizing that it could greatly benefit the legion.

With the equipment stowed in his spatial ring, he exited the room, now determined to obtain the codex and pursue the Tears of Rules. Although the loss of the evil spirit stung, Bai Yi felt satisfied with the gains he had made.

As he stepped into the outside world, he noticed two ordinary monsters meandering around the massive pit, which plunged a hundred meters deep. An eagle's cry echoed, signaling the arrival of Team Gula.

Bai Yi turned and witnessed Lilia joyfully embracing Ryan before they both vanished from sight. He didn't linger on the moment. His earlier use of a mechanical mosquito to contact Ryan had revealed that both he and Lilia were remarkably compliant—eager to follow his lead. Initially, Bai Yi attributed this to his reputation as Captain Gula, but he now realized Ryan had long known about the captain's replacement. Fearful of Bai Yi's potential threat to Lilia, Ryan had ensured both he and Lilia remained obedient, even in the face of danger.

This realization stirred a complex mix of emotions within Bai Yi. With a renewed focus, he shifted his demeanor to one of light and purpose and approached the old mayor.

In the shadows of the White Plague, Bai Yi was guilty of Gula's sins. But as he embraced the light, he became an innocent figure. The current rule dictated that shadows could not be stepped upon, and different rules governed entry into this world. Therefore, unless violated, neither the old mayor nor the monsters would initiate an attack against him.

As Bai Yi neared the mayor, the lurking monster nearby registered his presence but quickly lost interest and wandered off. The same was true of the mayor, who clutched a thick black codex.

In a world where Night Town once thrived, who would have guessed this codex was the core of their existence? In other rule areas, destroying a core would lead to its demise, but the core of this world was resilient—capable of self-repair, even in destruction.

Bai Yi deliberated, choosing not to wield any weapons, and slowly approached the mayor. "Hello, Mayor. I'm a tourist visiting our town. May I see the code?"

He recalled one of the rules: You cannot refuse another's request. If this rule applied to the mayor, securing the world core might be simpler than anticipated.

"No..." The mayor's reply echoed emptily, and Bai Yi's muscles tensed, but the expected rules did not activate.

Frowning, he wondered if the mayor possessed immunity to certain rules. Glancing at the sky, he noted it was still noon. Charles had entered the town at this hour, as the sun cast its light upon the land, despite the destruction surrounding it.

In this world devoid of technology and alchemists, those with special abilities were merely mortals with unique talents. Bai Yi had yet to explore the origins of their powers.

With a sudden resolve, Bai Yi stepped forward, planting his foot on the mayor's shadow.

As the rules activated, a terrifying aura surged forth. He seized the black book, pulling with all his might.

Puff! The sound of air escaping filled the space, but Bai Yi focused solely on his goal.

Demonic Flash!

Buzz! Boom! A thunderous noise erupted as the multi-limbed monster lunged at the spot where Bai Yi had been standing—only to grasp at thin air.

The creature took off in a wild dash, while Bai Yi activated the Demonic Flash, propelling himself a thousand meters away in the blink of an eye.

The panel prompt illuminated.

[You have obtained the world core of Night Town. Do you wish to submit the panel?]

Bai Yi ignored the query. There were three rule areas within the Kingdom of Sabah, and he intended to explore them in search of the Tears of Rules.

Boom! A powerful sonic boom accompanied the White Plague as it fled from Dark Night Town. The monster behind let out a frustrated roar, for creatures born of rules were bound by them, unable to leave the shadows.

As Bai Yi arranged the teleportation array, he considered the possibility of escaping the three rule areas; if not, he would submit the panel.

Outside the world, in a ruin.

"Ahem." A faint cough broke the silence, filled with effort.

Charles lay on the blood-soaked grass, panting as he gazed at the sky, a mix of humor and despair crossing his features. "You're so cruel; I thought..."

Darkness swirled within him as he struggled to mend his injuries. In his twenty-five years of life, this had been his most unfortunate moment—gaining nothing and squandering an entire month.

As shadows began to envelop him, a divine presence loomed nearby.

"Your Majesty," he murmured, unguarded.

Pu Sheng paused, regret washing over him as the power of the abyss surged and slowly dissipated. It seemed this was not the right moment to eliminate Charles.

Charles sensed the shift and turned his head weakly, a serious expression taking hold. "Without the Lady of Night's rules, the Abyss entered Night World much earlier than us."

He sifted through the soil, inhaling it with reluctance. "But I'll leave Dawn; the Sun Federation is intriguing. There are many opportunities for you there."

"Yes, next time, you and the other princes will have your share. I promise it with my life."

"Three times is enough, Your Majesty. I've never let you down before, have I?"

"I need some of your strength right now."

Charles directed his gaze towards Nanling City, a calmness in his voice. "The Sun Federation will fall; their power does not truly belong to them."

Dongwu City.

In the month since Bai Yi's departure, the city continued to develop rapidly, though tensions simmered beneath the surface. Five days ago, the Dongwu army had mobilized, leaving many feeling uneasy. The Apocalypse Legion stayed behind, along with 40,000 troops from the Wucheng Army and those in the Transformation Legion who had not yet completed their transformations.

The remaining 110,000 soldiers, including Treasurer Sabo, had all departed, casting a shadow of apprehension over Dongwu City. Though the city remained prosperous, the once-boisterous tavern sounds had quieted, as residents recognized the implications of such a large military deployment.

War loomed on the horizon.

Amidst this, players were the happiest, relishing the chaos. Daily, the city's law enforcement apprehended more players than locals, despite clear warnings. The reputation of the player Thief Saint had spread across the federation, resulting in thefts occurring frequently.

"Ah, the White Plague has been gone for twenty-five days. I miss the day he vanished," Xiahou Fuxing lamented, despair evident in his voice.

Bai Yi had given him fleeting fame, along with a piece of equipment.

[Name: The Army is Coming.]

Quality: ???

Effect: Morale +30%.

Equipment requirements: Ability to play any complete piece of music.

Introduction: An instrument of inspiration; its sound heralds the arrival of decisive battles. In the battlefield of flesh and blood, its bearer will always triumph.

Xiahou had acquired this item more than ten days prior. Observing the blood-soaked battlefield, he couldn't resist playing a tune, earning him the affectionate moniker "Xiahou Sihao," signifying his newfound fame.

With his rising popularity, he forged friendships with the Guards and Demacia, generously sharing the equipment's attributes with them. Before long, he found himself firmly entrenched in the guard brigade.

Now, in a secluded valley, only three high-level players remained. The others preferred not to stream, valuing fun over money, merely seeking adventure in Dawn Rising.

"Stop your whining. After 1.0, at least White Plague came to find you. What about me? I haven't even met him," Demacia grumbled, irritation evident.

"That's because I'm charming! I'm Bai Yi's favorite concubine, scum!" Xiahou boasted, puffed up with pride. With Bai Yi's support, he felt he could achieve financial freedom, bringing him immense joy.

Demacia rolled her eyes, ready to retort when a spatial fluctuation caught their attention.

Wei Lu appeared, eyes sparkling with excitement. "I knew my hunch was right!"

"What did you discover?" Demacia asked, her curiosity piqued.

"Gather around!" Xiahou urged, clearing a stone with his sleeve as if to impress.

Wei Lu spoke with confidence, "Someone in Dongwu City predicted a teleportation point within the pocket surrounded by legions. War is imminent! If we identify that key point, we can ignite the tensions built up over the past ten days and trigger a full-scale conflict!"

"God-level mission?" one asked.

"No, it's likely a large-scale mission, but as the discoverer, there will be significant rewards. However, the one who can foresee the future must be exceptionally powerful. Their accuracy is uncanny."