Chapter 74:- Psychological Warfare
[🎉 Shoutout to TheDawnBeforeEve & Simonki for joining patreon. Thank you very much.🤗]
A 2x2 square was quickly built on the ground.
Then, two players poured buckets of water at opposite corners.
This instantly created an endless water source.
With this done, Yonghui immediately barked orders.
"Hurry up! Grab some water and splash it around! Cover as much ground as possible!"
Yonghui's quick thinking paid off. Soon, several players with iron buckets rushed over, helping spread water across the battlefield.
The members of the Eternal Guild, standing in the water, finally felt the burning sensation subside.
Up in the sky, Xu Yuan observed the scene and glanced at 007.
Coincidentally, 007 was looking back at him.
Although 007 said nothing, Xu Yuan instantly understood his intent.
He knew what the issue was. 007 sought Xu Yuan's permission to disrupt the infinite water source.
Xu Yuan pondered for a moment.
Then, he opened his skill panel and browsed for a bit until he paused.
[Stealth Lv5: Allows concealment within any block and the ability to manipulate stone blocks.]
[Consumes 1,000,000 kill points to upgrade.]
At level 5, this skill could control stone blocks.
Xu Yuan speculated that with further upgrades, it might extend to obsidian control.
If he could command obsidian, it would be a powerful edge against the Eternal Guild.
His earlier torment was merely physical. With this skill, it would transcend to psychological warfare.
With this thought, Xu Yuan promptly upgraded his Stealth skill.
[Stealth Lv8: Allows concealment within any block and the manipulation of obsidian.]
[Consumes 3,000,000 kill points to upgrade.]
Bringing Stealth to level 8 cost Xu Yuan 7 million kill points.
Thankfully, Xu Yuan had a stockpile of unused kill points. Otherwise, the cost would've been steep.
Regardless, even depleting his points for this upgrade was worth it.
Controlling obsidian was among HIM's iconic abilities.
Moreover, it was particularly useful at this moment.
Once the upgrade was complete, Xu Yuan signaled 007 with a glance, then shook his head.
He indicated for 007 not to act rashly, to keep attacking the players instead.
Without interference from 007, the Eternal Guild members worked quickly, dumping bucket after bucket of water.
The battlefield was soon almost entirely submerged.
Xu Yuan waited silently in the sky, watching the water spread.
Although Yonghui had managed to free the players from their torment, he couldn't hide his growing panic.
HIM floated above, watching the scene below with a cold gaze, making Yonghui's heart race.
"What the hell is he planning?!"
Truth be told, Yonghui wasn't afraid of HIM suddenly swooping in for an instant kill.
A quick death would spare him the mind games and anxiety.
It was HIM's current behavior—unpredictable and ominous—that terrified Yonghui the most.
Those glowing white eyes seemed to harbor endless malice.
Yonghui knew HIM would act, but not knowing when or how was pure torture!
He couldn't fathom HIM's intentions at all.
Every move HIM made was beyond his grasp!
"Damn it! Can't he just get it over with?!"
In the livestream, viewers shared Yonghui's unease.
———
"It's not HIM's brutal strength that scares me—it's his mind games."
"This is psychological warfare. He could kill instantly but chooses not to. Instead, he toys with them, making them suffer and guess when and how they'll die."
"I think HIM won't actually kill them. Death would be too kind. If he wanted them dead, he'd have done it already…"
"Is he planning to trap them instead? But how?"
"No idea. No one knows the full extent of his powers…"
"Did anyone notice? Even through the pixelation, HIM's eyes look darker… more evil."
"Yes! I was thinking the same! There's something different—more sinister."
———
Even through the livestream's pixelation, viewers felt the intensity of HIM's sinister gaze.
The players on the ground felt it more acutely.
They had no will left to fight; all they wanted was a quick death.
Every second on the battlefield was agony.
They lived in constant dread of HIM's next move.
What new torment awaited them?
This battle offered not even a sliver of hope.
Their only option was to find small ways to reduce their suffering as HIM tormented them.
Like standing in water to ease the burning pain.
"Damn it! This is pure torture! I don't even want to play anymore!"
"I finally understand why the Cloud Soar Guild disbanded…"
"We shouldn't have messed with that werewolf and zombie! In the end, it's all Cloud Soar Guild's fault! Damn it!"
While the players grumbled, HIM finally made a move atop his dragon mount.
He glanced at the Death Knight, then nodded slightly. He didn't speak.
But the Death Knight understood.
He leapt from his skeletal horse, landing at the center of the battlefield.
The ground was soaked.
The Death Knight thrust his iron sword deep into the earth.
The moment it touched the water, steam hissed, indicating its scorching heat.
"Roar!"
The Death Knight let out a ferocious roar.
Cracks formed around the sword, rapidly spreading outward.
The ground trembled, as if an immense force was rising from below.
Suddenly, lava erupted from the cracked earth!
[Death Knight Skill: Lava Burst—channels powerful lava energy, capable of causing seismic eruptions.]
When the lava met water, it hardened into obsidian!
As the molten rock surged, every water-covered patch turned into a mass of connected obsidian blocks.
Before they realized it, the players found their feet trapped in obsi dian, unable to move!
The battlefield descended into chaos.
"What the hell is this?! A glitch?!"
"Is this even fair?!"
"Crap! My feet are stuck!"
"What kind of power is this? Manipulating lava at will?!"
"Damn it! We never should've let him bathe in lava!"
At the battlefield's edge, those who weren't yet ensnared had one thought—escape.
With obsidian closing in, they fled.
Xu Yuan observed everything from atop the dragon.
He knew 007's strength well.
It could wield lava, which was why he instructed Yonghui to spread water.
Combining lava with water created obsidian.
Since Xu Yuan controlled obsidian, he could trap everyone within.
He glanced down, spotting players attempting to flee.
With this in mind, Xu Yuan reopened the system.
He quickly found a skill to prevent their escape.
[Strong Web Lv5: Launches a web with a 50-point hardness to ensnare creatures, reducing movement speed by 150%.]
[Consumes 1,000,000 kill points to upgrade.]
Xu Yuan upgraded it by one level for 1 million kill points.
[Strong Web Lv6: Launches a 15x15 web with 100-point hardness, reducing movement speed by 200%.]
"This will do."
Satisfied with the upgraded skill's effects, Xu Yuan prepared to use it.
Not only did it expand the web's coverage, but it also increased its strength.
The skill had no cooldown.
With this power, no one would escape without his say-so.
Xu Yuan was determined to make an example.
Skill ready, he guided the dragon to hover over the fleeing players.
With a raise of his hand, a massive web descended.
The moment it touched the players, they were trapped.
They tried ripping it apart but found it tougher than steel, cutting themselves in the process.
Their legs refused to budge.
The web bound them tightly, leaving no room to move!
═❀═❀═❀═❀═❀═❀═
patreon.com/AmbitiousTranslator
🥳Joining Patreon keeps me motivated and eager to work diligently, so please consider joining.🥰 You can access upto 20 advance chapter through Patreon.
https://discord.gg/bYAfGyp98y