Chapter 6: Sure Enough, You Can't Make a FLAG Lightly

The difference between the Nephalem and ordinary people became immediately apparent at this moment. The undead that Captain Rumford needed several strikes to wound couldn't even survive a single round under the Meteor Hammer of this Holy Church Army girl. Fang Zheng watched as she casually swung the hammer forward, and those undead were sent flying like leaves in the autumn wind, effortlessly scattered!

If it were before, Fang Zheng would have just shrugged upon seeing such a scene reminiscent of the game, not taking it to heart. But after experiencing the persistent nuisance of these undead himself, Fang Zheng finally had a direct understanding of the abnormal existence of the Nephalem.

Even if Fang Zheng defeated these undead, it was entirely reliant on the Power of the Holy Light from the Crusader Strike. But this Nephalem was relying solely on her own strength. With one swing of the hammer, the luckier undead were sent flying, and the unlucky ones were left as mere bones. Fang Zheng marveled at this, now having a direct understanding of the power of the Nephalem.

Wait... What am I doing watching here? Damn it, I have a task to complete!

Watching the Holy Church Army girl once again sweep away the undead, Fang Zheng was stunned, finally remembering that he wasn't here just to enjoy the show!

Frostmourne is still hungry!

With this thought, Fang Zheng didn't hesitate, gripping his weapon tightly and rushed forward.

Compared to the "tutorial level" in the game, the number of undead Fang Zheng and his team encountered was obviously greater. Aside from the first wave of undead crawling out from the ground, several more waves of undead attacks followed. Their numbers increased to the point that it was challenging for even Fang Zheng and the Holy Church Army girl to hold them off together, and the militia suffered heavy casualties. Except for Captain Rumford, who was still holding on, the other militiamen were either dead or wounded and wouldn't last much longer.

This situation is bad!

After cutting down another undead, Fang Zheng took a breath, looking around. He could only see the firelight from the gate of Tristram Village, with darkness shrouding the surroundings. He could only hear the low growls of the undead and the occasional flashes of radiance.

"Ha... ha... this damn... there are just too many of them."

Gripping Frostmourne, staring at the staggering undead emerging from the darkness, Fang Zheng panted heavily. He couldn't remember how many undead he had killed, just that for every one he cut down, two more emerged. For every two he killed, four more appeared. It felt endless, as if no matter how many he killed, they kept coming.

Is this the true Dark World...?

It was only at this moment that Fang Zheng felt a trace of fear. When playing the game, he had only felt the endless grind, wondering why humanity was so pitiful in the Dark World. But now, Fang Zheng understood that the game and reality were different.

Humans in the Dark World being pushed to near extinction had its reasons.

"Argh—!"

Seeing the staggering undead lunging at him, Fang Zheng gripped Frostmourne, let out a roar, and swung forward. Accompanied by a flash of Holy Light, the undead was instantly split in half, falling to the ground. But to Fang Zheng's surprise, just as the undead fell, its upper body suddenly jumped, and its hands quickly crawled on the ground toward him!

"Damn!!"

Seeing this sudden scene, Fang Zheng was startled. Almost instinctively, he lifted Frostmourne and thrust downward with force. The sharp blade pierced through the undead's body with a swish, as tendrils of soul mist emerged from the undead and were absorbed into Frostmourne's blade. The remaining twitching body of the undead then fell lifeless as if it had lost its energy supply.

"235...?"

Glancing at the system prompt showing the Power of the Soul value in front of him, Fang Zheng took a breath. This endless grind wasn't what he wanted, but regardless, the task of Frostmourne absorbing souls seemed achievable now. In the Dark World, there was no shortage of creatures, and Fang Zheng believed Frostmourne also greatly enjoyed these evil souls.

"Uuu—!"

Just then, from the distant forest came a strange sound. It sounded like a woman's wailing or a drunk person retching. Hearing this noise, the faces of Captain Rumford and the Holy Church Army girl instantly changed.

Mother of Corpses!

"No wonder these damn things keep coming!"

Fang Zheng finally realized that the Mother of Corpses was a creature transformed from the Queen's maid. Its distinguishing feature was the ability to create more undead. Fang Zheng didn't understand the exact mechanism, but he knew the process involved vomiting, and then the undead would crawl out of the mess... The mere thought of it made his stomach turn.

"We must kill the Mother of Corpses!"

"I know!"

Hearing Captain Rumford's voice, Fang Zheng responded without looking back, gripping Frostmourne as he rushed into the forest.

Fang Zheng was pushing himself not only to eliminate the threat but also because, at the moment Captain Rumford spoke, Fang Zheng received a system prompt.

[Scene task triggered: Guardian II]

[You have detected the root of evil and found its trail. Now, you must use your blade to end it all (eliminate the Mother of Corpses, Dimensional Points +1)]

Though Fang Zheng was fast, the Holy Church Army girl wasn't slow either. As Fang Zheng entered the forest, he saw the girl nearby flash with golden light, shocking him as she dashed deeper into the woods like a cannonball.

"Boom—!"

The radiant Holy Church Army girl streaked through the darkness like a meteor, crushing everything in her path with tremendous force. Fang Zheng then saw a figure appear before the girl, and she slammed her shield into its face without hesitation.

"Bang!!"

The unfortunate Mother of Corpses was sent spinning and flying by the impact, but the Holy Church Army girl couldn't continue her attack, as several undead staggered in front of her, blocking her way.

Perfect opportunity!

Seeing the Holy Church Army girl being held back, Fang Zheng sighed with relief. If the Mother of Corpses got its head smashed by her Meteor Hammer, he would fail the scene task. Now, with the Holy Church Army girl stopped, even briefly, it was enough for Fang Zheng!

Nice job!

Sneaking a praise for the Mother of Corpses in his heart, Fang Zheng gripped Frostmourne and ran down the path opened by the Holy Church Army girl toward the forest's depths. Soon, he saw the unlucky Mother of Corpses. It was crawling on the ground, seemingly unable to even stand.

Perfect opportunity!

Seeing this, Fang Zheng's eyes lit up. Glancing aside, he saw the Holy Church Army girl still entangled with the undead and unable to intervene. If he hurried, he would claim this kill!

With that thought, Fang Zheng sprinted forward without hesitation, lifting Frostmourne high and slashing down at the Mother of Corpses!

Crusader Strike!

Just as Fang Zheng swung his longsword, the crawling Mother of Corpses suddenly lifted its head, glaring at him and opening its mouth. With a "ugh," Fang Zheng saw a mass of foul-smelling filth spewing toward him!

Oh no!

Fang Zheng was taken aback, instantly canceling his skill and rolling aside. With a soft "plop," the foul mess hit the ground near him. By the weak light, Fang Zheng could see the dark green, bubbling muck, even making the surrounding ground sizzle and sink. It was clear that getting hit by this wouldn't end well.

Trying to ambush me?

Now Fang Zheng was furious. The Mother of Corpses, half-dead from the Holy Church Army girl's attacks, dared to ambush him? Did it think he was easy prey?

He lifted Frostmourne again, glaring at the Mother of Corpses, which stared back viciously. As Fang Zheng approached, it opened its mouth, ready to scream.

"——!"

But this time, before it could make a sound, Fang Zheng thrust his sword into its mouth.

Crusader Strike!

The Holy Light burst forth, and in Fang Zheng's eyes, the Mother of Corpses' head started to crack, fissures appearing on its skin with radiant Holy Light shining through, growing brighter. With a "bang," the Mother of Corpses' body exploded, disintegrating into ash in the white Holy Fire.

At the same time, Fang Zheng heard the system prompt again, with lines of information appearing before him.

[Scene task "Guardian" progress II completed]

[User gains Dimensional Points +1]

[Gains 70 points of Soul Power]

[Crusader Strike skill proficiency level increased to C-level]

[Crusader Strike upgraded to an area skill]

"As expected..."

Seeing this information, Fang Zheng rolled his eyes and opened his skill tab, seeing that one-fifth of the Crusader Strike progress bar was now orange. Fang Zheng was speechless. He had set up the system so that skills would gradually strengthen with increased proficiency to attract newcomers and high-level players into topping-up. After all, Dimensional Points could only be earned or bought. Though skills might become more powerful with increased proficiency, ordinary people wouldn't have enough Dimensional Points, while top-up players would simply pay for them.

This was the shameless stance of mobile games, and Fang Zheng couldn't believe he had become a victim. Indeed, it seemed that one couldn't escape fate.

Fortunately, this task was relatively easy. Just killing a Mother of Corpses earned him a Dimensional Point. If future tasks were this simple, then...

"Ding."

Before Fang Zheng could finish his thoughts, he heard the system prompt again, with another line of information appearing before him.

[Scene task triggered: Guardian III]

[Looking at the corpses before you, you deeply realize that the darkness ahead is not as simple as you imagined. You feel the irreversible wheel of fate rolling, and all you can do is use your utmost power to change everything (alter the predetermined fate, complete the task for a random reward, Dimensional Points +3, failure will lock the task world, countdown 48:00)]

".........…"

Seeing this task prompt, Fang Zheng was left speechless. He now had only one thought:

Never set a FLAG casually!