Novel Full Chapter 123 - Technical Difficulties
'Goldfinger, it's your turn to shine,' Albion communicated with his mind while he was trapped.
[???]
Goldfinger threw a bunch of question marks, causing Albion to immediately roll his eyes and snorted, 'Don't give me that sh*t. You know exactly what I am talking about.'
[If the host does not specify, Goldfinger will not know what the host is talking about.]
Goldfinger stated dumbly.
'You want to keep pretending you don't know, huh?' Albion snickered before he threatened, 'If you don't start paying out the rewards you owe me immediately, I'ma have to start charging interest.'
Ding!
<Mission completed: Slay the Behemoth>
<You have received 30 units of Divine Energy>
+30 Divine Energy
[Balance: 34/1000 Divine Energy.]
[Goldfinger would like to remind the host that delayed rewards are not the same as loans. There is no such thing as interest! Behaving like a loan shark is not advised!]
Goldfinger immediately stated after handing over the reward without hesitation.
'You were pretty fast to react, though,' Albion rolled his eyes.
Shortly after, he ignored the system and focused on browsing his available skills and talents.
Suddenly, Albion paused at a sudden thought, 'Since everything is virtual, isn't it possible for me to stay in the full-power mode without any time limit?'
...
Meanwhile, back in Hunter Association's main headquarter's management area for Hunter World, the Impartial Goddess reappeared on the monitoring screens with a sudden update.
"The Soul Inspector's vital signs have ceased existing," The Impartial Goddess informed.
"Ceased existing, you say? You mean the Soul Inspector was killed by the cheater before he could carry out his soul inspection?" The male operator frowned without much concern.
"No, the Soul Inspector's vital signals ceased after performing the soul inspection," The Impartial Goddess corrected before adding, "The Soul Inspector's brain activity ceased, and the heart had stopped beating."
"What!" The male operator immediately exclaimed with wide eyes, finally realizing the severity of the matter.
"The Soul Inspector died for real even though he was in a virtual space?! How is that possible?! Are you certain?" The male inquired with a look of disbelief.
Sure, people have become braindead, turning into vegetative people before—but never had there been a case of people dying for real.
"Yes. The doctors confirmed the Soul Inspector's death a moment ago after being informed of the unprecedented case," the Impartial Goddess informed honestly.
After listening, the female operator furrowed her brows before suddenly mentioning, "The Soul Inspector is a Shaman with real skills pertaining to the soul even before the Apocalypse started..."
"Shaman were known for being proficient at using their bodies as mediums to connect the world of the dead to the world of the living by allowing spirits to possess their bodies. What if they can also possess others?"
"Are you trying to say that the Soul Inspector injected his whole soul into the cheater's body through his spiritual link in the virtual world, hence resulting in the death of the Soul Inspector's body?" The male operator asked with a deep frown.
"Possibly." The female operator nodded before saying, "The Soul Inspector is quite old, after all. Perhaps, the Soul Inspector's reason being a soul inspector is to find a suitable vessel to possess?"
"But that would be the same as saying that the cheater's battle power is authentic—not to mention that this kind of act is a violation of Hunters' rights. The Hunters will not stay quiet if this event is known."
"Exactly. This problem has already exceeded our jurisdiction," the female operator stated before requesting, "Impartial Goddess, please contain the spread of the Soul Inspector's death and inform the higher-ups about the situation."
"Afterward, please make contact with the target to confirm who is currently in control."
"Understood, Miss Claire." The Impartial Goddess complied.
...
Meanwhile, after Albion's virtual body froze in the middle of the match, the 8000-odd surviving participants began gazing at the still body with doubts.
"Did the Strongest Wizard just disconnect or something? Why did he suddenly stop hunting us?"
"Whether he disconnected or AFK, it does not matter. What's important is that this is our only chance of taking him down!"
"What are you, stupid? This could be a trap to lure us in! How the hell can you even AFK in a VR game? Not to mention, what kind of internet era are we in? Disconnected? Seriously? In this age? Dial-Up doesn't exist anymore!"
A hotblooded Hunter spoke excitedly before getting shot down furiously by another Hunter.
"Then, what the heck do you suggest?! Anyway, we are all busy people. I don't plan on wasting time doing nothing." The hotblooded Hunter stated before shouting, "For honor and glory!"
Owowowo!
After giving his Indian-like war cry, the hotblooded Hunter charged straight at Albion's motionless body with a raised fist!
"Eat my Bone-Shattering Fist!"
Ka-cha!
A bone-crunching sound was heard as the hotblooded Hunter's fist landed squarely on Albion's left cheeks.
"Ahhh!"
The hotblooded Hunter immediately hugged his broken hand in pain, startling the surrounding participants shortly after.
"What the heck! How strong is his body?! Did he master the Buddha Sect's Golden Vajra Body or something?!" A Hunter exclaimed in shock.
At the same time, Albion's body flew some distance and landed face-first into the ground without signs of response or movement—still motionless.
"It seems like the Strongest Wizard really did AFK'd or disconnected with his virtual avatar intact!" A Hunter exclaimed with a pleasant surprise before all the surviving participants became excited.
"F*ck him up, boys!"
"Get that mother f*cker!"
"OU!!!"
The 8000-odd Hunters roared in unison before rushing forward with kicks and punches, throwing Albion's indestructible body left and right.
Albion's body was drowned in the sea of Hunters while numerous people broke their arms and legs trying to deal some damage to Albion's body.
"I will pay 5000 credits for every kick on that person's balls!" A newly-joined anonymous person shouted from the spectating area, but his voice sounded a little bit familiar.
Nevertheless, the participants' eyes immediately flickered with excitement due to the anonymous spectator's incentive.
"Hold that mother f*cker down! I'm going first!"
Albion's body was held in place before numerous kicks landed on his crotch area.
Ka-cha! Ka-cha! Ka-cha!
More legs were broken, but it was not Albion's third leg.
"Ahhh!" The Hunters wailed while hugging their broken legs and feet, greatly shocking the spectators with wide eyes and gaping mouths like saucers.
"Well, I'll be damned! This son of a b*tch has balls of steel!"
"What the hell! How does he even train it to become so tough?!"
Boom!
Suddenly, a surge of energy exploded out from Albion's body and shot towards the heavens like a green pillar of light, blowing away hundreds of Hunters!
Roar!
"I'm back, b*tches!!"
Albion roared cheerily at the top of his lungs while standing with his back arched slightly backward, head raised, and arms stretched out with clenched fists like a certain straw hat breaking out of the barrel.
His body immediately devoured the surrounding Spiritual Energy in the atmosphere while his buzz-cut white hair grew long and lustrous.
"Kukuku. Sorry, everyone. I was experiencing some technical difficulties, but I'm all good now. Let us continue to play."
"Bullsh*t! I knew it! It was a trap to lure us in all along! Damn you, Wizard! How shameless can you be?!" A Hunter shouted furiously with a change in expression.
"Hm?"
Albion was baffled as he gave the angry Hunter a glance.
Shortly after, he scratched his head cluelessly while stating, "I don't know what you are talking about, but why you gotta be so mad? It's only a game."