Chapter 155 - 125: Meeting of the 7 Kings

Chapter 155: Chapter 125: Meeting of the 7 Kings

Things had now reached the most critical juncture, so naturally, someone with a decent amount of power needed to be sent to oversee the situation.

Murong Yan had paid a hefty price to handle all her competitors and secure this massive opportunity.

Fortunately, this was all happening in the Inner Ring, and in its most backward and remote region at that.

Otherwise, with her level of strength, she really couldn’t have guaranteed a foolproof outcome.

The stakes involved were especially unimaginably high.

If this had happened in the Outer Ring, the resulting conflict would have been enough to tear a continent apart and bury dozens of surrounding nations.

A mere junior like her would have had no right to interfere.

’My thanks to Gutaf, the King. This Demon code-named the King is truly a great guy.’

’A Demon... such a rare and forbidden life-form. This is the first time I’ve ever seen one!’

...

In some ethereal, unknown place, within an ancient Royal Palace, dozens of stone pillars stood silently, supporting the magnificent structure.

"It should be about time, right?"

The Game Monarch’s figure emerged from a stone pillar and walked toward the Throne in the depths of the grand hall.

Below the Throne were thirteen steps. The Game Monarch calmly set foot on the stairs and continued toward the Throne.

But even after a full ten minutes, it still hadn’t finished climbing that short flight of stairs.

"So it really is impossible?"

’I’ve found three satisfactory Cards and successfully mastered them using Xiaowang’s ability, but I still can’t construct an Apostle Armament. Why?’

’Shouldn’t this all be happening as a matter of course?’

’I’ve clearly grasped the rules of the game, so why can’t I synthesize the skill?’

On the steps, the Game Monarch muttered to itself. It was only three steps from the Throne, yet it could go no further.

"Stop wasting your energy. Without the power of an Apostle, you can’t get near the Throne."

"It’s a restriction set by Gutaf. Even if you’ve mastered some of the game’s rules, you can’t break a core setting like this."

Upon another stone pillar in the hall, a human face slowly materialized.

He stared at the Game Monarch with great interest, as if looking at something amusing.

"Yuwen Yong. Of course it’s you."

"Among all the Apostles, you’re the only one who isn’t a coward hiding in your shell."

"Are those other guys planning to do nothing again this time?"

The Game Monarch gave up its futile efforts and appeared before the stone pillar where Yuwen Yong was.

Today was a special day. Those people in the outside world were about to make a move again.

Frustratingly, the players inside were a disappointment; not a single one dared to openly stand up and rebel.

"Today is indeed the best day to overthrow Gutaf. One might even say it’s the only chance."

"If we miss today, trying to fight Gutaf on Judgment Day will be pointless."

"But Gutaf is a Demon. They’re scared!"

Yuwen Yong was just as disdainful, but his words angered an "eavesdropper."

"Yuwen Yong, you’re just a newly-ascended Apostle. You have no idea how terrifying the real Gutaf is."

"You haven’t seen how the Apostles from the last few rounds died, but we have!"

"Stop making such flippant remarks."

Another man’s face appeared on a stone pillar. Clearly, he was also a LV6 player.

"Heh, so it’s the Sun King!"

"As expected of a former member of the Seven Kings Association. Daring to show your face here today... looks like you still have ideas about the throne."

Yuwen Yong’s passive-aggressive taunt made the Sun King’s pillar glow red with anger.

Unfortunately, in the end, he didn’t dare to step out of the pillar.

The Seven Kings Association was a former organization of Apostle players. They all styled themselves as kings, their goal naturally being to usurp Gutaf’s position.

As for the result? Now only the Sun King was left, barely clinging to life.

The current Apostle players had long since lost any ambition to fight for the throne.

They had reached a compromise with Gutaf, working together to maintain the normal operation of the King’s Game.

Gutaf had made them a grand promise: sooner or later, the King’s Game would break out of the Lanyu Kingdom and spread to other nations.

When that time came, every Apostle player’s power would advance, and they would become regional lords in their own right.

Under this combination of threats and inducements, the game had reached its current state of equilibrium.

...

"Hmph. I just came to advise you two not to act rashly."

"Without Gutaf, we won’t be able to withstand the Rebound from the Cards."

"After today, it’s every man for himself!"

After the Sun King finished speaking, his face vanished completely. He had evidently gone offline.

Yuwen Yong frowned. ’These bastards are useless. So damn cowardly.’

"Yuwen Yong, don’t count on them. You’d be better off helping me."

"As long as I can become an Apostle, Gutaf is a dead man!"

"You humans fear Demons, but I don’t!"

The Game Monarch seemed agitated, because today was truly a golden opportunity.

The upcoming probing from the outside would trigger two conflicting forces within the game, and it could seize the opportunity to gain more of the game’s Authority.

As long as it could touch the throne, it might just be able to drag Gutaf down.

Frustratingly, players "could not have an audience" and were simply unable to approach the Throne unless they planned to rebel completely and traverse the steps with brute strength.

And the dividing line for that strength was becoming an Apostle.

The Game Monarch was currently stuck at this very point.

...

"Heh. A mere Alien like you wants to lay a hand on the throne?"

"Demons have the power to peer into the Soul. Their ultimate killing move is the Demon Light Wave."

"During the game’s turmoil, no one can use their Card abilities. That’s why the Apostles who rebelled before were most likely killed by this move."

"Since you don’t fear Demons, that can only mean one thing: you don’t have a Soul."

"If that’s the case, you can never become an Apostle."

"Card fusion isn’t part of the game’s rules. It’s something we humans pieced together bit by bit using our Wisdom."

"And constructing an Apostle Armament requires a flash of Spiritual Light. Without a Soul, you can’t possibly succeed."

"Game Monarch, you really are treating this like just a game."

"I have a rough idea of your identity. I never thought those guys messing around with ’Second World’ would actually stir up real trouble."

Yuwen Yong’s face was full of disdain. As if a mere Alien was worthy of his help.

"Fine. Fine! FINE!"

"Yuwen Yong, that mouth of yours will be the death of you one day."

"You may have guessed my identity, but do you think I don’t know yours?"

"A Demon Hunter from the Outer Ring actually ran into the Inner Ring. The human World has truly grown corrupt again!"

"Since you want to hunt this Demon so badly, I’ll leave it to you!"

"I hope you don’t regret this!"

Its identity exposed, the Game Monarch flew into a humiliated rage. It was currently being hunted, and after finally discovering a Heaven like this, it absolutely could not be "exposed."

’Therefore, anyone who knows its identity must die. That idiot, Yuwen Yong... does he really think Gutaf is just some ordinary Demon?’

Since this guy wanted to hunt a Demon, it would grant him his wish.

Having made its decision, the Game Monarch sank straight into the stone pillar and vanished.

Inside the entire Royal Palace, only Yuwen Yong remained.

After a long moment, a figure slowly emerged from the stone pillar.

In the end, Yuwen Yong decided to act. If he missed today, his identity having already been exposed, he might not live to see the next round of the game.

Today was the best opportunity.

In the next instant, the entire Royal Palace began to shake as if it had been struck by something.

The tremors were so violent that fine cracks began to appear on the floor of the Royal Palace.