Chapter 331: I'm in a Hurry

Chapter 331: Chapter 96: I’m in a Hurry

The Clockmaker had considered many ways the players might break the stalemate, but he had never imagined they would use a method like this.

This method meant changing the world itself. It meant divine power, a possibility he dared not even contemplate. It meant that the players—these humans—possessed a strength far beyond his comprehension.

Thousands of black stone pillars flew out from the Dungeon’s entrance, soaring toward the sky and stretching ten thousand meters into the air.

With the pillars as their nexus, the Demon King’s power began to spread. The light of the entire world was absorbed and converted into the Demon King’s might.

After three days and nights of training in the Dungeon under the former Demon King, Duan Fei, the new Demon King, was finally ready to make his debut.

At this moment, his Talent retained the special effects of the Demon King Profession, and he had also collected the special effects of the Mage Class and the Light Mage Profession.

The Demon King’s special effects allowed him to be buffed by the demon hordes under his command. Every player was now considered one of his demons, providing the new Demon King with immense Power.

Using that as a foundation to fuel the effects of the Mage Class and the Light Mage Profession, he absorbed all the light in the world. It was as if a global solar eclipse had occurred, allowing everyone to see the stars twinkling in the sky.

Then, the Dungeon’s encroachment began.

Centered on each stone pillar, the Dungeon’s domain steadily expanded. Without exception, all the land it passed over was transformed, becoming part of the Dungeon itself: the Zeroth Floor.

Realizing what the players intended to do, the Clockmaker stood up grimly and handed the child in his arms to a nearby puppet.

With things having come to this, he held nothing back, plunging his hand viciously into his own chest.

He then pulled out one pocket watch after another, each stained with a viscous black fluid, yet the hands on their faces ticked on, steady and unwavering.

These pocket watches were a part of the Clockmaker’s body, the source of his power. But now, he could no longer afford to care about that.

He forcefully pressed down on a watch. With a wet, cracking sound, the Dungeon’s expansion suddenly ground to a halt.

As one of the four leaders of the Pseudo-men, the Clockmaker wielded an incredible power—the power over time.

By manipulating time, he could make it speed up or slow down. Right now, he was using his power to slow it.

If he could just stall for the final two days, he could at least eliminate Gale, ensuring the safety of the two remaining Pseudo-man leaders.

At the same time, he clung to a sliver of hope that the new Demon King’s power wasn’t so immense that it would prevent him from leisurely manipulating time and making a clean getaway.

But facts are facts, and they don’t change based on one’s wishes.

The Dungeon’s expansion was like a colossal war chariot. Its steel wheels paused for only a few short minutes due to the Clockmaker’s efforts before continuing their advance, causing the pocket watch in his hand to abruptly shatter, its components flying apart.

Refusing to accept it, the Clockmaker took out another pocket watch and pressed down hard.

This time, the watch disintegrated even faster.

Staring at the shattered watch, the Clockmaker knew the Dungeon’s expansion was now unstoppable. His operation was a complete failure.

He stood up at once. Just as he was about to exit the instance, he saw someone appear before him.

It was a blue, spherical creature, a Slime from the game.

The kind that was so pathetically weak you could make dozens of them cry with a single punch.

But the Slime before him was clearly different. Demonic Energy swirled around its body, and the dark sky grew even more somber at its arrival.

It said nothing, but its silence was as heavy as a mountain, making it hard for the Clockmaker to breathe.

Behind it was a nervous-looking lady.

She seemed to be outside for the first time, looking completely out of her element. She kept saying to the sphere beside her, “Duan Someone, we Outer Gods really shouldn’t be running around. We’re only supposed to stay in the Dungeon.”

“This *is* the Dungeon now,” Duan Fei replied, annoyed.

“I know, but I’m just not used to it. I think I’ll go back and check on my mushrooms. Can you handle this alone?”

“I brought you here to be my muscle. Don’t ruin your own reputation right now, alright?”

“But… alright.”

Only then did the Clockmaker realize she was a player, too.

And an acquaintance of his, at that.

Looking at him, the Clockmaker sighed in resignation. “Duan Someone… why is it you again?”

“And who are you?”

After being possessed by the Clockmaker, Nemo’s appearance had changed to that of another person. The ID above his head was also hidden, making it easier for the Clockmaker to act in secret.

Shaking his head, the Clockmaker ignored Duan Fei’s question. Instead, he took out a pocket watch and pressed down hard.

In an instant, his own speed accelerated a hundredfold. His every movement could break the sound barrier.

Then, with a flick of his wrist, he whipped the watch chain out like a small blade and began rapidly slashing at Duan Fei’s body.

Empowered by the accelerating watch, each swing of the blade produced a sonic boom. The mere displacement of air was highly damaging, and the edge of the blade itself possessed an extraordinary power.

After more than a dozen slashes, the accelerating watch’s effect wore off. He staggered back to his original position, gasping for breath. The watch chain in his hand had already disintegrated into dust from the attack.

Clutching his bleeding arm, he stared at the completely unscathed Duan Fei, his expression growing even graver.

As one of the four leaders, his Professional Level had already reached sixty. Killing a group of lowly players should have been a simple task.

But now, looking at the unaffected Duan Fei, he felt as if he were the one being suppressed by a higher Level, not the other way around.

‘Forget it. Next.’

He set down several more pocket watches. A river of time began to appear, and from it, Clockmakers of different Professions emerged one by one and began to attack Duan Fei.

Nemo had used the same type of pocket watch before, but in the Clockmaker’s hands, its effects were far more powerful.

He could precisely control probability, bringing the manifestation of each alternate-Profession self to nearly one hundred percent. This allowed him to draw out much greater power from the watches.

A hundred Clockmakers stepped out, with countless more of various Professions still on their way.

Watching the endless stream of Clockmakers, the former Demon King—now an Outer God—who stood beside Duan Fei stepped forward.

Facing the seemingly infinite Clockmakers, the Outer God spoke with a helpless tone, “Could I please ask you to leave only one?”

It was a simple question, yet it produced an unbelievable effect.

Clockmakers were still emerging from the river of time, but the moment they stepped out, they vanished into thin air, leaving only the original.

Witnessing this, the Clockmaker murmured to himself, “A god?”

“That’s right.” The former Demon King smiled sheepishly. “Excuse me, but do you have any other tricks? I’m in a bit of a hurry.”