Chapter 1413: 467. Vulnerable, Good

Inner Cosmos, more than 30 kilometers beneath Alchemist Island.

On the barrier of the inner layer of the crystal-like ground, the Death Steel Legion escorted 15 Soul Constructs towards the entrance to the Illusion Space.

Near the inner layer barrier, the majority of extraordinary power was suppressed.

Even the Metal Ancestor Dragon and the Death Steel Legion could only rely on oil-burning trucks to transport the Soul Constructs near the entrance to the Illusion Space.

The crystal ground was smooth and flat, without a blade of grass, and to move on this slippery surface, the Death Steel Legion strapped metal chains to the tires of the trucks.

Amidst the “clatter clatter” of the vibrating chains, the trucks moved slowly forward, and the entire fleet crept across the vast crystal ground like snails.

Following behind the convoy, the metallic puppets of the Metal Ancestor Dragon walked inch by inch, closely behind.

There were mainly two forms of these metal puppets.

One was the metal Dragon Man, large and burly with round arms.

They looked like they were cast from the same mold, each being nearly 3 meters tall, with robust physiques and bulging muscles, obviously filled with explosive power.

The metal Dragon Men wore simple, yet extremely thick metal armor and, at a distance, they looked more like canned tin with wings and limbs rather than the swift and agile Dragon Man of legends.

The other type of metal puppet was a bit strange.

They were basketball-sized metal octopuses, slumped on the heads of the metal Dragon Men with eight metal tentacles draped over the skulls of the Dragon Men, the filthy-smelling iron suction cups clinging tightly to the skin.

The top of the metal octopus had two smaller eyes, whose eyeballs were connected to the head of the octopus through thin eyestalks.

With the step of the metal Dragon Men, the eyestalks swayed up and down, and the smaller eyes half-closed, seeming to doze off yet looking vigilantly around.

Such an odd combination of Dragon Men with octopuses naturally drew extra glances from the players in the convoy.

These players, with robust nerves and not a care in the world, had recovered from their initial fear and accepted their destiny of being inexplicably shackled in metal and forced to move with Metal Skeletons, Metal Dragon Men, and Metal Octopuses.

Intriguing to say the least.

The game “Starry Sea”, with all sorts of bugs one can imagine.

Not long ago, a large-scale collective disconnection incident involving players just happened.

Now, right after the rewards for the disconnection incident were distributed, there arose this situation where players are forcibly bound, issued tasks, and sent into special spaces.

Where is the game customer service?

Where is the complaint entrance?

Where is the compensation for what happened afterward?

The planners better come out and kneel before us. If they don’t give us more compensation, they will regret it.

The challenges facing the players were not limited to their restricted movements.

Among the 15 players, 12 had joined the Dark Divine Cult.

These 12 players formed a small group among themselves to exchange information.

They quickly figured out that the three other players–namely Cucumber Slice, Winter Melon, and Kelp–were not members of the Dark Divine Cult and had not taken on the hidden profession of “Dark Priest.”

What does this imply?

It means that if this NPC-assembled player team faces any difficulties in the upcoming dungeon challenge, this group of Dark Divine Cult members can betray Cucumber Slice and his two companions to surmount the obstacles.

Tasks like scouting traps, which had a high chance of death, could all be handed over to Cucumber Slice’s trio.

After all, in a majority rules situation, their group of 12 would definitely have the numbers to overpower the other three.

On the other side, Cucumber Slice, Winter Melon, and Kelp noticed the 12 players who were making faces and secretly communicating using the Chat System.

The three of them also had a small group and were now discussing tensely.

Cucumber Slice sent a message in the group:

“Guys, this doesn’t look good. Those 12 are clearly together. It’s a safe bet we’re in deep trouble. Have your ‘Reality Operation Modes’ recovered?”

“No.”

“No.”

In Reality Operation Mode, the tactile sensation of the player’s hands connects with reality.

Once switched to this mode, players can sense reality with their hands, allowing them to take off their game helmets and force a disconnect.

With the in-game “disconnect” button malfunctioning, forced disconnection was the only way back to reality.

But, sadly, after the “disconnect” button turned grey, the button for “Reality Operation Mode” also became unresponsive.

Cucumber Slice and his companions were completely trapped in the game, hoping someone on the outside would notice their plight and help them disconnect.

Winter Melon sent a voice message with a tone of disappointment:

“Damn it, I have a blind date with a girl tonight. Now how am I supposed to take her out for a nice meal and a movie?”

Kelp added:

“Hey, I need to return tonight to grind Monkey God. If I don’t log off soon, I’ll miss my daily sign-in.”

Winter Melon asked in surprise:

“What the hell, you still play a retro game like Monkey God when we have ‘Starry Sea’?”

“Mind your own business. It’s about nostalgia, get it?”

“Nostalgia my ass, you monkey’s uncle.”

“%@#@…”

Cucumber Slice ignored the bickering in the chat group, lost in thought.

About 10 minutes ago, he and both Winter Melon and Kelp were swallowed by the ship’s Control Console, and then what followed was oppression and the silent darkness.