Above Cairo, Egypt, stood the "King of Black Fog" clad in a purple Daoist robe, his head crowned with a Golden Crown, backlit against a dark sea of clouds, resembling a sovereign commanding heavenly might.
The aura of having slaughtered millions was released unabated.
Fear gripped Nadi Labaki's throat, his vision blurred momentarily as he longed to flee, to hide among the crowds in the city beneath his feet.
'The King of Black Fog is the strongest Immortal; how could I possibly defeat him!'
'If only I had let someone else go first, knowing his skills, I could have also used this time to grow stronger.'
'According to intelligence, the King of Black Fog can control flames, and the city is ablaze. Could the fight destroy Cairo? Could it affect Amin?'
Anxiety, regret, frustration, worry, fear...
"Nadi's condition isn't right!"
"His emotions are wildly fluctuating, devoid of any positive emotions, all are negative! I suspect the target has skills related to emotion control or potentially killing intent!"
"Can we make a move?"
"No, I tried to act, but 'Crisis Consciousness' sent a maximum alert! Making a move would be fatal!"
On the grass, people constantly passed by, gathering intelligence.
Throughout Cairo, experts from around the world watched the battle overhead, some even broadcast it live.
The Fiery Fire Phoenix, the Minor Martial Saint, Door Plate, and other high-ranking members of Xia Country's Special Warfare Bureau gathered on a castle rooftop.
"Human Tribulation," the Minor Martial Saint murmured, "The Special Warfare Bureau organized it three times, the first time only one survived, the second time three, the third time five, all three 'Tribulation Immortal' missions failed."
"The number of survivors is increasing, and with each try, success is bound to come eventually," the Fiery Fire Phoenix affirmed.
"You're wrong," Door Plate said from the eaves.
The Fiery Fire Phoenix looked at him.
"Surviving doesn't mean we are nearing success, it means we are scared to take action."
"To use those experts' words, we've actively disengaged from the Human Tribulation, and just took a round in the instance. This maybe why the Value Game updated the 'Human Tribulation Rule'—"
Aman looked towards the 'King of Black Fog' "—forcing those undergoing tribulation to fight desperately, not allowing anyone to flee."
The Minor Martial Saint, Door Plate, Aman were members of the team during the Special Warfare Bureau's third 'Tribulation Immortal' mission.
Only those who have been inside know the terror of Human Tribulation, with peers of equal level around, where friend and foe are differentiated by a single thought, allies one moment, enemies the next.
◇
"Brother, what level of Human Tribulation is this?" Li Qianxia curiously stared at the water's surface.
"Second Level," Li Changzhou didn't know the exact details, but he knew the strength he had deployed, and from that, he could deduce the level of the Human Tribulation.
"Second Level… a weakened version, Divine Body locked, fifty percent combat power, complete combat consciousness… Mmm—is that strong, or weak?" Li Qianxia assessed, unsure if she could defeat it.
Before she could finish, the "King of Black Fog" on the water's surface retreated, a tall humanoid black fog stood in mid-air.
"..."
All of the elder brother's Killing Moves were exposed, nothing left hidden.
◇
It's over.
Nadi Labaki despaired completely.
What is the point of living?
Why fight so hard in the Value Game?
At least once a month, facing life and death, to prevent being overtaken by adversaries, one must enter several times a month.
If the opponent goes twice, you go thrice; if you go thrice, the opponent goes four times; each time is a brush with death, and all the teammates by your side have changed over and over… When will it end?
Everyone has a day they will die; why then live so painfully?
Nadi Labaki drew out a spear, aimed at his own neck—
"Nadi!!"
Nadi Labaki abruptly woke up to Amin's voice.
He looked down, instantly spotting among the crowd Amin's slender figure, her head wrapped in a scarf, hands tightly clasped, looking worriedly at him, praying to Allah for him.
"Quick, move away from here!" Suddenly a player in the crowd screamed in terror.
Boom!
The dark clouds churned, another tall humanoid stepped out, slowly landing in front of Amin, a murderous aura directly pressing down.
Amin trembled as if chilled to the bone, her worries since last night about Nadi Labaki's death erupted all at once, and she convulsed, collapsing to the ground.
"What's wrong?" Aman urgently looked over.
"The system determined she interfered with the tribulation!" Door Plate abruptly stood up.
"Ah.... Ah!" Nadi Labaki wailed as if robbed of his speech.
In front of Amin, Li Changzhou pointed a finger, flames fell on Amin. Her flesh rapidly turned red and black, sloughing off, and instantly she was reduced to bones.
"Ah!" Nadi Labaki completely went mad.
He roared, transforming into a towering Centaur beast wielding a large axe, stomping the void, charging towards the 'King of Black Fog' on the ground.
Whoosh!
The Black Fog blocked in front of him.
Everyone intensely focused on the battlefield, not missing any movement of the 'King of Black Fog,' noting down every skill and move.
"Bang!"
The Black Fog was directly dispersed.
"What?!"
So easily defeated?
The Centaur, right arm raised high clutching the hunting ax, the sunlight's rays fell on the Centaur, plating him in a divine, golden hue.
Whoosh! The Black Fog gathered again, appearing once more in front of the Centaur.
With a swing of the axe, the surrounding sunlight was drawn in, forming a sharp blade of light.
Hisss!
"Bang!" The Black Fog shattered once more.
The Centaur charged through the shattered Black Fog, closing in on the 'King of Black Fog' on the ground.