Chapter 266: Punishment Instance Dungeon (1/2)
GOR Chapter 266: Punishment Instance Dungeon
“Since those protective rules do not apply to me, then…” Chen Xiaolian spoke out. However, as he was halfway through his words, GM interrupted him. “Wait.”
“Mm?”
“Those rules indeed do not apply to you. However… why do I have to tell you?”
Those words left Chen Xiaolian surprised.
“Aren’t we in a cooperation right now?”
“Even if you do not cooperate with me, you will still need to struggle to survive through the instance dungeons and complete them,” said GM coolly. “Besides, I have given you assistance before. That Exchange System of yours is how I assisted you.”
“… that Exchange System that sells spicy bars?” Chen Xiaolian replied with a wry smile.
“In order to avoid being detected by the system, I had no choice but to do so. Theoretically speaking, this is a cheating program,” said GM with a wry smile as well. He continued, “All the equipment within the system is created by the system. All of these have their own code numbers. The system have its own set of rules on these code numbers. Matters like how much is being generated and how much is being consumed can be inspected through the use of these code numbers. As for me, I am not the Development Team; I am part of the system. If I try any hanky-panky stuff on this process, I will be easily found out by the Development Team.
“I can only exert power over part of the redundant values portion of the system.
“For example, some of the game participants who died would have some reserve items on them even after death. Those items could be equipment or medicinal substances. Following the death of the participant, these items would be recollected by the system before deleting them.
“All I can do is to take away part of those items, similar to taking away redundant values and putting it up for you – additionally, I am also unable to simply give it to you.
“That is because I am the GM, which makes me part of the system. And the system is unable to give items in such a way!
“The system only allows exchanges when giving out items!
“The exchange price is also similar to that of the system. That is the only way to avoid the anomaly scans.”
“But was there a need to make it so outrageous? Spicy bars, instant noodles, potato chips, van…” Chen Xiaolian smiled wryly. “In the heat of battle, when my enemy raises his sword against me, I react by raising an absorbent mop. Don’t you think there’s something wrong here?”
“As I said, this is for the sake of avoiding the system’s scans. Theoretically speaking, these items should not exist. They should have been deleted. I intercepted these data and redirected them into an external program I made for you. Naturally, there is a need to rename them. Otherwise, it would easily be found out by the system.
“Very well!”
Chen Xiaolian gave a helpless and bitter smile.
I just won’t use it for weapons or equipment.
As for the medicinal substances… spicy bars will have to do!
“So, what would it take for you to give me those fellows’ information?”
GM turned to look Chen Xiaolian in the eye and said, “An exchange.”
“Exchange?”
GM sneered and said, “Don’t you think that this cooperation of ours have been very unfair for me? Even if I don’t help you, you will still need to participate in the instance dungeons. You will have to do your best to complete the instance dungeon quests – it is your own life and death that is on the table.
“But did you really do anything for me?”
“… that makes sense,” said Chen Xiaolian as he nodded his head.
“I helped you solve your problem with the Exchange System. Thus, if you want to get more benefits from me, I feel that exchanges should be the way to go. I am not your nanny after all. There is no need for me to quickly help you with whatever you request from me.
Chen Xiaolian frowned and replied, “If so, what is it you want me to do for you?”
“It’s very simple, follow some of my arrangements,” said GM with a smile. “Thanks to the existence of your guild, there are times when you can choose to avoid instance dungeons that would normally have been mandatory. This is the special treatment given to guilds that managed to attain some rank. It also gives you the right to adjust the number of members to field and others.
“At some point in time, when faced with certain instance dungeons, there may come a time that you fellows do not wish to participate in that instance dungeon. Of course, you would also be able to utilize the guild features to avoid participating in that instance dungeon.
“However, there would be some instance dungeons that I would require you fellows to participate in!”
“For example?”
“For example, a punishment instance dungeon.”
GM said in a calm voice.
…
Chen Xiaolian was shocked.
Instance dungeons represented the biggest shackles chaining the hearts of Awakened ones.
If there were freedom to be had, no one would willingly choose to participate in an instance dungeon!
Each participation in an instance dungeon was a test that could end with death!
Why would Zero City be considered as a paradise for all Awakened ones? Because Zero City could block off the extraction for instance dungeons for everyone within it!
If there was an option to not participate in instance dungeons, then only a madman would choose to voluntarily enter the instance dungeon and risk their lives!
Furthermore, this was the legendary punishment instance dungeon!
Punishment instance dungeons were more severe and brutal compared to normal instance dungeons!
It was a punishment meant for the game participants who failed to complete the normal instance dungeons.
After failing to complete the other instance dungeons, they will have another chance in the punishment instance dungeon.
However, the failure to complete the punishment instance dungeon… would normally lead to… death!
Additionally, punishment instance dungeons were generally of the competitive type. The Awakened ones who entered these instance dungeons must not only struggle to survive. They must also obey the rules of the system and kill one another.
The strong survives while the weak perishes.
…
“You mean to say… you want me to participate in a punishment instance dungeon?”
“Yes.”
“Why?” asked Chen Xiaolian with a frown.
“Because this time, I need you to go,” said GM coolly.
Chen Xiaolian weighed the matter carefully and said, “If you don’t explain things clearly, I won’t agree to it. Revenge is indeed important. Still, there is no need to throw my own life into doing so. If I end up dying in the punishment instance dungeon, then I will have no hope of getting revenge.”
GM sighed.
It finally answered the question.
“All of the instance dungeon storylines are used to make up the events provided by the system. In each of those events, the fundamental directives of the system could be seen.
“However, punishment instance dungeons are special.
“The participants of punishment instance dungeons consists of only Awakened ones.
“This is a specially set up event targeted at Awakened ones.
“It is also an arrangement used by the system to control the number of Awakened ones.
“It could ensure that the number of Awakened ones do not go overboard, which would disrupt the balance of the system.
“At the same time, it could weed out some weaklings.
“Also… even some who are too powerful. This would be an opportunity to get rid of them.”
“Wait, I understand the part about weeding out the weak. But, getting rid of the strong… what do you mean?”
“As I have said before, punishment instance dungeons are created following the appearance of Awakened ones.
“Theoretically speaking, the strong would never end up in punishment instance dungeons… since they are strong, they would have what it takes to grasp victory in instance dungeons.
“But there are always exceptions.
“For example, there are times when only one winning team is allowed in a normal instance dungeon.
“At the same time, the system would select several strong Awakened ones to participate in this instance dungeon.
“Then, it is only natural that some of the strong Awakened ones end up failing to attain the winning spot. They will then be forced to enter the punishment instance dungeon.
“This punishment instance dungeon forms the special means for the system to adjust and control the Awakened ones.
“The strength of the Players is something that the Development Team has total control over.
“However, since Awakened ones are the resisting natives of this world, there are many cases in which the system is incapable of fully controlling their growth.
“When it is found that the overall strength of an Awakened had become too strong, say to the point where they could threaten the overall strength of the Players, the system would determine that it had crossed the line that would lead to imbalance.
“At that point, punishment instance dungeons can be used to weaken the Awakened ones.”
“By letting them kill each other?” Chen Xiaolian sneered.
“Correct.”
“But what did you mean when you say get rid of the strong?”
“The storyline for punishment instance dungeons can be freely controlled by the system.
“In other words, there could be a storyline quest similar to that of normal instance dungeons.
“It is also possible for the system to temporarily put up an additional quest.
“This quest could include, although not limited to making a powerful Awakened team who entered the punishment instance dungeon as the target objective. The system will have every other Awakened ones who were being punished attack the targeted team!
“Something like this could also be made into a quest!
“All against one. Have that most powerful Awakened team become the target and get everyone within the punishment instance dungeon to kill off that team!”
Hearing that, Chen Xiaolian swore out inwardly.
“You need to understand that punishment instance dungeons are not part of the earliest form of the system.
“However, after the emergence of the Awakened ones… the system was patched.
“Additionally, due to the fact that this patch was something added in later on, its powers of control is very strong.
“As for the system, its ability to supervise and regulate the punishment instance dungeon is relatively weaker.
“This is because punishment instance dungeons were not part of the original system. It was something added later on.
“The original system was created for Players only.
“It was only after the Awakened ones appeared that this subsystem known as punishment instance dungeon was added.
“Therefore, when within a punishment instance dungeon, there are many things that can exceed the original system – it is a backdoor in the system.