Chapter 13: Squad Assembled, Four Players on the Map

[Omni-Network Notification: Player "Nightingale" has invited you to join the instance dungeon "Abandoned Ancient Mechanical Factory" (Purgatory Difficulty).]

Lin Bo accepted the invitation, and the instance pass in his inventory activated. A deep purple vortex opened before him.

His final preparation before departure was to check that his mask’s voice-modulation function was working correctly. Lin Bo donned his left-arm guard and stepped through, short spear in hand.

The moment he crossed the portal, a thunderous roar erupted in his ears.

A melee-type mechanical guard was hurled through the air like a white blur, streaking past Lin Bo so closely that the turbulent wake of air made his bangs tremble.

Following the sound, Lin Bo spotted a short, muscular man with a shaved head and a thick, wild beard, his eyes bulging with such ferocity he looked ready to devour a child. His bare, muscular torso was strapped with leather belts, four throwing axes attached to his chest and a massive great axe slung across his back. His posture was wild and savage; he was clearly a seasoned barbarian.

Lin Bo was the second to arrive; the barbarian teammate had entered a few seconds earlier and was already engaged in combat.

In this four-player difficulty setting, the number of mechanical guards defending the main entrance had increased from three to six. The barbarian was swarmed immediately, but he acted decisively, grabbing one of the guards and hurling it at a marksman to disrupt its aim.

Seeing the masked mage emerge from the portal, the barbarian took a moment to wave and grin, a brief greeting amidst the chaos.

Text appeared in the chat channel at the corner of Lin Bo’s vision.

[Flying Grass]: You got here fast. Want to see who gets more kills?

Since everyone came from different worlds, language barriers were common. Inside the instance, they communicated via the chat channel. As for whether there was a conventional "common tongue" among Omni-Network players, there was indeed—especially among veterans—though it was not yet widespread among newcomers.

Lin Bo did not reply. Instead, he whispered his true name.

"(Word of Power) Copper Moon."

Without bending his knees to build momentum, he suddenly launched himself into the air. With a mid-air pivot like a flying electric arc, he dove in front of a marksman guard that was targeting his teammate. He swiped his palm, knocking the barrel aside just as the electromagnetically accelerated projectile whizzed into the empty space.

Before the guard could realign, the short spear pierced its neck, and it collapsed instantly.

Nearby, the barbarian drew his great axe and delivered a thunderous blow that left a deep dent in a melee guard’s chest plate, the sheer force sending the heavy machine flying like plastic refuse. He capitalized on the momentum, closing the distance in two strides, kicking the fallen guard onto its back, and bringing his axe down in a brutal arc. Amidst a jarring screech of metal, the barbarian’s reckless attack cracked the machine’s iron skull.

"Heh, that’s one down. Let’s see how many we can take before the others get here..." Flying Grass turned to greet "Lighthouse Keeper" with a laugh, but his smile froze.

Behind him, the masked mage stepped on the back of the last guard and pulled out his spear.

The portal hummed.

A tall man in grey-blue leather light armor leapt out nimbly. He carried a cartoon-graffitied electromagnetic rifle on his shoulder and held two short swords in his hands. Upon entering, he immediately crouched, his movements filled with ingrained caution.

Finally, a petite, white-haired girl emerged from the vortex. She wore a pristine white gauze dress, and a semi-transparent, armored swordsman trailed closely behind her, its body wreathed in pale purple soul energy.

The four-person team was assembled.

[Nightingale]: You two big shots are fast! Didn't leave any for me?

The rogue relaxed his guard, his face breaking into a playful, winking grin.

[Starry Eyes]: Hello, everyone! We’ve finally met.

The soul-summoning witch held her dress with both hands and offered the three of them a formal, courtly curtsy.

The barbarian’s expression was peculiar; he merely nodded absentmindedly at his teammates. The mage didn't know what to say, so he just gave a thumbs-up.

[Nightingale]: Let’s set up our formation. I’ll take the lead for reconnaissance. Witch, you stay in the middle; don’t hesitate to use your spells when needed. Mage, you take the rear. Big Brother Barbarian, you’ve got the most experience, so just adapt as you go. How does that sound?

[Flying Grass]: The enemy positions on the first floor are randomized, so you scouting helps mark them. Before we head to the second floor, I’ll take the vanguard. Mage, you and I will hold the front line then.

[Lighthouse Keeper]: No problem.

The little witch nodded repeatedly, ready to obey her teammates' commands.

As the factory gates opened, the rogue—clad in skin-tight leather—moved like a drop of coffee into ink, his footsteps as silent as a ghost in the dim light.

In the chat channel, [Nightingale] uploaded images, marking the locations of the enemies he observed. The number of guards on the first floor had increased from seven to twelve, and their ambush positions remained insidious.

Furthermore, the Purgatory difficulty featured many inconspicuous traps: pressure plates connected to hidden darts, tripwires attached to explosive canisters, and surveillance monitors that would emit piercing alarms. The rogue disarmed these as he went.

Lin Bo took note, particularly of the monitors on the walls. They had to be dealt with quickly; if an alarm triggered, the entire factory would hear it, and the two elite enemies on the third floor would descend to join the fodder, making the situation much harder to manage.

Once the rogue finished scouting the first floor, he signaled in the channel and began clearing out the enemies, working from the end of the path back toward the entrance, while the three teammates pushed forward to meet him.

The barbarian led the charge, roaring as he rushed in.

Lin Bo typed in the channel, telling the soul-summoning witch to stay at the back.

[Starry Eyes] clasped her hands over her chest, standing obediently in place. She heard a vague, wind-like sound coming from beneath the mage’s cold, rigid mask.

Before she could ask what it meant, she saw the mysterious Lighthouse Keeper levitate off the ground, drifting toward the battlefield as lightly as a feather in the wind.

His teammate swung his great axe, battling three guards at once, holding his own in a fierce struggle.

The mage dove into the encirclement, weaving through the air. His short spear darted out, instantly knocking down two mechanical guards and relieving his teammate.

His movements were so swift and agile, like frost-covered leaves in the wind, that he bypassed the barbarian in an instant and plunged into the heart of the enemy nest. Everything in his path was felled; not a single enemy lasted more than one exchange.

Only then did the witch realize what the man meant by being "skilled in melee." She pressed her hands to her lips in excitement, her eyes sparkling.

[Flying Grass] fought hard to down a minion and took long strides to catch up, hoping to scavenge some leftovers, but the path was littered only with mechanical debris. The core components had been pierced by high-voltage electricity; they were beyond repair.

He gritted his teeth, his face flushed—perhaps from the barbarian’s "Berserk" skill—as he stared at his teammate’s retreating back.

Is this really a Level 2 Mage, not a Level 2 Sword Saint?

The rogue, [Nightingale], sneaked behind a mechanical guard. Finding the gap in its neck joint, he plunged his short sword in.

"Gotcha!" he chuckled, gently laying the paralyzed guard on the ground.

Ahead stood two guards side-by-side. The rogue leveled his electromagnetic rifle, preparing to lure one away, when he suddenly saw a familiar black shadow dash in from afar. The two guards raised their pole-blades, spinning them like tops as they slashed toward the shadow.

[Nightingale]’s exclamation reached his lips but was choked back.

The guards’ fierce assault was nullified in a single encounter; both were struck down instantly. The shadow crossed the wreckage and drifted before the rogue. The gaze peering out from the glass eye-holes of the mechanical mask held no killing intent—only a calm, leisurely composure.

[Lighthouse Keeper]: Did you clear the ones ahead? We can move to the second floor now.

[Nightingale]: Brother, I’ve never said anything harsh to you before, right?

The mage looked puzzled: No, why do you ask?

[Nightingale]: I just suddenly realized that my previous admiration for you was like a surging river, yet it still wasn't enough to express my gratitude...

[Starry Eyes]: Mage, you’re so cool!

[Flying Grass]: Can't you leave some for me? (Grieved) (Angry)

Lin Bo couldn't help but laugh. Beneath the mask, a hoarse, hollow sound of wind echoed.

The four of them joked as they regrouped.

The witch suddenly made a request: "Leave the enemies on the second floor to me later. Everyone can take a break."

The three teammates were curious—how could this seemingly fragile little girl be so confident?