Chapter 83 The Void Chessboard (1)

As the hustle and bustle and romance of the celebration banquet gradually faded away, when Gu Yunqing's consciousness was withdrawn from that night filled with applause, starlight and promises, he found that he did not immediately return to the pure white world, but was in a pure white and tranquil space of consciousness.

There is no sense of the passage of time here, only absolute tranquility.

[System Notification: The novel world instance 'From Cannon Fodder to Protagonist' quest is in progress...]

Main Quest: Completed. Overall Rating: S.

[Rewards: 100,000 Achievement Points, Special Item 'Fate Reshaping Badge' (can slightly reverse one unfavorable plot judgment), Permanent 5% increase in Mental Strength, 10% increase in Vest Synchronization Rate.]

[Note: This instance is a special bonus instance in the 'Battle for Glory' series, designed to help participating teams build strength, improve team cohesion, and complete necessary prerequisites.]

All registered teams have completed their assigned 'Fate-Turning' dungeon. Information regarding the next round of official competitive dungeons will be released in 24 hours; please be prepared.

Sure enough, it was a welfare book. Gu Yunqing understood. The relatively "lenient" rules and the setting that allowed the use of external forces to change one's fate were all just a prelude to a truly brutal battle.

He felt the S-level spiritual power surging within him, which was more solid and powerful than before entering the dungeon, like a vast ocean.

In his sea of ​​consciousness, four disguise cards floated silently, their connection to his spiritual core stronger and smoother than ever before.

He can now switch between four completely different power traits with ease, as if they were his own limbs, with just a thought.

This sense of complete control filled him with anticipation for the upcoming "battle for glory".

The moment his consciousness returned to his personal space in the pure white world, he almost simultaneously received a communication request from Jun Xiangbei.

The call connected, and Jun Xiangbei's figure appeared on the virtual screen. He still had that aloof look, but the way he looked at Gu Yunqing was different.

Beneath that ice, tenderness and care were clearly visible.

"You're back?" Jun Xiangbei asked, his voice steady yet carrying a hint of barely perceptible relief.

"Hmm." Gu Yunqing nodded, looked at him, and couldn't help but ask the question that had been lingering in her mind for a long time.

"Brother Bei, how did you end up in that instance?" He remembered clearly that Jun Xiangbei had not signed up for the "Battle of Glory".

Jun Xiangbei remained silent for a moment, seemingly organizing his thoughts, before speaking in a calm tone a truth that slightly surprised Gu Yunqing.

“My situation… is somewhat special.” Jun Xiangbei looked at him with a frank expression.

"Initially, when my world detected the link to 'Pure White Game,' out of precaution, my 'main body' split into multiple independent consciousnesses, scattered across different levels and early instances of Pure White Game. The purpose was to comprehensively assess the nature and potential risks of this game."

"After it was confirmed that the game itself was not malicious, but rather contained many opportunities, these consciousnesses were not forcibly reclaimed," Jun Xiangbei continued to explain.

"Some of them naturally dissipated their energy and returned over a long period of time, some actively merged with 'me' when they encountered it, and some... got lost in the complex dungeon logic, were absorbed by the pure white game, and became fixed NPCs or background settings in certain dungeons."

Jun Xiangbei looked at Gu Yunqing, a faint smile flashing in his eyes: "The 'Jun Xiangbei' in the 'novel world' is a consciousness that has not been completely assimilated, retains some independence, and has a special sensitivity to my core emotional modules."

Gu Yunqing understood.

That's why Jun Xiangbei's gaze towards him was so complex, carrying a sense of familiarity and a fatal attraction, yet lacking the memories of their shared experiences.

That was not a complete NPC, but a "remnant" that possessed some of Jun Xiangbei's essence.

"When the last instance ended, I actively absorbed and recycled that consciousness," Jun Xiangbei said casually, as if he were talking about a trivial matter.

“So now ‘I’ fully possess that experience and those emotions.” He paused, his gaze becoming even more focused on Gu Yunqing.

"Because of this bug, the system determined that I 'participated' in the bonus instance and obtained the corresponding qualification. Therefore, I will officially participate in the subsequent 'Battle for Glory'."

"Understood." Gu Yunqing smiled, a relaxed and genuine smile. "Then...please cooperate with me, Brother Bei. No, now...boyfriend?"

He spoke with a slightly mocking tone.

Jun Xiangbei's ears turned almost imperceptibly red for a moment, but he remained calm and simply nodded slightly: "Mm."

The brief moment of tenderness was diluted by the pressing time; 24 hours passed in the blink of an eye.

When the system announcement, which resounded through the souls of all the participants, descended once more, the entire pure white world seemed to tremble:

The Battle for Glory has officially begun!

[Competition Format Announced:]

All teams will compete in three rounds of competitive dungeons to determine the final champion.

In each round, 10 teams will enter the same competitive instance.

[Advancement Rules: Only the final 1 to 3 surviving teams will qualify for advancement (determined according to the specific rules of the instance).]

[Elimination Rules: Death within the instance constitutes a true elimination from that round of the competition, preventing participation in subsequent events. However, if the death is not a true death, achievement points can be used to revive the player (after revival, the player will return to the Pure White World).]

[Scoring Rules: Defeating members of other teams earns "Glory Points," which greatly influence final rankings and rewards.]

[First round group stage matchups announced...]

[Group C: All Things Team (Gu Yunqing), Holy Judgment Team (Sylvie - Pantheon), Shadow Dagger Team (Bu Suanzi), Probability Team (Ji Changyu), Iron Wall Team...]

Upon seeing the list, Gu Yunqing's eyes narrowed slightly; it was full of familiar faces.

Sylvie, the "Holy Judgement," is a saintess of the Pantheon, wielding the power of light and judgment. She clashed with the "Ragnarok" instance.

"Shadow Dagger" Bu Suanzi is a veteran expert skilled in assassination and curses, and is treacherous and unpredictable.

Ji Changyu, nicknamed "Probability," possesses a gambler's mentality and bizarre supernatural abilities; he should not be underestimated.

Jun Xiangbei's "Polaris" team was placed in Group B, meaning they couldn't play together in the first round.

Soon, Jun Xiangbei's communication came through, containing only eight simple yet powerful words: "Fight on your own, and meet at the summit."

Gu Yunqing replied, "Definitely."

After cutting off the communication, Gu Yunqing took a deep breath, his eyes becoming sharp as knives. He returned to the deepest part of his personal space and his mind stirred.

Four beams of light flashed in succession.

Zhuge Jin, holding a broken tortoise shell and with his eyes covered by a white veil; Qiu Zangxue, carrying two swords on his back and with a murderous aura lurking in his scarlet eyes; Wu Jueji, yawning as if he hadn't woken up yet; and Yan Kongshan, whose eyes sometimes flinched and sometimes flashed with arrogance.

Four different identities appeared before Gu Yunqing at the same time.

The powerful auras intertwined, causing the entire space to ripple slightly.

"The battle for glory..." Gu Yunqing murmured to herself, "I'm here."

He will definitely go to the summit.

On the road to the summit, everything that stands in his way, whether it be dungeon monsters or other players, will become a stepping stone for him to reach the top.

The moment the 24-hour preparation time ended, the immense power of the system descended.

[Team C, ten teams, teleportation initiated! Objective: First round of competitive dungeon – 'Void Chessboard'!]

A blinding light engulfed my consciousness, and the familiar feeling of weightlessness washed over me.

When Gu Yunqing's vision cleared again, he found himself standing on an enormous "chessboard" square that was suspended in the void.

Beneath our feet lies a hard, smooth, obsidian-like grid of squares, each side measuring approximately 100 meters.

Looking up, one sees an endless void dome, flowing with the energy and starlight of the stars.

All around are countless identical, neatly arranged black and white squares, stretching to the horizon, forming a magnificent chessboard that seems to have no end.

Some squares were shrouded in halos of different colors.

[Instance: Void Chessboard]

【rule:】

[1. The ten teams have randomly placed their pieces in different positions on the chessboard.]

2. Each team starts with 10 "action points". Moving to an adjacent square costs 1 action point.

[3. Attacking and defeating members of other teams will plunder 50% of their team's current "Action Points" and grant "Glory Points." Those killed are eliminated (they can be revived after the instance ends by consuming Achievement Points, but will be unable to participate again).]

4. The chessboard "refreshes" every 3 hours, and 10% of the squares will randomly have special effects (powerful buffs/fatal debuffs/teleportation/traps, etc.).

[5. When only 1-3 teams remain on the board, the instance ends, and advancement is determined based on survival status and ranking.]

[Wishing all chess players that every move they make will be one they can never regret.]

A cold system notification rang in the minds of all members of the ten teams.

“Chessboard…action points…plunder…” Gu Yunqing quickly digested the rules, his sharp eyes scanning his surroundings.

His grid seemed to be on the edge, where he couldn't see any other teams, but an invisible sense of tension and surveillance permeated the air.

With a rapid thought, his S-level mental power spread out like a tide, simultaneously communicating with the four disguise cards.

A series of flashes of light appeared, and Zhuge Jin, Qiu Zangxue, Wu Jueji, and Yan Kongshan appeared in physical form around him, forming a simple defensive formation.

"Zhuge, immediately deduce the current safe path, try to capture the chessboard refresh pattern, and mark high-risk and potentially high-reward areas." Gu Yunqing spoke rapidly, her mind like that of a highly efficient commander, issuing orders instantly.

"Yes." Zhuge Jin nodded slightly, his eyes behind the white veil seeming to pierce through the surface of the chessboard.

He sat cross-legged, placed the broken tortoise shell in his palm, made hand seals with his other hand, and chanted incantations. Mysterious Bagua phantoms emanated from his body, and the power of Fuxi's divine essence fluctuated slightly as he began to analyze the "qi" and "momentum" of this void chessboard.

"Wu Jueji, deploy a '50/50' alert zone centered on our grid, with a radius of fifty meters. Any unauthorized 'abnormal activity' that intrudes will be brought under your control." Gu Yunqing looked at the man who still seemed unmotivated.

Wu Jueji yawned and responded lazily, but the moment he raised his hand, an invisible yet real force field of rules quietly spread out from him, covering half of the grid.

"Qiu Zangxue, you are the vanguard. Be ready to engage in any sudden close combat." The swordsman with scarlet eyes nodded silently, his twin swords already half an inch from their sheaths.

Finally, Gu Yunqing looked at Yan Kongshan (dominant personality), whose eyes were somewhat unfocused but whose lips curled into an barely suppressed smile of excitement:

“Kongshan, I know you want to ‘play’. But now is not the time. Your task is to stick close to me as a second line of defense. I will give you a signal when I need you to ‘draw fire’.”

Yan Kongshan pursed his lips, seemingly somewhat disappointed, but still said "Oh" and stood behind Gu Yunqing. However, his eyes darted around restlessly, as if searching for something to "have some fun".

Gu Yunqing herself stood in the very center, her eyes slightly closed.

His S-level mental power extended outwards from his core, like countless tiny tentacles.

He was simultaneously receiving visual, auditory, and even vague intuitive feedback from four different accounts:

What Zhuge Jin received was a cold stream of data and probability lines, as well as several coordinates marked as "potential safe movement directions" and "suspected high-value areas";

Wu Jueji's domain is calm, with no abnormalities reported.

Qiu Zangxue's taut killing intent was like the sharpest radar.

On Yan Kongshan's side, there was some noise, filled with restless anticipation...

Multi-line control is quite demanding, but it is still under control.

Gu Yunqing was like a general sitting in the command center, with four screens in front of him from different perspectives, where a massive amount of information flowed and converged, and was processed and integrated at high speed.

“Northeast, third square,” Zhuge Jin suddenly said. “There is an 87% chance that the ‘Double Points’ effect will refresh in about 27 minutes, lasting for one hour. The next two squares are of medium to low risk.”

Gu Yunqing's eyes lit up.

"We have 9 action points left. It will take 3 more to move to the target grid," Gu Yunqing quickly issued the order.

"Prepare to move, maintain formation. Zhuge, continuously adjust the route, avoiding areas where other teams might be active. Qiu Zangxue, scout ahead, pay attention to concealment. Wu Jueji, move your domain with the team, focus on defending the flanks and rear."

The order was given clearly. The troops began to move slowly and cautiously towards the northeast, like a sophisticated war machine.

Qiu Zangxue moved like a ghost, leaping into the adjacent square first. Her scarlet eyes scanned the area, and after confirming it was safe, she sent a signal.

The others then followed.

Just moments before they left their original square, entered the second middle square, and were about to step into their third target square—

A sudden change occurred.

From a nearby cell shrouded in a pale gray mist, three dark figures, almost blending into the mist, shot out without warning, like ghosts without substance.

Their target was none other than Wu Jueji, who appeared to be the most "relaxed" in the group and was walking at the rear.

This is a team skilled in stealth and instant assassination. They used the fog grid to conceal their vision, lay in wait for a long time, and chose a brief opening in the team's movement to launch a thunderous attack.

"Watch out!" Gu Yunqing's warning sounded almost simultaneously through the mental link.

But Wu Jueji's reaction was even faster than the warning.

Just as the three daggers, each imbued with a killing intent, were about to touch the back of his neck, his back, and his side—

Wu Jueji seemed to have eyes in the back of his head. Without even turning around, he simply sighed lazily, "Tsk, disturbing the peace and quiet."

The invisible "50/50" domain surrounding him instantly contracted and solidified!

A bizarre scene unfolded.

The three assassins, moving with lightning speed and daring angles, suddenly changed their speed in a bizarre way the moment they entered within three meters of Wu Jueji.

Their movements, along with Wu Jueji's seemingly slow, casual sidestepping and hand-raising blocking motions, were instantly pulled into the same awkward "rhythm".

It was as if the three assassins were killing one target, but rather four clumsy people were rehearsing a slow-moving set of gymnastics.

Incredulous horror flashed in the assassins' eyes. They felt that their speed, strength, and even the trajectory of their assassinations had been forcibly "corrected" by an invisible force, rendering them harmless.

One of the men's daggers even "just happened" to graz Wu Jueji's raised arm, without even touching the hem of his clothes.

The other man's thrust was deflected by Wu Jueji's "just right" raised elbow.

The third person was even more outrageous; because their rhythm was disrupted, they stumbled.

Almost at the same time that Wu Jueji was attacked, Gu Yunqing's consciousness had already locked onto the source of the attacker's aura and simultaneously issued an order to Qiu Zangxue.

"Three people, kill them quickly!"

There is absolutely no need for more language.

The moment the assassin appeared, Qiu Zangxue's figure transformed into a crimson afterimage, slicing in from the flank.

"What?!" The assassins in the fog realized their movements had become sluggish. Before they could react, a blade of light, carrying overwhelming killing intent and Xing Tian's fighting spirit, had already torn through the fog and was about to strike them!

Fast! Ruthless! Accurate!

Having fused with the power of Xing Tian's divine essence, Qiu Zangxue is terrifying in close combat! Her twin blades are like the scythe of death, carrying the will to cut through everything.

"Clang! Thud—!"

The parrying dagger was severed in two by a single blow, followed closely by another that slit the assassin's throat.

The second assassin was terrified and tried to disappear into the mist, but Qiu Zangxue's blade was faster. The scarlet blade light seemed to have a life of its own, locking onto his aura and slashing horizontally with a spinning motion.

Blood splattered, and the second assassin followed in his companion's footsteps.

The third assassin had already been stabbed in the chest by Qiu Zangxue as she turned around, and died on the spot.

From the attack to the counterattack that killed three people, the entire process took only two or three seconds.

[System Notification (Group C Area): Team Vientiane has successfully eliminated 3 members of Team Shadow, gaining 30 Glory Points and 4 Looting Action Points. Current Points: 30, Action Points: 13.]

The cold, impersonal system announcement echoed in the minds of all the survivors on the chessboard.

"The first kill goes to Team Variant!"

"That Gu Yunqing's team? So fast?"

"The Shadow Squad is known for its stealthy assassinations, yet they were almost wiped out in a single encounter?"

On the other squares, teams that were exploring, testing, or experiencing initial clashes all felt a chill.

The name "Vanity Team," along with this clean and decisive first kill, instantly landed on everyone's watchful list.

Gu Yunqing and the others had already stepped into the square that was about to refresh the "double points" reward.

Almost the instant they gained their footing, the chessboard squares beneath their feet suddenly lit up with a dazzling golden light.

[Current grid effect refreshed: Double points (59 minutes and 59 seconds remaining)]

"It's done." Gu Yunqing's spirits lifted.

At the same time, a system announcement rang out from another area of ​​the distant chessboard:

[System notification (Group C area): Polaris team successfully eliminated...]

You are heading north.

Gu Yunqing's lips curled slightly as he composed himself, his gaze sharpening once more.

The double points period lasts only one hour, so we must take advantage of this and maximize our gains.

"Zhuge, rescan the entire map, mark the approximate locations and movement trends of other teams, and prioritize finding teams that are isolated or engaged in combat," Gu Yunqing ordered.

"Chou Zangxue, rest and recuperate, be ready to strike at any time. Wu Jueji, maintain your domain. Kongshan..."

He glanced at Yan Kongshan, who was already excitedly rubbing his hands together, a calculating glint in his eyes: "Get ready, it's almost time for your 'performance'."

Yan Kongshan (alternate personality)'s eyes lit up instantly, revealing a crazy and expectant smile: "Finally, it's my turn? Don't worry, I guarantee I'll 'act' in a spectacular way!"