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Black ashes covered the ground, reflecting a desolate scene.

“Burning, it’s really burning.”

Meow King exclaimed as he stood amidst the ashes with his Four Heavenly Kings and his old buddy Little Hands.

Behind them, they dragged two large carts filled with fiery oil made by Lady Tris’ secret recipe. Their mission was to deliver these supplies to the front lines for the Kadman Civilian Self-Defense Force NPCs, who would then set up the next district to be burned.

This arson operation was proceeding according to plan. According to Murphy and Tris’ calculations, by midnight today, the entire outer city district could be purified by fire.

“Hey, you know, there really aren’t any of those weird astral shadows in the areas that have been burned, and even the uncomfortable black snow is gone.”

Meow’s old buddy “Don’t Need Hands to Show Off” prodded a pile of ashes nearby with his battle spear, shattering a clay pot and scattering a few copper coins, which the nimble novice quickly pocketed.

He then looked up at his determined cousin and said:

“Brother, about your job change…”

“Tomorrow!”

Meow waved his hand grandly and said:

“I’ve already asked Dump Truck to help me find the materials at the camp. Tomorrow, after the event ends and we get the rewards, and the stars come out, I’ll go try it out in the woods.

Once we complete this hidden quest, we’ll all have new jobs to switch to!”

“No, brother, I mean, are you sure you want to switch to that weird job?”

Don’t Need Hands added worriedly:

“What if you ruin your character? There’s absolutely no information about the new jobs right now. Aren’t you worried it might be some bottom-tier job?”

“This is a main quest given by the NPCs, how could it possibly be a bottom-tier job? It’s clearly part of the side story for players to explore the new job system. That’s true immersion.”

Meow didn’t seem worried at all as he grinned:

“In other games, we’re just footmen, but here it’s different. We’re pioneers blazing new trails! Come on, let’s stop talking and finish this quest first.”

The six of them pulled the carts swiftly through the ash-covered streets, still able to spot some scavengers from the camp searching the nearby ruins for usable items.

As Meow and the others passed by, some of the younger people or those who had benefited from their kindness would greet them or bow to them from afar. This treatment made the little players feel pleased.

At least these native NPCs weren’t treating them with disdain, people who understood gratitude always made one feel comfortable.

When they delivered the fiery oil to the front lines, they happened to see Lord Murphy inspecting the fire lines with his “harem squad.” Meow’s group immediately went to greet him and gain some favor. Murphy casually gave them a “Wildfire Assist” quest, sending the overly enthusiastic players to help set fires.

After dismissing the players, he turned to Tris behind him and said:

“I can feel the astral energy receding at an accelerated pace. Even the black smoke shrouding the sky has dissipated. I estimate we’ll be able to see the moon and stars tonight.”

“It’s not just because of the fires.”

Tris shook her head in explanation:

“The astral energy is ebbing overall. That rift is going to close. Tomorrow! By tomorrow evening at the latest, the inner city that has been trapped for a week will reappear in the physical world.”

“There won’t be anything left there,” the Young Lady continued hoarsely.

“A week ago when I ventured inside, I already saw large swaths of buildings being dragged into the astral realm. A full week of encroachment and devouring would have been enough to turn the inner city into a blank slate.

But for you, that may be good news.

It means all traces of Kadman City’s past will be wiped clean, like a blank canvas for you to leave your own colors on.”

“Be a little more optimistic, girl,” Tris chided.

“Have a little more faith in our wicked and cunning kindred. The rate of astral erosion on life is slower. If they managed to hide underground when the disaster struck, then after tomorrow we might just see a bunch of vampiric monstrosities driven mad by astral corruption.

And whether you like it or not, you’ll have to deal with them yourself then.

So don’t be too pessimistic until then.”

“Enough, Tris,” Murphy said, feeling Tris’ words were too harsh.

He reached out and grabbed her wrist to stop her, but the Young Lady’s already pale complexion turned even more pallid.

It was clear Tris had discerned the root of her greatest fear.

Murphy was perplexed by the inexplicable hostility between Tris and the Young Lady. He guessed it must have something to do with the Young Lady’s secret, as Tris had never been so cruel before. Yet she seemed unable to tolerate any of the Young Lady’s actions, even though Femis had been quite cooperative over the past week.

One could even describe her as “obedient.”

“The sky! Look at that thing, it’s shrinking!”

A shout came from the crowds of busy workers, immediately drawing everyone’s attention.

They looked up towards the inner city’s sky, where over the past few days an ominous purple glow had enshrouded the horizon. Now, suddenly, the black smoky haze had parted.

As if disturbed by the outer city’s fires, it finally exposed the true situation within.

Murmurs arose from the crowd as people who deeply reviled this disaster used various derogatory terms to describe the swirling astral vortex in the sky.

Some called it the “Devil’s X Eye”, and this crude yet vivid term quickly gained acceptance among the others.

But Murphy could clearly see more.

Although he was only a Level 9 Spirit Apprentice, the repeated practice of spirit skills over these days meant he was no longer limited to appearances.

He stared at the swirling astral vortex in the inner skies, and after a few seconds said to Tris beside him:

“I can feel its weakness, like an empty husk drained of power. The exterior still seems stable, but it would only take a slight disturbance for it to collapse inward. At that point, the astral rift will close completely, right?”

“Hmm, it seems you haven’t been slacking these past few days and have indeed been studying the basic knowledge manuals I gave you.”

Tris nodded in satisfaction and explained to her offspring and apprentice:

“The spirit ritual that formed the astral rift is nearing its end, but it still possesses immense destructive power. In this situation, allowing it to dissipate naturally is the best choice. If disturbed prematurely, it would trigger an explosion of spirit energy, forming a shockwave that would engulf everything around it.

This is the most dangerous stage it can maintain.

Around midnight today, its energy will drop to the minimum threshold, after which the stable shroud will transform into a collapse back into the astral realm, taking with it anything it can.”

At this point, Tris looked maliciously at the silent Young Lady beside her and drawled:

“So if there are any surviving vampires in the inner city, tonight will be their only chance to escape. Let’s wait and see.”

“Tris!”

Murphy’s voice grew stern as he frowned.

Lady Tris pursed her lips, but sensing Murphy’s mood, she didn’t continue her taunts.

The day passed busily with the little players and survivors pushing forward with the burning efforts, with no major surprises. But having witnessed the true effects of the purifying flames, the survivors’ enthusiasm was high.

Their desire to reclaim their homeland drove them to move faster than Murphy had anticipated.

By late afternoon, as players logged off one by one, the survivors continued setting fires everywhere, pushing forward. And after the last district was set ablaze with fiery oil, those soot-covered survivors who had toiled for a day and night finally advanced behind the protection of the flames to the edge of the outer city.

Without the obstruction of astral shadows and despairing clusters, they could finally lay eyes on the true state of their city after the disaster.

The massive chasm over a hundred meters wide gouged by the dimensional meteorite, and the flickering polluted light points of the other district still shrouded by the astral spirit storm, it represented how the old Kadman City had been utterly consumed, shattering the final fantasies in many survivors’ hearts.

This harsh reality before them made it clear that everything they knew from the past no longer existed.

Many even fell to their knees before that great chasm, weeping soundlessly.

They were not only crying for themselves, now without support and having to continue into an uncertain tomorrow, but also mourning for the countless souls buried with this city.

Kadman City had over 150,000 people before, and now only this thousand or so remained, meaning the 400-year dark history written on the lands of Transia had also collapsed with this disaster.

But they had wronged no one.

They were ignorant of the Blood Vulture vampires’ feud with the Goldflower Kingdom, and had no stake in the spoils reaped by the powers manipulating the war. Not just the civilians in the war zones suffered, they too had not lived comfortably during the decade of conflict.

Yet they had to bear the consequences of others’ mistakes.

“This is a lesson,”

Murphy said softly to Tris as he stood amidst the ashen ruins of an extinguished fire behind the weeping survivors.

“Salrokdar and the Blood Vulture Clan have given me a vivid lesson with their demise on the consequences of making too many enemies. No matter the night or the 400-year spirit barrier they built, it could not stop the force of hatred.”

“So?” Tris remained nonchalant.

Having lived 500 years, she was long used to such things.

She knew it wasn’t as simple as Murphy’s summation, but for now, she only wanted to hear her dear progeny’s plans for the future. So she uncorked her exquisite wine bottle and took a small sip.

The elven-style bottle had been found in the ruins and gifted to her by a little player.

Toying with her prized possession, she looked at Murphy and asked:

“So how do you plan to establish your reign over these ruins? Be kind to all? Or shift from Transia’s ferocity and try to become a little lamb instead?”

“I think I’ll probably try to eliminate the hatred between vampires and Transians, as I see vampires are not inherently evil, nor are humans spotless white lotuses.

Everyone has a dirty ass, so let’s just get along.

Of course, it will be in a more equal way that can unite everyone.

Not just vampires and humans!

This future city will welcome all, the liked or disliked, the praised, the abandoned, everyone will find their place here.

They will follow my rules, and I will use their strength reasonably.

Unite all against those with malice.”

Murphy had always been frank with Tris about his thoughts, and he said candidly:

“I won’t actively make enemies, but if others think the son of a Blood Vulture is easy to bully, I don’t mind biting them hard in return.”

“You can’t do it with just these people.”

Tris coughed and said:

“Your warriors are your greatest asset. You need to find a way to arm them quickly. Their courage alone is not enough, far from enough.”

Murphy nodded.

Increasing the number of players was indeed a headache. He guessed player manpower growth wouldn’t just come from completing his “quests.”

That would be too slow.

Perhaps after completing his sixth introductory quest, the admin system would give him a surprise. But now that he had territory and subjects, passing the Black Iron Trial required for completing quests had become the biggest problem.

How was he supposed to find a suitable target in the dilapidated Kadman City?

As Murphy pondered, in one of the burning districts far away, the recently logged-in Lumina was hauling the last batch of fiery oil with Sister Pomegranate.

Due to the time difference, Lumina could only log in at this hour, but Sister Pomegranate had specifically adjusted her schedule to play together with her.

“Give me another chance, will you? Don’t be so strict, little Lumina.”

Sister Pomegranate pleaded with Lumina:

“I messed up that test yesterday, but you have to believe my intelligence is far greater than that.”

“I can’t help it either, Sister Pomegranate,” Lumina sighed.

“I know you’re very capable, but those rules weren’t set by me. Don’t worry, when the next batch of player slots open up, you can ask my friends who get in.

I’m personally in favor, but just my approval is useless. Huh?

What was that?

Look! Sister Pomegranate, something is crawling out of that huge chasm!

It looks like a person?

How can they look so wretched? As filthy and ragged as beggars.”

“What do you mean ‘one’? There’s at least a whole group! Their eyes are still glowing, yikes! They’re charging this way, run! Something’s not right!

Lumina! Blow the whistle, quickly! Call the NPCs!

We can’t handle so many crazed vampire beggars!

Where did these lunatics even come from?”