“Holy crap! What the hell is this? A nightmare revisited?”


    Having just crawled out of the half-copsed Blood Vulture Halls, Meow King was in a miserable state, covered in dirt and grime, looking nearly dead.


    His Four Heavenly Kings and old buddy Little Hand had already perished in the previous battle. Shamefully, four out of these five were SC failures that had gone berserk and were personally killed by the Meow King. But just as he surfaced and was about to catch his breath, he looked up and froze in his tracks, letting out a rather yer-like exmation of surprise.


    However, there was no one left by his side to echo his shock.


    Of the 60 little yers who had entered the Halls instance dungeon, only he remained alive. This was far beyond the depths of misery.


    “Damn! Did the sky leak again?”


    The same stylized exmation came from behind the Meow King, causing him to whip his head around. There he saw Precipitation Niuniu, looking like a mud monkey, crawling out from the copsed spiral staircase while carrying the nearly unconscious Invincible Tyrannosaurus Cheche on his back.


    Alright then.


    The good news was that afterpleting this instance dungeon, there were still 3 yers left.The bad news was that this did not change their rather miserable reality.


    This was essentially the most wretched battle and trial the yers had experienced since joining《Reality Realm》. But the most, most, most important good news was that they had won!


    The once invincible Salrokdar was dead!


    The Blood Vulture Halls had been conquered!


    However, before celebrating their victory, the three divinely lucky survivors had to first figure out what was happening before their eyes. Above them, in the night sky over Kadman City’s deste inner district, the starry river had once again been “torn apart.”


    Just like the previously inflicted spiritual invasion caused by the Astral Realm Breach ritual.


    The torn sky looked like cracks in ss, with a long narrow “Astral Wound” stretching between the stars, flickering with dark purple starry dots in the dark background.


    “We’ve expelled such an immense amount of sub-dimension spiritual energy into the Astral Realm, it’s bound to have a significant impact on the mapping between the Astral Realm and the material world. Indeed, the previously healed Astral Realm rift has been reopened.


    And this time, I estimate it won’t be so easy for it to heal again.”


    Speaking in an oddly ented Mandarin, the pale but otherwise uninjured Lady Tris limped out from the spiritual transmission portal she had arduously opened behind her.


    She exined to the three little yers the reasons behind everything happening before their eyes. Behind her, Miriam and Lieutenant Frayzer, having brushed against true death andpletely experienced such an intense situation, could only lean on each other weakly as they set foot on solid ground once more.


    Now was not the time to talk about the enemy’s identity, they just wanted to be still!


    And don’t ask who Still is!


    “Will this have any impact on Kadman City?”


    The Meow King caught his breath and approached Lady Tris to ask:


    “We’ve only just taken back our territory, do we really have to abandon this ce now?”


    “Speak slower, warrior! Show some consideration for my pitiful state of mind, I’ve only just learned your overlyplexnguage.”


    Lady Tris rebuked him unhappily.


    But then she sighed and pointed at the familiar ck smoke-like spiritual energy emanating from the “Astral Wound” overhead, saying to the Meow King, Niuniu, and the panting Cheche who was repeatedly pping himself:


    “There won’t be any further impact, because this isn’t a tear originating from within the Astral Realm itself. So its manifestation and destructive force in the material world is far less severe than before, and its range will only be limited to parts of the inner district.


    But the bad news is that this area will be covered in Astral Realm shadows like the previous outer district, along with some crossover Astral Realm beasts and bizarre creatures.


    As for how long it will take to heal…


    If I really have to give you a specific timeframe, I’d guess this sub-dimension phenomenon will maintain this form for at least ten years before slowly starting to heal, and that’s only if it doesn’t get further agitated from outside forces.”


    “Huh?”


    The Meow King and Niuniu exchanged a nce. Cheche, lying on the ground gasping for breath, eximed:


    “So doesn’t that mean the hunting ground we were previously given will reappear, but this time it’s even bigger andsts longer? Damn, the devs really have some crazy ideas, using this as a way to add an upgraded wilderness area to the newbie vige.”


    “What are you talking about?”


    Lady Tris turned to Cheche with a puzzled look.


    “Devs? Newbie vige? Wilderness area? What do those mean?”


    “It’s nothing, just ng from the Realm.”


    Before the three little yers could answer, Murphy’s weary voice came from the darkness behind them.


    Lady Tris turned in surprise to see her progeny slowly descending, his massive Blood Wings folding as hended. His Elder’s armor was tattered, and an eerily familiar magic sword now hung at his waist.


    But aside from that, Murphy seemed to have no further injuries.


    Tris stepped forward anxiously, reaching out to feel Murphy’s body, trying to see if he had any hidden wounds.


    No one understood the danger of Salrokdar and the sub-dimension demonic forces better than Tris. She was terrified that Murphy might be left with a life-altering affliction because of this.


    Murphy looked down at the worried Tris, an irrepressible surge of emotion bursting from his heart, causing him to finally embrace Tris for the first time.


    It held no other emotions, just a pure desire to hold her.


    Tris was taken aback.


    But she didn’t struggle too fiercely, also wrapping her arms around Murphy’s waist and resting her head against his broad chest like she would when drunk, listening to the uneven beating of his heart.


    “Swish”


    The ethereal Blood Vulture Spirit silently spread its wings, gliding through the night sky to preciselynd on a weathered stone pir nearby.


    This ferocious bird of prey, holding a plump rat in its beak, cocked its head to observe the embracing Murphy and Tris. Its ga-like eyes held a beastly innocence, before seemingly recalling something and pping its wings to drop the plump rat, letting out a cawing sound like a crow.


    This noise startled Tris, making her turn towards the strange bird.


    “What is this?”


    Tris pushed Murphy away, asking in surprise:


    “Why can I sense a soul-level connection between it and you? Like an extension of your consciousness? Where did you learn this bizarre skill?”


    “The process is quiteplex, not something I can exin in just a sentence or two. I’ll tell you slowly when we have time to rx.”


    Murphy didn’t want to bring up this issue right now.


    He turned to look behind him.


    Lord Pnno emerged from the copsed spiral staircase, carrying the unconscious Natalie, with Maxim and Lady Adele following behind him, thetter carrying her weakened and fainted daughter on her back.


    Additionally, there were three of Natalie’s Witch Hunter squad, these three lucky ones seemed truly blessed by Avalon, miraculously escaping serious harm. They were either carrying or supporting theirrades out of the copsed underground corridor.


    Three of Lord Pnno’s Blood Pact Scout Knights were also each carrying two wounded back to the surface.


    Further away, the Kadman Civilian Self-Defense soldiers who had previously withdrawn from the Halls let out a cheer upon seeing theirmander Maxim alive, and Maxim raised his broken arm in response to his troops.


    These were all the survivors.


    Aside from the little yers being killed down to just 3 remaining, of the 30 elite Witch Hunters led by Marshal Finoch, only 14 were left alive. A gold-ranked White Knight had likely be thest on the continent to have drunk from the Holy Grail, permanently remaining in the ruins beneath their feet.


    The losses could not be called light, but the victory they had won in exchange shone all the brighter.


    Knight Pnno had already taken out his artificially perfumed notebook, intending to turn tonight’s heart-pounding tale into a poem to share with the near hundred beauties he admired.


    This song of valor and victory was sure to earn the lovelydies’ admiration.


    As for Murphy, he took up the great Oak Sacred de, and under the silent gaze of the other Witch Hunters, ced it sheath and all beside the unconscious Natalie.


    “This is the gift and inheritance Sir Finoch left for his daughter! And I am the one entrusted to deliver it to her.”


    The veteran Norman heard the implication in Murphy’s words.


    He nodded firmly, his injured vocal cords producing a raspy voice as he said:


    “We will do everything to ensure Captain Natalie inherits it.”


    “Good, that puts my mind at ease.”


    Murphy’s fingers left the wooden sword sheath.


    But the information tag for the great Oak Sacred de still lingered before his eyes, its might far exceeding the weakened Desire Demon de – Necessary Evil in his hand:


    Name: Great Oak Sacred de【Watcher】- Ancient Elven Ritual Greatsword


    Quality: Miracle Artifact – Nature Spirit


    Traits: Transcendent Impact – Transcendent Protection – Transcendent Bnce – Exceptional Spirit Affinity – Exceptional Spellcasting de – Instrument of Faith


    Effects:


    1. Oak Sacred de – Path of Bnce:


    The three Great Oak Sacred des are holy relics bestowed by Avalon through Elven hands to its human faithful, each representing one of humanity’s explorations into the natural realm.


    The Watcher belongs to the White Knights, symbolizing guardianship and spiritual bnce.


    The Chastiser belongs to the Red Knights, symbolizing conquest and destructive force.


    The Arbiter belongs to the Grey Knights, symbolizing judgment and natural neutrality.


    Each Sacred de must follow its own natural path to reach its full potential. But they are not just weapons, they are mediums for spellcasters, symbolizing the leadership of the natural faith within Avalon’s system of power.


    Regrettably, after Avalon became the Old Faith rebel faction, the three Sacred des were lost amidst the turmoil.


    Finoch Lawson, the White Oak Lord, spent six years and nearly lost his soul and faith to recover them, but this also became the source of his sin buried in history.


    2. Guardian of the Woods:


    In nature-favored environments, the Watcher Sacred de can unleash various White Knight sacred arts, amplifying its might to the bearer’s limits.


    Activating this power requires attunement with the Sacred de!


    Specific abilities limited to【Avalon Faithful】.


    Maker: Nature’s Avalon – Astral Realm Forged


    Item Description:


    【The interpretation of the Three Sacred des differs greatly between human and elven cultures. Foolish humans are more inclined to view them as divine greatness, but to elves, the Three des represent different facets of the natural Avalon.


    The Watcher represents the nurturing authority of the Forest Mother Avalon. The other two des symbolize the stern Storm Queen Avalon and the pure Maiden Moon Avalon respectively.


    Indeed, in elven belief, their god has three distinct personalities of severe multiple personality disorder!


    If counting the Spider Lady Avalon revered by the outcast dark elves, this Astral Realm Great Spirit before you has fourpletely different personalities. Hmm, the absurdities of the new world really do open one’s eyes, don’t they?


    Of course, this also raises another issue!


    When befriending an elf, don’t fuss over where they’re from, just ask which Avalon they follow and be done with it.】


    “…”


    The information on the Great Oak Sacred de before him made Murphy realize how little he truly understood of this otherworld. But he indeed had no ns to keep this Sacred de for himself.


    Not just because of Old Finoch’s final sacrifice to protect Murphy’s territory, but also because he couldn’t actually use this thing unless he pledged faith to one of the four Avalons.


    Yet he was an eternal Sin Descendant vampire, a piece of crap in the gods’ eyes. Even if he wanted to suck up, no one would have him! Who would want rtions with a piece of crap?


    Sigh.


    Murphy let out a long breath.


    He was about to discuss their next steps with Tris when, just as he started to stand, his vision blurred and a new prompt popped up in his achievements system:


    【Blood Vulture Halls destroyed, achievement list closed! You have obtained all achievements for this area, hidden achievement【Blood Vulture Grand m】unlocked!


    Achievement rewards issued!


    Tester Exclusive – Sleep Link function enabled!


    Note!


    This function requires manual activation by test admin.


    Advanced Function – Title System activated!】


    “?!”


    Murphy’s eyes went wide.


    He thought that afterpleting the Newbie Guide quests, there wouldn’t be this process ofpleting tasks to get rewards and unlock new functions anymore. But every step of this test admin system’s design was beyond his expectations.


    So to unlock further new functions, he didn’t need to do quests now, but instead had to pursue achievements?


    Why didn’t you just say you wanted to work me to death?


    You’re really going to force me to be an achievement hunter in this new world?


    Murphy rolled his eyes and opened the exnation for the Sleep Link function. He initially thought it would just allow little yers to keep dreaming and ying the game while asleep.


    But in the next instant, Murphy clenched his fists.


    Because this thing was not nearly as simple as he imagined:


    【Sleep Link Function Exnation:


    With this function activated, testers can maintain mental link and spiritual projection activity while entering sleep state, with each sleep linksting up to 8 hours!


    Note!


    Game time gained from Sleep Link does not count towards a tester’s daily allowed game time! But at the end of each Sleep Link, forced logout for 30 minutes is required to recalibrate the tester’s grasp on the real world they belong to.


    Note!


    This is a reward function that can effectively treat insomnia, recurring dreams, and mental fatigue, while also providing an emergency wake-up function to prevent danger during sleep.


    Go share this good news with your cute and capable little yers!】


    “???Eight hours of sleep doesn’t count as game time? This insane reward! Good! Very good! Excellent! Lavishly reward my cute and capable little yers! This is how their heroic journey should be rewarded!”


    Joy welled up in Murphy’s heart as he immediately calcted with elementary math:


    “So does this mean my little yers can now achieve 8+6=14 hours of continuous operation? Hmm, my dear Patriarch Salrokdar, farewell, I will remember and appreciate your sacrifice.


    If I had known eliminating you would unlock such an awesome function, why would I have waited until now?”