Jason crouched low, observing the Giant Beetle Nest from a distance. The metallic-blue carapace of the beetles shimmered under the moonlight, their serrated mandibles clicking menacingly. Each beetle measured over three meters in length, wings folded tightly against their armored bodies.
"80 credits each," Jason muttered, calculating the risks. These weren't the passive bugs from Crescent Fox—they were aggressive swarmers. Bai Er had no business here. Was he lured by Sharp Peak's lies?
A clash erupted below. Four Mask Guild assassins (masked, their faces obscured by porcelain) faced off against two Sharp Peak players—their silver ice-devices morphed into jagged totems. The Sharp Peak team, two Level 9 High Inquisitors, had trespassed into Mask territory.
"Leave now," growled a High Inquisitor, tossing a grenade-like device to the Mask players. "Pretend you didn't see us."
The Mask negotiators hesitated. Jason's pulse quickened. Bai Er was inside that nest.
Jason scaled a tree, peering into the cavernous nest. Dozens of interconnected tunnels branched out, filled with beetle larvae and decaying wood. At the heart of the nest, Bai Er stood frozen, his porcelain mask cracked.
"Bai Er!" Jason shouted, lunging forward.
The boy turned, his pale face illuminated by the bioluminescent fungus lining the walls. "You shouldn't have come."
A beetle's mandible snapped inches from Jason's face. He swung his Six-Sided Mace, shattering the insect's skull. The nest erupted into chaos—dozens of beetles swarmed toward them.
"Move!" Bai Er grabbed Jason's arm, dragging him into a narrow crevice. The walls pressed tightly against their bodies, the air thick with the stench of decay.
The crevice led to a dead-end chamber. Jason's torch flickered, revealing walls etched with ancient runes—a forgotten ritual site. Bai Er pressed a hidden switch, and the walls slid open, revealing a hidden passage.
"Why help me?" Jason demanded as they emerged into moonlight.
Bai Er stared at the sky. "They'll kill you too."
The duo stumbled into Jiamuxia, a water-town under Mask's control. Players in porcelain masks surrounded them, their gazes sharp as daggers.
A masked man stepped forward—Zhao Monong, Mask's Vice President, his black-gold mask adorned with serpentine patterns. "Join us," he said, his voice smooth as silk. "We'll protect you."
Jason declined. "Your guild tolerates Sharp Peak's whores?"
Zhao Monong's smile vanished. "You challenge Mask's authority?"
A High Inquisitor drew his blade. Bai Er stepped forward, his porcelain mask glowing faintly. "Enough."
Back in their rented inn, Jason plotted their next move.
Recruit Sherry and Zou Yidao: Head to Dongmulianxie, a remote city requiring only 300 credits.Secure Bai Er's Safety: His unique skills (e.g., Silent Step) were too valuable.Investigate the Ritual Site: The runes hinted at a hidden dungeon linked to Void Space.
Bai Er sat silently, sharpening his dagger. "Why trust me?"
Jason tossed him a healing potion. "You fought for me. That's enough."