Luo drew a shocked gasp and covered her mouth, as Zhang Haiyang’s eyes went dark, almost passing out.
The head nurse and the nurses in the waiting area looked at Luna with terrified smiles, their mouths gaping in surprise!
The nursing department exploded in a frenzy:
Id443829: Heavens!
Id443829: Luna killed a player!
Id443829: She managed to kill a player before the system!
Id748392: Not present. Wasn’t she punished by the system?
Id443829: No! Shocking, sisters!! Defying the system? When did she become so formidable?! Wait, when did she ever have the heart to kill a player? Wasn’t she a die-hard player fan?
Id849372: That’s not the point! The point is… she contributed the only player casualty of this level!
In the current warped values of the npc instance, being able to eliminate a player and contribute to casualty rates is what truly earns respect among npcs.
The sole player casualty of this level—this reestablished Luna’s position among the npcs.
When Luna was the last to enter the rest area again, the noisy chatter that filled the hall suddenly fell silent.
The nurses still huddled in small groups of twos and threes, casting discreet glances as Luna walked in.
Rong Yi blended in with the nurses and whispered, “I feel like Luna is different now.”
The surrounding nurses exchanged looks and gradually voiced their thoughts.
“I thought she had lost her abilities…”
“Even if she has abilities, what’s the use? Look at what she’s been doing these years. Death demonstrations, what good is that position, having abilities?!”
“Ah, we used to be so harsh on her before, could she be seeking revenge now?”
“No, I don’t know… your words are making me a bit scared…”
Rong Yi whispered among the npcs again, “Truly the former master of instances, previously allowing us to bully, just not bothering with us.”
“Actually bothering, whom do you think can beat her amongst us? Not even the head nurse!”
The nurses looked at each other:
“Yeah…”
“Thinking back, Luna used to have such a good temper… never got angry with us…”
“The rules for instances were pretty relaxed back then, players were just here to play.”
Rong Yi added, “Yeah, back then, we didn’t worry about fulfilling KPIs. Oh, even if Luna killed a player, the casualty rate of this level still didn’t meet the target. Do you think the director will blame us for it?”
Other nurses said, “Then we’ll lose our performance bonuses again… How are we going to live like this? Might as well start a clean slate!”
“…Did you not see the work group? Blame it on the logistics team! It’s all because of id463728’s rubbish coordination and bad timing!”
“I already scolded him in the group. It’s so painful to die once! I hope he gets out from behind that broadcast and sees how it feels to die in person.”
Amid the nurses’ chattering, two main themes persisted:
1. Luna is quite impressive, and they began to regard her differently.
2. Other departments are rubbish.
Rong Yi smiled satisfactorily. Good, the rift between them has emerged.
Luna remained in the corner, not joining the other npcs in groups. She spread out and then clenched her straw hand, as if suddenly filled with curiosity about it.
Rong Yi didn’t shy away from the glances of the other npcs, leaning in beside her and asking softly, “What’s wrong?”
Luna saw her carefree expression and felt a little embarrassed: “I feel like, after breaking free from the rules during the game, my body has undergone some changes.”
“It seems like—turning back to my original self.”
Rong Yi widened his metallic eyes, “You weren’t like this originally?”
“Well. I used to look…” Luna’s rough thread on her burlap head had been broken, revealing sharp teeth as she smiled. “Human-like.”
Rong Yi: …..
She patted her shoulder, “That’s because, in the last round, you looked somewhat human.”
Luna exclaimed, “Really? But I felt too fierce and scared them.”
Glancing at the NPCs anxiously discussing performance issues, Rong Yi summoned a floating screen to casually observe the group’s conversation trends:
“This is you, and the reason for the current miserable state of this instance.”
“Even though you have the ability to turn the situation around, you underestimate yourself too much; even though you have your own stance, you don’t know how to firmly uphold it at a higher level.”
“You are unwilling to be fierce, unwilling to fight, too quick to give up, and readily hand over control that belongs to you.” Rong Yi looked at the intense discussion in the nursing department group, speaking calmly:
“You were originally the god of this world.”
“But if a god only has kindness, they will only be sacrificed by ignorant believers, and the devil will erode their last ounce of power.”
Rong Yi’s metallic finger then pointed at Luna’s chest, showing a serious and profound expression that Luna had never seen before:
“If you truly want to protect the players and NPCs, you must first lift yourself out of the mud and reclaim your divine position!”
“Next, make one thing clear: do not expect these NPCs to suddenly have a change of heart and understand your good deeds. Abandon your illusions and prepare for battle! Your own beliefs must be exerted to their fullest to uphold!”
“Lastly, use thunderous means to show a compassionate heart.”
Luna: “…So, for everyone’s sake, I need to be a little…bad?”
Rong Yi nodded approvingly: “The young can be taught.”
The cunning tactics of the Three Layers Tiger Fingers indeed gave Luna great confidence. Plus, with the boost from Rong Yi, in the upcoming stages, she gradually gained control of her body, starting to actively use illusions to help players in difficult situations:
On the Fourth Floor, the Infinite Mechanism Array, she deceived other NPCs with illusions, leading the players around the safe passage to the staircase;
On the Fifth Floor, the Human Experiment, she created illusions of players being tortured.
Amidst the house’s piercing screams, the real players stood by, watching “themselves” bleeding profusely on the operating table.
…
Finally, the players who were once terrified of Luna finally realized: this scarecrow was on their side!
While Luo Huayue covered her eyes and couldn’t bear to see “herself” being tied to the hospital bed for a procedure, she excitedly whispered, “Rong Sis is amazing, she actually managed to turn the former big shots to our side!”
Raymond displayed the painting of “himself” being skinned in the livestream room, but the live chat had completely deviated from the topic, turning into an online gossip event:
“Let me ask, are they saying that Teacher Lei’s strategy girl turned into an NPC? And even managed to turn enemy NPCs against them?”
“Could it be that the girl’s innate skill is turning into an NPC?”
“No! I watched that live broadcast, she said her innate skill is making delicious food!”
“Can it be done like this? Is there really an item in the shop that can turn NPCs? Which one? I’ll sell everything to get one! Isn’t it better than any life-saving talisman?”
“I thought she was eliminated on the third level… I never expected that in the end, she would be the one lying down with Professor Lei winning.”
“The newcomers these days are terrifying!”
The greater the power, the greater the responsibility. Raymond may flirt around in dungeons, but his strength is undeniable. Apart from A-rank and S-rank dungeons, wherever he goes, he is a worthy powerhouse.
Experiencing a ‘lie-down win’ at this level is indeed refreshing.
Raymond gently brushed his finger over the gray “Yi Yi” on his friend list.
She was strong in a different sense. He found an interest in her beyond just conquest.
As the torment time set by the game ended, all the “players” survived the ordeal, advancing successfully.
The more Luna resisted the rules, the more liberated she became. She no longer sought death passively and could act outside her role without following the game’s rules.
The straws on her gradually fell away, revealing patches of human skin.
She watched as the players ascended the stairs to the sixth floor.
The NPCs continued to enter the rest area between levels. But starting from the fourth floor, they no longer hesitated to share the elevator with Luna.
“ID248392?” In the crowded elevator, Luna’s sharp eyes landed on a nurse beside her, mentioning her ID. The nurse was surprised, “Yes? Yes!”
“Well, you’ve become a senior nurse now,” Luna said kindly.
The NPCs around dared not speak, unsure of Luna’s intentions, especially given how they used to mistreat her.
ID248392, the senior nurse, wiped the sweat from her forehead, “No, not really. It’s been months since I achieved my targets.”
Luna chuckled disdainfully, “That’s truly useless.”
The senior nurse looked at her with surprise. Luna had never spoken in such a tone before!
“But I’ve interacted with many players, and today’s group is indeed strong,” she patted the nurse’s shoulder, “You’ve all worked hard.”
“But no matter how hard you try, you can only reach this level now,” Luna smirked, “You’ve all become a bunch of waste under my influence.”
The senior nurse blushed, unable to retort or comprehend how to respond.
Yi Yi stepped in, “Director Luna!” Her address drew incredulous gazes from the NPCs nearby, “You are right. With our abilities, we can’t survive under Director Dicklan!”
“We want to change the status quo! But we are afraid!”
She turned to the hesitant NPCs, “Isn’t it true? We are constantly worried about KPIs, earning meager points each month, trapped in this mental hospital with nowhere to go— are you really content living this way?”
The NPCs began speaking in succession:
“Yes, I have long suspected, where did all the points that belonged to us go?”
“I’ve always wondered why the logistics team dares to criticize us in group chats. It’s because they are close to the director. They have more points and less work, yet they blame us and shirk their responsibilities onto us. They are truly cunning!”
“Ding— the elevator arrived at the rest area.”
As the elevator doors slowly opened, more NPCs, having received the news, gathered at the entrance.
When a topic that had long been forbidden to discuss is suddenly brought up by some, it bursts forth like a dam breaking, a torrent rushing out.
“We’re approaching the final level, but we’re far from the player conversion rate the Director demanded. I don’t want to be tortured to death by him again!”
“I, I was originally a neglected NPC not wanted by other copies. Now, my KPI can’t even be completed by normal NPCs, let alone me!”
“We used to get along so well!” It was the burping steel nurse previously exposed by Rong Yi for “misusing weapons for selfish gains”. She looked aggrieved, casting a resentful gaze at her companions, saying, “But now, failing to meet your own targets, you actually reported me to have my performance penalized! I must have been blind!”
The nurse pointed at herself in disbelief, “Are you talking about me?”
“Yes, you! In our group, besides you, who else can see me?”
The nurse grew angry, “You fail to meet your targets and yet push the blame onto me. Have you ever considered that maybe it’s because you’re incompetent?”
“Stop arguing, what’s the point of squabbling here?”
“Sigh, I feel that ever since Director Dicklan arrived, the NPCs in our instance have turned so negative…”
“What negativity? Some people just can’t stand others doing well!”
“Let’s focus on the issue of unmet KPI instead!”
…
Rong Yi listened to their bickering, mutual accusations, complaints about the current ruler and system. From sporadic comments to almost everyone speaking up, voices intertwined, creating a cacophony that almost flipped the lounge’s ceiling!
Luna, observing the fervor in front of her, felt uneasy and quietly asked Rong Yi, “Can I really do this?”
Rong Yi nodded, “Remember, you are in a position of power, you are strong, you are the god who tramples upon these NPCs who follow the wind, you are their superior.”
“Only then can you truly protect them.”
Luna nodded firmly.
Then she saw Rong Yi kneeling in front of her!
She was shocked, “Wha—”
“Shh.” Rong Yi gestured for her to be quiet.
“I apologize for all my previous wrongdoings towards you! Please forgive a foolish NPC!” she said loudly.
Ripples spread out from her as NPCs around began to quiet down.
“Only you can contend with Director Dicklan! Only you can lead us back to the past golden days!”
She looked up, devoutly gazing at Luna.
Luna stared at her in astonishment.
Other NPCs exchanged glances.
“…Yes, if it’s Luna…”
“Under Director Dicklan, I can’t continue!”
“With everyone in chaos, someone needs to step up and lead the situation!”
“Luna Director is the most kind-hearted; she will surely forgive us, or else…”
“Thud.” The burping steel nurse knelt down.
Subsequently, the third, fourth, fifth…
Inside and outside the elevator, thump thump thump, a large group knelt down.
Due to the extended period with the door open, the elevator sounded an alarm with a red light.
In this red light, a strawman with a crudely stitched smile stood alone.
Rong Yi: “Please forgive me, accept my submission!”
NPCs: “Please forgive us, accept our submission!”
Rong Yi: “Are you willing to save me again? Luna Director?”
NPCs: “Are you willing to save us again?”
“Luna Director?”
