Chapter 312: Supporter
"I've killed so many of your people, and you don't mind at all?"
Lin Ye crushed the blue support card, copying a card from the surrounding participants.
These two seventh-tier participants were likely the only remaining ones now, and since they were closest to Lin Ye, if he didn't use this copy card soon, he might miss the opportunity.
A white card appeared in Lin Ye's hand, his attention completely focused on the cultist opposite him, with no time to check the card's information.
"Of course, those trash were just backup nourishment for the Divine Emissary. You're far more important than them."
Luo Geng had no intention of letting Lin Ye go, nor dared it let him go. Someone who could trouble it at just two tiers—such talent was unheard of.
It planned to strike once Lin Ye relaxed.
"But I mind. You shouldn't have provoked me by using those students."
Lin Ye said expressionlessly.
"Not only did I squeeze every last bit of value from those students, I also captured those citizens you had connections with. None of the students behind you will escape. I'll make you watch as they're parasitized by the branch tendrils, screaming as everything inside them is drained dry, while you can do nothing. I've provoked you again—what can you do about it?" Luo Geng spoke each word deliberately.
Lin Ye's calmness made it extremely uneasy. It had to force out Lin Ye's trump card—until then, it didn't dare approach him.
"Do you know why I'm wasting time talking to you?"
Lin Ye produced the green skill card he'd been holding all along, the trump card he'd obtained with the black card precisely for this situation.
"I've been using my five senses to gather information here. Not being able to use mental energy is such a hassle. If I could use mental energy, I would have acted the moment I entered this place."
"What makes you think you can act? This space has already been transformed by the Divine Emissary. Its root tendrils are everywhere. Did you think you were the only one buying time? Look behind you."
Root tendrils burst from the ground, sealing their retreat. Not only that, countless tendrils surged toward Lin Ye from all directions—above, below, and all around.
"I expected this. So predictable. The survivors are in your hands now."
Lin Ye crushed the green skill card.
【Green Card--Skill】
【Using this card pulls designated individuals in the surrounding area into the World of Ashes (1/1)】
【Note: Red and gray, life and death】
Lin Ye pulled all the surrounding cultists, the Divine Emissary, and the two participants who were nearly drained by the Divine Emissary into the World of Ashes. Left outside were only those students and survivors who hadn't been fully drained yet, kept as backup nourishment.
He had anticipated this scenario earlier, which was why he'd chosen the World of Ashes card from the Random Card Library.
It was worth noting that the Random Card Library contained Lin Ye's favorite Unlimited Backstab skill card.
After using the card, Lin Ye entered that gray world once more.
Surrounding him were urban ruins, with gray ash carrying faint crimson sparks drifting through the bleak sky. Luo Geng and the remaining cultists stood opposite Lin Ye, the Giant Plant crouching behind them.
Instantly deprived of its long-established soil environment and those backup nourishment sources, the Divine Emissary appeared somewhat weakened.
"Just helping your Divine Emissary change environments—that's my trump card. No need to thank me, I enjoy being helpful."
Lin Ye stood in the middle of the wide road. Using the card required no spiritual or mental energy from him, so he felt completely at ease.
Luo Geng had no time for Lin Ye's taunts, busy dodging the surrounding ash under the cover of root tendrils. Besides it, the other cultists had already burst apart from the ash, releasing large quantities that increased the local ash density.
Lin Ye didn't know exactly how to use the World of Ashes either, but he could learn from Little Ye's methods.
After those cultists turned to ash, Lin Ye clearly sensed some changes regarding this world.
Unlike last time, although he wasn't providing spiritual or mental energy, he was now the one using this skill.
Luo Geng hid inside the Giant Plant's body, which moved its heavy form, swinging branches trying to kill Lin Ye.
Lin Ye had used the white card to unlock his spiritual energy after entering the cult base, but even with spiritual energy enhancement, he couldn't match the speed of those branches.
The branches pierced Lin Ye's body, lifting him into the air and tearing him to shreds.
Lin Ye's body exploded, transforming into ash that scattered through the air. Another Lin Ye appeared by the roadside, reading a book he'd found in the ruins.
Simultaneously, large amounts of ash invaded the Giant Plant's body. The sky-obscuring branches above began moving sluggishly, far less agile than before.
"I suggest you stop wasting time. Right now, I'm just a collection of ash. No matter how many times you kill me, I can restore myself instantly."
Lin Ye didn't attack the Divine Emissary directly. His attacks could at most break the Giant Plant's epidermis, never reaching its vital points.
Nor did he need to attack. As long as enough ash invaded the Divine Emissary's body, it would become a genuine plant, forever trapped here.
The Divine Emissary didn't take Lin Ye's advice, continuing its attacks, trying to tear Lin Ye apart completely.
In its frantic movements, Lin Ye detected a trace of panic.
"So you're afraid of death too. That's wonderful."
Lin Ye smiled, standing before the Giant Plant, allowing the branches to tear his body apart. He wanted to watch it die in agony, just like those students had.
"...I didn't do those things. Let me out, I'll do anything you want. I can admit my mistakes."
The Divine Emissary transmitted a message to Lin Ye using mental energy.
"But didn't you enjoy feeding on them? Tell you what—first throw that cultist out to me."
Of course Lin Ye wouldn't spare the Divine Emissary, but he could only rely on the World of Ashes to slowly deal with it. The seventh-tier cultist inside it was a troublesome unstable factor—better to eliminate it early if possible.
"Fine, but you must let me out afterward. I can provide you with Pure White Primordial Fluid. Perhaps we can cooperate."
The Divine Emissary showed no hesitation about abandoning Luo Geng. It had protected Luo Geng only in hopes he might find an escape method.
"I'll help you!"
A portal suddenly appeared near the two participants impaled by the Giant Plant. A tall, fierce-looking bald burly man entered the World of Ashes through the portal.
Victoria: He's a ninth-tier supporter, one of my enemies. Probably couldn't resist acting when he saw you about to win the game. Should I intervene?
Lin Ye: Don't rush. As long as the World of Ashes remains intact, I can handle this. Are you sure he's the only one who can come through?
Victoria: ...Hard to say. I can only tell you that if the other side hasn't gone completely mad, they won't commit more resources. You should know that intervening in system-related activities requires ten times the resources for each additional intervention—resources they can't recover even if they win.