Chapter 2609: Error in Triggering the Time Force
Again?
Xu Huo quickly activated the Water Rubik’s Cube, but this time the Night Tour Team was evidently more prepared than before. In nearly an instant, they wrapped him in a headgear and clothes, his body once again beyond his control, swaying with the movements of the clothes. The transparent tendrils wrapped around his head and body, repeatedly attempting to break through the spatial barrier.
This time, his thoughts were not manipulated, although his hands and feet danced involuntarily, following a few performers forward. Yet his consciousness remained completely alert without any suppression.
It’s unclear whether there was a problem with the Night Tour Team or if there was a limitation on the instance’s attack itself.
"Are you awake?" Everyone in the team was wearing costumes, making it difficult to differentiate between them, so he simply called out.
"Me, me, me!" Mr. Xi responded first. He was in the row two behind Xu Huo, shouting, "This time the Night Tour setup is much worse, maybe that’s why we can stay awake, but I can’t move at all!"
Shi Potian and Sister Zhong were a bit further behind, and they were alert but had separated from Sister Mei. The Girl in the Painting sent a voice note via communicator.
Joyful and celebratory music echoed in the team, making the group that danced bizarrely less intimidating.
The team moved along the city’s deserted streets, not knowing where they were headed. However, a few seconds later, they passed through a space portal, and a few people in ghost monster suits approached, joining the team.
"Will this Night Tour Team exit the restricted area?" Mr. Xi asked.
"Really?" Shi Potian was delighted.
"Don’t forget the state of the Night Tour Team outside the restricted area," Sister Zhong said. "Inside the restricted area, it only attracts players to become part of the parade, but outside it kills people. If there are others like us mixed in the team, can they remain clear-headed once outside?"
Anyone slightly clear-headed likely wouldn’t turn the knife towards their compatriots, so it’s highly possible that once the Night Tour Team successfully parades, the control over those trapped inside will double. The inability to move freely is the least of it, possibly by then they’ve completely lost autonomy or even died.
So following the Night Tour Team outside is highly risky; it’s better to escape while remaining clear-headed now.
Xu Huo also agreed, so he moved Mr. Xi out of the team first. As long as they could successfully leave the Night Tour Team, taking off the headgear and clothes wouldn’t be a problem.
Shi Potian and Sister Zhong were also moved out, but as for Sister Mei, who couldn’t be locked on target, he randomly moved some people out, and whether she’s among them depends on luck.
"I’ll follow and check it out, if things go wrong, I’ll retreat," he told Mr. Xi, then pulled the Girl in the Painting to his side, leveraging the Night Tour Team’s cover to keep her close.
The Girl in the Painting extended a hand from the costume, gesturing "Don’t worry" to him.
Over there, Shi Potian and the others successfully removed their headgear. After checking, they didn’t see Xu Huo or the Girl in the Painting, Shi Potian said, "They couldn’t still be in the Night Tour Team, right?"
He said this while calling Sister Zhong to rescue them.
Mr. Xi stopped them, "He’s looking for an exit. Let’s wait here."
Shi Potian and Sister Zhong exchanged a glance, both finding it hard to believe. Why bother? He’s not a player of this instance, why risk it? Surviving for seven days can still escape!
Mr. Xi somewhat understood, given this is a space-themed instance. Passing through the space portal is an experience and study in spatial power, especially since the spatial power of this instance closely resembles the power of the Water Rubik’s Cube.
"Haven’t seen someone so eager to learn in a long time..." he sighed.
The "studious" Xu Huo had already followed the Night Tour Team through the second space portal. During the day, the Night Tour Team traversed spaces more frequently, and each entry into a different space added some personnel. Sometimes it’s ordinary ghost headgear, sometimes giant demons. Among these "people," at least half are those already bound beforehand, and those like Xu Huo who directly encounter the Night Tour Team are actually in the minority.
Of course, compared to players who encountered the Night Tour Team and were dragged in, those only wearing headgear are more free. At first, their hands and feet were unruly upon being absorbed into the team, but it was only temporary. Over time, they gradually became "obedient," starting to dance and no longer resisting until they donned new clothes.
Quite remarkable are those who purposely wear headgear to evade attacks, choosing to voluntarily join the Night Tour Team—originally, the Night Tour Team was about to leave its current space immediately after passing through the space portal. These people suddenly emerged from corners and crannies, trailing at the back, attempting to blend in through this method.
However, once the entire Night Tour Team crossed the space portal, these players previously able to move independently were immediately engulfed by the team. The headgear and clothes instantly appeared on them, and their sounds vanished within seconds.
By then, the Night Tour Team had grown considerably, equipped with all kinds of headgear. The parade’s bells and chants grew louder and louder, gradually overpowering all surrounding sounds.
Xu Huo felt a stiffening of his body again, and his mind seemed to be struck by something, becoming blank once more, realizing this was due to the increased power of the Night Tour Team. He first threw out the unlucky batch from earlier.
Once these people left, a gap appeared in the middle of the team. Although the bells and chants hardly change, the team’s progress stalled, with a few performers awkwardly refusing to move forward, crashing into those behind them.
Seeing this, Xu Huo understood that the more complete the Night Tour Team, the stronger the player control, and once everything’s in place, that’s likely when the Night Tour Team exits the restricted area to harvest the dungeon venue’s people.
As he hesitated whether to take the risk, the clumsy performers were smoothed out, and the team resumed moving forward. At the moment the team restarted, an unprecedented spatial force enveloped the entire team, instinctively prompting Xu Huo to activate the time force. Yet this time he miscalculated; when the surging time force descended, it severely submerged him and the entire team!
The team paused in the space, and he stopped within the space.
The excessively slow time left his shock and fear only lingering in his gaze, while at that moment, he felt more of a sense of relief—relief that the time force activated was relatively slow!