Chapter 260: Eliminate, Recruit

Jack threw a right hook, sending Wu Qi flying backward. The simple broadsword in Wu Qi’s hand shattered from the force of Jack’s punch. Mid-air, Wu Qi ignited, transforming into a flaming figure—no, a flaming corpse—tumbling forty-nine times before finally coming to a stop on the ground. Only when his body was reduced to ashes did the flames subside.

Everyone gasped in astonishment. Bystander Players from Wuwu County exclaimed, “Such immense strength! He actually sent the 300-jin Wu Qi flying?”

“What kind of weapon is that? Its power is so exaggerated, so cool.”

“He actually killed Wu Qi with a single punch. Could the gauntlet he’s wearing be a Dark Gold Weapon?”

“No, that’s impossible. How could a Dark Gold Weapon instantly kill a Level 13 Wu Qi?” one person stubbornly denied, refusing to acknowledge Jack’s prowess.

Meanwhile, the Sanctuary members who had come with Jack praised him:

“So Big Brother Jack’s gauntlet Skill has this effect. Without even using his Ultimate Skill, just a Normal punch can unleash an inextinguishable flame.”

“It inflicts both burn damage and internal injuries—two types of damage at once. That’s incredible. I feel like even drinking a fire-resistance Potion wouldn’t withstand this Attack.”

“That guy was really foolish, daring to charge in without Armor. It truly fits the saying, ‘The ignorant are especially arrogant.’”

Jack looked at the charred remains on the ground, shook his head, and sighed softly, “What a pity.”

His words left everyone stunned.

“What? Big Brother Jack is too kind-hearted toward enemies,” said a Player from the Student Legion.

“No, Captain Jack must be referring to that Ancestral Legendary Tier Weapon. One more Weapon means one more measure of Strength,” remarked a member of the Frontline Team.

The lackeys following behind, hearing Jack’s words, sensed an opportunity and began pleading for mercy. “Warrior, please be magnanimous and forgive us,” one cried out.

“It was all Wu Qi’s fault. He forced us into this,” another lackey said, winking and gesturing.

One even knelt down and kowtowed to Jack.

But the next moment, hundreds of Players from Wuwu County stepped forward, several shouting loudly:

“Don’t believe them! They’re in cahoots with Wu Qi, committing atrocities in Wuwu County and harming innocent civilians.”

“Wu Qi and his underlings are utterly heartless. After becoming Players, they killed innocent civilians to test their Skills. Many male and female students were violated by them.”

“Exactly, these people have no humanity. If you don’t kill them, we will,” one Player even raised his blade, ready to charge forward.

Jack, being a Mercenary by background, had seen it all. He snorted and said, “What I meant by ‘pity’ wasn’t pity for him as a person, but pity that I didn’t burn him to death—I merely killed him.”

His words drew a collective gasp of shock from the crowd. “Hiss.”

Chu Feng widened his eyes in surprise and said, “So Big Brother Jack is this cold-blooded?”

“What are you talking about? You must never show mercy to enemies. Mercy toward enemies is cruelty to yourself. These people are clearly the type to stab you in the back. Didn’t you see how the moment their leader was defeated, their first instinct was to Flee?” a Frontline Team squad Captain retorted to Chu Feng.

Veteran players, seasoned and experienced, agreed more with Jack’s approach. On the Crimson Earth, they faced life-or-death battles at every moment—if you didn’t kill them, they would come to kill you. This was no child’s play.

When they were Dungeon Grinding, they had to ensure every Aberrant Beast Demon was dead beyond any doubt, let alone human enemies?

Jack waved his hand and turned to leave.

Immediately, the Frontline Team members unleashed their Skills, wiping out all the remaining lackeys. Some of the more perceptive new players from the Student Legion also began to grow from naive newcomers into “adults” through the genuine experience of bloodshed.

“Although this is the Age of Dharma Decline, the rules have been explained to you, and opportunities were given. If you stubbornly believe that the strong rule all and the strong plunder everything, then I will use your own methods to plunder you,” Jack said with flair as he mounted his horse, quite the flex.

Chu Feng looked at Jack with even greater admiration, thinking to himself with reverence, “Reason when reason is due, and abandon reason when it’s not—that is a true man, a real hero.”

The lackeys were no match for the Frontline Team members; even the weakest Student Legion players could instantly kill these minions. In less than three minutes, all remaining enemies were eliminated.

The players from Wuwu County watching nearby grew extremely tense, fearing they would be next. They had no choice but to step forward and shout, “Hey, buddy, we’re not with them!”

“Yeah, don’t mistake us for enemies, big brothers. We’ve long disliked Wu Qi and his crew, but we weren’t strong enough to oppose them, so we just endured silently.”

“We have no intention of taking your territory; we’re here on a mission,” one person stated the key point.

Whether they were allies or enemies didn’t matter much—without conflicting interests, they weren’t foes.

Chu Feng spoke up first, “Stop talking over each other; it’s impossible to follow. Pick a spokesperson.”

Only then did the people from Wuwu County quiet down.

Rustling, rustling—before long, a young man without a Weapon, empty-handed, slowly approached Jack and said, “Hello, big brother. My name is Chen Dong, Level 5, profession Mechanic. We’re all players from Wuwu County, currently working on a major mission assigned by the Black Sphere called 【Tree Realm Descent】. We’re preparing to go Dungeon Grinding against the Dungeon Boss, Fear Emperor.”

After hearing Chen Dong’s words, Jack and everyone behind him widened their eyes in surprise.

“You’re only Level 5 and you want to take on Fear Emperor? Do you know what kind of enemy you’re facing?” Chu Feng was the first to speak up.

“What kind of Black Sphere is so damn cruel? Isn’t this just sending people to their deaths?”

Chen Dong was taken aback and asked in return, “Is Fear Emperor really that hard to defeat?”

Jack replied truthfully, “Fear Emperor hasn’t revived yet. If it does, I’m afraid no one will be able to kill it. It would become the most powerful being in the entire World.”

“I dare to ask, what Level would Fear Emperor be? Would it be even stronger than you, big brother?” Chen Dong inquired.

“I don’t know, but it would be far stronger than me. My Master is currently figuring out how to kill Fear Emperor,” Jack said, glancing toward the Sanctuary in the distance.

Chen Dong and the players from Wuwu County didn’t know how to respond. Everyone fell into confusion—with such a formidable enemy, they had no idea what to do next.

After a moment of awkward silence, Jack thought for a bit. Seeing that there were roughly over 400 Players in Wuwu County, he boldly said, “Our Sanctuary is short on people. We can cooperate according to the rules.”

“Cooperate?” “You won’t enslave us like Wu Qi, will you?” someone stepped forward to question.

“Up to you. Those willing to cooperate can stay; those who prefer to go it alone can leave. We never force anyone,” Jack said, imitating Kamiyu’s tone.

This way, he could take the initiative and avoid sounding like he was begging them to stay and work for him.