Chapter 569: High-Level Cycle

    The snow continued to fall until the first week of the New Year, blanketing the whole city in pristine frost and purifying the air. It was also during this time that the SJG Team held another important meeting.

    "A... high-level Cycle?"

    On the other side of the laptop screen, Gu Luoxin gulped tensely.

    The four-day New Year holiday was over, and he had once again returned to being a diligent and conscientious little freshman swarmed by assignments. No, he was even busier than others, since he had to join the practice for the stage performance sometimes well into the night. He even fell asleep on his desk while working on his assignment, so where would he have the time to run to Shen Nianzu’s villa to play?

    Left with no other choice, this dead-tired college student could only squeeze out some time after classes to communicate with his teammates through a video call.

    "Don’t you think this is a little too fast, Xiao Shen...?" Gu Luoxin twisted the strings of his hoodie with an uneasy expression, his tone hesitant.

    Shen Nianzu’s plan had truly shocked and frightened him this time— his leader actually wanted to challenge a high-level Cycle next!

    Although Gu Luoxin had entered the top 30 and could be considered a big shot with a medium-sized fanbase, his scaredy-cat and timid nature had never changed. Besides, he had never thought that he was particularly powerful compared to others. He was extremely aware that the main reason why he could reach this height was thanks to his teammates bringing him along to win. Without the two of them, he would be nothing.

    He had sworn to follow Big Boss Shen for life, but... the mere thought of a high-level Cycle was still too scary ah! This was not just his personal opinion, but a general consensus among all players!

    There was this famous saying in the forum— only three types of players would challenge a high-level Cycle: the desperate, the powerful, and the moron.

    Not much information about high-level Cycles had spread, but everyone who lived to tell the tale agreed on one thing: the difference between mid-level and high-level Cycles was as vast as the distance between Heaven and Earth. If the scope of mid-level Cycles was limited to the size of a small city, then high-level Cycles could encompass the entire continent! Some bolder ones even speculated that it was a realm which operated on its own, and was no longer under the Nightmare’s authority!

    This also gave rise to the rumors that the Nightmare was actually an intelligent product of interstellar aliens who forcibly kidnapped humans to do their bidding.

    As for why they were forced to complete certain tasks before they could return to their world— who knows? The minds of foreign creatures were beyond what they as ordinary humans could comprehend. Perhaps in their eyes, humans were nothing but guinea pigs which they could experiment on again and again.

    That being said, the higher they climbed, the closer they would be to the formidable entity who had ’created’ the Nightmare. One could imagine the risk and danger that came with this endeavour.

    This also explained why most Elite players remained content with challenging only mid-level Cycles. Setting aside its atrociously high mortality rate, the Nightmare had never stipulated that players had to challenge high-level Cycles. The choice was entirely in their own hands, so why would they risk their one and only precious life? Why would they foolishly send themselves over to die?

    Wouldn’t it be best to keep the status quo?

    Any sane person would come to the same conclusion.

    —But it was apparent that his leader was not included in this category.

    Seated elegantly on the sofa dressed in silk pajamas, Shen Nianzu spoke the most serious words with the softest voice. "Don’t you want to know the truth?" he questioned, or enticed. "Why are we the chosen ones, what exactly is the Nightmare, and how to end these endless Cycles... don’t you want to find out the answers?"

    Beside him, Jin Jiuchi slouched like a couch potato with a game console in hand, fully engrossed, while sound effects of ’pew pew pew’ and ’enemy slain!’ rang out constantly in the air.

    Gu Luoxin had no idea whether to laugh or cry. Of course, he wanted to know! Not only him, everyone certainly had these questions in their minds too! But whether or not one could unravel the truth, it still had to depend on their capabilities.

    Hadn’t it been proven in countless novels and manhwas? There was only one ending for cannon fodders who scrambled to snatch the protagonist’s role, and that was death. Even if they didn’t die, they would end up miserable for sure.

    And Gu Luoxin knew that he was no protagonist. Let alone a cannon fodder, he could only be passerby A at most, the kind that did not even deserve to be named.

    The task of saving the world was too heavy of a burden to carry; all he could think of was living day by day to the fullest.

    Shen Nianzu’s stern expression softened upon seeing the clear hesitation on his face. "I know what you’re afraid of. The high-level Cycles... it’s not the same as the ones we’ve challenged so far. It will overturn everything you’ve ever known about the Nightmare Cycle..."

    "Are you afraid, Nian’er?" Jin Jiuchi leaned toward him and asked loudly without taking his eyes off the game console.

    In response, Shen Nianzu pushed him away with a cold face, "Just play your damned game." But when he turned to Gu Luoxin, his expression returned to that of a considerate and wise leader. "That’s why," he continued to elaborate. "I won’t force you to come with us. The final choice remains in your hands, Xinxin. But know that whether you choose to come along or not, I’ll respect your decision." He then checked the time and reminded, "That’s all I need to say. Don’t you need to go to your practice soon?"

    "Ah," Gu Luoxin snapped out of his absent-minded state and shot up to his feet. He spoke in haste, "You’re right! T-Then... I will think about it some more before telling you? May I?" he asked timidly.

    "Of course. I’ll give you a week, is that enough?"

    "Enough, enough, more than enough!" Gu Luoxin nodded like chicken pecking rice before expressing with the most sincere tone he could muster, "Thank you so much, Xiao Shen!"

    The video call ended, but Gu Luoxin remained distracted all the way until the practice room. Fortunately, he only had a minor role and it wasn’t yet his time to perform, hence no one paid much attention to him.

    Gu Luoxin was caught in a huge dilemma right now.

    The more understanding Shen Nianzu acted toward him, the more guilty and ashamed he felt for his own hesitation and cowardice. As a member of SJG, it goes without saying that he should go whenever his teammates go. After all, they had been through countless perilous battles and life-and-death situations together! Where would he put his conscience and sense of camaraderie if he were to bail out at the last minute?!

    However...

    Was the current him capable enough to stand his own ground in a high-level Cycle, without becoming a burden to his teammates?

    Shen Nianzu had told him many times before that he was powerful, that he should believe more in himself, but Gu Luoxin simply... couldn’t. He could not trust his weak and spineless self who would flinch at the slighest loud sound and cry at a drop of a hat. How could someone like him be a powerful player revered by many?

    Human nature was just like this— once they had settled on the comfort zone, it was extremely hard to take a step out, especially knowing the treacherous ordeal they had to face henceforth. The courage and willpower needed for this was beyond tremendous. It was simply a slow and excruciating torture for an indecisive person like Gu Luoxin.

    He even found himself wishing that Shen Nianzu could be a little forceful and merciless and dragged him along despite his own wish. This way, he did not have to feel this torn.

    Gu Luoxin had originally thought that he would agonize over this matter for the whole week. Alas, little did he know that an earth-shattering accident would happen in the next few days, forcing him to make up his mind so soon.