Chapter 265: Giant Creatures 23

Fortunately, Liam Yates wasn’t some naive fool with no tricks up his sleeve.

Just as the stray dog’s sharp fangs were about to pierce his body, Liam Yates’s form instantly dissolved into a cloud of black mist and vanished.

Seeing this, the Dealer Player who had just tripped Liam Yates was first surprised, then annoyed.

’Damn it, I failed. I can’t believe Liam Yates was holding out on me.’

When the stray dog lost its target and turned its attention back to them, the Dealer Player had no choice but to use her own trump card.

However, at that very moment, a cloud of black mist suddenly appeared and, like a rope, bound everyone, including the Dealer Player.

Faintly, Liam Yates’s face appeared within the black mist. "Since you showed no mercy, don’t blame me for being ruthless."

’If you want my life, then you can just die.’

"Liam Yates, I’m sorry! I was wrong! I wasn’t thinking straight! Spare me, I’m willing to compensate you," the Dealer Player screamed, begging for her life.

The Dealer Hunter, also tied up beside her, started cursing furiously.

"Fuck, she was the one who betrayed you, not me! Why the hell are you tying me up?"

The remaining locals pleaded for their lives in a panic.

But no matter what they said, the only thing that awaited them was the stray dog’s gaping, bloody maw.

With a few piercing screams and the sound of flesh and bone being chewed, everyone became a meal in the stray dog’s stomach.

Liam Yates, still in his black mist form, slowly drifted to a safe location. The ethereal, shapeless black mist began to gather, gradually taking on a human form.

Then, as time passed second by second, the shape slowly began to solidify.

This was a Skill Liam Yates had acquired by merging with a two-star card. It allowed him to transform his body into a cloud of black mist at critical moments, but after each use, he had to wait five days before he could use it again.

Once this Skill was activated, his body would turn into a cloud of black mist, granting him immunity to all physical and magical attacks. It also possessed an absolute binding ability; no enemy he trapped could break free. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to call it invincible.

However, the card wasn’t perfect. After all, it was only a two-star card.

Besides the extremely long five-day cooling time, using the card also had a side effect: he couldn’t maintain the black mist state for too long, or he would never be able to change back into his human body.

Furthermore, while he was reforming, he would be extremely vulnerable.

Through his own experiments, Liam Yates had determined that he could maintain the black mist state for about five minutes at most.

「Day twenty-nine of the game.」

Perry Yates returned to the place where she had been collecting the white liquid.

She soon discovered that the white liquid was no longer flowing from the stone pillar above her.

Seeing this, Perry Yates carefully inspected the area. After confirming that it had truly run dry, she reluctantly put away the bottle that was only half-full.

For the next day or so, Perry Yates and Amber Sheridan spent their time in the air-raid shelter.

On the thirtieth day, the sound of the game ending was heard, and they vanished on the spot.

The System’s slightly cheerful mechanical voice rang out:

[Congratulations to Dealer Player Perry Yates for successfully clearing the "Giant Creatures" game. Simultaneously, on Cerulea #68656, all four Dealers have now been born. Cerulea #68656 will now formally enter the survival game era. The number of players will no longer increase. Here, the interests of players are paramount, and the System favors Dealers.]

Hearing the System’s announcement, Perry Yates frowned in surprise.

"System, are you there? What does it mean to ’formally enter the survival game era’?"

’Why has no one ever mentioned this before?’

’Especially Evan Fuller and Amber Sheridan.’

’According to that message, my planet is entering the survival game era because four Dealer Players have been born.’

’In other words, any planet with four Dealers has entered the survival game era.’

’Logically, information like this isn’t something worth hiding.’

’Or did they just not think it was important enough to mention?’

[Not all planets with four Dealer Players enter the survival game era.]

The sudden voice startled Perry Yates.

The white mist before her dissipated. She hadn’t returned to Cerulea, but to the System Space.

"You’re answering my question?"

[Yes.]

"Weren’t you always so cold and distant before?"

She had only asked casually, not expecting the System to actually respond.

[This System must simultaneously manage innumerable Ceruleas and players. It is impossible to answer every individual’s questions.]

The System’s tone was arrogant and cold, all but writing the words "you are not worthy" across its face.

"If that’s the case, then why are you answering my questions now?"

[Because you are different. Because of your excellence. Among all the planets I have awakened, Cerulea #68656 is the fastest to awaken and also the strongest. This is all because of you.]

Hearing this, Perry Yates nodded. She had to admit it was true; there was no need to be modest.

"Can I ask how many planets have entered the survival game era? Also, what are the benefits of entering this era, and what exactly are the Executors? Why do they hate players?"

[You have too many questions.]

Although it said that, the game System still answered all of Perry Yates’s questions one by one.

[There are currently fifty planets that have entered the survival game era. Once a planet enters the survival game era, a Dealer can make game instances they have previously cleared Concrete, causing them to manifest on their home planet.

These Concrete game instances will no longer admit other players; they belong solely to the Dealer. They will also no longer produce cards, but you can continuously acquire resources from within the instance.

Making a game instance Concrete requires a price for the Dealer—cards. The more cards and the higher their level, the stronger the Dealer’s control over the instance.

As for the Executors, they are a bunch of self-righteous fools. I believe you will encounter them soon enough.

Player Perry Yates, this System will look forward to your future growth.]

After it finished speaking, the System’s voice vanished completely. A white light flashed before Perry Yates’s eyes, and after a moment of dizzying disorientation, her figure appeared inside The Card Tavern.

At the same time, a cold, mechanical voice sounded in the ears of all players and ordinary people alike.

[Congratulations. Cerulea #68656 is about to enter the survival game era. Henceforth, the number of game players will not increase.]

Everyone who heard the voice was completely bewildered.

’Is this supposed to be a reward?’

Only the four Dealers, who were favored by the System, knew a little more.