64: Main Quest

[source energy: 21/100]

Lu Guangming, who was watching TV with his family in the living room, let the corner of his mouth curl up in an imperceptible arc.

It wasn't that he hadn't thought about strengthening himself, but adding system functions yielded greater returns; the more solid the foundation, the more stable the future progress would be.

The player backpack was something he was constantly thinking about, but for now, he would let them grind mobs and level up first.

"Only players who fight for their beliefs can provide the highest quality energy," he muttered in his heart, his consciousness sinking deep into the system. "It's time to give them a little 'convenience'."

In the system function addition area that only he could see, he mobilized a portion of source energy and injected it into a new module.

[Consumed 4x source energy. System function 'Teaming Module' has been added and is now live!]

[Teaming Function Description:]

1. Players can actively form or join temporary teams, with a maximum limit of 5 people.

2. After forming a team, members can view each other's system nicknames (not real names) and simple statuses (Healthy, Lightly Wounded, Heavily Wounded, etc.).

3. Unlocks the Team Voice Channel.

4. Completing tasks while in a team grants a minor team collaboration bonus.]

Almost the instant the function went live, update prompts popped up simultaneously on the system interfaces of the five players.

"Teaming function?" A sharp light flashed in Lu Qinghe's eyes as he immediately realized the strategic significance of this feature. This perfectly solved the communication and identification problems he had just been pondering!

At the same time, the system store was also quietly updated.

[New Item Listed: Cloaking Mask (Basic)]

[Effect: Can block B-rank and below energy detection, facial recognition, and most tracking methods.]

[Price: 50 copper coins]

[Note: An essential for executing covert missions; you deserve it.]

Following that, a striking title, different from the usual regional or seasonal tasks, appeared at the top of all players' task lists, carrying a sense of unquestionable gravity.

[Main Quest: Chapter One (Abyss Arc): Cleanse the Abyssal Forces of Linshui City (I)]

[Quest Description: Dangerous Abyssal minions have infiltrated Linshui City. Their tentacles are spreading through the shadows, searching for unknown and terrible things. Stop them! Cut off these tentacles before they cause a greater catastrophe!]

[Quest Requirement: Find the B-rank Abyssal Kin (Blood Shadow Tracker) in the attached image, engage it in combat for at least 5 minutes, and then successfully withdraw.]

[Quest Reward: 1x free attribute point, 1x silver coin]

[Failure Penalty: None (But please carefully evaluate your own strength; survival is the first priority)]

[Additional Information: B-rank Abyssal Kin 'Blood Shadow Tracker' Bestiary has been loaded. (Includes known ability data such as its blood transformation, shadow movement, blood arrow attacks, etc.)]

[Main Quest progress can substitute for Seasonal Quest progress of the same level]

A Main Quest!

This term made all the players' hearts skip a beat. This was no longer about clearing accidental wormholes or tentative scouting; it clearly pointed toward a massive and evil force—it was the true prelude to war!

Looking at the words "Stop the catastrophe" in the quest description, Zhang Deming's determination to protect grew even firmer.

Guan Xin scrutinized the Blood Shadow Tracker's bestiary, his stalker instincts leading him to begin planning hunting and withdrawal routes.

Liao Jianfeng rubbed his hands together, his blood boiling at the high rewards of the Main Quest.

Feng Chengcheng took a deep breath, feeling the heavy weight of responsibility on her shoulders.

Lu Qinghe quickly learned the newly acquired Energy Interference skill and, combined with the recently purchased Energy Mark, began to conceptualize various possibilities for team combat cooperation.

That night, within an abandoned factory district in Linshui City.

A blurred blood-shadow drifted through the ruins like a specter; it was exactly the B-rank Kin sent by Blood Devourer—the Blood Shadow Tracker. Following its master's orders, it tirelessly searched for any suspicious energy fluctuations and that keen-sensing brat.

Suddenly, it stopped in its tracks, its crimson pupils looking toward a corner filled with rusted shipping containers ahead and to the side.

There, at some unknown point, four figures had appeared.

On their faces, they wore uniform Cloaking Masks purchased from the system store that covered only the upper half of their faces. Their Auras were scrambled by the mask's effect, making them difficult to detect.

Standing slightly in front was Zhang Deming, whose ID was displayed as [Bedrock]. He had a burly build and steady eyes.

In the shadows to the left was Guan Xin, ID [Dark Blade], his form blurred as if he would merge into the darkness at any moment.

To the right was Liao Jianfeng, ID [Charging City], his momentum soaring and eager to give it a try.

Positioned in the center-rear was Feng Chengcheng, ID [Spirit Wind], with faint flows of energy swirling around her.

And further away, atop a shipping container, Lu Qinghe, ID [Star Pupil], stood silently. His Spirit Sensing was fully deployed, monitoring the entire battlefield like radar, and he calmly transmitted information through the newly formed 2-hour-limit team channel:

"Target confirmed. Energy reaction is stable. No other ambushes detected."

"[Bedrock], prepare to engage. [Spirit Wind], prepare to buff. [Dark Blade], [Charging City], wait for my signal to act."

The Blood Shadow Tracker let out a low growl. Although it couldn't identify these people's specific identities or strengths, the other party was clearly coming for it.

"Roar—!"

It struck first, its body suddenly bursting apart and transforming into dozens of sharp blood arrows, raining down on the four in a wide-area attack!

"Shield, up!" Zhang Deming barked. A pale gold Life Shield instantly expanded, firmly protecting him and Feng Chengcheng behind him.

"Buff, on [Bedrock]!" Feng Chengcheng waved her hand almost simultaneously, and the glow of All-Around Buff landed on Zhang Deming.

With the buff, Zhang Deming's shield glowed even brighter, steadily blocking most of the blood arrows.

At the exact moment the blood arrows were fired, Guan Xin's figure had already vanished from the spot. Deep Stealth was activated, and he circled toward the tracker's flank like a ghost.

Liao Jianfeng roared and launched a Bull Charge. Instead of charging the tracker's main body, he accurately slammed into several blood arrows attempting to flank them, shattering them in mid-air.

"Three steps to the left, stealth ending, attack!" Lu Qinghe's voice rang out clearly in the team channel.

Guan Xin's figure emerged from the shadows as instructed. His pliers glinted with a cold light, stabbing directly at the tracker's waist, which had become slightly more solid due to releasing the blood arrows.

The tracker reacted extremely fast, instantly recalling a portion of its blood to form a small blood shield at its waist.

Clang!

The pliers collided with the blood shield, producing a dull thud.

The battle officially began.

Under Lu Qinghe's precise command and the seamless connection of the team voice channel, the four players, fighting as a "team" for the first time, displayed an astonishing level of coordination.

Zhang Deming held the front line steadily, Liao Jianfeng looked for opportunities to charge and disrupt the formation, Guan Xin roamed and harassed, and Feng Chengcheng's buffs always appeared at the most critical moments.

Five minutes passed in a flash during the intense offense and defense.

"Time's up! [Dark Blade], feint. [Charging City], cover the rear. [Bedrock], [Spirit Wind], prepare to withdraw! Use the pre-planned Route 3!" Lu Qinghe's command was concise and powerful.

Guan Xin made a feint and quickly retreated. Liao Jianfeng delivered a violent charge to temporarily force the tracker back. Zhang Deming maintained his shield and quickly retreated into the complex alleys behind them with Feng Chengcheng.

The tracker roared in anger, attempting to give chase.

"[Star Pupil], interfere with it!" Zhang Deming shouted in the channel.

In the distance, Lu Qinghe raised his hand, and an invisible wave—Energy Interference (Intermediate)—descended upon the creature.

The tracker, just about to transform into a shadow to pursue, suddenly stiffened as the energy flow within its body experienced a brief moment of chaos.

Taking this opportunity, the four players quickly vanished into the shadows of the abandoned factory.

[Main Quest (Abyss Arc) - Cleanse the Abyssal Forces of Linshui City (I) Complete!]

[Rewards have been distributed to the system space.]

The Blood Shadow Tracker stood in place, sensing the completely vanished Auras of its opponents and the untraceable energy remnants left behind by that strange interference, letting out an incredibly frantic yet helpless roar.

In the shadows further away, Lu Guangming withdrew his gaze, a satisfied smile appearing on his face.

The effect of the teaming function was immediate. The players' growth rate was even faster than he had anticipated.

"The team has taken its initial shape. Now, the next step..." His gaze turned to the icon on the system interface that required more source energy to unlock, glowing with an enticing light—the 'backpack' function.

"It's time to prepare some 'luggage' for them."