41: The Tower of Truth is open! A physical immunity-based cult teaches us a lesson?

"Charge! Brothers! Get online! A new map has opened!"

"The GM said that if we clear it, we can bring magic back to reality! I'm going to be a human self-propelled cannon!"

Li Qiang had just put on his helmet, not even having time to take a second look at the new house he'd just paid for in full, when his entire being was submerged by the earth-shaking roars within the game.

In the player main city—the center of the Goblin Fortress that had been modified beyond recognition—a pillar of light that connected heaven and earth suddenly rose, piercing straight into the clouds.

An ancient, magnificent white tower that had always been under a Seal slowly opened its long-dusty gates accompanied by a heavy rumbling sound.

The Tower of Truth!

"The first one to clear it will definitely be me!"

Li Qiang brandished his Power Sledgehammer, which had just been reinforced with dragon bone. Without even taking the time to repair his tattered chainmail, he took the lead and charged toward the teleportation gate at the base of the tower.

Behind him were thousands of players whose eyes had turned red from the massive temptation of "bringing magic back to reality."

They were like a disturbed nest of hornets, swarming like a school of fish as they scrambled to squeeze into the shimmering teleportation gate.

On everyone's face, one word was clearly written: Greed... Inside the tower.

The First Floor.

The expected Hell Hounds did not appear.

The legendary Abyss Dragons were also nowhere to be seen.

In the vast, white hall, there were only swarms of fist-sized, translucent, floating luminous energy bodies.

They looked soft and cute, harmless to humans and animals, like a group of oversized fireflies.

Low-Level Elemental UFO.

"That's it?"

One player curled his lip in disdain: "I thought there'd be some powerful BOSS. After all that, it's just a tutorial level from a starting village?"

"Stop talking nonsense! Let's finish this early and call it a day! I'm still waiting to go back to reality and conjure fireballs!"

Li Qiang stretched his muscles and gave a sinister grin as he watched an Elemental UFO slowly float in front of him.

"Go to hell!"

The Power Sledgehammer whipped up a vicious wind, carrying enough force to smash through a wall as it slammed down hard!

And then.

A bright red, giant, and mockingly meaningful character floated up from above the UFO's head.

MISS!

The hammerhead passed through the UFO's body without any resistance, smashing heavily onto the floor and sending sparks flying.

The UFO was completely unharmed.

It shook its jelly-like body, seemingly annoyed by Li Qiang's action.

Zzzzt!

A slender arc of electricity shot out from its body, accurately hitting Li Qiang's forehead.

Li Qiang's whole body trembled as his scalp went numb. A burnt smell wafted up, and the hair he had just grown back a few days ago stood on end, making him look like a Super Saiyan who had been struck by lightning.

-1 HP.

The damage was low, but the insult was extremely high.

Li Qiang was stunned.

All the players on the scene were also stunned.

"Holy crap! What's going on? I can't hit it!"

"My blade also cut through thin air! Does this monster have no physical form?"

"Help! This slime-like thing can discharge electricity! My mechanical arm has short-circuited!"

"Don't use guns! Bullets are also physical damage! They all pass right through!"

For a moment, the entire first-floor hall was filled with screams and chaos.

These tough guys, who were usually incredibly fierce and could tear bosses apart with their bare hands or tank Dragon breath, were now being electrocuted into rolling on the ground by a bunch of small mobs that looked like they'd pop with a squeeze.

Even the battle-hardened Retired Soldier King Retired Soldier King could only stare blankly with his dagger in hand, unable to do anything against such creatures that completely defied physical common sense.

This battle was impossible!

Physics was declared dead on the first floor of the Tower of Truth.

"Stop wasting your damn strength, everyone!"

In the chaos, Wang Wei (Luban No. 7) pushed the goggles up the bridge of his nose and pointed out the problem with sharp precision.

He shared the attribute panel of a UFO to the guild channel.

Low-Level Elemental UFO

Rank: 1

HP: 10/10

Special Attribute: 100% Physical Immunity

"See that? One hundred percent physical immunity! This is a forced mechanic! The developers are clearly telling us: Melee teams, get out!"

Wang Wei's calm voice was like a bucket of cold water poured over the heads of all the stubborn players.

Physical immunity?

Then how the hell are we supposed to fight!

"Damn it! These dog developers are forcing us to change classes!"

"But how can we know magic?"

"Wait... Magic?"

A player seemed to remember something and slapped his thigh hard.

"I remember now! Those books we snatch—no, borrowed from the Elves! Those magic books!"

A word to wake the dreamer!

The square instantly fell silent.

All the players remembered those Elven books they had tossed into warehouse corners or even used to prop up table legs, with their covers painted with fancy runes.

Before, everyone thought these things were just background decorations—inedible, unsellable, and useless except for looking nice.

Now it seemed those weren't scrap paper!

Those were the keys to a new world! The only Secret Manual to clear the level!

"Mine! Where's my book! I remember I stuffed it into the bottom layer of the warehouse!"

"Who took my 'Introduction to Wind Blade'? I remember the cover was green!"

"Quick! Find them all for me!"

Li Qiang gave a start and, with a standard knee-slide, rushed back to his personal warehouse.

Like a burrowing marmot, he shoveled aside all the dragon bones, Ore, and broken equipment. Finally, at the very bottom, he pulled out a crumpled thin booklet that even had a bit of dragon blood on it.

Basic Fireball Technique.

Li Qiang held this tattered book in his hands with a posture more pious than when he held his newly purchased property deed.

"Everyone, find a corner and squat down! Memorize!"

Li Qiang roared into the guild channel.

"Whoever memorizes the incantations first will be the next generation's Magic King!"

Thus, the most bizarre scene in gaming history appeared on the first floor of the Tower of Truth.

Thousands of burly men who, a second ago, were full of Killing Intent and ready to tear down the tower, were now all squatting in corners like good little children.

The once noisy battlefield instantly transformed into a university morning self-study session.

Bursts of stumbling, oddly-accented "Elvish" rose and fell across the hall.

"Grea... t... Fire... Fire Element King... uh... lend... lend me a light?" A muscular man's face turned red as he recited, his tongue nearly tying itself in knots.

"No! That syllable is a retroflex! You're just spitting!" a "classmate" next to him corrected.

"Damn it, this is harder than the CET-4 exam!"

At the top of the tower, Su Mu watched this scene through a monitor and smiled with satisfaction.

Yes, this was exactly the effect he wanted.

Want to become stronger?

Want to bring power back to reality?

Then... start with remedial classes... Half an hour later.

Boom!

With a slight explosion, black smoke rose from a player's crotch. He screamed and jumped up while clutching his vital parts.

"It... backfired again! If you say the incantation backwards, it'll backfire!"

"Hahaha! That's what you get for not paying attention in class!"

Li Qiang looked at the tragic scenes around him, took a deep breath, and concentrated all his spirit on his fingertips.

He had already failed thirty-two times. Either there was no reaction, or a small spark would explode in his hand, singeing his hand hair clean off.

This time, he was more focused than ever before.

He had silently recited that tongue-twisting incantation hundreds of times in his heart.

"...In my name, I call upon you, dancing flames..."

Hum.

A small, trembling flame finally emerged from the tip of his index finger.

The flame was very small, only about the size of a lighter flame, looking as if it would go out with a single puff of wind.

But in Li Qiang's eyes, this was the spark of hope! This was the dawn of civilization!

[System Notification: Congratulations to player 'Also a Ruthless Person' for successfully learning the skill: Small Fireball Technique (Lv.1)!]

It worked!

Li Qiang was so excited he almost jumped up.

Just then, an Elemental UFO slowly floated over.

It was the same one that had just electrocuted him until his hair stood on end.

Li Qiang looked at it, his lips slowly curling into a cruel, hunter-like grin.

He raised the finger that was still emitting a small flame and aimed it at the floating target.

"You had a lot of fun shocking me just now, didn't you?"

"Now..."

"Get cooked for Grandpa!!!"