Doll Survival Game

“There’s a strong possibility,” Wei Lianlian said cautiously. “But if we’re guessing based on this, there’s something quite odd.”

Fang Jincheng had already thought of it. He straightened slightly and looked at Wei Lianlian. “Why doesn’t the game just eliminate him?”

“Exactly,” Wei Lianlian nodded. “Even if it can’t eliminate him directly, there are plenty of ways to cause trouble for him, like making him play a character destined to die in an instance.”

Guan Cheng frowned. “Indeed…”

“That suggests there might be another reason,” Tian Tang chimed in. “After all, none of us remember him doing anything significant.”

Her gaze then shifted to Luo Yiran’s display panel, where the doll, though annoyed, accepted Yuan Mo. The group was leaving the vine monster’s territory, likely to meet up with Xia Lang and the others…

Xia Lang…

Tian Tang glanced at Guan Cheng out of the corner of her eye. “By the way, aren’t you worried about Xia Lang?”

Guan Cheng was taken aback. He looked at Xia Lang’s display panel, which showed a rather bloody scene. Xia Lang wasn’t very skilled at combat, mostly relying on instinctive reactions to attack-biting, slashing, whatever worked, his actions were wild.

Meanwhile, Lin Ye and Via were assisting him in dealing with the opponent using items.

Guan Cheng watched for a moment. “I am worried, but there are people who will help him.”

When Via caught Xia Lang, Guan Cheng felt a bit relieved.

“He’s a good kid, just afraid of being alone.”

Tian Tang paused, then turned back. “Are you his dad or something?”

Guan Cheng chuckled and shook his head, saying no more. Back in Water City, Guan Cheng had noticed Xia Lang’s unusual side, but he didn’t think Xia Lang’s timid and kind nature was just a façade.

Xia Lang’s reliance on him felt precious to Guan Cheng, especially since his own child had a resemblance to Xia Lang.

If his child were still alive, they’d probably be starting middle school, a bit younger than Xia Lang.

On the display panel, Xia Lang was nearly hit by someone, but Via and Lin Ye both reached out to help him almost simultaneously. However, Li Qi Feng, hidden in the shadows, was faster, shooting the black hand.

“Li Qi Feng intervened? What about the serpent man?” Tian Tang searched the display panels.

Wei Lianlian pointed. “He went elsewhere. The last two members of the [hunter] group are joining the serpent man’s faction.”

“Oh!” Tian Tang nodded, taking the opportunity to move a bit closer to Wei Lianlian. “Xia Lang is both unlucky and lucky, with so many people protecting him.”

Protecting…

Guan Cheng was lost in thought, his gaze unconsciously shifting to Luo Yiran’s display panel.

On the screen, the doll was gripping the magician’s hair, moving swiftly forward, the wind blowing through his black hair, his expression calm and untroubled.

Luo Yiran didn’t seem to show any worry. Was he concerned inside, or did he know they would protect Xia Lang?

“Speaking of which, is there a regulator in the serpent man’s territory?” Tian Tang suddenly asked. “I just checked, and it seems like all the regulators from other territories, except Little Red and the serpent man, have appeared in the players’ display panels.”

Fang Jincheng’s mouth twitched. “Hopefully not. The serpent man is already strong enough.”

“That’s not something we can decide… Oh my gosh!”

Wei Lianlian felt a bit itchy. “Tian Tang, stop using those weird expressions.”

Tian Tang patted her mouth, then pointed at Luo Yiran’s display panel. “Look, he’s so ruthless! He’s using a bird special species as a mount!”

“And he’s making that bird man carry everyone… That’s just ruthless!”

Wei Lianlian: “…”

Wei Lianlian: “It’s because that bird man-no, that bird special species attacked them first.”

Tian Tang didn’t care, mumbling to herself, “I’ve never flown before! Next time I meet them, I want to try it too… But the doll carrying so many people might not work.”

Wei Lianlian sighed as she glanced at Luo Yiran’s display panel. Their speed was much faster than when they were running, but with so many people, the bird special species would likely slow down soon.

However, judging from their map, the vine monster’s territory wasn’t far from the serpent man’s territory.

Between the territories of the vine monster and the werewolf lay two factions: the serpent man and the elf. The doll was already at the edge of the vine monster’s domain, and once they crossed the no lord’s territory, they would quickly reach the serpent man’s territory.

Wei Lianlian calculated the time in her mind. “At most ten minutes, and they’ll be able to regroup.” This estimation included the time for the bird special species to rest midway.

No sooner had she spoken than she noticed the magician seemed displeased with being carried by the shoulders and whispered something to the doll.

The wind was too loud for Wei Lianlian to hear.

Meanwhile, Fang Jincheng and Guan Cheng were watching Xia Lang’s display panel, where a new figure had appeared.

Guan Cheng was at a loss for words, and Fang Jincheng’s expression slightly darkened. “Let’s see if Xia Lang and the others can hold out for those ten minutes.”

“…?”

Both looked up and saw Xia Lang’s raised blade being intercepted. When they saw who had stopped him, Tian Tang couldn’t help but blurt out one of those “strange exclamations” Wei Lianlian often mentioned-

“Holy crap! The regulator assigned to the serpent man’s side is that lunatic angel?!”

Initially, Lin Ye had entered the game with Zhang Mimi.

Their new player instance was set in the flower market’s Long Street, where the fragrance of flowers filled the air. The locals made their living by crafting perfumes, but the pervasive floral scent posed varying degrees of problems for the players.

Upon entering the instance, Zhang Mimi inhaled a peculiar fragrance that caused flowers to grow from any crack in his skin.

This included wounds, eyes, nose, mouth, and even some private areas. The roots and stems forced their way through his flesh, leaving only the blossoms visible outside.

Zhang Mimi quickly became blind, deaf, and even life-threateningly ill, and that was just at the beginning of the instance.

Just when Lin Ye thought Zhang Mimi wouldn’t survive, the regulator appeared.

He called himself an angel, and his appearance matched the description: three pairs of snow-white wings, golden hair, eyes as clear as the ocean, and gentle, saintly features.

He descended beside Zhang Mimi, his white robe pooling on the ground, and his jade-like bare feet stepping on the flowers.

The impression of angels is often that they are benevolent beings, especially for Lin Ye and Zhang Mimi, who had just entered the game and were unaware of what kind of world it was. Naturally, Lin Ye sought help from the angel.

The angel looked at Zhang Mimi and said, “He is guilty. Technically, I shouldn’t save a sinner, but letting a new player nearly die upon entering the game is my mistake, so I’ll give him a chance.”

Thus, Zhang Mimi survived.

However, Lin Ye developed a deep sense of caution towards the angel. She subtly positioned herself in front of Zhang Mimi and asked, “What do you mean by ‘guilty’?”

The angel, with an air of superiority, gazed at Lin Ye with his blue eyes. In the next moment, Lin Ye felt a sense of danger emanating from the angel’s gaze, causing a tingling sensation on her back. Suddenly, a pair of red wings unfurled.

The unexpected weight made it impossible for her to maintain her balance, and Lin Ye fell to the ground.

The angel watched her, then curled his lips into a smile. Although the smile was gentle, it seemed extremely out of place on his face. Lin Ye heard him say, “What I dislike is a sin.”

In the later stages of the instance, Lin Ye understood the meaning behind the angel’s words.

When the angel declared someone guilty, he could act against them, and the definition of sin could be as trivial as stepping on an ant or damaging a flower.

To escape the angel, one could either defeat him or argue their innocence. Convincing the angel was the key.

Yet, Lin Ye found it peculiar that when the angel spoke of their sins, he never mentioned their real-world actions of murder.

Could it be that the angel was unaware of their real-world deeds?

Lin Ye felt slightly relieved, but later in that instance, they discovered that the antidote for the flower poison required human blood. Initially, only a small amount was needed, but some veteran players, naturally violent, began tying up other players and slaughtering them like pigs to drain their blood.

The angel caught them in the act. Lin Ye, also bound at the time, watched as the angel descended, his gaze filled with satisfaction. The angel then drew a long sword with a gem-encrusted hilt and declared, “What a heinous crime! You are beyond redemption… Allow me to purify you.”

Amidst the carnage, Lin Ye lowered her head, realizing another truth: in the presence of the angel, killing was forbidden.

…

Now, as Xia Lang was about to claim the life of a member of the Hunters, his blade was stopped.

White wings folded, golden hair cascading to the ground, the angel’s face was filled with displeasure. “What am I seeing? Are you committing murder?”

Lin Ye’s expression changed, and he shouted in a low voice, “Duan Miaomiao, hold on to me!”

Duan Miaomiao, initially stunned, instinctively grabbed the back of Lin Ye’s shirt upon hearing his words. As she did, she felt herself slipping, the scenery blurring for a moment, and then the angel’s face loomed large before her.

Duan Miaomiao: “…”

The angel didn’t look at her; his gaze was fixed on Lin Ye, who stood in front of Xia Lang. “You look familiar…”

Lin Ye’s red wings spread wide, shielding those behind him. He replied, “We’ve met once.”

As they conversed, Duan Miaomiao quickly dismounted from Lin Ye and exchanged a glance with Via behind them.

“Bear with it for a moment,” Duan Miaomiao murmured, pulling out an item.

Xia Lang sensed no malice, so he allowed Duan Miaomiao to proceed.

Opposite the red wings, the angel recognized Lin Ye. “It’s you, the Innocent from ‘The Flower.'”

Lin Ye chuckled, though her entire being was on high alert against the angel. “I didn’t expect you to remember me.”

Most regulators couldn’t interfere much in instances, but the angel was clearly an exception. Moreover, now that the angel’s role wasn’t that of a regulator, his actions might be even more unrestrained.

And besides-

“I remember your wings, those beautiful red feathers,” the angel said, staring directly at Lin Ye as if peering into her soul. “You’ve committed a crime here.”

As he spoke, the angel’s hand moved to the sword at his waist.

Lin Ye took a slight breath and admitted, “Yes, I killed the werewolves because they tried to kill me and my companions.”

Of course, that was a lie. They had provoked the werewolves first. But the angel could only discern the outcome of their “crimes,” not the cause or the process.

Thus, the lie had a chance to work.

The angel paused.

Lin Ye’s wings remained spread wide as she tried to buy time for her companions. “I acted in self-defense. The ones who committed the crime were the werewolves who wanted to harm us. Those who harbor malice and intend to harm are The Guilty.”

A silence fell, and Lin Ye’s gaze was resolute. As the angel had once said, what he disliked was a sin, so no matter the lie, as long as the angel didn’t detest it, there was a chance.

The angel seemed to consider something, then lowered his hand. “I accept. You are not guilty.”

Lin Ye hadn’t yet relaxed when the angel swiftly drew the sword from his waist, pointing its tip to the ground. “But the person behind you has committed an unforgivable sin.”

“Not long ago, he killed three people, and now he attempts to kill five more,” the angel said gravely. “His crimes are beyond redemption.”

“…”

Lin Ye didn’t move away. She was about to argue for Xia Lang’s innocence on the grounds of self-defense when she caught the angel’s half-smiling gaze and swallowed her words. No, the angel had witnessed it himself; he wouldn’t accept any more excuses…

“Beyond redemption?”

A high voice accompanied by the sound of the wind drew everyone’s attention upward. They saw a gray-haired magician with black wings perched on a branch above the angel, a blood-stained, exquisite doll on his shoulder, full of mockery. As the angel looked up, the doll’s expression grew even more disdainful. “Since you say his crimes are beyond redemption, why not list them according to the World Human’s penal code?”

“And show us proof that you’re an enforcer of the law,” the doll sneered. “Otherwise, what gives you the right to judge others? Those three pairs of chicken wings?”

The angel’s stern expression vanished, replaced by fury. “What did you say?!”