Chapter 192: Execution (Part 2)
As the suddenly impassioned execution theme surged through the air, the viewers' adrenaline spiked straight through the roof.
They watched Zhou Ning's coat tails fluttering as he pressed down the brim of his hat, body leaning forward slightly. Without dodging or retreating, he strode through the nearly opaque frost mist, and as Archibald's sword slashed down toward him, Zhou Ning calmly reached out and gripped the opponent's rune sword.
Thanks to a close-up, the audience could clearly see blood flowing freely from Zhou Ning's hand as he held the blade. Yet his expression remained serene, the corners of his lips curving into a refined smile. A sudden blaze of blinding white light flared from between his fingers, and a pure golden flame silently burst forth. Archibald's hand recoiled as if burned, forcing him to release the rune sword.
Hiss!
The rune sword, which had moments ago radiated a biting chill, instantly quieted, subdued and obedient. Then, it vanished from Zhou Ning's hand.
The players: ?????
Just like Qingbai Wild Sake's first reaction, their initial thought was that someone had looted a boss weapon on the spot.
But before they could start complaining, they saw a flicker in Archibald's ghostly blue eyes. A sudden burst of layered icy shockwaves erupted from him, and with the camera pulling back sharply, the players could clearly see frost rapidly forming across the ground, on Zhou Ning's arms, and all over his body.
In an instant, it was as if the entrance to hell had opened. Countless translucent phantoms surged from the void, wailing silently as they charged at Zhou Ning in a tidal wave.
Normally, this would've had the players on edge—but with the execution theme's rapid tempo still going strong, they oddly found themselves a little worried for the enemy instead.
Just as the phantoms reached him, a layer of radiant, sun-like white flame suddenly erupted across Zhou Ning's body. In less than a second, every specter that touched him was reduced to ash.
At that moment, the viewers saw Archibald—hooded in black—raise his right arm again and thrust his palm forward.
His hand turned instantly incorporeal, ghostly like it belonged to a wraith. Dozens of black threads shot out from his palm, lashing toward Zhou Ning.
Zhou Ning was dragged forward several steps by the threads—but quickly stabilized himself, giving Archibald no time to react. Instead, with a sudden snap, he grabbed the man's hand, yanked him closer, tightened his grip, leaned back, and threw a vicious straight punch right into Archibald's face.
Right then, the execution theme reached its climax. Zhou Ning's fists pounded down in a relentless flurry to the rhythm of the drums, hammering Archibald for a full thirty seconds. Only then did he draw his twin pistols, flash a smile, and bid his enemy farewell—sending the bullet curtain into a frenzy.
"My husband is so hot I could cry. Is this the same guy Grantham said could only fight small fry? I actually believed him."
"Bro, you're a dude calling him your husband? You XB fanboying or what?"
"Crying! You can always count on Wayne Sturwell—especially when the BGM kicks in."
"Say no more. Rewatching now. See y'all at the beginning."
"@Grantham, your thoughts on this clip?"
"@Grantham, your thoughts on this clip?"
Grantham stared at the flood of mentions, grinding his teeth in frustration—but he had no room to argue. Wayne Sturwell's strength had completely blindsided him. It was absurd, unreal. All he could do now was play dead.
Zhou Ning: …
He couldn't help but light a candle for this old pal again. Every time he used the Vampire template, Grantham popped up—it was practically astrological incompatibility.
To be fair, what Grantham said wasn't wrong. If Zhou Ning hadn't kept his trump card—Vampire Zhou Ning—in reserve…
They'd probably already be arranging his funeral feast by now.
By this point in the video, things were winding down. The next scene showed Zhou Ning removing his hat, nodding farewell to the enemies deeper in the corridor, and escorting two weak players out of the temple.
He moved forward with effortless grace, his black coat trailing behind him. As he passed, golden flames lit up on the undead around them, casting a pure glow across the dim corridor and the pitch-black depths of the temple.
Moments later, the undead were reduced to ash, never to rise again.
Then, as he punched a walrus-man straight through and burst out of the temple's main gate, the execution theme cut off with perfect timing.
At last, the players let out a collective breath—they were satisfied. Utterly satisfied. Entering post-hype cooldown mode.
What followed was relatively calm. Zhou Ning successfully reunited with the main expedition team, bringing his segment to a close.
The video then shifted to another team heading southward. Zhou Ning noticed that the two teams' situations mirrored each other. Near the structure, they too found an altar. But in addition to the undead, this team encountered robed cultists of the Curse God Cult, performing ritual prayers.
These cultists didn't attack the undead. On the contrary, they coexisted peacefully.
Ultimately, this expedition team's journey ended in disaster—overwhelmed by the combined assault of the undead and the Curse God Cultists. After losing three members, they had no choice but to retreat.
Once the two teams regrouped and escaped the meteorological tide, the scene cut again—this time to Puximi Shelley, the Chosen of the Ruins Kingdom, following the academic exchange team from Inyek University en route to Bryston.
The screen faded to black.
The film ended.
Everyone who'd binged it had just one thought in mind—
Spectacular.
The entire film had zero dull moments—tight pacing, intense twists, and that final fight with protagonist Wayne Sturwell? The best battle sequence in all eight episodes, hands down. The audience couldn't have asked for more.
Wayne Sturwell's strength was once again thrown under the microscope—his explosive performance completely overshadowing Leandro, the Chosen from the previous timeline. His popularity was off the charts.
Even the young actor playing Wayne Sturwell posted online, saying he'd been working hard to capture the character's essence—and would give his best for the upcoming scenes.
Zhou Ning: …
Though a bit helpless and seething inside, this was exactly the outcome he'd wanted—to win the admiration and fervent support of the players.
Only by establishing this kind of bond could he sway their decisions. Some players might join the Curse God Cult and be ordered to attack him—but now, perhaps they'd hesitate. Perhaps they'd refuse and follow him instead.
That's the power of a true idol.
Of course, that power needed to be backed by profit if he wanted players to truly fight for him. As a former player himself, he understood their mindset all too well. They might help a popular NPC for a while out of affection—but without benefits, they'd flip on you in a heartbeat.
Fortunately, his strategy combined both idol status and rewards—never neglecting either. He intended to keep following that path.
There was also a beginner village called South Wessex, not far from West Lin Town. It happened to be the hometown of his mentor, Professor Wesley. Zhou Ning decided to wait a bit before heading there—to give the players time to gather money and experience, and to give himself a window to handle other matters, such as obtaining that psychic enhancement potion from the mysterious old man.
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