"How should I put it...…this godforsaken place really has a strong surreal vibe to it..."
Standing inside the tram and looking at the scenery outside, this was the only thought Duanmu Huai had at the moment.
To be honest, back when he was playing the game, Duanmu Huai had never left Duel City. He only knew some general information about the surrounding areas. Within Duel City itself, everything was extremely advanced—skyscrapers rose one after another, there were subways and buses, plus highways and airports. No matter how you looked at it, it was a near-future sci-fi metropolis.
However, when Duanmu Huai, under Yue Huasha's guidance, took the tram and left Duel City, the visual style before his eyes completely changed.
How should he put it...…
It wasn't strange that there was a bidirectional four-lane highway running alongside the tram tracks.
But seeing horse-drawn carriages running on it was very strange.
Horse-drawn carriages would already be one thing, but the soldiers patrolling back and forth here were all wearing armor and carrying spears and shields—and occasionally you could even see a few carrying muskets!
Just imagine it: on a bidirectional four-lane highway, illuminated by streetlights, a group of people dressed like medieval guards patrolled back and forth, while cars sped past alongside galloping horse-drawn carriages...…what the hell kind of place was this?
Why do I feel like I've walked onto a film set?
Duanmu Huai felt like he had gone to Hengdian or somewhere similar, where medieval-style buildings filled the streets, yet modern streetlights and traffic signals were everywhere, and all the people walking around were extras dressed in ancient costumes...…the scene was so bizarre it went beyond bizarre.
Then, the tram arrived at the station.
Yes—outside a modernized station was a medieval-style Western town.
Duanmu Huai was completely speechless.
"We're here now."
Yue Huasha pointed expressionlessly at the map posted at the station. On it, the entire continent could be seen. Duel City was located by the sea in the lower-right corner of the continent, and they had now arrived at the far eastern border of Duel City.
"Once you enter here, you're in the Free City Zone. As long as we keep heading east, we'll reach the free city of Kastam."
"Mm...…"
Duanmu Huai carefully examined the map. Judging from it, the area occupied by Duel City was practically the size of a country. To the east of Duel City was the Free City Zone, while to the west was the Kingdom of Seth.
"What's to the north?"
"B.J. It's my hometown."
Yue Huasha answered calmly.
"It's divided into eastern and western districts. The eastern district is controlled by the underworld, while the western district is controlled by an alliance of academies."
"What kind of messed-up setup is that...…forget it."
Duanmu Huai really wanted to complain about this absurd configuration, but after thinking about it, he decided to let it go. After all, this was a place designed in a game—who knew what kind of lunatic design choices had led to this mess.
In any case, it had nothing to do with him.
"So how are we getting to Kastam?"
"Normally, you'd take a carriage, but...…"
As Yue Huasha said this, she glanced at Duanmu Huai's massive physique.
Everything that needed to be said was already said.
"Alright, alright...…."
Duanmu Huai silently took out the Electromagnetic Rhino. Since they were no longer in Duel City, there was no need to worry about getting banned.
And so, Duanmu Huai took Yue Huasha and Olgis with him, riding the Electromagnetic Rhino toward Kastam City in the southeast.
Although the Electromagnetic Rhino looked massive, it wasn't slow at all. After leaving the city, the asphalt roads were replaced by dirt roads filled with an ancient atmosphere, but for Duanmu Huai, this was naturally not a problem. He rode the Electromagnetic Rhino, calmly taking in the scenery around him.
By the way, Duanmu Huai had originally planned to bring Kula back with them, but Kula had already become close friends with Bambi. The two were practically inseparable and getting along famously, so Duanmu Huai let them play on their own and only brought Olgis along.
He had to admit that, in Duanmu Huai's eyes, this world was indeed extremely strange. Other worlds weren't without twisted civilizations, but those usually came from a single path gone wildly astray. This place, however, was completely different. It felt more like a chaotic jumble—as if magic, technology, modernity, antiquity, and everything else had been shoved together indiscriminately, with no regard for logic or reason. The entire world was bizarre as hell.
For example, the standard of living of this world's residents was modernized.
Before leaving the city, Duanmu Huai had observed for a bit. Although most of the residents lived in Western-style houses reminiscent of the Middle Ages, and the interiors were filled with high-fantasy aesthetics, all the modern appliances were present—lights, televisions, refrigerators, radios, everything you'd expect. Occasionally, he could even spot modern-style skyscrapers or office buildings rising among clusters of medieval architecture...…
Honestly, it felt like some kind of time travel.
He just didn't know which direction the time travel had gone.
Not only that, although the civilians lived modern lives, the soldiers were entirely dressed in ancient gear—full armor, spears and shields in hand, muskets on their backs—while only horse-drawn carriages moved through the streets.
No matter how you looked at it, it made you want to complain about how the tech tree had been allocated. Had they dumped all their points into electricity up to the modern era, but only leveled military technology up to the Middle Ages?
And that wasn't all...…the roads weren't exactly safe either.
"Hey!!!"
Just as the Electromagnetic Rhino sped along the road, a group of extremely strange-looking monsters suddenly leaped out of the bushes by the roadside. They looked like octopuses with two human legs. Blocking the road, they sprayed ink at the Electromagnetic Rhino—only to be immediately crushed into meat paste beneath its feet.
"What kind of messed-up crap is this...…."
Silently staring at the octopus-men pancakes behind him, which had already gone from three-dimensional to two-dimensional, Duanmu Huai broke out in a cold sweat. Olgis seemed quite interested in this, looking around curiously. Yue Huasha, on the other hand, appeared completely accustomed to it, her expression not changing in the slightest—though, to be fair, her expression rarely changed anyway.
Something felt off.
Although Yue Huasha's expression hadn't changed, Duanmu Huai noticed that this world seemed somewhat different from the Duel City he remembered. For example, these bizarre creatures, and the overall attractiveness of the women in this world—for some reason, after arriving in the Free City Zone, Duanmu Huai realized this place was practically a kingdom of beauties. Walking down the street, aside from seventy- or eighty-year-old elders, everyone else was a beauty with solid looks.
If those animals on the forums had seen this back in the game, it would have instantly gone viral. Yet Duanmu Huai didn't remember ever seeing discussions about "beauties everywhere outside Duel City" on the forums.
And then there was the previously held God of Combat Tournament...…
Staring at the scenery ahead, Duanmu Huai frowned. He increasingly felt that this place was not quite the same as the Duel City in the game. A tournament like the God of Combat Tournament, which used girls as prizes, had never appeared in the game. Otherwise, it would have definitely been torn apart by players online—there was no way Duanmu Huai wouldn't have heard about it at all.
And now there was this region, so clearly filled with contradictions and eeriness...…
Not only that, Duanmu Huai also felt that something was off with his own body. Ever since entering this area, he felt unusually energized, as if there was some kind of impulse deep within him—no, that wasn't quite right. It was more like his emotions were no longer as calm and steady as usual, and instead were more easily influenced by something.
For example, when Duanmu Huai saw the beautiful girls walking along the street, he felt a slight flutter in his heart—of course, everyone likes beautiful girls, but Duanmu Huai felt that the frequency of this reaction was abnormally high. This wasn't just about looks. If it were purely about appearance, Olgis was quite pretty too, and Duanmu Huai felt nothing unusual when looking at her. But when he looked at the beautiful girls in this world, even if they weren't as attractive as Olgis, he would still feel a certain kind of...…instinctive urge.
Something was wrong. This was very wrong.
A world region full of complexity and contradiction, his emotions inexplicably fluctuating far more than normal—Duanmu Huai could be certain that this world absolutely...…hid some kind of secret that players had never discovered in the game, or perhaps something that had never existed in the game at all.
At the same time, a city appeared before Duanmu Huai. Seeing his arrival, the two guards outside the city gate raised their spears and blocked the road.
"Stop!"
The Electromagnetic Rhino soon came to a halt before the guards. They stared at the massive beast in front of them with confusion, but didn't show any particular shock or hysteria—well, living in such a chaotic world, anyone without strong mental fortitude would have gone insane long ago.
"Who are you?"
"We are travelers."
Yue Huasha dismounted from the Electromagnetic Rhino and showed the guards the identification they had registered in Duel City—Duel City's credentials were universally accepted across the world. This was also why Duanmu Huai had chosen to bring Olgis and Kula with him. After all...…other people would have to fight through competitions again just to get clearance.
What a hassle.
"We intend to go to the free city of Kastam."
"Kastam?"
Hearing Yue Huasha's reply, the two guards frowned and exchanged glances.
"The road to Kastam has already been sealed."
"Why?"
"It's said that the Kingdom of Herman launched a surprise attack on the Kingdom of Lisus. The entire Kingdom of Lisus has already been occupied by Herman, and now they're attacking the Free City Zone. To be safe, the mayor ordered the road sealed."
"Something like that actually happened?"
Hearing the guard's explanation, Yue Huasha was also taken aback. At this moment, Duanmu Huai lowered his head and stared at the two guards.
"What if I insist on going?"
"Th-this..."
Facing the towering man before them, clad in terrifying armor and far larger than themselves, the guard swallowed nervously.
"You can seek out the mayor. As long as you obtain a travel permit, you'll be allowed to pass through the blockade."
"Very good."
Hearing this answer, Duanmu Huai nodded.
"Then I want to see the mayor. No problem, right?"
"Of course...…the mayor is currently deploying defenses. Please follow me."
The two guards were quite sensible. Knowing full well that Duanmu Huai was not someone they could handle, they obediently led him into the city.
Passing through the thick medieval city walls and entering through the gate, what greeted them head-on was a civilized asphalt road, illuminated streetlights on both sides, along with bus stops and benches. Looking around, modern coffee shops lined the streets, and in the distance, office buildings flashed with neon lights.
What the hell kind of mess is this...…
Duanmu Huai took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing his urge to complain. He put away the Electromagnetic Rhino and followed the guards down the street.
Under the guards' guidance, Duanmu Huai and the others arrived at the city hall. At this moment, the place was bustling with urgency, carrying an atmosphere of an impending storm. One of the guards approached a stern-faced elderly man and quietly reported the situation. After hearing the report, the old man frowned and turned to look at Duanmu Huai.
When the elderly man saw Duanmu Huai, his expression changed abruptly. He then turned around and walked up to Duanmu Huai, carefully sizing him up.
"Are you an adventurer?"
"That's right."
Duanmu Huai nodded. He had to admit that, in times of war, his sheer size was extremely persuasive. There was no need to go through the usual web-novel routine of being looked down on, doubted, then pretending to be weak before showing strength and wasting time...…see? One look at him, and the other party immediately approached. What did that mean?
It meant that the 1 point he had put into Charm earlier was absolutely worth it!
"You want to go to Kastam?"
"That's right."
"What are you going to Kastam for?"
"To find someone."
To be honest, after seeing what this world was like, Duanmu Huai didn't have much hope for the so-called scientist Yue Huasha had recommended. Who knew what kind of bizarre setup a scientist would have in such a chaotic world—but...…since he was already here, he might as well try.
"Hmm...…."
Hearing Duanmu Huai's answer, the old man frowned and pondered for a moment. Then, he made a decision.
"If you can help me with one thing, I can let you pass through the blockade and go to Kastam."
"Alright. What do you need me to do?"
Duanmu Huai wasn't surprised by the old man's request at all.
It was time to return to the player's most familiar routine—doing quests and progressing the flow.
(End of Chapter)