Seeing her attack was ineffective, Cao Qian quickly retreated under the cover of the river. As she retreated to the riverside, she shouted, "Physical attacks are ineffective. Guan Ling, diary!"
The punches and high-pressure water guns hitting Randy were like punches in water, completely useless, but Guan Ling's "Household Garbage" worked, which meant that mental and special attacks were useful, and at this time, Bai Xu's diary could be used.
Bai Xu's Diary, a special item available after the perfect ending in the School World, possesses a powerful curse, capable of inflicting a single fatal curse. The user writes the name of the person they wish to curse in the diary, and the cursed person becomes a vengeful spirit, like Liu Muqing and Lin Jingxue. The item has a chance of rebounding upon the user, transforming them into a brain-eating demon with a mad thirst for brains. Whether it's a vengeful spirit or a brain-eating demon, the curse lasts ten minutes.
The system had suggested that Xing Ye choose props, but Xing Ye felt that the props were full of pitfalls, so he did not choose them.
However, Guan Ling believed that the QR code would affect the performance of his initial skills. Instead of choosing the QR code, it would be better to use props. So among the three props that appeared in the campus world, he chose Bai Xu's diary, which looked the most powerful and ominous.
The diary's abilities are powerful, but the backlash from this brain-eating demon can also cause the user to lose their sanity, potentially even attacking teammates. Xing Ye is a player who defies fate, so the chance of becoming a brain-eating demon is 100%. But Guan Ling is different; he has a high luck value!
Guan Ling took out the diary from his stomach. While Randy had a stomachache and couldn't click on the QR code, he thought of Randy and wrote his name in the diary.
After the last stroke of the name was written, the disposable prop diary turned into ashes, and Randy turned into a transparent vengeful spirit.
Physical attacks are ineffective against Randy when he is in the Wraith state, but at this time Randy is not vulnerable to physical attacks, so this does not increase his bargaining chips.
Most importantly, when Randy becomes a ghost, "Requiem" will work!
Xing Ye and Guan Ling cooperated well with each other. Almost at the same time as the diary disappeared, the melody of "Requiem" sounded in the air, and Randy, the only vengeful spirit at the scene, suddenly screamed.
His stomach ached and he needed to go to the bathroom. The effect of Requiem made him feel like he was being purified. The way these puppets used their skills, props, and QR codes didn't seem like they were newbies at all. They had thought of every aspect from the moment they set up the ambush!
The Requiem continued to play, and Randy, who was in the state of a vengeful spirit, would soon be purified, while Cao Qian and Guan Ling quickly retreated after the Requiem took effect.
Based on the footage displayed on the projector, Xing Ye deduced that Randy's watch's time-stopping function was limited in scope. It didn't stop time for the entire world, but rather paused time for people or objects within a certain range. Randy's own time wouldn't stop. In other words, even if he stopped time now, the diarrhea and the curse of the vengeful spirit would still persist.
A human in the Wraith state couldn't touch physical objects, and Xing Ye wasn't sure if Randy could use his bracelet and pocket watch in this state. Even if he couldn't, he still had to be on guard against a second, unknown initial skill. Falling back to defend at this point was a strategic retreat.
As long as they were far away, Randy might not be able to catch up with them in the two seconds left on his pocket watch in his current condition.
Unless he tricked Linda into handing over the time.
Linda was an unexpected person for Xing Ye. Fortunately, at this time, Linda used her initial skills to protect herself. She was in a completely indifferent state and could not respond to Randy's words.
Now all they had to do was retreat and wait for Requiem to completely cleanse Randy.
Randy also guessed what Xing Ye could predict. Even using the pocket watch could only buy two seconds, which would not change the battle situation much. At this time, there was only one way!
Randy's pocket watch appears out of thin air again, and even in ghost state he can still touch special items!
Without asking Linda's opinion, he grabbed his pocket watch and, despite the abdominal pain and the power of the purge, set the time faster.
Cao Qian and the others were unsure of what Randy was going to do, and retreated even faster than before. Xing Ye also began drawing an "untimed skipping class" QR code, which would buy them enough time to escape.
Unexpectedly, after Randy adjusted the pocket watch, he threw it directly at Linda.
Linda, who was emptying her mind, never expected a pocket watch to fall from the sky. She was startled, and at this moment of distraction, the pocket watch started to spin rapidly.
Unlike last time, the pocket watch was not running backwards, but forwards, which meant that Linda's time was accelerating forward.
"No," Xing Ye said, "Attack Linda's pocket watch. We must not let the time on the pocket watch run out!"
When Jingzi heard Xing Ye's order, he jumped out of the water with Cao Qian's accurate gun in his hand.
The 100% hit rate bullets in the 100% hit rate gun had been used up in the campus world, and the remaining 20 bullets with a 50% hit rate were completely useless in the hands of a player who defied fate. So Xing Ye gave the 100% hit rate gun to Jingzi. As a player who followed fate, Jingzi's luck rate was definitely enough to fully utilize the power of these 20 bullets.
A bullet hit the pocket watch accurately and bounced it off Linda's body.
But it was too late. Linda's body quickly weathered and her time in the game world was infinitely accelerated. After her body disappeared, only a transparent swan-shaped crystal was left where Linda was lying.
Randy rolled on the ground and reached out to grab the crystal and the pocket watch that had been ejected.
Cao Qian had already chased after him to grab the crystal, but she had retreated too far and was still one step ahead of him by Randy who was nearby.
After obtaining the swan crystal, Randy's ghost state was lifted and his stomach didn't seem to hurt anymore.
"What is this? What did you do to Linda?" Guan Ling asked in disbelief.
"What's wrong? She brought this upon herself. This is the outcome she was bound to face sooner or later. I just sped up time."
Randy sneered, and before Xing Ye could draw a new QR code, he clicked on the bracelet and used his second QR code in this world, "Spikes of Words".
"Spikes of Words" is a time-delayed QR code that can transform language into an attack effect. The greater the damage to the mind caused by the language, the greater the damage to the opponent's body. It lasts for 3 minutes.
Before clicking on the QR code, Randy had no idea what special functions the QR code in his hand had. He could only analyze which one was more useful based on the description.
"This QR code is quite powerful," Randy said, looking at Cao Qian, Xing Ye, Jingzi, and Guan Ling who had lured him into the trap after they emerged from the water. He mentally selected his target. "Old Nick's son, I'll call you Little Nick. You're a player who obeys fate, right? Do you know why Linda turned into a swan crystal? Because that's the fate of players who obey fate!"
Guan Ling's heart suddenly ached, and he asked, "Why?"
He didn't want to ask, but he couldn't help but want to hear Randy's words. This was the special effect of "Spikes of Words". The user's words would definitely be able to reach the enemy's ears. The only way to resist the damage of words was to have a strong mind.
"We can't let him continue talking!" Xing Ye said.
Cao Qian's Fist of Radiance, High-Pressure Water Gun, Xing Ye's Piano Pressure, and Little Mirror's Accurate Gun are all physical attacks. The only special attack, Requiem, is only effective against vengeful spirits, but Randy's vengeful spirit status has been lifted by the Swan Crystal.
No matter how they attacked, they could not break through Randy's soft defense.
Xing Ye slammed his fist on the ground. They still found too few QR codes!
Randy continued, "Actually, your companion knows. What do you think the mirror next to him is? It's a prop transformed by the player who obeyed his fate!"
"What did you say?" Guan Ling, the only obedient player at the scene, was hit the hardest by the words. The iron sheets on his body fell off uncontrollably, and it was obvious that his spirit had been severely hit.
Seeing the effect, Randy dodged physical attacks while speaking faster, "Players who follow fate may seem extremely lucky, but in reality, from the moment you choose your faction, you are destined to become nothing more than a tool, either a tool for the system or a tool for players who defy fate.
Players who follow their fate and actively try to pass the levels will eventually reach the final level, but players who follow their fate at the final level will never be able to pass. They will definitely be defeated at the final level and turned into game props, which will be arranged by the system in a certain world until they are discovered by a player who goes against his fate and become the props of this player from then on.
Players who are content with their fate and don't actively challenge levels are people like Linda who just want to get by. The incompetent prop system will not accept them. If they don't contribute to ten consecutive worlds, they will become props.
Of course, Linda hasn't reached ten worlds, but one of my pocket watch's abilities is 'accelerated time,' which can speed up a player's game time. Speeding up for you only increases your points, but Linda is different. She's been slacking off for several worlds. Speeding up her game time will only increase her slackness, so she becomes a special item.
Little Nick, you'll end up like this one day. The funny thing is that your teammates knew about this, but they pretended to be indifferent and teamed up with you. Look in the mirror behind you. Did your teammates tell you that he was a prop?
"Crackling", parts of Guan Ling's body continued to fall off, and even a piece of the newly welded iron sheet on Cao Qian's body fell off, but Xing Ye was the only one without any scars.
"Hahahahahaha," Randy said to Xing Ye, "You're still able to remain completely calm even after I exposed you. Look at the miserable state of your companions. You're truly cold-blooded!"
Xing Ye stopped drawing the QR code and glanced at his companions who were covered in wounds from the verbal attacks, especially Guan Ling. As a player who obeyed his fate, he was no longer in human form.
Xing Ye said calmly: "Guan Ling, use "Puppet Show"."
Guan Ling was slightly stunned and looked at Xing Ye in disbelief. It was Xing Ye who had said before that he would stay until the main mission.
"Things have their priorities. Randy has too much information and we need to get to the bottom of it," Xing Ye said.
Guan Ling was devastated by the sudden news. He opened his bracelet with trembling hands. Did he really have to trust Xing Ye? He was so cold-blooded that Randy's words hadn't hurt him in the slightest. He was simply using us, the obedient players. Did he really have to follow him?
At this moment, Little Mirror quickly ran to Xing Ye's side, raised his hands, and shouted to Guan Ling, "Using 'Puppet Show', do you really think Xing Ye isn't injured? If he isn't injured, will he not continue to use the Pen of Redraw to attack?"
Xing Ye's hands, which appeared to be unscathed on the surface, had already rotted away, like two pieces of iron melted by strong acid. He stopped attacking because his hands were no longer able to hold the pen for repainting.
Among the four people, Xing Ye suffered the most damage!
Guan Ling saw Xing Ye's hands, gritted his teeth and pressed the QR code of "Puppet Show". Transparent silk threads were released from his bracelet and sank into Randy's body.
Randy, who was talking non-stop, suddenly had his jaw stuck and froze in place, unable to move.
"Puppet Show", a rare time-delay QR code, is specifically designed for mechanical objects. It can be transformed into puppet strings and integrated into the body of the mechanical object, controlling their language and behavior according to the user's wishes, making the mechanical object completely become the user's puppet, performing a wonderful "Puppet Show". It has a validity period of 10 minutes and can be used in conjunction with ordinary time-delay QR codes.
When Xing Ye heard Guan Ling mention the function of "Puppet Show", he realized that this was the key ability to break through Puppet City. When the city lord and Benedict were fighting fiercely, the only ability that could stop the battle without hurting either side was "Puppet Show". With it, their task would be much easier.
It's a pity that it has to be used on Randy.
Randy was completely controlled by the puppet show. Even if he wanted to click on the QR code in the bracelet, he couldn't do it. The time limit of "Spikes of Words" was soon over. Now, he only had the initial skills to use.
"What are your initial skills?" Xing Ye asked.
The puppet had to answer its user's questions truthfully. Randy heard himself speak in a mechanical voice, "Tender as Water and Passion as Fire. The first one defends against physical attacks, while the second one coats the body in a layer of flame, enhancing attack power. Both last for 10 minutes. Since water and fire don't mix, they can't be used together."
Xing Ye was completely relieved after hearing about Randy's initial skills. Puppetry cannot control the puppet's brain. If there are special attack methods in Randy's initial skills, he still needs to be on guard, because the initial skills can be used directly by clicking to confirm in the mind. It is the only ability that is not restricted by puppetry.
Knowing these two skills can help you guard against them, and Randy's fiery passion can cause great damage to his wooden body. This world greatly limits his power.
He is indeed a player who defies fate. Even if he is reincarnated in a chaotic world, he is still unlucky.
Xing Ye looked at his hands and smiled bitterly in his heart.
Randy was truly powerful. He was able to orchestrate the killing of Linda, leaving everyone battered and bruised, forcing Xing Ye to use the puppet show. He had previously instructed Guan Ling not to use it under any circumstances, but he never expected that the person who ordered it to be used would be himself.
"Tell me everything you know about the players who obey and disobey fate," Xing Ye asked. "I would rather this world fail than not know this. It's very important to us all."
Randy mechanically replied, "I've already explained how players who obey their fate become tools. Active players who fail at the final stage will reenter the initial world, while lazy players will become tools once the system can no longer tolerate them.
The abilities of items transformed by players with a destiny are determined by their initial skills, but unlike regular players, their initial skills can be upgraded. While they cannot be upgraded as players, they can be upgraded as items.
Upgrades are done using QR codes. Those who defy fate and obtain a destiny-enhancing item will use the QR codes drawn in each world on the item, including one for item upgrades. This isn't a bad idea; rather than relying on a QR code with unknown abilities, it's more effective to upgrade the item.
"How to use the destiny item?" Xing Ye asked.
The small mirror's initial skill, Beauty, cannot be used.
Randy replied, "You can do this by erasing the consciousness of the player who obeys the item. Sometimes, you'll extract a QR code for this, or if your intimacy with the item reaches 80 or above, the system's description will become one of "whatever you want." At this point, the player who defies fate has the power to erase the consciousness. Once the consciousness disappears, the player who obeys the item will completely become an item, and the player in the real world will die."
"Ahhhhhhhhh!" Guan Ling collapsed and screamed after hearing what Randy said.
Xing Ye understood his feelings, but it was not the right time to lose his composure as he had not yet gotten all the information.
Cao Qian held Guan Ling down and motioned Xing Ye to continue asking.
Xing Ye: "Is there a way to prevent Shunming's consciousness from dying while still being able to use skills?"
Randy: "You still have to reach intimacy level 80. After that, you can share points. The obedient item can control the points of the disobedient item based on its own willpower. But most people choose to erase their consciousness. Who would use a disobedient item? My pocket watch uses a QR code to erase the consciousness."
Xing Ye quickly asked, "For those whose time is taken away by your pocket watch, is it game time or real time?"
Randy: "It's real time. Once the pocket watch takes away time, the player's real body will die. At the same time, all of their game points will belong to me, and can be exchanged for money and abilities!"
"If you need favorability, why did you use the power of the swan crystal that Linda turned into? Did you erase her consciousness?"
Randy: "No, this is the special effect of my prop. It allows her to temporarily control time, but her consciousness does not disappear."
Seeing that there was still time, Xing Ye asked another question he wanted to ask: "Some players share QR codes with others. Have you ever seen this way of entering the game?"
Randy: "Heh, only players who can share QR codes are those who follow fate. They can only invite one person into the game, and they can't say anything. If someone scans and shares a QR code and chooses the "Defy Fate" camp, then when that "Fate" player becomes an item, they automatically become the item of the person who shared the "Defy Fate" camp, and their intimacy level will be above 80 from the start. If they choose the "Fate" camp, then the "Fate" player who shared the QR code will only receive 2000 points and a life-saving QR code.
As soon as a player enters the advanced world, an invitation QR code will appear on their phone. Some players, sensing danger, will invite their most trusted person in real life to join the game, becoming their tool and fighting together. Others will fail to notice and waste an opportunity to save themselves.
However, no one knows whether the prop will ever turn back into a human. After all, I've never seen a player make it past the final level. Therefore, most people, when encountering conflicts with props, choose to erase the prop's consciousness, making it easier to use.
"That's enough." Xing Ye saw that the ten-minute time limit was almost up and the question he wanted to ask had been answered. He said with a sullen face, "Kill him."