Bizarre Voyage: Summoning The Fourth Crisis

As time went on, the number of posts on the official Spirit Candle website forums grew and grew. The number of active players waiting to get a spot even surpassed the number of players already in the game.

Whenever Luo Ge had some free time, he would browse the forums, reading through the interesting posts from these netizens who were strangers, yet somehow familiar...

’Time to find some inspiration.’

Luo Ge had something important to do tonight. Before that, he decided to check the forums for any useful posts.

Spirit Candle Official: ”Announcement: The game will undergo a live update today at 11 PM. The update will include the following: a new starting Weapon, the ’Wooden Staff,’ has been added; the Candlekeeper’s Collection has been updated...”

The top-liked comment below it was from a player who hadn’t even gotten into the game yet.

Wangzai Milk Cow: ”A Wooden Staff? Does that mean we can play as a Mage? Awesome! Even though I’m not in the game yet. (crying with sunglasses emoji)”

Seeing this, Luo Ge could only chuckle.

The players eager to get in were looking forward to working for him, and he was just as eager for them to start.

But even though the desire was mutual, his Wax Oil balance remained a thick barrier...

Of course, Luo Ge was already planning the next phase of player summons, but he had to finish the task at hand first.

I do Bull’s Push-ups: ”Bros, I finished the detailed map. It includes the locations of identified monsters in the nearby seas (see image).”

Luo Ge glanced at it, a little surprised. The map was quite accurate to the layout of Candle Island. ’He must have spent a lot of time on this,’ he thought.

Poems and the Faraway Place: [GUIDE: Requirements to Unlock the Candlekeeper’s Collection]

Brother Miao Won’t Fail the Exam: [GUIDE: The Correct Way to Use the Wooden Staff]

The Fisherman Who Never Blanks: [GUIDE: Compilation of Fishable Items by Zone (Constantly Updated)]

These three were practically Luo Ge’s most valuable assets right now. Not only did they contribute a large amount of Wax Oil, but they also answered many questions for new players, significantly lightening his workload.

’I should give them some commemorative rewards when I have the time,’ Luo Ge thought.

Having played some classic single-player games in the past, Luo Ge knew just how admirable the pros who wrote guides were. It was a pure labor of love.

Beneath the three players’ posts were countless thanks and follow-up questions from other players. Of course, a few trolls were jumping around, but no one paid them any mind.

But when Luo Ge saw the top-liked reply under Brother Yu’s post, he couldn’t help but laugh.

Ding Er Xiang Dang: ”The three big-shot guide writers have all posted. Only one of them is unreliable, but I’m not naming names (dog emoji).”

The Fisherman Who Never Blanks: ”You think you’re clever, don’t you? (smiling emoji) (smiling emoji) (smiling emoji)”

Nine-tailed Fox: ”How dare you! Who gave you permission to slander my man Brother Yu! (smirking emoji)”

Hook Literature: ”Look who’s talking. You didn’t spare Brother Yu either.”

...

Luo Ge exited the forum, the smile on his face gradually fading.

Although he hadn’t found any particular inspiration, the players’ hilarious comments had brought him a small measure of happiness.

It created the illusion that he was still in that peaceful world, not facing this oppressive one all alone...

[Spirit Candle]

[Tier: Residual Ash]

[Remaining Wax Oil: 538]

[Spirit Candle Building: Spirit Fire Port (Tier One)]

[Anchor Island: Candle Island (Small, isolated island)]

[Summoned Candle Spirits: 31]

The influx of new players had greatly increased the rate at which he accumulated Wax Oil. It was time to pull in a new area.

Luo Ge let out a soft breath. He emerged from the Spirit Candle, picked up his Broken Sword, and left the Reef Cave, making his way to the Spirit Fire Port.

It was currently daytime in the real world, so most players were busy with their own affairs. As a result, there weren’t many players on Candle Island.

Of course, there were always a few who didn’t have to work.

”Huh? What’s the Candlekeeper doing?”

Guagua, who was fishing on a Spirit Fire Raft, watched the Candlekeeper at the Spirit Fire Port with some confusion.

...

Up at the port, Luo Ge was well aware that Guagua was nearby.

He wasn’t afraid of the players seeing him. He had chosen to do this at night for two reasons. First, he was worried that too many players during the day would interfere with his work.

Second, he feared the upcoming attempt might be too big of a spectacle and could affect the players.

[Searching for area...]

[Search successful. Three areas have been marked!]

[Area 1: Unknown Underwater Cave (Requires 128 Wax Oil to pull)]

Without much hesitation, Luo Ge chose Area 1.

It was the most cost-effective option, allowing him to learn about the area-pulling process at the lowest possible price.

[Confirmed area for pulling: Unknown Underwater Cave]

[Consuming 128 Wax Oil. Pulling in progress...]

With a ROAR, the Wax Oil converged and turned into fuel. The Traction Fire instantly swelled, blazing fiercely and illuminating the surrounding sea.

The next moment, a giant, illusory anchor emerged from the black-and-white flames. A fiery chain extended from it, plunging into the Ocean in an instant and shooting straight toward a distant point!

DONG!

It was as if a colossal ship had dropped anchor, securing itself in place.

The illusory anchor let out a deep, soul-shaking thud. The clanging of the fiery chain’s links followed as an unseen force pulled it taut!

BZZZZ—

The space around the entire Candle Island trembled for a moment, signaling the end of the pulling process.

”Whoa... Oof!”

Guagua, who had been watching from the side, was completely captivated and amazed.

But the subsequent commotion made her flinch and shrink back.

[Pull successful!]

[Area pulled: Unknown Underwater Cave]

[Access channel to this area has been constructed!]

Luo Ge closed his eyes and sensed his surroundings for a moment before stepping onto a Spirit Fire Raft.

The Spirit Fire Raft began to move toward the waters behind Candle Island.

”What’s the Candlekeeper doing? Is this some kind of hidden event?”

’I wonder if the Candlekeeper will get annoyed if I follow him. It’d be a pain if I lose affinity...’

”Ah! My fishing rod!”

Just as Guagua was hesitating, torn between confusion and curiosity, a sudden bite on her line nearly yanked the rod out of her hands.

By the time she dealt with it and looked back to where the Candlekeeper had been, he had already vanished into the dark Ocean...

’I was so busy watching the ’cutscene’ that I forgot to go up and ask him...’

Guagua was a little frustrated. It seemed her only option was to post about it on the forums and ask everyone else.

...

Luo Ge stood on the Spirit Fire Raft, holding a Rootless Fire, his gaze fixed calmly on the darkness ahead.

The waves in the deep, dark sea grew increasingly turbulent.

Finally, a vortex appeared before him in the Ocean, as black as the Abyss, leading to an unknown destination.

[Unknown Underwater Cave]

Luo Ge changed its name in the Spirit Candle’s registry to ”Near-Sea Cave.”

Then, the Spirit Fire Raft advanced slowly until it reached the closest possible point without being affected by the vortex’s pull, where it stopped.

Luo Ge retracted his hand and looked at the vortex before him, as dark as the Abyss.

The next moment, he bent his knees, pushed off with sudden force, and leaped. He plunged into the oceanic vortex without a shred of hesitation, completely disregarding any potential dangers that might lie within!

The players were indeed his vanguards for exploring this world.

But right now, they were still far too weak...

As he fell at a terrifying speed, Luo Ge’s expression didn’t flicker in the slightest. He carefully observed everything around him.

A rapid descent, a biting wind...

’If there’s solid ground below, this fall will kill me for sure.’ But there was nothing he could do about it; he had long since prepared himself for the worst.

But soon, Luo Ge saw a thick Gray Mist spreading out below, a mysterious Power flowing within it.

The instant he touched the Gray Mist, the momentum of his fall began to rapidly decrease...