Dimensional Codex System: I'm really not a cultist!

Chapter 915: Chapter 914: Rumors of the Ghost

For those criminals, the next few days are nothing short of a nightmare.

Fang Zheng, accompanied by Ester and Restia, patrolled between the three layers, mercilessly killing all the orange players they encountered. Initially, these orange criminals did not notice anything unusual, but as their companions dwindled and names were crossed off the Life Monument, they finally felt fear and panic.

Since Fang Zheng and his team hardly communicated with anyone during their actions, even when encountering players surrounded by criminals, he would step forward and take out the criminals’ heads before leaving, quickly spreading rumors among players about the ”PKK” (player killer killer).

Some believed it was the actions of certain high-rank players who disapproved of criminal guilds like Smiling Coffin, while others thought it was another punishment by the game system for criminal players, suggesting those killing orange players were not players but system-controlled NPCs.

But regardless, after Fang Zheng and his team’s massacre, the previously chaotic game environment began to stabilize again, with no one daring to blatantly block people in leveling and gathering zones. While conflicts still occasionally occurred, they mainly resulted in arguments rather than major fights.

After all, whether the PKK is a player or an NPC, no one wants to be unexpectedly cut down outside due to such a situation, right?

This is precisely what Fang Zheng wanted to achieve. These criminals dared to commit crimes boldly partly due to their evil desires and partly due to the belief that the law wouldn’t punish them as a crowd, especially since there were currently no GMs and no way to convict them. Freed from restraints, they naturally felt they could do as they pleased.

Once they clearly understood that even if they were numerous, they would be mercilessly killed, these puffed-up soft targets would immediately deflate.

The situation in the lower zones had no impact on the Dark Moon Sword Guild; they continued doing what they were doing, or rather, they didn’t have time to worry about other things.

”That’s it for now, rest for an hour.”

As Fang Zheng’s words fell, the already panting girls collapsed to the ground like dolls falling apart.

Fang Zheng was a man of his word: when he said double training, it meant double training, and to avoid fighting on the sixth layer again, these girls were pushing themselves to the limit.

”I really envy Seven Seas and the others...”

Lying on the ground, rolling around, Eiriri complained—Fang Zheng didn’t subject everyone to double training; those not afraid of bugs were teamed up and sent to the sixth layer for exploration, while the ones resolutely refusing were left behind for punitive double training.

In other words, Ester, Restia, Seven Seas, Yuki, and Gabriel underwent normal training, while everyone else received punitive double training. Fang Zheng didn’t spare Eiriri and the others, driving them to the brink of ecstasy, almost lifting them to the heavens.

”Want me to send you to the sixth layer?”

Listening to Eiriri’s complaints, Fang Zheng glanced at her, and she quickly shivered and shook her head vehemently.

”Not going, not going, no way!!”

Although double training intensity was much higher than ordinary searches on the sixth layer, Eiriri preferred continuing double training over going to the sixth layer. The reason was simple: with Gabriel and the others venturing deeper, the entire map environment of the sixth layer had unfolded. Besides the earlier forests and swamps, the mid to late stages were mostly caves filled with various bugs and creatures.

Like bats, even slugs...

After hearing Yuki and the others describe the sixth layer, Asuna and Eiriri were absolutely unwilling to go there again.

”Speaking of which... have you heard?”

In what seemed to be an attempt at lightening the mood, Aoba, after drinking some water, clapped her hands and started a topic.

”Recently, there seems to be a ghost in the forest near our base.”

”Eek---!!?”

Upon hearing Aoba’s words, Asuna’s body instantly tensed, but Eiriri and Lingyin became interested.

”What, what? A ghost? What’s going on?”

”I was chatting with Sophie earlier, and she told me about it.”

Seeing everyone’s interest, Aoba chuckled and continued.

The Sophie she mentioned was also a member of the Dark Moon Sword Guild, a production-type player. However, unlike the others, Sophie’s day and night cycles were reversed; she always slept during the day and woke at night. So Sophie was considered one of the Dark Moon Sword’s fixed night watch members.

The girl was peculiar too, claiming to be an ”ordinary vampire”... hence, within the Dark Moon Sword Guild, Black Cat, Gabriel, and Sophie were collectively dubbed the ”Chuunibyo Trio”...

Alright, enough digression.

”So the story goes: a couple nights ago, Sophie was on night watch when she accidentally spotted a white figure in the nearby forest. Out of curiosity, Sophie went to check it out, but as she approached the forest, she unexpectedly saw a little girl in a white dress...”

”Eeek!!!”

By now, Asuna was already curling up, trembling, but the others seemed unaware of her, just staring at Aoba, waiting for her to continue.

”Then what?”

Facing Eiriri’s inquiry, Aoba continued.

”Sophie went to call the little girl, then realized...”

”Realized what?”

Upon hearing this, everyone involuntarily swallowed their saliva.

”There was no... indicator arrow.”

”What? Really?”

At this point, Mimel also screamed. After all, in the game world, whether they viewed NPCs, players, or other things, there should always be an indicator arrow. But a little girl wandering in the forest late at night without an indicator arrow?

”Sophie says she thought she was seeing things, rubbed her eyes, and looked again, but... there was indeed no arrow. Then, hearing Sophie’s shout, the little girl who had her back turned slowly rotated her head...”

”Then what?”

”...Well, Sophie got scared and ran back.”

”...Huh?”

Upon hearing this anticlimactic description, everyone was speechless.

”That’s it?”

”Nothing else, that’s what Sophie said...”

Responding to the complaints, Aoba shook her head as well. But soon, everyone started discussing.

”But is this real?”

”Definitely fake; this is a game world, how can there be ghosts?”

”But it’s not impossible, right? There are vengeful spirits putting curses on tapes, maybe there’s a player who died in the game and their soul refuses to leave, wandering the game world...”

”Ahhh, don’t say that, it’s scary!”

”I have a great idea!”

Just as everyone was discussing, Eiriri suddenly stood up as if she had thought of something.

”Guys, why don’t we organize a trial of courage in that forest!!”