That was a massive steel gate, its frame etched with strange, obscure, and indecipherable runes.
Bai Ye looked up, feeling the immense weight of the gate and an accompanying surge of excitement.
Ten years!
A full ten years!
For a decade, Bai Ye had been waiting for this day, and now, he had finally made it, finally stood before this gate.
This would be his...
Final battle on the World Battlefield!
...
It all traced back sixty years.
Perhaps the gods in the heavens were bored and sought amusement. The peaceful world began to change subtly. One day, a colossal shadow obscured the sky, and then, a vast number of humans vanished.
Because the World Battlefield had opened!
From that time on, every ten years, large numbers of people would disappear from thin air. The World Battlefield would randomly summon beings from parallel worlds of various civilizations and send them into it.
Zombies roamed the ruins beneath the apocalypse, dragons soared across the sky, ready to unleash their fiery breath, vengeful spirits from the nine hells crawled into the mortal realm, and in derelict warehouses, turning machines, one by one, mechanical monstrosities emerged from conveyor belts.
It was a place filled with endless danger, where a single misstep could cost one's life.
Only those who survived to the end were qualified to leave.
Within the battlefield, it was either life or death!
Those who emerged alive were the ones who had the last laugh, while others could only be buried within it.
The survivors called these individuals—the Chosen!
Bai Ye was one of the Chosen. Ten years ago, Bai Ye was sent into the World Battlefield!
Then, for a full ten years, Bai Ye endured countless battles, finally arriving before this gate. Once he stepped through this gate and completed his final battle, he could leave this place!
At the same time, Bai Ye waved his hand to the side. The air beside him suddenly distorted, and then, a machine descended from the sky out of nowhere, crashing to the ground with a clang beside Bai Ye.
That thing...
It was a gacha machine!
Bai Ye felt a bit awkward, pulling out such a contraption on the eve of a major battle, but in reality, this thing was Bai Ye's strongest weapon.
Bai Ye could obtain various items and abilities from those gacha capsules, including some unimaginably powerful ones, which was the reason Bai Ye could finally stand here.
Bai Ye took a deep breath, then turned the gacha machine. Soon, a golden capsule dropped out.
Bai Ye's eyes lit up. Golden capsules could yield the strongest items and abilities.
He wanted to leave the World Battlefield, he was in!
Thinking this, Bai Ye picked up the capsule and twisted it open. Inside was a gleaming golden card, which read: Try Again!
"?"
Bai Ye was instantly bewildered. What was going on?
What kind of weapon or ability was "Try Again"?
Did his gacha machine have something like this?
Suddenly, Bai Ye noticed the surrounding air distorting. A large expanse of white light appeared without warning, enveloping Bai Ye!
...
After an unknown amount of time, as the light gradually dissipated, the scenery around Bai Ye slowly came into focus.
And then...
Bai Ye was stunned!
Towering buildings, their exteriors mottled, even showing signs of widespread damage. Rubble was scattered everywhere on the streets, abandoned vehicles lined the roads, and the guardrails of pedestrian crossings had long since collapsed. The entire city was desolate, ruined, exuding an indescribable sense of dead silence.
"The apocalyptic ruins zone?"
Bai Ye stared at his surroundings in disbelief. This was a zone within the World Battlefield. Why had he appeared here?
Just then...
"Welcome to the World Battlefield, all Chosen."
"From now on, you will fight for the possession of God Stones, because only by collecting ten God Stones can you leave the World Battlefield."
"The Gate of Divine Selection welcomes true warriors."
"Lastly..."
"We wish you all good luck!"
...
A voice echoed in Bai Ye's ears, and then, a projected light screen appeared before Bai Ye's eyes.
September 10, 2125!
Bai Ye's eyes widened as he looked at the date displayed in the upper right corner of the screen.
Ten years ago?
Bai Ye would never forget this date, because...
This was the day he was chosen and sent into the World Battlefield!
"I've returned?"
Bai Ye's expression was stiff, completely unable to comprehend what was happening. He had clearly fought for ten years in the World Battlefield, evaded countless dangers, battled countless individuals from different worlds, and endured unimaginable trials of life and death to collect ten God Stones. All he had to do was push open that final Gate of Divine Selection and complete his last battle to leave the World Battlefield.
Suddenly, a flash of inspiration struck Bai Ye. He remembered the golden card from the gacha capsule, the "Try Again" written on it, and then he looked again at the projected light screen.
Participant: Bai Ye
Combat Power: 22 (Gray)
God Stones: 0/10
God Stone Fragments: 0/99
Held Items: Loki's Gacha Machine
Indeed, in the Held Items section, Bai Ye saw the gacha machine. He then waved his hand, and the air around Bai Ye distorted. The massive gacha machine appeared out of nowhere, crashing heavily onto the ground.
As the gacha machine spun, a large green capsule dropped out. Bai Ye casually twisted it open, revealing a handgun.
Glock 17, magazine capacity 17 rounds, polymer frame, simple, lightweight, capable of firing 17 rounds in a short time, a handgun with superior performance, and it came with ten spare magazines.
"Damn it, is this what 'Try Again' meant?"
Bai Ye was almost certain that his return to ten years ago was most likely the gacha machine's doing, but a sliver of hope remained, wishing it was all a lie. After all, ten years of effort had gone to waste.
That feeling was unbearable, like finally getting the girl you'd pursued for so long to agree to go to a motel, only to find out she got her period.
It was utterly frustrating!
"Speaking of which..." Bai Ye murmured, "I was quite frustrated ten years ago too."
Bai Ye vaguely remembered how miserable he was when he first entered the World Battlefield ten years ago.
Because Bai Ye's world was a peaceful one, without war and with order, Bai Ye possessed almost no combat ability.
Even more unlucky, Bai Ye remembered being chased by someone from a martial arts world as soon as he entered the World Battlefield. He was utterly humiliated and in a sorry state. If he hadn't been somewhat quick-witted and used the complex terrain of the apocalyptic ruins to hide in the sewers, he might have turned into a pile of bones right after entering the World Battlefield.
Just then...
"It seems you're my first prey?"
A voice suddenly sounded from behind Bai Ye.
...