It was a colossal steel gate, its frame intricately carved with bizarre, obscure, and indecipherable runes.
Bai Ye gazed upward, feeling the immense weight of the gate and an overwhelming sense of excitement.
Ten years!
A full decade!
For ten years, Bai Ye had awaited this day, and now, he had finally arrived, standing before this very door.
This would be his…
Final battle on the World Battlefield!
…
It all traced back sixty years.
Perhaps the gods above, bored beyond measure, sought amusement. The peaceful world quietly began to change. On that day, a massive shadow obscured the sky, and then, countless humans vanished.
Because, the World Battlefield had opened!
From then 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 in.
Zombies roamed the ruins beneath the apocalypse, dragons soared across the sky, ready to unleash their fiery breath, vengeful spirits from the nine depths crawled into the human realm, and within forgotten warehouses, machines whirred to life, mechanical maniacs emerging from conveyor belts.
It was a place filled with endless peril, where a single misstep could cost one their life.
Only those who survived until the end were qualified to leave.
Within the battlefield, it was life or death!
Only those who emerged victorious lived to tell the tale, while the rest became casualties, buried within its confines.
These survivors called them – the Chosen!
Bai Ye was one of the Chosen. Ten years ago, Bai Ye was sent into the World Battlefield!
Then, for ten full years, Bai Ye endured countless battles and finally reached this gate. Once he crossed it and completed the final fight, he could leave this place!
Simultaneously, Bai Ye waved his hand to the side. The air next to him suddenly distorted, and then, a machine materialized from thin air, crashing down beside Bai Ye with a clang.
That thing…
Was an instant ramen vending machine!
Bai Ye felt a pang of awkwardness. On the eve of a great battle, he pulled out such a contraption. But in reality, this machine was Bai Ye's strongest weapon.
Bai Ye could obtain various items and abilities from the capsules, some of which were unimaginably powerful. This was the very reason Bai Ye could stand here now.
Bai Ye took a deep breath, then turned the vending machine. Soon, a golden capsule dropped out.
Bai Ye's eyes lit up. Golden capsules yielded the strongest items and most potent abilities.
He wanted to leave the World Battlefield, and now he was sure of it!
As he thought this, Bai Ye picked up the capsule and twisted it open. Inside was a shimmering golden card that read: Try Again!
"?"
Bai Ye was utterly bewildered. What was this?
What kind of weapon or ability was "Try Again"?
Did his vending machine even have such a thing?
Suddenly, Bai Ye noticed the air around him distorting. A vast expanse of white light appeared without warning, enveloping him!
…
After an unknown duration, as the light gradually dissipated, Bai Ye's eyes began to perceive the surroundings clearly.
And then…
Bai Ye was stunned!
Towering buildings, their outer walls mottled and even showing signs of countless fractures. Rubble littered the streets, abandoned vehicles lined the curbs, pedestrian crossing railings had long since collapsed. The entire city was desolate, dilapidated, imbued with an indescribable sense of deathly stillness.
"The apocalyptic ruins zone?"
Bai Ye stared at his surroundings in astonishment. This was a region within the World Battlefield. Why was he here?
Just then…
"Welcome to the World Battlefield, all Chosen."
"From this moment on, you will fight for the God Stones. For 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, followed by a projected light screen that appeared before him.
September 10, 2125!
Bai Ye's eyes widened as he saw 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'm back?"
Bai Ye's expression was stiff; he couldn't comprehend what was happening. He had clearly battled in the World Battlefield for ten years, survived countless dangers, fought against beings from different worlds countless times, and endured unimaginable life-or-death situations to collect ten God Stones. All he needed was to push open the final Gate of Divine Selection and complete the last battle to leave the World Battlefield.
Suddenly, a spark of realization struck Bai Ye. He remembered the golden card from the capsule, the "Try Again" 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 Vending Machine
Indeed, among the held items, he saw the vending machine. Bai Ye then waved his hand, and the air beside him distorted. The colossal vending machine materialized and crashed heavily onto the ground.
As the vending machine spun, a large green capsule dropped out. Bai Ye casually twisted it open, revealing a handgun.
Glock 17, magazine capacity 17 rounds, polymer grip, simple, lightweight, capable of emptying 17 rounds in a short time. It was a handgun with superior performance, and it came with ten magazines.
"Damn it, is this what 'Try Again' meant?"
Bai Ye was almost certain that his return to ten years ago was the vending machine's doing. Yet, a sliver of hope remained, wishing it were all a lie, after all, ten years of effort had been rendered futile.
The feeling was unbearable, like chasing after a goddess for a long time, only to find out she had her period when she finally agreed to go to a motel with him.
It was utterly frustrating!
"Speaking of which…" Bai Ye muttered, "I was quite frustrated ten years ago too."
Bai Ye faintly recalled 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 perfect order, he possessed almost no combat ability.
Even more unfortunately, Bai Ye remembered being chased by someone from a martial arts world as soon as he entered the World Battlefield. He was thoroughly humiliated and in a sorry state. If he hadn't been 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 the moment he entered the World Battlefield.
Just then…
"Looks like you're my first prey?"
A voice suddenly spoke from behind Bai Ye.
…