The colossal body of the Storm Tuskgor collapsed with a thunderous crash, shattering into lightning and storm energy, slowly dissolving into the ground of the Rift. The air was still heavy with scorched ozone and blood, and the floating stones trembled under the aftershocks.
——
[System Prompt]:
You have slain the Rift Boss.
Reward: Storm Energy Crystal ×1
Residual-blood player "Xu Zhu" identity reinforced: Child of the Storm
World Event [Storm Overture] has entered Stage Three: Pursuit and Hunt.
——
Xu Zhu panted heavily, his vision blurring. As the Residual Edge receded, it left terrifying aftereffects—the death trajectories vanished from sight, but the deafening roar in his ears did not cease.
His hand clenched the golden energy crystal so tightly his knuckles turned white.
Ling Xue steadied him, her sword still dripping blood, her voice calm and unwavering: "Xu Zhu, you won. This isn't the end, but at least… we survived."
Fatty Third collapsed onto the ground, gasping like a bellows: "Gods above, my poor little life… nearly gone! But big bro, you're insane! The whole server's gonna blow up over this!"
——
Sure enough, the global channels erupted instantly.
[World Announcement]:
Residual-blood player "Xu Zhu" has slain Rift Boss · Storm Tuskgor, stabilizing Rift energy.
World Event has entered Stage Three.
Event Core: Residual Blood Maniac (Child of the Storm).
Channels and forums completely lost control:
[Residual Blood Maniac soloed an A-grade?!]
[That's not a maniac, that's a bug!]
[Residual Blood Never Dies! Child of the Storm!]
[Not even the devs could script something this insane!]
——
Baqiang Alliance.
The guildmaster's face was darker than the storm itself. He slammed a palm down, shattering the table, and roared coldly: "If he isn't killed, Baqiang has no face left from this day on!"
The vice guildmaster warned softly: "Guildmaster, the whole server is watching. He's no longer just a player… he's the narrative core of the entire server."
The guildmaster sneered: "All the more reason he must die. Once he's dead, the core will reset. And when that happens… who else decides its owner but us?"
Baqiang Alliance issued an official notice:
[Bounty Update: Residual Blood Maniac's core is bound. Kill reward raised to 10,000 gold!]
——
Tianlan Alliance.
The chief swordsman stared at the notice, eyes complicated, murmuring: "Residual Blood Maniac… Xu Zhu… are you fortune's chosen, or calamity itself?"
Then, in the guild channel, he commanded firmly: "From this day forth, Xu Zhu is Tianlan's ward! Even if we stand against the entire server, we will guard him to the end!"
——
In the depths of the Rift.
Xu Zhu leaned against shattered stone, chest heaving, blood streaks still seeping from his forehead.
Ling Xue knelt half beside him, wiping away the blood at his lips, voice low but resolute: "Xu Zhu, do you realize? The Residual Edge… it isn't just your burden. It's the continuation of some deeper power. You and it—you'll have to face the true truth, sooner or later."
Xu Zhu was silent for a long while, before finally speaking: "If it's a curse… then I'll wield it to carve out a path to live."
Fatty Third burst out crying and laughing at once: "Big bro, don't say things that scary! Sure, you're brutal with that stick, but I'd like to live a few more days!"
The three looked at each other, and in their eyes burned the same fire.
——
Far away, the Rift still rumbled.
On the other side of the rift, a lone figure stood silently, eyes cold, lips curling into a faint smirk.
"Residual Blood Maniac… finally, you've appeared. Heh… Child of the Storm… it's almost nostalgic."
At his back gleamed the personal insignia of the Baqiang Alliance guildmaster.