World’s End: My Keyword is One More Than Others

Du Ge's presence has continuously altered the rules of the Alien Star Battlefield.

As a result, this time, all the warriors are approaching alliances with caution.

The last battlefield saw two anomalies: a sudden task rewarding mental power and an abrupt end to the Alien Star Battlefield.

This time, only the top three will be selected, and these unusual phenomena have led many Alien Star warriors to adopt a wait-and-see approach upon entering the battlefield.

The sudden rise of "Ten Steps to Kill One" bears a strong resemblance to Du Ge's style. However, no one dares to contact him directly, only investigating him secretly.

Pan-Universal Entertainment is clearly targeting Du Ge.

Who knows if contacting him might trigger a special task like "kill Du Ge," which would be walking into a trap.

Many planets are running low on resources; they must ensure victory in this Alien Star Battlefield.

And to win, eliminating Du Ge is actually the best option.

The people of Qi Yuan Star also chose not to contact Du Ge. The rapid rise of "Ten Steps to Kill One" is reminiscent of Du Ge, yet he hasn't revealed any information related to Du Ge.

This makes them uncertain whether he is truly Du Ge.

Caution is never a mistake.

The battlefield has just begun; they can afford to wait and observe, using the time to brush up on their Keywords and awaken their skills. If he is indeed Du Ge, siding with him could be crucial.

...

But first, the Battle Network was damaged, making it impossible to find out the identity of "Ten Steps to Kill One." Then, a Masked Hero emerged to uphold justice, pointing the way for everyone.

Those influenced by Du Ge's rapid push style couldn't possibly miss this opportunity.

Risk and opportunity are proportional.

Using the Battle Network to brush up attributes is countless times faster than in the real world!

Moreover,

This time, Pan-Universal Entertainment has thrown in two planets to stir things up.

Their planet was just ravaged by Alien Star warriors, and without the pressure of resources, they are more inclined towards revenge on the Alien Star Battlefield.

Furthermore,

Without Simulation Field training, they have no concept of cautious or rapid push styles.

After body possession, they act almost entirely on instinct, and no one can predict what they'll do once they acquire Keywords.

...

"Xu Wan, 14 years old, single-parent, middle school student, timid and weak personality. Three days ago, due to a bullying incident, her temperament changed drastically, and she beat up three classmates who had bullied her for a long time, causing two minor injuries and resulting in a one-week suspension from school. Later, she established the ID 'Princess Ling Shuang' on the Battle Network, replicating the battle techniques of 'Ten Steps to Kill One,' becoming famous overnight..."

"Cheng Ruiyong, 38 years old, bus driver, has a son and a daughter, stable job, repeatedly rated as an excellent employee. Four days ago, he suddenly resigned from the bus company, wandered on the Battle Network for three days, and with the ID 'General Feng,' replicated the battle techniques of 'Ten Steps to Kill One'..."

"Mo Shengmin, 25 years old, paralyzed from the waist down due to a car accident at 13. Two days ago, he changed his Battle Network ID from 'Setting Sun' to 'A Madman,' rising strongly in the mecha training module, particularly enjoying brutally killing opponents on the battlefield. From the beginner to the intermediate module, he has fought 98 battles without a single defeat..."

"Black Cat Hero, information unavailable..."

...

In front of Du Ge lay a dossier.

A young man in casual clothes, in his early twenties, sat across from Du Ge, smiling at him, "Lin Hong, my name is Luo Yan. By the president's order, I am forming the Strategic Defense Bureau, fully responsible for all matters concerning the players."

Wow!

The president is cautious enough; after meeting him once, he went straight into seclusion behind the scenes.

Du Ge looked at Luo Yan, frowning slightly, "Director Luo, the president promised me that my life wouldn't be affected."

"You also promised the president to provide necessary assistance during cooperation." Luo Yan smiled indifferently, casually flipping through the books on Du Ge's table, "Lin Hong, when I came to see you, I didn't make a fuss, already fulfilling the president's promise to you."

"I should thank you then." Du Ge sneered.

"Lin Hong, there's no need to hold such hostility towards me. I know all your information." Luo Yan smiled, "We need to repel the Hill Civilization, and you need to win the game. The two don't conflict. We help each other to maximize benefits. In this game, everyone's life is at stake, meaning no one can reap benefits without effort.

Lin Hong, we've gathered a lot of information about the players. When you're no longer valuable, someone will replace you. You're a smart person; you should understand this."

"So, why are you here?" Du Ge asked.

"Join forces with me. Before the players cause large-scale chaos, recruit more people into the National Defense Bureau to serve Bi Xing." Luo Yan said seriously, "I don't understand the players' abilities, so I need your cooperation as an insider."

"Okay." Du Ge pondered for a moment, then nodded, "I'll help you recruit them, but you must not expose my identity. If my identity is exposed, I'll be in great danger. Also, apart from recruiting them, you can't interfere with my freedom."

"No problem." Luo Yan glanced at Du Ge with a smile, "I know what you've been doing these days. In your free time, I can invite top mecha designers to teach you. With their guidance, your efficiency will be much higher than figuring it out on your own. The president has given me significant authority."

...

In school, Lin Hong was just a small, unnoticed presence. After awakening his skills, others ignored him even more. Sometimes, in class, the professor would even forget to call his name.

Moreover,

With Principal Tang Houming's help in covering up, no one would care if he left school for a few days.

...

Following Luo Yan out of Imperial Capital University, Du Ge got into an inconspicuous business car.

Inside the car,

Besides the driver, there were two other people, a man and a woman, about the same age as Luo Yan. When Du Ge got in, their eyes simultaneously fell on him, scrutinized him, and then moved away.

"Lin Hong, this is Wang Zheng, a top ace mecha pilot, retired from the battlefield. He single-handedly piloted a warship through the Hill Civilization's drone swarm." Luo Yan smiled, "He possesses far superior mental power and insight."

"Hello." Du Ge nodded at him.

"Mm." Wang Zheng glanced at him, "Later, let's spar. I want to see how strong you players can be in reality. Is it worth setting up a special department for you?"

"No problem." Du Ge smiled and agreed.

"Nalan Li, ace agent, proficient in..." Luo Yan introduced the girl but paused when mentioning her specialties, then smiled, "There's probably nothing she can't do!"

"Hello." Du Ge greeted her again.

"Hello." Nalan Li smiled and extended her hand to him.

Du Ge noticed her mischievous look and reached out to shake her hand.

Then,

He felt a tremendous force from her fingers, at least three times that of an average person.

If it were Lin Hong's previous frail body, this handshake would have crushed his fingers. But now, with Du Ge's extraordinary attributes, Nalan Li's grip felt like a child's.

A show of strength?

Or a test?

Du Ge smiled slightly and countered with force.

In an instant,

Nalan Li's eyes widened, her face flushed red.

But Du Ge just gently squeezed and released her, "Miss Nalan, nice to meet you."

Nalan Li quickly withdrew her hand, hiding it behind her back, rapidly flexing her fingers. Her eyes were filled with astonishment as she blurted out, "How much strength did you use?"

"Thirty percent!" Du Ge thought for a moment and gave a modest number.

"Thirty percent?" Nalan Li's voice rose, "Are you guys all monsters? How could your strength increase so quickly in just a few days?"

Wang Zheng and Luo Yan both looked over.

Indeed, it was a test!

Du Ge sighed, shaking his head, "This is the unique aspect of us players. Recently, I triggered the trend of the Shock Body and the Petrel mecha. These feedbacks from matching Keywords naturally improve my physique.

As long as the trend I trigger continues, my physique will keep growing. Otherwise, if I stand out, I'll be suppressed in no time. How else can we play in an unfamiliar world?"

"That makes sense." Luo Yan nodded in agreement, "So, to attack a player, the best way is to disrupt their actions, thereby interrupting their growth."

"Yes, that's the idea." Du Ge glanced at him, "Bi Xing can easily block my trend. First, eliminate the Petrel mecha from the root; second, legislate to ban the use of the Shock Body."

"That approach only addresses the symptoms, not the root cause. As long as you're alive, you can always lead new trends." Nalan Li frowned, "Even if officially banned, it can't stop people from secretly using the Petrel mecha or the variant Shock Body."

"Exactly, the most direct way is to eliminate the players." Du Ge smiled, "You don't need to worry. In your world, no matter how strong an individual is, they can't withstand a star-destroying cannon. Once you figure out the number and distribution of players, eliminating us all at once is no problem."

"Is this why you've spent so much time studying mechas?" Wang Zheng suddenly asked.

"Pretty much!" Du Ge smiled, "After all, everyone needs to leave themselves a way out, right?"

"Lin Hong, cooperate with us, defeat the Hill Civilization, and you'll be a hero of Bi Xing. No one will harm you." Luo Yan shook his head, smiling reassuringly, "By the way, what do you think of the recent appearance of the Masked Hero?"

"A player with a Keyword related to justice, I suppose!" Du Ge said casually, "Such players usually don't win in the end..."

With a skill that hides one's true self, as long as he doesn't reveal himself, even if caught on camera, no one would associate the Masked Hero with him, so he can freely discuss the Masked Hero.

"Why?" Nalan Li asked, "Why can't justice win in the end?"

"Justice requires high moral standards and has many restrictions." Du Ge glanced at Nalan Li, smiling, "If a competitor spreads rumors about him, claiming he harmed innocent civilians while upholding justice, his justice will be greatly diminished. Building a hero image is difficult, but destroying it is easy."

"..." Nalan Li fell silent.

"In reality, Keywords like bravery, justice, and honor rarely survive till the end; they have too many restrictions." Du Ge looked around at the people in the car, "Unlike me, as long as I trigger a trend, whether positive or negative, my attributes will grow.

And, as Nalan Li said, truly extinguishing a trend is difficult. Even if officially banned, it can't stop people from secretly using the Petrel mecha or the variant Shock Body."

"Hmph!" Wang Zheng snorted disdainfully.

Nalan Li looked at Du Ge, noncommittal.

"Lin Hong, don't always imagine yourself as Bi Xing's enemy." Luo Yan opened a small fridge, took out a drink, and tossed it to Du Ge, "At least until we defeat the Hill Civilization, no one will act against you, right?"

"I'm not afraid of you acting against me; I'm telling you not to underestimate any player. They are far stronger than you imagine." Du Ge rolled down the window, extending his hand outside, enjoying the warmth of the sunlight on his face. His soul contained the power of the Sun God, and basking in the sun could also enhance his strength.

"Lin Hong, in the Keywords information you provided to the president, you mentioned skills. Have you awakened any skills in the past few days?" Luo Yan changed the topic.

"No." Du Ge shook his head, "It might be related to my trend being diverted by other Alien Star warriors. Once I'm done with your matters, I might have to create some big news on the Battle Network, lead some new trends, and see if I can awaken a skill!"

"I wish you an early awakening. I'm also curious to see what effects your skills have." Luo Yan smiled, bringing the topic back, "Lin Hong, what do you think the Keywords of those people I showed you might be?"

"Anything is possible." Du Ge retracted his hand from the sun, rolling up the window, "Without seeing them in person, you'll never be able to determine their Keywords."

"You can try to guess..." Luo Yan's words were interrupted by the ringing of his communicator. He pressed the answer button.

Moments later,

His expression changed slightly as he looked at Wang Zheng and Du Ge, "Wang Zheng, Lin Hong, your sparring might have to be postponed. Xu Wan just accepted the military's invitation. We must recruit Xu Wan into our department before the military does."

Du Ge glanced at him without speaking.

One must admit, the president is indeed cautious. He didn't communicate with the military about the players but privately established a department.

This probably involves the game of power and the issue of the big picture!

After all,

Not everyone is like him, alone and able to act without considering the consequences.

Unfortunately,

He was tricked by Pan-Universal Entertainment, given a low-key Keyword. Otherwise, if he had a Keyword like chaos or conspiracy,

This world would have been turned upside down by him, forcing all the Alien Star warriors out.

...

Jinchuan City.

Sunshine Garden Community.

Du Ge, Luo Yan, and Nalan Li stood under Building No. 3, while Wang Zheng waited in a truck outside the community, fully armed, ready to respond to emergencies.

From the start, Luo Yan had all the information on the exposed Alien Star warriors.

Moreover, he had the president's special privileges, moving much faster than the military.

Du Ge's spiritual sense had already covered the entire community. He clearly sensed a little girl upstairs hiding behind the curtains, peeking at the three of them through a gap.

Obviously,

She was much more alert than Luo Yan and the others.

"Fifth floor, 501." Luo Yan said, "Let's go up."

Du Ge and the others followed.

Under the coverage of spiritual sense, Du Ge could clearly hear that when Luo Yan mentioned 501, Xu Wan's heartbeat doubled.

She was restless in the room, "Damn it, they're not from the military. Who are they? How did they find me... Damn it, the Battle Network isn't broken; this is a setup. Damn Du Ge, it must be him..."

"..." Du Ge's mouth twitched slightly. Even when he's so low-key, she can guess right? Is his excellence already impossible to hide?

"What to do? What to do?"

Xu Wan listened to the approaching footsteps, her mind in chaos, pacing back and forth in the room. She wasn't afraid to deal with the military or even the authorities, but she feared Du Ge!

For a moment, Xu Wan even considered opening the window and jumping down from the fifth floor to escape.

After all, in her perception, Luo Yan and the three were just ordinary people. With her rapidly increasing strength, defeating them would be easy.

But she didn't know what to do next after escaping!

If the Battle Network isn't broken, wherever she logs in, she'll be quickly located. And without logging into the Battle Network, mixing in the real world, the rate of brushing attributes is too slow.

Ultimately,

Xu Wan didn't decide to escape. Instead, before Luo Yan knocked on the door, she opened it herself and straightforwardly asked, "Did Du Ge send you?"

Luo Yan was stunned, "Who's Du Ge?"

"Who else? Ten Steps to Kill One." Xu Wan sneered, "Who else could have reached an agreement with you in such a short time?"

Du Ge?

Luo Yan noted the name in his mind but remained expressionless, "We don't know any Du Ge."

He pulled out his credentials, flashing them in front of Xu Wan, "We belong to the National Strategic Defense Bureau. I'm Director Luo Yan. We're here to recruit you into the Defense Bureau to contribute to Bi Xing."

"Fancy words." Xu Wan muttered, "Fine, I'll join. But I must meet Ten Steps to Kill One."

"We're also looking for Ten Steps to Kill One, but we haven't found him yet." Xu Wan agreed so readily that Luo Yan knew Du Ge's identity was significant. This one's name was so useful, it couldn't be leaked, "As for Du Ge, I don't know him."

"Really?" Xu Wan looked at Luo Yan curiously, "Without Du Ge, could you have found me so precisely and set up a broken Battle Network trap to lure us out?"

"Xu Wan, this isn't the place to talk. The military will be here soon. Let's talk somewhere else. I'm very interested in this Du Ge you mentioned." Luo Yan glanced at Xu Wan, stepping aside to make way for the stairs.