It was a colossal steel gate, its frame intricately carved with bizarre, obscure, and incomprehensible runes.
Bai Ye looked up, feeling the immensity of the gate, and simultaneously, an overwhelming 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!
...
The origin of it all traced back sixty years.
Perhaps the gods in the heavens were too bored and sought amusement. The peaceful world quietly began to change. One day, a vast shadow eclipsed the sky, and then, a large number of humans vanished.
Because, the World Battlefield had opened!
From that moment on, every ten years, a multitude of people would disappear into thin air. The World Battlefield would randomly summon beings from parallel worlds of various civilizations and send them into its realm.
Zombies roamed the ruins of the apocalypse, colossal dragons soared in the sky, ready to unleash their fiery breath, vengeful spirits from the underworld crawled onto the mortal realm, and in derelict warehouses, machines whirred to life, with mechanical fiends emerging one by one from conveyor belts.
It was a place filled with endless peril, where a moment's carelessness could cost one their life.
Only those who survived to the very end were deemed worthy to leave.
Within the battlefield, it was life or death!
Only the last one standing emerged victorious, while the rest were left to turn to dust.
Those who survived were called – the Chosen!
Bai Ye was one of the Chosen. Ten years ago, Bai Ye was sent into the World Battlefield!
Then, for a full decade, Bai Ye endured countless battles, finally arriving before this gate. With just one step through this gate and the completion of the final combat, he would be able to leave.
Simultaneously, Bai Ye gestured to the side. The air beside him warped, and then, a machine suddenly descended from the sky, crashing with a clang near Bai Ye.
That thing...
Was a gashapon machine!
Bai Ye felt a bit awkward, pulling out such an item on the eve of a great battle. But in reality, this was Bai Ye's most powerful weapon.
Bai Ye could obtain various items and abilities from the gashapons, some of which were unimaginably powerful. This was the very reason Bai Ye had managed to reach this point.
Bai Ye took a deep breath and turned the gashapon machine. Soon, a golden gashapon dropped out.
Bai Ye's eyes lit up. Golden gashapons contained the most potent items and abilities.
He was sure to leave the World Battlefield now!
Thinking this, Bai Ye picked up the gashapon and twisted it open. Inside was a shimmering golden card, which read: "Try again!"
"?"
Bai Ye was utterly bewildered. What was this?
"Try again" as a weapon or ability?
Did his gashapon machine even have such things?
Suddenly, Bai Ye noticed the surrounding air begin to warp. A vast expanse of white radiance appeared without warning, engulfing him!
...
After an unknown amount of time, as the light gradually dissipated, Bai Ye's vision cleared, and the scenery around him slowly came into focus.
Then...
Bai Ye was stunned!
Towering buildings, their exteriors weathered and stained, even showing signs of widespread destruction. Rubble littered the streets, abandoned vehicles lined the roadside, pedestrian crossing barriers had long since collapsed. The entire city was desolate, dilapidated, exuding an unspeakable sense of dead silence.
"The apocalyptic ruins zone?"
Bai Ye stared at his surroundings in disbelief. This was a sector within the World Battlefield. Why was he here?
Just then...
"Welcome to the World Battlefield, all Chosen Ones."
"From now on, you will battle for the God Stones. 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. Immediately, a projected screen materialized before his eyes.
September 10, 2125!
Bai Ye stared at the date displayed in the upper right corner of the screen and his eyes widened.
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. He couldn't 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 life-or-death situations to collect ten God Stones. All that was left was to push open the final Gate of Divine Selection and complete the last battle to leave the World Battlefield.
Suddenly, a flash of inspiration struck Bai Ye. He remembered the golden card from the gashapon, the words "Try again" on it, and then he looked back at the projected screen.
Participant: Bai Ye
Combat Power: 22 (Gray)
God Stones: 0/10
God Stone Fragments: 0/99
Held Items: Loki's Gashapon Machine
Indeed, under Held Items, Bai Ye saw the gashapon machine. He then waved his hand, and the air beside him warped. The massive gashapon machine appeared out of nowhere, crashing heavily onto the ground.
As the gashapon machine spun, a large green gashapon dropped out. Bai Ye casually twisted it open to reveal a handgun.
Glock 17, magazine capacity 17 rounds. The grip was made of polymer, simple and lightweight, capable of firing all 17 rounds in a short period. It was a pistol of 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 gashapon machine's doing. Yet, a sliver of hope remained that it was all a lie, especially since ten years of effort had been rendered futile.
That feeling was unbearable, like chasing a goddess for a long time, only for her to finally agree to go to a motel, only to discover she had gotten 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 a decade ago.
Because Bai Ye's world was a peaceful one, devoid of war and well-ordered, he possessed almost no combat ability.
Even more unfortunate, Bai Ye recalled being chased relentlessly by someone from a martial arts world the moment he entered. He was thoroughly humiliated and in a terrible state. If not for his quick wit and his ability to use the complex terrain of the apocalyptic ruins to hide in the sewers, he might have turned to bone right after entering the World Battlefield.
Just then...
"It seems you're my first prey?"
A voice suddenly sounded from behind Bai Ye.
...