Chapter 2893: Call the Archon Out
In this kind of unlimited-time instance, players basically determine whether they have failed to clear it based on whether they exceed the time for the next instance. Because once they exceed the time for the next instance, players will enter a high-risk random instance three months later, and no one wants to enter a high-risk random instance.
But this instance clearly only allows one person to clear it at a time. The situation Xu Huo mentioned could also happen.
"No one has mentioned that in Under Dimension," the Buzz Cut man said. "Although the last person to clear it was ten years ago, I personally think this possibility is very low. If that's the case, then this instance is basically impossible for anyone to clear."
"Instances that are absolutely impossible to clear do not exist."
Others also thought this made sense. The fact that Under Dimension had never mentioned this point was enough to illustrate the issue.
However, the twelve main cities were all in the hands of Stranded Players, and there were still four cities that had to be taken. If the Rebel Army in Zone 031 had this capability, they wouldn't have had to wait until now.
The Buzz Cut man smiled and said, "Actually, Stranded Players aren't necessarily all our enemies."
"The King instance only allows one person to clear it at a time, which means even if someone clears it, they can't bring other players along to clear it, or directly make the instance disappear."
"The stranded people will ultimately remain stranded. Are there no people in the twelve main cities who are dissatisfied with the current situation?"
"I'm afraid there are many people who want to take this opportunity to turn things around and become the master of a city themselves."
"That's true," the Green-haired man said, "but this would probably take a considerable amount of time."
According to what he said, after one person clears it and then re-elects a new king, not to mention whether the instance would recognize it, even if it did, the situation would be different by then.
"No king has emerged in ten years. Haven't the people in the twelve main cities thought about creating a new king through a joint election?" Xu Huo asked again.
"I'm not sure about that." The Buzz Cut man glanced at him. "The information channels south of Zone 031 are basically all controlled by the twelve main cities. If they don't want a message to leak, it won't circulate on the terminals."
"Besides, another key point of this instance is to gain political and military power. People have to listen to what you say."
"Under the king system, there are twelve main cities, each named after items symbolizing certain powers. Even if there really is a king, the king's power is very dispersed." Xu Huo said, "If not a mascot, they become a mascot."
Seeing that he repeatedly questioned him, the Buzz Cut man couldn't help but say, "Do you have any brilliant insights?"
"Since the king is more like a mascot, besides armed seizure of power, maybe we can try an election by the twelve main cities." Xu Huo said, "If the rulers of the twelve main cities are all willing to recommend the same person to be king, perhaps this king would also be valid."
The others all looked at him with expressions like "Are you out of your mind?" Even if the people in the twelve main cities were bored out of their minds and suddenly had the whimsical idea to elect a king, it wouldn't be you, an Outer Zone Player!
Besides, the King's Treasure has always existed. Don't the Stranded Players want to know what the King's Treasure actually is?
Since they can't get it, it means the identity of the king has something special about it. If electing a puppet king could open the King's Treasure, then the King's Treasure would have been emptied out ages ago!
Xu Huo also acknowledged that the king's identity was special. After all, the King's Treasure couldn't be taken away casually. But someone had cleared it ten years ago, it just took a long time.
Whether that clearing player finally went to take the King's Treasure is impossible to verify. Presumably, if they weren't directly teleported to a high-risk random instance after clearing, they should have had a chance to get the King's Treasure.
But if it happened to be that they cleared it but failed to unlock the King's Treasure, then the King's Treasure might have been preserved all along.
The core of this instance lies in the identity of the king. Whether taking the King's Treasure would make the instance disappear is questionable, but the stranded players certainly wouldn't take that risk.
So if they allied with the Rebel Army and the Stranded Players who wanted to rise up, it might indeed be possible to seize some power. But in the end, they would definitely get stuck before the step of recommending a king, and even the allied parties might turn against each other midway.
Struggling for power isn't the same as wanting to die. Stranded Players have no need to take such a big risk, and the same goes for the Rebel Army. The King's Treasure was born in Zone 031, so why should an Outer Zone Player get the spoils?
Under these premises, the alliance would eventually collapse. By then, forget about electing a puppet king; the first ones to be eliminated would be the Ticket Players.
Instances that are absolutely impossible to clear don't exist, but this instance is pretty close to being absolutely impossible to clear. And to truly seize power through war, time would not be on their side.
However, trying to elect a king was worth a shot, after all, it's easier than plotting and inciting the Rebel Army and Stranded Players to start a war together.
After making his decision, Xu Huo left those Ticket Players and headed straight for the edge of Scepter City.
Scepter City didn't usually have its defense barrier activated, because not many people actually dared to come here.
As soon as he got close, several players flashed into existence ahead to block his way.
Without getting entangled with them, Xu Huo used a teleportation channel to reach the hundred-story building that symbolized the scepter. He stood on the roof, looked around at the players who had rushed over first, and said, "The Archon of Scepter City..."
Unfortunately, before he could finish his sentence, the opposing side attacked. Xu Huo's brow furrowed. Raising his hand, his Time Power froze all the nearest players in place. With time stopped, he said again, "Who is the Archon of Scepter City?"
These Stranded Players were used to being arrogant in Zone 031 and wouldn't accept being put in their place. Even when Xu Huo displayed Time Power, their first reaction wasn't to retreat, but to look for an opportunity to ambush him.
They had numbers on their side, and naturally, they had plenty of items. All sorts of ambush items could leave the target with no room to defend... However, they underestimated the quality of Xu Huo's equipment and overestimated their own speed.
As layer upon layer of defense barriers continuously blocked those attacks, Xu Huo's Time Power also precisely landed on those who had struck. As the saying goes, first courtesy, then force. Last time, he hadn't killed anyone. This time, the dozen or so players who had attacked visibly aged before everyone's eyes. In the span of two or three breaths, they were reduced to nothing but a pile of withered, brittle corpses.
Even if an A-grade player's evolution rate was high enough to sense space-time power without Super Evolution, compared to Space Power, Time Power was simply too ethereal. They had no time to react!
Those with quick minds immediately thought of running, but when they turned around, they realized they had already been trapped near the building by Time Power. To escape, they would have to cross the barrier formed by Time Power. They didn't dare try!
"Isn't anyone listening to me?" Xu Huo said, somewhat speechless. "Call your Archon out. I have something to discuss with him."