"Black Watch?"
Kotoko, Megumi, and Asuna exchanged glances; none of them had heard this name before.
"What kind of people are they?"
"Simply put, they are a mysterious military organization, however..." Asagiri took the water cup Asuna handed him and took a sip before continuing.
"Every member of Black Watch is a battle-hardened, elite combatant with impeccable abilities in all aspects. However, they are completely different from the military in the conventional sense."
"To achieve their mission objectives, they completely disregard civilian or innocent casualties. Even if the target is unarmed, they won't hesitate to kill them, nor will they experience any pangs of conscience. They can be said to be utterly ruthless."
"Every member of Black Watch is like a brainwashed fanatic; no matter what enemy or situation they face, they will not feel panic or fear."
"I tried it before leaving the dungeon. After Alice activated her exclusive skill, only four out of that team of thirteen died because their mental strength failed the test. This is enough to prove that due to their unwavering belief, the mental strength of Black Watch soldiers is far higher than that of ordinary people."
"I also heard the commander in the white combat uniform report to headquarters and request support when he thought my attack on them was some kind of strange phenomenon. Based on this, it can be assumed that Black Watch not only understands strange phenomena but also possesses some means to eliminate them."
Hearing Asagiri's description of Black Watch, Kotoko, Megumi, and Asuna all looked solemn.
"Such an organization exists in the world where the dungeon is located... But fortunately, we don't have to consider how to deal with them for now..."
"No, you're wrong." Kotoko interrupted Megumi's words of relief, her expression serious.
"You've forgotten something."
"What?"
Kotoko spoke slowly, saying something that made Asuna and Megumi feel a shock in their hearts. "As long as you can get the dead Player's phone... You can register to become a Player."
"You mean... if those Black Watch people get the phones of dead Players, they can also enter various system-set dungeons and get rewards, just like us?" Asuna asked.
Kotoko nodded, then added, "And based on Asagiri's description, their biggest advantage over the Players in our world is that they are an organization themselves. By collecting enough phones and transferring enough Player permissions, they can completely allow a dozen, or even a hundred people, to enter a dungeon together. The Players who enter the same dungeon with them... will become targets for interrogation to gather information."
"This..." Asuna and Megumi could both realize how terrifying what Kotoko said was. Although they were now somewhat accustomed to combat, they were still just first-year high school girls who had only recently become "Players." Their combat awareness and skills could not be compared to those of the Black Watch. And the members of this team... They were already at the peak of Player strength at this stage, and it was even possible that their captain, Asagiri, was the strongest Player since the game started. Even so, Asagiri could only kill five Black Watch members while ensuring his own safety, having set up an ambush beforehand and launched a sudden attack.
"There's no need to worry so much." Seemingly sensing the heavy atmosphere, Asagiri, though very tired, still smiled.
"Have you forgotten? When entering the game, no weapons or equipment are allowed. Although the Black Watch group is well-trained, without firearms, if they fight against us, who possess supernatural power and enhanced physical abilities, then they are the challengers."
"Furthermore, at this stage, the system is highly unlikely to arrange dungeons where Players must face Black Watch. Such dungeons are likely to appear only after the overall strength of Players reaches a certain level."
"And since we speculate that the game difficulty will increase by one level every month, meaning after all surviving Players have cleared at least one dungeon other than the newcomer tutorial, I think it will take at least two or three months before dungeons hostile to Black Watch are likely to appear."
Asuna mused. "Then is the ultimate enemy arranged for us in this game... Black Watch?"
"Perhaps, but..." Asagiri stopped abruptly. Seeing his hesitant appearance, Asuna couldn't help but ask curiously, "Why do you look like you have something to say but are holding back? That's not like the you I know."
"There's a possibility that if I say it, I'm afraid you won't be able to handle it."
"What possibility?"
Asagiri slowly said, "Since we, as Players, go to other worlds each time we enter a dungeon, then... If the Black Watch people become Players and choose to enter a dungeon, is it possible that they could come to our world?"
Hearing this sentence, Asuna and Megumi couldn't help but fall silent, while Kotoko's expression was as usual. She picked up her teacup, took a shallow sip, and then said lightly,
"In that case, we just have one more reason to get stronger."
"Yes, indeed." Asagiri nodded slightly and looked towards Asuna. "What was your dungeon clear reward this time?"
Asuna just remembered this and quickly replied, "My clear evaluation this time was A+. It should be because I spent too much time in the dungeon, so the score decreased. However, I killed so many special infected and gained considerable enhancement through my exclusive talent, so overall it's definitely a profit. As for the reward... just take a look."
Asagiri took the phone Asuna handed him and saw the rewards she received after clearing the dungeon displayed in the APP: one piece of equipment and one passive skill.
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[Crimson Cloak: (Quality: Blue, Excellent) When wearing this equipment, the Player's true appearance will be hidden to a certain extent, and the speed of the Player's stamina recovery will be slightly increased] [Passive Skill: Swordsman's Resolve When attacking with sword-type weapons, stamina consumption is halved (stamina consumption for active skills is also halved)]
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"A passive skill and a piece of equipment... They both suit you quite well." Hearing Asagiri's comment, Asuna nodded, then asked curiously, "What about you? As a high-level Player, you can customize the quantity and type of rewards, and your clear evaluation this time was the highest level, S+. What kind of rewards are you planning to customize?"
"Hmm..." Asagiri spoke while thinking. "Physical enhancement and skills, I guess. After all, weapons and equipment can be acquired in dungeons, and they will definitely be replaced and phased out as strength increases. Compared to external items, at this stage, I still prefer pure numerical enhancement. Our team is currently very short on Tanks. The Main Tank position can be filled by Human Asura, and I'll be a sub-Tank. After all, Asuna's ability is more inclined towards being a physical Main DPS."
Hearing these words, Kotoko's eyes couldn't help but flicker.
Asuna? Why does Asagiri's address for Asuna feel more intimate? Could it be that these two... secretly did something after I and Megumi left the dungeon early?
While Kotoko was pondering, Asagiri had already taken out his phone and confirmed the type and quantity of rewards to customize for this dungeon, clear in the APP.
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[Confirmed your customized rewards are: one skill, physical enhancement]
[Acquired rewards: Significant physical enhancement, skill "Ice Spear"]
[Ice Spear: Consumes a certain amount of mental power to create a sharp Ice Spear and shoot it at the enemy, causing physical damage with frost attribute]
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After gaining the physical enhancement from this dungeon clear reward, Asagiri's physical rating displayed in the APP panel increased from "originally professional athlete level (not including Human Asura's passive enhancement effect)" to "approaching human limits." If Human Asura's passive effect bonus is also calculated, his current physical ability has already surpassed human limits.
"Finally cleared another dungeon ~" Asuna stretched out a long yawn, rubbing her eyes sleepily.
"No, I'm almost dead tired, I really need to sleep for a while."
Hearing this, Kotoko immediately extended her hands towards Asagiri, showing a sweet and innocent smile.
"You're also very tired now, hurry and go rest with me As a special reward, you can sleep on my chest"
Asagiri glanced at Kotoko's meager chest, shook his head, and replied with a sincere expression, "Forget it, your chest is too hard, almost an unshakeable object. I'm afraid I'll hurt my head if I rest on it."
Kotoko was furious, waving her fists, complaining like a Chihuahua whose tail had been stepped on.
"Hey, hey, hey, aren't you saying too much? Aren't you afraid of hurting my pure, fragile, delicate, sensitive maiden's innocent heart?"
"Oh, please. Your heart is yellower than a mango, and you're still talking about being pure, fragile, delicate, and sensitive?" Seeing Kotoko's face turn red with anger, Asagiri stood up, suddenly changing the subject. "Let's go."
Kotoko heard this and couldn't help but look puzzled. "Go... where?"
"Where else?" Asagiri replied in a flat tone:
"Of course, to school."