Transforming Succubus: Almost Doomsday

[Version 1.45 Update Announcement: Fixed the bug where the Seam Master evolved too rapidly.]

And due to the weakening of the Seam, the speed at which humanity is defeated may be macroscopically affected, so we have decided to strengthen certain types of corruption in certain areas to ensure the speed of human extinction.

Also, based on the Pioneers' perfect performance in past versions, we will introduce DLC items in version 1.45 and future versions.

DLC items are mostly consumable items that can change a few rules. If a Pioneer performs perfectly, there is a very small chance of obtaining a permanent item.

Furthermore, to encourage Pioneers to clear the levels fast, we have accelerated the natural spread of the corruption value. Pioneers, please hasten your pace, or you will become corrupted.

Zhou Baiyu did not know who this "we" truly was. Were they the gods turned into rules?

But it seemed that each update was aimed at the extinction of humanity.

Yet, he also noticed some interesting points.

"Seam is mentioned again. Lacks key evolutionary items, could it be Bai Ling?"

The more Zhou Baiyu thought about it, the more likely it seemed. In fact, the existence of Bai Ling was still a secret, because the Overseers could not scrutinize him, so naturally, they did not know everything about Bai Ling in the basement.

Zhou Baiyu also noticed another point:

"DLC items? That's a rare update."

Previous updates were generally about how strong the monsters were, and we continued to weaken the humans.

This time, Zhou Baiyu rarely saw some slight enhancements.

But Zhou Baiyu soon noticed something amiss.

"After I saved Bai Ling in version 1.44, it seemed to have affected many things, resulting in the appearance of items?"

"The update clearly hints that items will appear from version 1.45 and later, but I did not see this update in version 2.21 before, perhaps because I didn't notice it?"

Zhou Baiyu suddenly thought of a possibility —

"The foundation is [now], changes from version 1.01 to 2.49 are actually decided by the performance of the version 1.0 Pioneers!"

"When I achieved an SSS ending, 'their' updates were no longer purely about weakening humans and Pioneers, at least they provided some sweeteners, this time in the form of DLC items."

"If… in the next area, we again achieve an SSS grade, would it allow subsequent versions to have conditions favorable for humans?"

Hiss.

This thought excited Zhou Baiyu quickly.

"We can only confirm after verification, but for now, let's take a look at the trial requirements."

The first was the Pioneer's Trial, the second was the Redemption Trial.

Zhou Baiyu quickly saw the third—

[Guild Trial, Endless Mode.]

[Introduction: The huge cruise ship, Gonggong, is slowly sailing toward Songjiang Port. The granddaughter of the mysterious Dr. A, rumored to be hidden within the cruise, is said to possess an antidote for reversing corruption derived from her grandfather's experiments.

With Dr. A's death, this research has fallen onto his granddaughter.]

[The cruise is full of corrupt beings, and there are even a few particularly powerful beings. The gathering of the corrupt can also cause the corruption of the rules.]

[Area corruption level: Grade A.]

[Mission Requirement: Rescue the hostage. After the cruise Gonggong reaches the Songjiang Port, ensure the survival of the hostage.]

[Failure Penalty: If no one survives, it will be deemed a failure. Due to the triggering of Endless Mode, members of this mission cannot be redeemed and their original bodies will die immediately.]

[Clearance Reward: A basic reward of five hundred pioneer points, and based on performance, gain traits, items, skills, etc. For other exclusive job rewards, please contact the intermediary.]

Damn!

Zhou Baiyu was thrilled.

Five hundred pioneer points were definitely substantial. And it was the first time that rewards were explicitly laid out.

It was even made clear that there would be rare rewards like traits.

Up to now, traits may just add a certain characteristic for other professions.

But for the Mutator, traits could additionally affect what extra notes he could see.

"Brother Zhou, the rewards this time are so generous... why do I feel like I'm closer to death now?" Ling Hansu said with a gloomy face.

The higher the risk, the higher the return. The reverse is also true.

Zhou Baiyu was pleased, the girl finally knew how to think.

He did not comfort her, as he couldn't discern the difficulty level.

The first time, during the solo trial, he saw the difficulty level was S rank.

But later in the duo trial and this group trial, there was no level displayed.

It seemed this was because the difficulty varied for each individual, so it couldn't be objectively measured.

"Let's go, let's enter the transit station. By now, the guild leader must already be waiting for us," he said.

Ling Hansu nodded, silently closing her eyes, muttering to herself, "I am a Snow Demon, I am a Snow Demon..."

Although she had never made this type of mistake before, Ling Hansu knew she couldn't lag behind. She had to completely become the Snow Demon upon entering the transit station, abandoning the identity of Ling Hansu entirely. Only then could she avoid exposing herself and Zhou Baiyu in a moment of crisis.

Zhou Baiyu saw this and thought that although the girl was still foolish, she indeed had grown.

Of course, he still couldn't expect much from her performance this time.

Soon, the two figures vanished.

In the transit station, Zhou Baiyu didn't greet He Lin this time, speaking directly in the guild channel:

"Guild leader, Guang Tongchen, brother Jiang, did you see the update announcement?"

"Saw it. It's tough, brother, it's my first time heading to an A-rank Corruption zone. I can't imagine what a ship full of Corruption types is like, especially with regional rules corrupted," Guang Tongchen said.

He Lin sent a message:

"Enough of the complaints, they're useless. With three days, I hope you have fulfilled your life's regrets. Coming up, go and face death."

"Now, let me talk about our setup before the countdown ends; we need to devise a strategy."

"I have looked into it already; our meals are all Mountain Breaker, which is common for the guild Storm Justice, famously abundant with warriors."

"The Beast Tamer is a tier-one," he said.

Beast Tamers, believers in the god of all life and vitality.

"Mutator is a summoner, tier-one."

Summoners, worshippers of the god of elements and Magic Power.

"Me, myself, am hidden, the tier-three form of a Concealment."

"Snow Demon, if I remember right, is the tier-two form Sky Eye."

"Brother Jiang, you're a Mutator, tier-one, right?"

Zhou Baiyu corrected him:

"Tier-two now, currently a different walker."

This statement shocked everyone.

"How so quickly? You've only participated in two drafts, right? How could you ascend so fast?" Guang Tongchen asked incredulously.

The Beast Tamer was also taken aback:

"Too fast… indeed way too fast."

Zhou Baiyu suddenly felt a bit embarrassed:

"But unlike other professions, the difference between the second tier of a Mutator and the first is really minimal; I can only try my best to play my part."

He Lin was not surprised, having achieved an SSS outcome himself once, knowing how rich that reward was.

Unfortunately, achieving SSS is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, not something you can just hope for.

"Alright, we don't have much time. Just to give you a heads-up, we might face some quirky rules, but we'll only learn the specifics after getting to the cruise," he said.

"And the cruise will be swarming with Corruption types. From what the trial content suggests, hostages should be hidden somewhere; the Corruption types might be searching for them."

"For our formation, I, the Concealment, will take the front charge; the two Mountain Breakers from Storm Justice will defend the front and back; Beast Tamer, you will protect Sky Eye; Sky Eye will continuously provide information during exploration; while Tongchen will provide fire support."

Zhou Baiyu thought about it, and this setup seemed reasonable, but he didn't say the next part.

Zhou Baiyu asked:

"What about me?"

He Lin hesitated for a moment before slowly replying:

"To be honest, I find your abilities puzzling. To speak frankly, a Mutator's value is nearly nonexistent."

"But you have indeed achieved something unthinkable, so I don't think my experience can judge you."

"The role of a Mutator, whether it's more a freelance or a support job, is also hard to define. So, Jiang Xianwu, you—act freely."

"Whether you become the useless seventh member or the one who turns everything around, it's now all up to your performance."