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

"Mr. President, your world has been chosen by a higher civilization to become a game arena. We, people from different planets, have been granted special abilities to participate in a unique survival challenge game in your world."

Du Ge looked at the president and said calmly, "There are only two paths for us players: win the game or die."

The president frowned slightly and asked, "What are these special abilities?"

"At the start of each game, each of us randomly receives a keyword. By following this keyword, we can awaken one or two special abilities."

In the Battle Network, no matter how you sit, lie, or stand, as long as your mental power is sufficient, you won't feel tired. But Du Ge still took a couple of steps to the sofa diagonally opposite the president, found the most comfortable position, and continued, "However, to ensure fairness in the game, no one knows what abilities others have."

"So, what's your keyword?" the president asked.

"Trend," Du Ge replied without hesitation.

"Trend?" The president looked at Du Ge and said, "Please elaborate."

"When I incite a trend in this world, I might awaken some special abilities." Du Ge smiled nonchalantly and continued, "For example, in the Battle Network, using the Petrel mecha to defeat stronger opponents like Blade and Phantom will definitely cause a Petrel craze in this world. From ace pilots to ordinary trainees, everyone will be eager to study the Petrel. That's the trend I incite..."

"So, the shocking style you created is also a kind of trend?" the president asked.

"Yes."

Du Ge nodded, having nothing to hide from these rulers.

After all, the shocking style appeared with him, and it couldn't be hidden from those who paid attention.

After a moment of silence.

The president asked, "So, with all this commotion, have you awakened any special abilities?"

"Not yet," Du Ge smiled, "but I think I'm close to awakening an ability."

"So, what's your purpose in coming to me?" the president asked.

"I want to win this game, and you, Mr. President, need a stable world. We can cooperate for a win-win situation," Du Ge said.

"Are you so sure I will cooperate with you?" The president interlocked his fingers and placed his arms on the table.

"Mr. President, you manage a country, you must be a wise person." Du Ge smiled, "The main force of the Hill Civilization will arrive on the battlefield in two years. Bi Xing doesn't have an absolute chance of winning, but with us joining, it's different.

The personal abilities of the players far exceed those of the native warriors. With our help against the Hill Civilization, Bi Xing's chances of winning will be much greater. Mr. President, in our world, there's a strategy called 'driving the tiger to swallow the wolf.'"

"And then? After defeating the Hill Civilization, will Bi Xing be ruled by you?" The president chuckled.

"The players are composed of people from ten planets. To win the game, we can never truly unite. With your wisdom, Mr. President, the strategy of 'driving the tiger to swallow the wolf' can be used countless times." Du Ge smiled at the president and said, "In any case, our presence gives Bi Xing another choice, doesn't it?"

Tang Houming, watching Du Ge speak eloquently to the president, was completely convinced that he had been possessed.

A seventeen-year-old mechanic couldn't have such a meticulous mind and the courage to face the president.

"What happens to the game winners?" the president asked.

"They leave the native body, and their consciousness exits this world," Du Ge said. "If you're worried, Mr. President, you can dispose of these used bodies immediately after we leave to eliminate any future troubles."

Since Pan-Universal Entertainment would use the bodies of Alien Star warriors to harvest this world.

Why not give the natives the right to handle the bodies, whether successful or not, it's a way to disgust them.

"Can you possess bodies a second time?" the president asked.

"Mr. President, as I said earlier, when we enter this world, there are only two paths: winning or death," Du Ge said desolately. "So, you don't need to worry about being possessed.

Moreover, there's no need for death threats against the players. As a leader of a planet, it's normal to want to understand unfamiliar things.

Perhaps while listening to me, you're already planning to have me captured, dissected, and tortured for information. But I don't recommend you do that, or at least not to me. After all, I can still offer you help, but others might not.

There are still over a thousand participants in this game. You can choose those who don't want to cooperate and pose a threat to the world, capture them for research. I don't mind.

You might even extract some of their planet's technology, which could help Bi Xing's development, just like you study the Hill Civilization's spaceship..."

Bi Xing's technological level is higher than any other Alien Star Battlefield. Du Ge was taking a gamble; what if the scientists on this planet could crack Pan-Universal Entertainment's soul transmission or seamless live broadcast secrets?

Hearing such cold-blooded words from Du Ge, the president and Tang Houming exchanged a glance and fell into silence.

"Lin Hong, I'll still call you Lin Hong for now!" Tang Houming took a few steps forward, standing in front of Du Ge, and asked, "I want to know, how many winners will there be in this game?"

Du Ge raised three fingers.

"Thirty people?" Tang Houming guessed.

"Three people." Du Ge shook his head and corrected, "So, for the final victory, every player will go to great lengths to strengthen themselves and win. The more players you eliminate, the more advantageous it is for me."

"Why do you participate in such a brutal game?" The president's voice was particularly serious. He already believed Du Ge's words. A young man with a bright future had no reason to fabricate a lie that could easily be exposed to deceive him; it would do him no good.

"Why does Bi Xing go to war with the Hill Civilization?" Du Ge glanced at the president and sighed, "If it weren't for being forced, who would want to participate in this damned deadly game?"

"How advanced is the civilization forcing you?" The president hesitated for a moment and asked the question he was most concerned about. Compared to these pitiful players, he was more concerned about the mastermind behind it.

After all.

If they can send a batch of players, they can send a second batch.

No one wants their planet to be used as a playground by others.

"Very advanced." Du Ge gave a bitter smile, "Bi Xing can still fight against the Hill Civilization, but against our own enemy, we are at their mercy, with no power to resist. It's a despairing level of advancement."

The president looked at Du Ge, his interlocked fingers unconsciously rubbing against each other.

Du Ge looked at the president, shook his head, and smiled, "Mr. President, exploring the civilization controlling us is not something you should consider right now. Bi Xing's current enemy is the Hill Civilization. If we can't get past this hurdle, there won't be a future, right?"

"Lin Hong, you've convinced me." The president smiled, spreading his hands on the table, "I can agree to cooperate with you, but I need to know more about the players."

"Mr. President, aside from what I've told you, I don't know any other players' information, who they've possessed, their keywords, or even where they are."

Du Ge shrugged and said, "Today, I've exposed myself in a very assertive manner to create a sense of urgency for everyone.

It won't be long before more people can't help but reveal themselves. I'm using myself as bait to lure out more people.

Now that the bait has served its purpose, I should retreat into the background, which is why I'm asking the president to help keep my information confidential.

Ensuring my safety allows me to strategize for the president from behind the scenes and provide the most advantageous advice. In fact, I don't need to defeat many ace pilots to prove myself; in a few days, you'll see the truth for yourselves."

"Lin Hong, the bait you're trying to catch isn't other players, but me, right?" The president looked at Du Ge and shook his head with a smile.

"Mr. President, I did indeed catch you, but I've also placed my fate in your hands," Du Ge said. "You know my true identity, and to deal with me, you might only need a precision-guided missile.

Or, to keep it simple, make my information public, and all the players will gang up on me. I wouldn't survive. I think, Mr. President, you wouldn't do that."

"Lin Hong, you're very clever." The president glanced at Du Ge and smiled.

"Mr. President, I'm just trying to survive." Du Ge's tone remained calm.

"Tell me about your plan." The president looked at Du Ge and asked, "Since you're so well-prepared, you must have more than just this."

Du Ge smiled, "Mr. President, my plan might not be what you expect."

The president gestured for him to continue.

"Although I was the first to jump out and disrupt the situation, forcing everyone to speed up their pace, my real goal is to extend the game's duration," Du Ge said.

"Extend the game's duration?" The president frowned.

"Yes." Du Ge nodded, "The longer the game lasts, the longer our lives are extended. It's much better than everyone fighting to the death and then being driven into the next game arena. Living a lifetime anywhere is still living, right?

Moreover, by extending the game's duration, we can face the Hill Civilization's main force. Mr. President, you wouldn't want the game to end before the Hill Civilization's main force arrives, would you? In this regard, our interests align."

"Will your game continue indefinitely?" the president asked.

"Yes, until all participants die, and then another batch of people is brought in." Du Ge nodded and smiled, "So, prolonging the game and enjoying the peaceful times within it is the happiest time for all players."

The president gave Du Ge a glance and said, "Continue."

Du Ge said, "Actually, hiding oneself is more suitable for extending the game's duration, but with hunters lurking everywhere, waiting to attack you, survival becomes dangerous. But forcing everyone into the open is different; it puts the initiative in your hands.

Now, I've started the ball rolling, and there will always be someone who jumps out to showcase their talents and strengthen themselves.

Mr. President, you can send people to cooperate with them, use coercion, inducement, and other methods to find out their keywords and abilities, and then guide them to deal with the Hill Civilization based on their personalities. You can also use them to eliminate some unruly players.

Not everyone's keyword is positive. Among the players, some carry negative keywords like slaughter, chaos, and malice. These people will inevitably become disruptive elements in society. Eliminating them is very necessary.

Of course, if Mr. President is confident, you can also send them to the front lines to deal with the Hill Civilization. Those with slaughter keywords would be happy to do this. However, doing so could easily backfire.

After all, you can't guarantee their keywords are accurate. If you send a player with a betrayal keyword to the front lines, there's a good chance they'll happily defect..."

The president's mouth twitched involuntarily. After learning more about the players from Du Ge's words, he suddenly realized the complexity of the situation.

"Eliminate these negative keywords, and the remaining positive keywords can be put to good use." Du Ge smiled, "With these players, there will always be some strange occurrences on Bi Xing.

Mr. President can take the opportunity to establish a department to recruit some extraordinary talents to handle these special situations, perhaps call it the Homeland Security Bureau or something, using this as an excuse to recruit players.

As long as they want to use the power of the state machinery, I think most people wouldn't refuse.

They also want to eliminate their opponents, don't they?

You can also, after finding them, use powerful forces to capture them, slowly manipulate them, and make them work for you. With Mr. President's skills, finding their weaknesses and controlling them shouldn't be difficult..."

"Alright, I can try." The president gave Du Ge an unexpected look and asked, "And you? What's your role in the plan?"

"Secretly regulating everything, timely stimulation, guiding those who like to hide to appear. When Mr. President doesn't know how to deal with those players, I'll provide the most reasonable advice."

Du Ge smiled, "To be honest, I'm already a seasoned player. I'm fully confident in controlling the progress of the entire game and steering it in the direction we desire..."

"That's it?" The president frowned again.

"Alright, my keyword is trend. I can help the young people on Bi Xing become enthusiastic about learning mecha." Du Ge said, "Bi Xing needs an idol to inspire those despairing young people.

Just like what I'm doing now, Mr. President, as long as Ten Steps to Kill One is excellent and strong enough, more people will aspire to mechas, and more will study various mecha tactics and techniques.

I can also use my experience from participating in so many game arenas to help improve and design mechas.

Of course, don't have too high expectations for this. Each world's technological level is different, and even the world's parameters might be different. I can't guarantee results."

"I understand." Mr. President nodded, "Anything else?"

"If one day I become strong enough, I'll go to the battlefield and fight against the Hill Civilization," Du Ge said. "Is that enough?"

"Anything else?" the president asked.

"Mr. President, I've shown enough sincerity." Du Ge frowned slightly, "I'm here to cooperate, not to be exploited by you."

"Lin Hong, I was just joking with you." The president smiled, "I agree to cooperate with you, but do you have anything else to add about the players?"

"Protect yourself." Du Ge looked at the president seriously and said, "In past game arenas, many players awakened skills that affected the mind, and many people were unknowingly controlled and used by them.

Before confirming whether players have such abilities, I suggest all high-level officials take precautions. Important meetings are best held in the Battle Network to minimize direct contact with them.

Also, don't be complacent; players will disguise themselves.

For the final victory, they might take desperate measures. Not everyone is as friendly as I am.

In short, be cautious, cautious, and more cautious."

"I'll be careful." The president looked at Du Ge and nodded solemnly, "Mr. Lin Hong, is there anything I can do for you?"

"Just help me keep my identity a secret," Du Ge said.

"Are you interested in working at the central hub?" the president asked, "You're very smart and know a lot about those players. You could establish the so-called Homeland Defense Bureau..."

"Mr. President, I can indeed establish such a department and am confident in doing it quickly and well, but are you really comfortable with me?" Du Ge interrupted him and asked with a smile.

"..." The president was stunned.

"I don't even trust myself." Du Ge shook his head and said, "So, being in the shadows is the best choice.

Mr. President can even have people monitor my every move. If you detect any behavior detrimental to Bi Xing, you can eliminate me at any time. You can also secretly support another force to counterbalance me, so everyone can be at ease.

No matter what Mr. President does in secret, I won't mind.

Because time will prove everything.

My goal is to win the game, not to be an enemy of this world.

Sincerity for sincerity, Mr. President, I've shown the greatest goodwill to Bi Xing, so I don't want to receive your malice.

You know, a seasoned player who has survived several game arenas always has some trump cards for survival."

Du Ge looked at the president and said softly, "Moreover, Bi Xing is beset with internal and external troubles and can't afford any more turmoil."