The apocalypse is coming, but thankfully I have a harem of paper dolls.

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The thick fog remains the eternal backdrop. But now, beneath this gray-white curtain, a bizarre, bloody, and brutal otherworldly war is unfolding. (The last two lines appear to be unrelated and possibly machine-generated text.)

The first thing that catches the eye is the unsettling purple light that flickers intermittently in the fog. It is not a natural light source, but a symbol of a spatial rift.

At this moment, a steady stream of monsters of all shapes and sizes are pouring out of these portals that emit an ominous purple light.

There are trolls that are over three meters tall, with dark green or grayish-brown skin, wielding huge wooden clubs or stone axes, with protruding fangs, and emitting a foul stench;

There are bear goblins who are as big as bears, have ferocious faces, wear simple leather armor or rusted iron plates, and wield maces or battle axes;

There are also the largest number of goblins, chattering like locusts, short and grotesque in stature, wielding crude daggers or short bows, their eyes filled with greed and cruelty.

These evil creatures, existing only in fantasy legends, constitute a chaotic and massive army.

What's even more striking is that right at the head of the Jinjiang Bridge ahead stands a makeshift, rugged yet sturdy camp! Around the camp, numerous strong figures move about, and without exception, they are all—orcs!

These orcs wore simple but practical leather or chainmail fragments and wielded massive battleaxes, greatswords, or maces. Their eyes burned with a warlike fire, and their discipline far surpassed that of the chaotic trolls, goblins, and bears. They formed a seemingly chaotic yet orderly defensive line, using the bridgehead camp as their stronghold.

The air was thick with the stench of blood. Through the dense fog, Luo Jiajun saw two armies of different races locked in fierce combat.

The dull thud of a battle axe cleaving flesh and bone, the clang of clashing blades, the dying screams of monsters, the furious roars of battle... all these sounds mingled together, forming a chilling symphony of death that pierced through the thick fog and spread far and wide.

The figures in battle appeared and disappeared in the swirling mist, as eerie as a shadow play. One second you could see an orc warrior cleaving a goblin in two, the next the mist swept by, leaving only blurry outlines and splattered blood.

"Master, do you need us to clear the way?" At this moment, Leda, who was wearing armor, came to Luo Jiajun's side to ask for permission.

“No need.” Luo Jiajun shook his head, then turned to look at Akiyama Rinko who was following behind. “Once those monsters in front have been fought to a certain extent, we can go over there and save some time. By the way, Rinko, you can also destroy the teleportation portal here.”

As he spoke, Luo Jiajun silently brought up the game interface to check the mission progress.

Main Quest (3) - Door Breach Operation

[Mission Requirements: Destroy at least ten portals (spatial rifts)]

[Current progress: 5/10]

[Task Time Limit: If this task is not completed by the end of the current version, it will be automatically cancelled.]

[Task Reward: Unlock new feature - Points Shop]

(Points Shop: The shop contains various items related to summoned characters, as well as various unlocked high-value items, which can be purchased with summoning points)

……

Over the past three days, the team has naturally discovered more portals along the way, and Luo Jiajun has instructed Rin to destroy them one by one. So far, the mission to destroy the portals is halfway complete.

If all goes well, perhaps the main quest for the third ring can be completed before reuniting with Archina and the others.

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Thick fog, like a heavy gray-white curtain, hung low on both sides of the Jinjiang Bridge, turning the world into a chaotic mess.

The air was thick with the stench of blood, rust, and an indescribable, foul odor, overpowering the damp chill of the river. In this churning, pale depths, a bizarre and bloody battle was unfolding.

Luo Jiajun and his group concealed themselves among the piles of abandoned vehicles in the mess on the highway. Their eyes pierced through the churning white fog, barely able to catch glimpses of the menacing silhouettes flashing in the mist and the fierce battle raging.

In this battle, one side consisted of orcs who occupied the bridgehead camp.

They were generally over two meters tall, with bulging muscles, and wore simple but practical leather armor or thick leather inlaid with rusted iron plates. Heavy battle axes, broadswords, and maces were wielded with great force. They were significantly outnumbered by their opponents and were squeezed behind the camp's wooden palisades and dilapidated fortifications by the surging tide of enemies.

However, these orc warriors' eyes burned with an indomitable fighting spirit, and they showed no sign of retreating.

Even through the thick fog, it was clear they weren't fighting alone. Groups of three or five orcs stood back-to-back, forming sturdy small battle formations. Facing trolls over three meters tall, like moving mountains of flesh, wielding massive logs or stone hammers, the orcs didn't directly confront them. Instead, they used their relative agility, using their companions as bait to draw the trolls' clumsy attacks, while another would charge from the flank or rear, their heavy battleaxes cleaving the trolls' relatively vulnerable knees or lower backs, sending up a stench of blood and a agonizing roar.

Those bear-goblins, with their massive builds comparable to wild bears, covered in thick, bristly fur and wielding spiked maces, possessed equally formidable strength. However, their brute force often failed them due to the skillful coordination of the orc warriors.

One orc deliberately feigned an opening, using his shield to block the goblin's powerful hammer blow, his body staggering backward from the impact. Just as the goblin thought he had succeeded and let out an excited roar, another orc, who had been waiting in ambush, wielded his heavy two-handed greatsword like a viper, precisely piercing the goblin's exposed armpit as he swung his hammer, penetrating his chest cavity.

More goblins, like maggots clinging to the giant's legs, scurried about, their small, wretched forms harassing him with crude daggers, short bows, and even teeth. They screamed and tried to climb onto the giant warrior's back, but the orc warrior could easily slam several of the green-skinned gnomes onto the cold ground or onto his companions with a swift spin and swing of his arm, crushing them mercilessly under his boots.

For the orcs, discipline, courage, and tactical coordination are their weapons against overwhelming numbers. Every successful parry and coordinated kill is accompanied by a deafening orcish battle cry, inspiring their comrades.

However, the trolls' strength and size, the goblin's ferocity, and the seemingly endless, fearless surging waves of goblins ultimately formed a destructive torrent capable of engulfing everything.

Every time a gap in the battle formation was forcibly torn open, orc warriors were smashed into mincemeat by troll stone hammers, or had their skulls shattered by goblin maces, or were dragged down and overwhelmed by swarms of goblins.

Compared to the combined forces of trolls, goblins, and bears constantly pouring out of the portal in the fog, the number of orc warriors has been visibly decreasing.

……

About fifteen minutes later, the clamor and fighting from the direction of the bridgehead gradually subsided, leaving only sporadic, short cries and a kind of teeth-grinding chewing and tearing sound.

The thick fog remained, but the intense atmosphere of the fierce battle had faded, replaced by the unbridled clamor of the victors and the despairing silence of the vanquished.

"It's over." Luo Jiajun's voice broke the team's brief silence. "Let's go take a look."

The group maintained a vigilant formation, with 2B and Leda in front, Annie Rose and Rinko protecting the flanks, while Bayonetta, Yukikaze, Dreyer, and Rosemon provided support from the air or rear. Yeebu followed closely at Luo Jiajun's feet, slowly passing through the thick fog and approaching the Jinjiang Bridgehead.

The closer they got to the bridgehead, the more pungent the smell of blood and the strong stench of the monster became.

The ground beneath their feet became sticky and slippery, making an unpleasant "plop" sound as they stepped on it—it was mud soaked with blood and bits of flesh. Scattered in the mist were numerous corpses of various shapes and sizes—the mutilated bodies of orc warriors, the massive carcasses of trolls, the gutted remains of goblins, and many more goblin corpses carelessly discarded like rags.

Broken weapons, shattered shields, and scattered arrows were everywhere, silently testifying to the ferocity of the battle that had just taken place.

Just as Luo Jiajun and his group approached the bridgehead camp established by the orcs, a sharp, piercing chattering sound and a nauseating, wet tearing sound came from the air.

Looking ahead, they saw several short, scrawny goblins gathered in a circle, excitedly waving their arms and legs. They were frantically stabbing and slashing at a crippled, dying orc warrior on the ground with their crude pickaxes or stone knives.

The orc warrior's chest and abdomen were ripped open, his entrails spilling onto the ground. Only weak, gasping sounds escaped his throat. His eyes stared blankly at the gray sky; he was clearly on his deathbed. The goblins, as they slaughtered him, let out excited screams, as if in the midst of a carnival.

One of the goblins, with particularly sharp ears, seemed to sense the movement in the mist. It whirled around, its murky little eyes instantly spotting Luo Jiajun and the others. It paused for a moment, then let out an even sharper, more warning screech!

"Whoa-!"

The scream was like a spark thrown into boiling oil. Instantly, more dark figures stirred from the churning fog ahead. Dozens of goblins, like a swarm of startled cockroaches, screamed as they emerged from the fog; then, several tall, burly bear-goblins, panting heavily, carrying blood-stained maces and battle axes, their crimson eyes locking onto their new targets.

Finally, accompanied by heavy footsteps and a chilling growl, two blood-soaked trolls, exuding a strong stench, parted the mist, their massive figures like moving mountains of flesh blocking the entrance to the bridge.

Although the allied forces of these monsters had just experienced a fierce battle and suffered considerable losses, their remaining strength was still considerable. Upon discovering new prey, they immediately revealed their ferocity and surrounded the monsters.

Another battle is inevitable!

……

"Tsk-!"

The blazing Truesilver Sword, gleaming with a sacred silver light, sliced ​​through the last troll's thick, tree-trunk-like neck with effortless ease, like a hot knife through solidified grease. The massive head flew high, and foul-smelling, scalding blood gushed from the severed neck like a fountain.

The enormous headless body stood frozen in place for a moment before crashing to the ground, shaking the bridge surface.

Luo Jiajun remained calm and composed, casually wiping the sticky blood off his sword as if the powerful troll he had just defeated was nothing more than a stray dog ​​on the roadside.

The battle is over. You Lin, are you still thinking about it...?

The bridgehead was once again littered with the corpses of monsters.

The goblin's severed limbs were mixed with the massive torsos of the bear goblins and trolls, creating an even more bloody and chaotic scene.

Rita, 2B, Annerose, Drael, and the others were swiftly and efficiently clearing away the few remaining goblins trying to escape from the edge of the battlefield.

"Rin, go and deal with that teleportation portal over there." Luo Jiajun turned the True Silver Holy Sword in his hand into light and returned it to his body. He then pointed to a nearby teleportation portal that was still emitting a faint purple light.

"Yes!" Akiyama Rinko responded, her figure flashed, and she rushed towards the nearest teleportation portal, purple spatial energy beginning to gather in her palm.

Luo Jiajun didn't linger; he immediately summoned the game map from his mind. The treasure chest icon, representing [high-value items], was clearly flashing on the map, located in a half-collapsed guard post at the bridgehead ahead.

Walking briskly across the ravaged battlefield, Luo Jiajun ignored the sticky blood and severed limbs under his feet, heading straight for the dilapidated guard post. His sharp gaze swept across the area, finally settling on a pile of collapsed debris inside the post.

There, an inconspicuous corner of a metal box, covered in dust and dried bloodstains, peeked out, reflecting a faint, cold light in the dim light.

Luo Jiajun stepped forward, clearing away the rubble and broken wooden beams that were pressing down on it, revealing a metal box. The box was covered in strange patterns, and although it was dusty, it exuded an extraordinary aura.

Without hesitation, Luo Jiajun immediately opened the treasure chest and picked up the items inside...

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The metal box lid made a dull slurring sound in Luo Jiajun's hands before being slowly opened.

There was no extra stuffing inside the box, only a pistol lying there quietly, reflecting a cold, hard metallic luster in the dim light.

The gun's body has an antique-like silver-gray appearance. It has a classic revolver design with smooth and sharp lines, a thick barrel, a large cylinder, and the grip is covered with some kind of dark, unidentified material with a fine, scaly texture, which is cool and solid.

The gun is also etched with intricate and ancient patterns, like some kind of lost runes, exuding an indescribable sense of majesty and vicissitude.

Luo Jiajun's gaze was instantly drawn to it.

He reached out, his fingertips tracing the cold lines of the gun, a strange resonance seemingly flowing from the gun to his palm. He then picked up the pistol; it felt heavy and had an excellent grip. The instant Luo Jiajun grasped the handle, relevant information surfaced:

【Redemption】: A pistol from the Darksiders series of games. It is the weapon of "Dissent", one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, and was also briefly possessed by another horseman, "Death". As a legendary weapon, this pistol can fire incredibly destructive energy bullets by consuming the user's physical energy, even without loading physical ammunition.

“Redemption…” Luo Jiajun murmured the name, his eyes gleaming with surprise, a satisfied smile curving his lips.

What man could resist such a cool and powerful revolver, especially in this perilous apocalypse?

He gripped the gun handle, feeling the cold metal against his palm. Then, without loading any bullets, Luo Jiajun raised his arm, pointing the gun at the distant, empty depths of the billowing fog.

He then pulled the trigger with his index finger.

"Om-!"

The instant the trigger was pulled, a low, peculiar hum rang out, not the loud explosion of gunpowder. Luo Jiajun clearly felt that, in that instant, a subtle but undeniably present force—as if a wisp of energy deep within his body was suddenly drawn out and poured into the barrel of the [Redemption] gun along his arm holding the weapon.

Immediately afterwards, a blinding blue light suddenly appeared at the muzzle of the gun! The light was not flame, but highly condensed energy, compressed and erupted in an instant!

"boom--!"

A condensed blue beam of light tore through the thick fog with astonishing speed, disappearing instantly into the distance. Where the beam passed, the fog was briefly scorched, leaving a clear trail, and a lingering heat remained in the air. (The last sentence appears to be unrelated and possibly a fragment from another context: "You Lin didn't want to empty your mind, Lin is here...")

Luo Jiajun remained in his shooting stance, his brow slightly furrowed. The feeling of that power being drained from him was incredibly real. He subconsciously checked his physical condition and realized something was amiss.

I felt neither tired nor weak.

The power that was drawn away seemed to be just an illusion, or perhaps... it was completely replenished by some force the instant it was drawn away? His energy remained abundant, as if it had not been depleted at all.

Undeterred, he raised his gun again, aimed at the thick fog, and pulled the trigger repeatedly. Three blue beams shot out in succession, tearing through the fog and leaving brief burn marks.

With each pull of the trigger, the familiar sensation of "power being drained" clearly reappeared. However, when the shooting ended, he examined himself closely and found that his physical strength was still intact, his energy was abundant, and there was no sign of depletion whatsoever.

Luo Jiajun was stunned, then seemed to realize something, and his smile deepened.

"So that's how it is... It's [Unlimited Power]!" Luo Jiajun muttered to himself.

It must be because of the ability obtained through the Gunner's Bond Badge: [Unlimited Firepower] - any gun will be in a state of "unlimited ammo" in his hands, and there will be no unexpected situations such as overheating of the barrel or explosion.

He had previously thought this capability only solved the problems of ammunition resupply and weapon overheating.

Unexpectedly, when applied to a legendary weapon like Redemption, which consumes the user's energy as "ammunition," the effect of Infinite Power was to directly "return" the consumed energy! Or rather, the moment Redemption drew energy, Infinite Power perfectly replenished it, forming a perfect closed loop.

When you're sleepy, a pillow comes along—it's a match made in heaven!

It was at this moment, when Luo Jiajun was even more pleasantly surprised,

"Tsk, nice toy. Where did you find it?" A lazy yet magnetic voice sounded behind Luo Jiajun, tinged with amusement.

Luo Jiajun knew who it was without turning around. Then, as soon as he turned around, he saw Bayonetta standing behind him with one hand on her hip, looking at the "Redemption" in his hand with great interest.

At this moment, the thin-rimmed glasses on the witch's nose reflected a faint light through the mist, and a half-smile played at the corners of her mouth.

She approached gracefully with cat-like steps, her gaze shifting from [Redemption] to Luo Jiajun's face, a hint of mischief in her eyes:

"However, just knowing how to pull the trigger isn't enough, my dear... master. You must know that a gun, especially a good one like this, needs to be 'wielded'."

She stopped in front of Luo Jiajun, tilted her head slightly, and her red lips parted again:

"How about it? Want to learn the legendary gun-fu with me? Of course, the condition is... you have to call me teacher~"

As she spoke, the witch's eyes gleamed with a mixture of seriousness and amusement.

Looking at Bayonetta's alluring figure, Luo Jiajun remained noncommittal. He just felt that even if he agreed, under Bayonetta's close instruction, they would probably end up in bed before he even mastered gun-fu...

----------

at the same time.

It is located several kilometers north of Jinjiang Bridge, within the territory of Qixian County.

The thick fog, like a heavy, grayish-white quilt, completely covered the earth, swallowing up the roads, abandoned vehicles, and roadside building ruins into blurry outlines.

In this deathly white landscape, on a relatively open space beside the highway, backed by a half-collapsed wall, four figures stood quietly, like isolated islands in a sea of ​​fog.

Of the four, Archina, standing at three meters tall, was a striking figure even when seated.

She leaned against the cold, crumbling wall, her eyes closed in repose. Her pale face was expressionless, and her long eyelashes cast a small shadow beneath her eyes. Her signature white silk dress appeared somewhat hazy in the mist, yet it still outlined her breathtaking curves.

Not far from her, Jera sat cross-legged, her long, fiery red hair cascading over her shoulders like a burning waterfall. A faint green glow surrounded her, and several thin vines sprouted from the ground beneath her, twining around her ankles and wrists, as if silently drawing upon the earth's essence, or perhaps engaging in some kind of communion with the plants. Her expression was serene, her emerald eyes gazing at the swirling mist, seemingly sensing something.