Chapter 6: Mistakenly boarding the dark camp pirate ship

Ying Ye wasn’t sure what came over her.

A faint, almost imperceptible pull from deep within her soul urged her to step onto the suspension bridge and gently grasp Bai Yue Ling’s slender waist, hidden beneath her priest robe.

Only when she felt the soft warmth under her fingers did Ying Ye snap out of it, shaking her head vigorously.

What’s wrong with me?

We just met, and doing something this intimate might make her uncomfortable…

Thinking it was a momentary lapse, Ying Ye cleared her throat and said softly, 

“Little White, watch your step. I’ll help you across.”

“O-Okay…”

Catching the faint, youthful scent of Bai Yue Ling, Ying Ye let out a small hum. 

Her fingertips sensed Bai Yue Ling’s soft abdomen trembling violently.

Is her stomach shaking this much because she dislikes me?

Or… is she actually scared?

Unbeknownst to Ying Ye, Bai Yue Ling, walking ahead, was on the verge of tears.

Her earlier smugness and teasing had melted into jelly-legged panic under Ying Ye’s sudden, bold move.

No… not like this—

Am I about to be done in by Ying Ye over this abyss?

Walk faster, don’t shake… steady, grab the ropes, or I’ll fall…

With Ying Ye’s “support,” Bai Yue Ling crossed the rickety bridge and reached the castle’s entrance.

“Phew… safe at last.”

Bai Yue Ling exhaled, wiping sweat from her brow.

What a loss! 

Not only did I fail the Dark Fall quest, but I got my stomach fondled the whole way.

Bullied by an older sister again… damn it, I’ll make her pay double later!

Meanwhile, Ying Ye looked at Bai Yue Ling with newfound respect.

Little White is braver than me, crossing that bottomless chasm so quickly.

It was just respect, not awe, so the Dark Fall quest remained incomplete.

The castle loomed under a perpetual dark cloud, every breath heavy with eerie mystery.

Pushing open the gates, they entered a vast hall, spotting a figure in the corner.

A woman in a deep purple mage robe leaned against the wall, a wide-brimmed witch hat shading her pale, flowing hair. 

A single gold-rimmed monocle rested on her face, and her exposed skin gleamed like jade, faintly revealing the bones beneath.

Who is she?

Bai Yue Ling asked tentatively, 

“Excuse me… what is this place?”

The woman stirred, rubbing her eyes. 

“Huh? Guests?”

She stretched lazily, revealing her curvaceous figure, and cleared her throat. 

“Ahem… no slacking now. Didn’t expect visitors in this backwater to include Otherworld Travelers.”

Otherworld Travelers was how World of Fate NPCs referred to players, viewing them as mysterious summoners from another realm.

“This is Novice Village #4444,” 

The woman said, stretching again, her ample chest straining against her robe. 

“I’m the village chief. Call me Ming Die.”

#4444? 

So that’s where our village is.

Bai Yue Ling scanned Ming Die’s tall, graceful form, then gasped. 

“Wait! Miss Ming Die, are you a necromancer?”

“Huh? I think so…” 

Ming Die slipped a hand inside her robe’s collar, scratching absently. 

“Slept too long, forgot a lot.”

“So, we’re Dark Faction players?”

“Hmm, seems like it.”

Ying Ye, overhearing, looked confused. 

“What’s the Dark Faction?”

“You seem new, so let me explain…” 

Ming Die snapped her fingers, and bones burst from the floor, assembling into a skeletal chair.

She smoothed her robe’s wrinkles, her hands gliding over her waist, and sat, her rounded hips settling onto the chair.

“Ow, a bit pokey…” 

Ming Die crossed her plump legs, pondering. 

“Where to start?”

***

Long ago, when chaos first parted, 13 goddesses emerged.

Together, they built this world, creating its races, and all lived in harmony.

But one day, discord arose among the goddesses, splitting them into three factions: five Light Goddesses, five Dark Goddesses, and three Neutral Goddesses.

They led their followers into war, culminating 1,000 years ago in the colossal God War.

In that cataclysm, Light and Dark Gods clashed until the skies dimmed, with even Neutral Gods joining the fray. 

Four Dark Gods fell, leaving only the Goddess of Charm to survive. 

The Light Gods, unscathed, nearly eradicated the Dark Faction, forcing its remnants to hide in wastelands—underground, deserts, and abysses.

Since then, the Light Faction prospered, ushering in 1,000 years of peace.

Now, summoned by the goddesses, Otherworld Travelers arrive, and fate’s gears begin to turn…

***

Ying Ye, dazed, said, 

“So, we’re on the losing side?”

One Dark Goddess versus five Light Goddesses.

Why even fight?

“Well, don’t be too pessimistic,” 

Ming Die shook her head. 

“Rumor has it, with no common enemy, the Light Gods are turning on each other. Tensions are rising, and civil war looms—a perfect chance for the Dark Faction to strike back.”

“That’s their internal drama. What’s it got to do with your near-extinct Dark Faction?” 

Bai Yue Ling quipped.

She knew Fate Corporation’s stats: 80% of players were Light, 20% Neutral, and Dark players were less than 0.01%.

High charisma: Dark players are one in a million. 

Low charisma: Even dogs avoid the Dark Faction.

Scarce resources, brutal quests, and constant pursuit by Light players made the Dark Faction a tough sell, driving many to switch to Light.

“The Dark Faction’s weak, but it’s quests should be interesting,” 

Ying Ye said, unfazed. 

“Miss Ming Die, give us a quest.”

Bai Yue Ling fell silent, reflecting. 

In her nine prior loops, Ying Ye was always Light Faction. 

Now, because Bai Yue Ling saved her from the Tree demon, she’d joined the Dark Faction.

What ripple effects would this have?

Ming Die pointed to the distant forest. 

“Deep in the woods lies Novice Village #4443, a Light Faction village with hundreds of Otherworld Travelers. They’re just a forest away. If they discover this castle, we’ll face relentless attacks from the Light Faction. You must stop their advance.”

[New quest triggered.]

[Quest Name: Bury the Light]  

[Difficulty: Hard]  

[Description: Kill 10 Light Faction players.]  

[Rewards: Item Dark Faction Oath, Equipment Staff of Sorrow]  

[Note: Complete within 24 hours if possible.]