Chapter Seventeen: The Blockade

Toji Fushiguro gave his son one final hug and an encouraging pat on the head before handing control of his body back to Chen Lai.

After being killed by Satoru Gojo, Toji had spent a lot of time reflecting in the afterlife. He realized he had lived his life in such a twisted way—clearly longing for his child, yet never once showing him a kind expression. Chen Lai’s manifestation had given him a chance to make amends. A hug and a pat on the head were all he could muster; to do more... well, should a tough guy like him really go and kiss his son on the cheek? Better not. With that thought, Toji closed his eyes in peace.

Chen Lai took over the body. Facing the two characters from the anime, he didn't have much to say, only offering a word of advice to Megumi Fushiguro: "Unless it's absolutely necessary, don't summon Mahoraga. That thing is too sinister; you can't control it. Alright, that’s it. I’m off, bye."

With a wave of his hand, Chen Lai vanished from the subway station as if teleporting. It was time to extract. The total value of the loot on him exceeded 68 million; what was he waiting for? Although he had originally intended to finish off Jogo and Sukuna, since Jogo had fled and Sukuna hadn't consumed as many fingers as expected, he decided to let it go. The world would still be there, and he could always come back to reap more rewards whenever a new major event occurred.

Clutching his bulging stash of loot, Chen Lai sprinted through the streets of Shibuya. He didn't even glance at the cursed spirits emerging from the alleys. In his view, this was just a game world. With the main questline complete, all that remained was to bring the money back to pay off his debts.

"Brother Weilong! Great Might Heavenly Dragon!"

Bound to the top of the TV tower, Fierce Tiger was shouting his name like a human loudspeaker.

"Damn, almost forgot about his cut."

Chen Lai slapped his forehead, twisted his body, and began sprinting vertically up the side of the tower.

At the top of the Tokyo Tower, three bizarre-looking cursed spirit players saw Chen Lai approaching. A deep, gluttonous greed flickered in their non-human eyes. They were well aware that the "Great Red" quality Prison Realm, worth 65 million, was in this man’s possession.

"The 65 million is secondary; what matters is that 'Unique' trait," one cursed spirit, shaped like a black sheep, remarked. His two companions nodded in unison.

"The 'Unique' trait is the key. I never imagined a dungeon that just opened would drop loot with a Unique trait."

"Once we get that, the Deep Sea Corporation will surely offer us a contract."

"The chance to become a top-hundred player is right before us. I must consider if this is my only chance in this lifetime to become a Deep Sea Professor..."

The three cursed spirits danced in a frenzy, each preparing the cursed techniques they had purchased upon entering the dungeon. Once Chen Lai reached the top, he would be as good as dead.

"Are you guys serious? Have you even read the posts on the forums?"

Fierce Tiger, tied to the tower, couldn't take it anymore. These three players were typical "Old Tomb" style gold-farmers—the kind who were older, out of touch with society, yet still convinced they were incredibly talented and destined to make a name for themselves in the Deep Sea game. Had they bothered to read the analysis post on the forums regarding the "Great Might Heavenly Dragon’s Combat Performance," these three idiots wouldn't have dreamed of trying to intercept Chen Lai.

A black shadow swept across the night sky like an owl. The three cursed spirits vanished into thin air, leaving only delicious cursed spirit orbs on the ground.

"Are all players in the Deep Sea game this stupid?" Chen Lai asked as he untied Fierce Tiger.

"Not at all. These 'Old Tomb' players are like that, but normal players certainly aren't."

Once freed, Fierce Tiger first wore a look of disdain, then bowed repeatedly to Chen Lai. It was only because Chen Lai was a "newbie" player; in any other dungeon, anyone who had managed to loot 60 million would have extracted long ago, caring little for whether their friends lived or died. If one were to ask Fierce Tiger if he considered himself a friend of the Great Might Heavenly Dragon, he could only reply: "I think I am."

"Weilong, there are several extraction points: the Shibuya Maid Café, the Ikebukuro Silver Peak, and the restroom at the foot of Mount Fuji... where do you plan to extract from?"

"Ugh, the Maid Café is definitely out. There are 23,000 players in the dungeon right now, and I bet more than half of them are waiting for you there. Even if you're a beast, you'll end up dropping your loot to human-wave tactics. How about extracting from Mount Fuji?"

Fierce Tiger asked and answered his own questions, leaving no room for Chen Lai to interject. However, his words served as a reminder. Chen Lai rubbed his cheeks and checked the current number of online players.

[Shibuya Incident Player Count: 25,086]

Chen Lai’s brows tightened as he scrolled through the Deep Sea forums.

"Ikebukuro Silver Peak: Intercept the 60-million-value Great Red! Come if you want to die! (Hot)"

"Mount Fuji: Cherry blossoms in full bloom, the Great Red drops loot with one hit, sign up now! (Hot)"

"Can the people at the Maid Café stop spamming cursed techniques? Several brothers have already died! Can't you save your skills to kill the Great Might Heavenly Dragon? (Hot)"

A drop of sweat rolled down Chen Lai’s forehead. In the time it took to speak, the number of players in the dungeon had surged from 23,000 to 25,000. And they weren't even hiding it anymore; they were waiting for him at the extraction points!

What the hell? Toji Fushiguro’s body might be tough, but it wasn't immune to exhaustion. Ten thousand players meant thousands of cursed spirits and thousands of sorcerers! Forget cursed spirits; even if it were ten thousand pigs, it would take three days just to round them up!

Chen Lai felt a bit overwhelmed. This was the Deep Sea game: peaceful coexistence at the start, backstabbing in the middle, and blades drawn by the end.

"Let's extract from Mount Fuji. It looks like the fewest people have signed up there."

"Fine," Fierce Tiger nodded.

Chen Lai prepared to leave, but paused a second later. He looked at Fierce Tiger: "Did you turn off your stream?"

Fierce Tiger had a sudden realization: "I forgot! Occupational hazard, my apologies!"

By then, the live chat in Fierce Tiger’s stream was already boiling.

"Brothers, confirmed intel from the source: the 65 million is extracting from Mount Fuji!"

"Don't leave yet! I'm heading from Ikebukuro to Mount Fuji right now. Wait for me, don't you dare leave!"

Chen Lai glanced at the chat, expressionless. These players were truly desperate to make him drop his loot. He checked the player count again—it had now soared to 27,000. If he didn't extract soon, each of the three points would have ten thousand people waiting for him.

"Stream is off. Follow me."

Chen Lai pointed casually, ordering Fierce Tiger to shut down the stream. Fierce Tiger complied; he had already earned enough over the past two days that even with the split, he had made back his entry fee. But the "Great Red" on Chen Lai was the real prize.

"Let's go."

Lifting Fierce Tiger up, Chen Lai jumped off the building like a bird taking flight toward freedom, heading for the Ikebukuro district in Tokyo. There, over seven thousand cursed spirits and sorcerers had gathered, having cleared out the entire district, chased away the Tokyo police and local gangs, and were waiting in silence for the Great Might Heavenly Dragon to come and die.