"!"
Inside the square black box was a little girl, no more than five or six years old.
The little girl was extremely unusual.
One of her eyes glowed cyan, while the other was black-red.
Half of her body was covered in black-red patterns, and beside her ears grew wooden antler-like horns, also mottled with black-red markings.
"Save me… I'm scared… Mommy… Mommy…"
The little girl was in very poor condition. Her eyes were unfocused as she whispered softly to herself again and again.
The sudden shattering of the black box allowed sunlight to pour in, startling the little girl awake.
It seemed that the sunlight itself restored a bit of her strength.
She turned her gaze—and saw Handsome Sanji, his body drenched in blood.
"Big brother… are you here to save me?"
The little girl widened her eyes as she looked at the blood-stained figure, yet showed no fear at all.
"Yes,"
Handsome Sanji smiled gently and spoke softly.
"Big brother is here to save you."
But the very next instant—
"BOOM!"
Handsome Sanji was struck by a powerful blow, his body sent flying!
"PUFF!"
He spat out blood as his chest collapsed inward, a massive palm imprint appearing clearly.
"An ant dares interfere with the plans of the god!"
A towering figure stood before Handsome Sanji, radiating an aura no weaker than Thousand-Bones Bolun's.
"Cough… cough…"
Handsome Sanji's aura rapidly declined.
Just smashing the square black box had already destroyed one of his legs, leaving him barely able to move.
Now, after being struck by this man—whose strength was on par with, or perhaps even stronger than, Bolun's—he was completely crippled.
"Big brother!"
The little girl cried out, tears streaming down her face.
"BOOM!"
At that moment, Thousand-Bones Bolun descended from the sky and slammed into the ground.
Front and back—
Handsome Sanji's every path of escape was completely sealed.
"Bolun, you can't even handle trash like this?"
The man who had crippled Handsome Sanji spoke calmly.
"I was careless."
Bolun frowned slightly and replied.
"I'm taking that person."
"The Human Emperor has ordered that all those strange human intruders be exterminated—just in case. Including this trash."
"After that, escort all the non-human races to Myriad Beasts City."
"These things are important nourishment for summoning our god."
"Understood."
…
After finishing the exchange, the tall man placed a hand on the square black box.
Immediately, the box began to repair itself—black, eerie crystalline material rapidly spreading, sealing the little girl back into pitch-black darkness.
At that moment—
"!"
The tall man suddenly turned around, his face filled with shock.
Handsome Sanji was standing again.
Supported on a single leg, chest still caved in, blood pouring freely—
Yet he calmly pulled out a cigarette and exhaled a smoke ring.
"Little one, don't be afraid."
"No matter where they take you—I will save you."
"If I fall… Brother Ming will definitely save you."
"My name is Handsome Sanji!"
"I swear it to you with my soul!!!"
…
Handsome Sanji roared furiously!
"Courting death!"
The tall man was about to strike.
"BOOM!"
Bolun had already slammed Handsome Sanji into the ground.
"I'll handle this trash."
"You just finish your mission."
"Demon Palm Zaher."
Bolun spoke coldly.
That towering man was none other than another of Human Emperor Gu Aotian's Four Heavenly Kings, just like Bolun—
a terrifying existence with a Seventh-Order sacred body, strong enough to contend for a Human Emperor throne in other realms.
"Hmph."
Demon Palm Zaher snorted disdainfully and completely sealed the square black box.
"Also," Bolun added coldly,
"Don't underestimate that little girl."
"She carries the bloodlines of both the Longevity Immortal Emperor and the Purgatory Immortal Emperor."
"Otherwise, why would the Human Emperor personally commission this black box?"
"If she isn't isolated…"
"She's an existence that grows stronger just by breathing under sunlight."
"I know."
Zaher replied briefly, then turned and escorted the square black box away.
"Your struggle is admirable,"
"but unfortunately…"
"Utterly meaningless."
…
Bolun shook his head in disdain, grabbed the dying Handsome Sanji with one hand, and returned deep into the prison.
Yet inside the square black box—
The five- or six-year-old little girl softly whispered two names.
"Big Brother Handsome Sanji…"
"Big Brother Ming…"
…
"BOOM!"
As Handsome Sanji's body slammed heavily to the ground, barely clinging to life, the imprisoned players all froze in shock.
"Hoho, you see now? This is the fate of those who resist…"
Thousand-Bones Bolun let out a ferocious grin, about to deliver a few ruthless words to properly intimidate these people.
But—
"Hahahaha, Brother Sanji really can't stay cool for more than three seconds!"
"I'm dying—he just got blown up again!"
"Damn it, you should've rescued me earlier! With me backing you up, we'd have won for sure!"
"Tsk tsk, as the saying goes—noob loves solo plays. See? Got flattened again!"
"At times like this, you need a glass of 82-year-old Ice Spirit Wine brewed by Ice Bro from Mount Lador!"
"I told you ages ago—Brother Sanji can't stay handsome for more than three seconds. See?!"
…
All the players burst into laughter, many of them laughing so hard they nearly choked.
"???"
Thousand-Bones Bolun looked down at Handsome Sanji.
What… the hell?
Why were these strange people happy when their companion was beaten half to death?
And this didn't look fake at all—this was genuine, heartfelt laughter!
But Bolun no longer cared.
"Arrange manpower! Prepare to transfer the non-human races!"
"But before that—set up the execution platforms!"
…
Bolun quickly issued the orders.
Moments later—
Over a hundred guillotines were fully prepared.
"Damn it, these bastards!"
"Holy crap, am I really dying here? Brother Ming, save me!"
"AHHH—if I'd known, I wouldn't have run around randomly! This Ten-Thousand Beasts Prison is obviously a high-level dungeon! It's not even open yet and I rushed in to donate my life!"
…
More than a hundred first-test and second-test veteran players were dragged onto the execution platforms and firmly restrained.
"Bolun! Brother Bolun!"
At that moment, a player suddenly shouted.
"Hm?"
Bolun turned his gaze toward him.
Heh—scared now?
Only now thinking about surrendering?
Too late.
"Oh? What do you want to say? Speak."
Bolun waved his hand, allowing him to talk.
After all, Bolun loved watching these people beg desperately—only to die anyway.
That was the real reason he chose to become the Warden of Myriad Beasts Prison.
"Before I die… can I eat one last hot pot? I haven't finished my platter yet,"
the player licked his lips and asked hopefully.
"Yeah, yeah! Give me another hour—let me finish eating before you kill me!"
"Beheading is boring. How about burning me at the stake instead? Preferably heavenly fire—with RGB color effects! That'd be awesome!"
"My butt's kinda itchy—any jailer bro wanna scratch it for me? Thanks!"
…
As soon as one person spoke, many others followed.
"Enough!"
Bolun was so angry his nose nearly twisted crooked.
Damn it—how little respect did these trashy brats have for him?!
Not a shred of fear!
Not even the slightest awareness that they were in Ten-Thousand Beasts Prison!
"Prepare for execution!!!"
Bolun waved his hand.
More than a hundred black-armored guards stepped forward in unison, raising their bloodstained black blades, ready to strike.
"Damn it, I'm at least a guy with status—dying like this is way too lame!"
"Beheading? Are the damn devs mentally ill? This is the Immortal Emperor era and you're killing me with a guillotine?"
"I strongly protest! I strongly condemn this garbage game design! Even if your budget's low, you can't be this lazy! The guillotine is rusted! Are you kidding me?! Get me a new one! I've spent over ten thousand Yuan on in-game purchases here—can't I get a bit of dignity?!"
…
Even on the brink of death, the players kept yapping nonstop.
Bolun was so furious he wanted to rip out their tongues first.
But at that moment—
"BOOM BOOM BOOM!!!"
With deafening explosions, screams erupted from above.
Several guards were blasted apart, their bodies reduced to charcoal, dead beyond any doubt.
At the same time, over a dozen streaks of three colored streaks of light flashed across the sky and appeared overhead.
"What's going on?!"
Bolun was shocked and snapped his head up.
"Heavenly Dao Noodles was here!"
"Those who remain standing—kneel and accept death at once!"
…
A figure strode out from among the three colored lights, standing proudly in midair, radiating boundless authority and dominance.
It was—
Beef Noodles.