I've Become the King of Villains in the Game

Chen Lun noticed that these "refugee" players were all just wearing the rough robes they came with, carrying assorted pieces of broken copper and rusty iron in their hands.

They must have come here, to Emerald Town, from the suburbs of Novice Village.

After silently observing for a while, he saw that these players had already formed groups, heading in one direction in clusters of three or five.

Chen Lun hid in the shadows, following them to see what these newbies were actually up to.

Along the way, he saw that the town's scenery was very bleak, with every household closed up.

The streets were littered with all sorts of trash, bloody rags, and old clothes.

A light breeze carried a faint stench that was nauseating.

There were some monks from the Moon Church dressed in black robes, expressionless and reticent, carrying sacks of corpses. They walked past the "refugee" players as if they did not see them.

The players soon reached the western side of the town, which had been isolated with a wooden fence. Several soldiers clad in leather armor and iron helmets, armed with short swords, stood guard there.

Upon seeing the players arrive, the leading soldier captain seemed very pleased.

He said something, and with a clang, opened the fence, letting this group of players enter the fenced-off district.

From there came the roars of beasts and the eerie humming of a strange nursery rhyme. A strong stench of decay and blood burst forth from the fence, causing the soldiers outside to cover their noses and retreat.

After a few promptings, dozens of excited players poured through the narrow gate into the street beyond.

With a bang, the gate was closed again.

Chen Lun took out a Starry Veil and placed it over his head, slowly stepping out from the shadows.

It was then that the soldiers noticed a well-dressed gentleman who had appeared before them out of nowhere, startling them.

"What's going on with the district behind the fence? Why did you let those people in just now?"

Chen Lun spoke up.

A seashell necklace around his chest flickered with a faint light, causing the leading soldier captain to blink in surprise.

"Oh, sir, that's the plague district... The residents inside have been infected with the plague, turning into bloodthirsty madmen.

The commander has issued an order to purge the plague district. The group that just entered volunteered to go in and eliminate the plague sufferers."

Chen Lun nodded silently.

'This is such a novice task...'

Two months ago, through information brought by Maggie, he had already learned something about the plague.

Among the three types of the plague, the most core and terrifying one was the "Red Dance Disease."

Those infected with this disease seemed to be under some sort of curse, unwittingly attracting others to join them in smiling, joyously dancing in a bizarre spectacle.

"They almost never stop, dancing until death... Most often, their legs fracture and then they collapse on the ground, writhing until death. Throughout, the dancers keep screaming, laughing, or crying, while some hum strange songs."

That was Maggie's exact description.
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"If you watch them and refuse to join the dance, you will be violently assaulted... They are bloodthirsty and brutal, even going as far as to cannibalize you.

However, this form of the disease, once contracted, means spirituality is obliterated after twenty-four hours, leaving nothing but a mad, husk."

Chen Lun hypnotized the soldier captain, planning to get him to open the fence so he himself could go in and take a look.

But just then.

Bang!

A loud noise, and the wooden fence suddenly shuddered violently.

What was happening behind it was unclear, but there were screams and strange laughter.

The soldiers, as if facing a great enemy, drew their short swords and prepared for battle.

Clatter—Bang!

Once again, the fence trembled severely, and the wooden barricade was forcefully overthrown.

Chen Lun looked up to see around a dozen demented residents, carrying rusty and blood-stained kitchen knives, rakes, or scythes, chasing after the players who had entered earlier.

These infected citizens, wearing tattered robes or suits, were filthy. Their faces always bore unnatural smiles, producing eerie giggles or singing indecipherable murmuring songs.

Swinging their weapons, fresh blood splattered everywhere, and the players screamed as they disappeared in flashes of white light.

After slaughtering the players, these plague-crazed individuals did not stop their attack.

Some of them linked hands and starting humming an incomprehensible eerie melody, forming circles on the spot and breaking into dance. The other plague-maddened individuals kept on wielding their kitchen knives and scythes, hacking at the soldiers.

They cackled sharply, as if chopping people was some amusing, interesting activity.

"Ah! Aaaah!!"

A soldier without a helmet screamed repeatedly.

His face got caught by a rake, its numerous prongs scraping across his head, peeling off a large flap of skin and flesh, blood spilling profusely.

The soldiers began to fight back but with little morale.

They fought while retreating, seemingly reluctant to linger here any longer.

Chen Lun knew they were worried about contracting the plague... After all, such close-distance fighting, with rusty, dirty weapons and unidentified blood, was indeed conducive to infection.

As of now, there was no cure for the disease, just a one-way path to death.

This was too demoralizing!

Two more soldiers were struck down by the plague-crazed individuals, their counterattacks failing to slow their assailants even slightly.

The afflicted seemed not to feel pain; although cut by the soldiers' short swords, bleeding profusely, they did not cry out in pain... Instead, they continued to giggle bizarrely, singing as they lifted their weapons for the slaughter.