"The power of a nuclear bomb… terrifying!"
The Adventurers gathered around the Secret Realm crystal were completely stunned.
Witnessing a nuclear explosion through the crystal shattered their understanding of the world. Facing such terrifying destructive power—something beyond mortal comprehension and capable of annihilating everything—they instinctively felt fear and awe deep within their souls.
The Adventurers who had dismissed nuclear weapons as exaggerated bluffing gimmicks moments earlier were now completely speechless.
As for Ryan Cloud, the Lord of Cloudhaven City, the shock he experienced was several times greater than that of the average Adventurer.
The power of this weapon was simply absurd!
If such forbidden technology were ever truly developed, what Dungeon could possibly withstand it?
If the nuclear bomb that detonated over Manhattan were dropped on Cloudhaven City, the Dungeon Ryan had painstakingly built over decades would likely be reduced to ashes instantly, without the slightest chance of resistance.
If he hadn't seen it with his own eyes, he never would have believed it.
Before this, Ryan only admired Ethan Quinn. But from this moment onward, that admiration was mixed with genuine awe.
At that moment, Blackstone Hammer King exited the Secret Realm.
Although the challenge had ended in failure, the spectators still found it incredibly thrilling.
Whether it was the massacre aboard the aircraft carrier, the climactic battle against the Supreme Hunter, or the horrifying spectacle of nuclear destruction, everything exceeded the Adventurers' expectations and imagination.
"Awesome!"
"Absolutely incredible!"
"That nuclear explosion shook my soul!"
"Old Thief Ethan's foundations are terrifying!"
"After the Supreme Hunter absorbed Aige, he actually became Dark Aige. Do you think a future expansion or parallel world might use Dark Aige as a villain?"
"That would be amazing!"
"I think it's very possible!"
"…"
The blueprint for the Blacklight Chapter came from Prototype.
Of course, Prototype never featured the Supreme Hunter absorbing Alex and becoming Dark Alex. That was entirely Ethan's original addition—an easter egg and also a setup for future expansions.
For example, different endings could split into separate timelines, creating parallel worlds.
One timeline could feature the corrupted Dark Aige as the antagonist.
This would allow a large portion of the Prototype 2 storyline to be adapted, saving significant development effort.
Ethan had always disliked the forced corruption arc in the original Prototype series. However, this new version made far more emotional and logical sense while also making better use of Prototype 2's material.
The other timeline could continue following the real Aige and his future adventures. Ethan had plenty of ideas and foreshadowing available—such as Elizabeth's son—to create entirely original storylines.
Although the challenge ended in failure, it still held tremendous value.
Blackstone Hammer King not only unlocked the Blacklight bad ending—allowing everyone to witness Manhattan's destruction and the birth of Dark Aige—but also unexpectedly obtained a trophy he had long desired.
---
[Hummer H1]
White Tier — Mid-Grade Equipment
Maximum Speed: 150 km/h
Maximum Range: 600 km
Cultivation Amplification: 5%
Durability: 35/35
Skills:
Fuel Refill
Auto Repair
---
Blackstone Hammer King immediately summoned the Hummer H1.
The moment the vehicle appeared, the Adventurers' eyes lit up.
The Hummer H1 had a tall, imposing body with a boxy military-style design. Sharp edges, rugged armor plating, a wide front grille, rectangular headlights, and massive all-terrain tires gave it the appearance of a lightweight tank.
Its interior was equally luxurious.
A sixteen-inch display screen, air conditioning, premium speakers, and even a refrigerator.
Without a doubt, it was a masterpiece of industrial design. Whether for practical use or collection value, it was an absolute treasure among Adventurers.
"Good stuff!"
"This thing is incredible!"
Everyone stared at it with envy.
Even high-level Adventurers like Bianca Frost were captivated by the vehicle's imposing presence.
After seeing the Hummer, Bianca suddenly felt her beloved motorcycle was no longer appealing.
The biggest difference between the Hummer H1 and previous drops like the M16 rifle or off-road motorcycle was that this was Tier 2 equipment.
Whether in the Adventurer World or on the Chaos Continent, such a vehicle had countless practical uses.
Just its six-hundred-kilometer range alone was enough to travel back and forth between more than a dozen nearby Adventurer towns in a single day.
It was perfect for transporting passengers or goods, and anyone using it for logistics could make a fortune.
On the Chaos Continent, it also possessed enormous military value.
As a powerful all-terrain vehicle, the Hummer could transport troops and supplies without relying on teleportation points.
As the first Adventurer to obtain the Hummer H1, Blackstone Hammer King not only received one hundred contribution points as a reward, but also unlocked special achievement badges and future priority purchasing rights.
That alone would allow him to earn huge long-term profits.
This was one of Miracle City's greatest charms.
Unexpected treasures could always drop at any moment. Obtaining even one valuable item could completely change an Adventurer's future.
Recently, Blackstone Hammer King had nearly bankrupted himself farming the Blacklight Chapter.
Now that he had obtained the Hummer H1, he instantly felt like he had struck gold.
The Hummer possessed two skills:
Fuel Refill — consumes spiritual power to replenish fuel.
Auto Repair — consumes durability to repair damage.
Both were incredibly practical and essential.
"Amazing! My dream finally came true!"
Blackstone Hammer King excitedly stroked the vehicle, unable to hide his joy.
"I've always wanted a car like this!"
"Hammer Bro is awesome!"
"Take us for a ride!"
"Hahaha! No problem! This thing has plenty of room—six people can fit easily!"
"…"
Although he finally obtained the vehicle of his dreams, now wasn't the time to relax.
Blaze Chick reminded him:
"Hammer Bro, don't waste time. Someone else is already approaching the final act. Don't you still want the first-clear achievement for the Blacklight Chapter?"
"That's true!"
"We've come this far!"
"If I miss the first clear now, I'll regret it forever!"
Blackstone Hammer King immediately re-entered the Secret Realm, spending another 100 Contribution Points to challenge the final chapter again.
This time, his goal was clear:
Achieve the true ending in a single attempt.
Learning from his previous failure, he launched a surprise Bullet Dive attack before the USS Reagan's virus sensors could activate, killing General Randall almost instantly before the carrier's defenses fully mobilized.
Without waiting for the CIWS systems to activate, Blackstone Hammer King ripped Super Hornet fighter jets from the deck and hurled them like projectiles, quickly destroying the carrier's key defensive emplacements.
As a result, the battle became far more efficient while minimizing unnecessary losses.
No matter what, Captain Cross would eventually be absorbed by the Supreme Hunter.
Once Randall and the surrounding troops were eliminated, the Supreme Hunter arrived aboard the carrier to begin the final boss battle.
Previously, Blackstone Hammer King had fought the Supreme Hunter while heavily weakened.
This time, however, he was nearly at full strength.
Ryan Cloud observed carefully.
"Based on the previous battle, the Supreme Hunter's physical strength is greater than Aige's, but it's noticeably slower and less agile."
Blackstone Hammer King's eyes lit up.
"That makes sense!"
Felix Storm added:
"In that case, don't clash head-on. Start with the Claw form instead of the Blade form. The attack power is lower, but the mobility and speed are much better."
Blackstone Hammer King followed their advice.
Another fierce battle erupted across the aircraft carrier deck.
Ryan Cloud truly lived up to his reputation as a Great Lord.
His analysis was completely correct.
After changing tactics, Blackstone Hammer King stayed on the offensive despite dealing less raw damage.
The Supreme Hunter's heavy attacks struggled to connect, forcing it into repeated use of its ultimate skill:
Ten Thousand Tentacles.
Although devastating, the move had a long startup and recovery period.
Each activation created an opening.
Whenever the Supreme Hunter unleashed Ten Thousand Tentacles, Blackstone Hammer King switched to Blade form and dealt heavy damage.
After several exchanges, the Supreme Hunter gradually fell into a disadvantage.
The final battle of the Blacklight Chapter wasn't overly difficult mechanically.
Compared to the Ashina Chapter, it relied less on pure technical skill and more on understanding the correct strategy.
Eventually, the Supreme Hunter used Ten Thousand Tentacles for the seventh time.
"This is the chance!"
Blackstone Hammer King activated a skill called Fatal Pain.
His arms transformed into countless writhing tendrils of Blacklight energy, forming a massive blood-red vine that slammed directly into the Supreme Hunter, violently absorbing its flesh and blood.
The Supreme Hunter had already become too weak to counterattack effectively.
Blackstone Hammer King leaped onto its back and unleashed a furious barrage of attacks, completely overwhelming it.
"Now!"
He switched into Blade form.
With one devastating slash, he split open the Supreme Hunter's skull.
The Blade continued downward through its chest, abdomen, and entire body, cutting the monster completely in half.
At the same time, countless Blacklight tendrils erupted from his body, burrowing into the remains and devouring them completely.
"Success!"
"Well done!"
The surrounding Adventurers erupted into cheers.
Blackstone Hammer King had finally defeated and absorbed the Supreme Hunter.
At that moment, every cell of Blacklight within him surged with unprecedented vitality.
His strength officially stepped into Tier 4.
But there was no time to celebrate.
The nuclear bomb countdown had already begun.
Blackstone Hammer King immediately detached the warhead and loaded it onto a helicopter before flying out toward the sea.
One minute.
Two minutes.
Three minutes.
As Manhattan grew more distant, the tension reached its peak.
After flying more than ten kilometers offshore, Blackstone Hammer King judged the distance sufficient.
If the bomb detonated underwater at this range, Manhattan would suffer only limited damage.
He released the payload.
The nuclear device plunged into the ocean.
"Hammer Bro!"
"Run!"
"Get out of there!"
Blackstone Hammer King already felt death closing in around him.
Even with Tier 4 power, surviving the center of a nuclear explosion was impossible.
He immediately pulled the control stick and tried to retreat.
Then—
A blinding light erupted behind him like a second sun rising from the ocean.
The expanding energy wave instantly engulfed the helicopter.
The tail section disintegrated first.
The cockpit shattered.
Then the entire aircraft was torn apart by overwhelming heat and pressure.
The Adventurers watching from outside felt their hearts stop.
"It's over!"
"He didn't make it!"
"Hammer Bro's dead!"
"Did it still fail?!"
But then—
The screen suddenly faded to black before slowly returning.
After the explosion subsided, several pieces of unknown flesh washed ashore along Manhattan's coastline.
A few crows landed nearby and began pecking at them.
Suddenly, the flesh exploded into living tendrils that instantly captured and absorbed the birds.
Then, a blood-covered figure slowly stood up from the shore.
"It's Aige!"
"No way—he survived that?!"
"Tank a nuclear explosion with his body and still regenerate? That's insane!"
The Adventurers shouted in excitement.
This version of Aige was no longer under Blackstone Hammer King's control.
After reviving, Aige quietly spoke:
"I finally learned the truth… but I do not like it."
"My existence was born from Alex Mercer's selfishness and mistakes."
"Millions died because of me."
"I cannot be called human… yet I have surpassed humanity."
"So what exactly am I?"
With his hands in his pockets, Aige slowly disappeared into the darkness of the night.
His story was far from over.
---
[Challenge Successful!]
[You have cleared "Blacklight Descends"!]
[You obtained "Super Blacklight Serum"!]
[Endless Mode Unlocked!]
[Achievement Unlocked: "Savior of Manhattan"]
[Achievement Unlocked: "Legendary Blacklight Adventurer"]
---
Blackstone Hammer King exited the Secret Realm, overwhelmed with joy.
Not only him—every Adventurer watching felt equally excited.
Another major Secret Realm chapter had finally been fully conquered.
"Congratulations, Hammer Bro!"
"You actually got the Legendary Blacklight Medal!"
"This clear was incredible!"
"Aige's story may not have been as emotional as Wolf Uncle's, but it was still amazing!"
"That final scene of him surviving the nuclear blast with his own body will definitely become one of Miracle City's legendary moments!"
"Yeah!"
"It made my blood boil!"
Blackstone Hammer King felt deeply satisfied.
He had once been nothing more than an unknown minor Adventurer.
Now, not only had he rapidly advanced to Tier 2 in Miracle City, but he had also become the first Adventurer to clear the Blacklight Chapter.
That honor alone was enough to brag about for the rest of his life.
Soon afterward, he discovered a new unlocked feature:
Endless Mode.
As the name implied, it was a repeatable challenge mode.
The timeline reset to Day 18 of the Blacklight outbreak.
Every time Miracle City reopened the mode, New York would reset entirely, with monsters and side quests randomly generated across the city.
Entry cost: 100 Contribution Points per attempt.
Not cheap.
However, despite lacking a formal storyline, Endless Mode functioned as a giant sandbox for Adventurers.
At the end of the story, Aige had officially reached Tier 4 strength, yet the players barely had time to fully experience it before the ending arrived.
Naturally, many Adventurers felt unsatisfied.
Endless Mode solved that problem perfectly.
It allowed players to freely roam New York as peak Tier 4 Aige, unleashing overwhelming power however they wished.
For many Adventurers, that freedom alone was more than enough reason to dive in immediately.
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