CHAPTER 135: ERROR 404

"What’s this?"

Xu Tao tapped the notification, reading it in a hurry. After all, a notification appearing at a time like this had to be related to the current battle!

But what he saw came out of left field.

[Lost System detected an error in the creature with serial #: 4000B-586990-CEN10001]

[Analyzing type of error...]

[Zero Damage Bug detected!]

[Fixing the bug... Error! System lacks access to the creature’s details!]

[Checking for solutions... Detected presence of the Heaven-Defying Sword (Error 404)...]

[

New Debugging Quest Generated!

Quest Details:

The Lost System has lost access to the monster Nine-Segment Crimson Yang Centipede’s data. To regain access, you must hold the Heaven-Defying Sword while in close proximity to the monster. Stay within 1 meter of the monster for five minutes to complete the quest!

Quest Rewards:

Mysterious Key to an Unknown Vault ×1

]

"Wait... what?!" Xu Tao growled, before glaring at the giant centipede they were fighting. "So the reason we haven’t dealt any damage isn’t because it’s tough—it’s because it’s cheating?!"

He wasn’t entirely sure what a "bug" was, but from the name alone, he could guess its effects.

"At this rate, everyone’s just wasting their energy!"

Realizing the danger of the situation, Xu Tao quickly revised his plans.

He rummaged through his storage ring and pulled out a strange sword—or rather, a sword pommel. No blade was attached to it.

"The Heaven-Defying Sword, Error 404... So I just need to hold this?" he muttered to himself, recalling the quest instructions.

"But five minutes, huh... That’s long enough to cook noodles, eat it, and wash the bowl afterward!" He griped under his breath.

After holding the empty sword, he returned the Celestial Fan and chose a different item to equip instead. After all, the enemy was currently invulnerable. He didn’t need to hurt the monster—just stay stuck to it.

"This should do the trick."

What he took out next was a delicate-looking ribbon—an SSR item he’d acquired during the Diamond Bus Experience. Though it didn’t look like much, its extravagant description claimed it could "bind a demonic wolf until the end of time." That was enough to trust in its durability.

"Everyone!" Xu Tao shouted as soon as his preparations were done. "Stop attacking it! Just delay it for now! It’s invulnerable—attacks won’t work!"

"What?!"

Arthur was the first to grumble, gritting his teeth as he held off three of the four mandibles on the monster’s left side.

"Fuck! I knew something felt off—it’s literally enchanted to be unbeatable!"

Jehanne, blocking the other four mandibles on the right—plus the one Arthur missed—shouted over.

"Then how do we beat this monster, Sir Tao?!"

"I’ll disable its invulnerability, but you all need to hold it off for five minutes!"

Xu Tao wrapped the ribbon-like chain around his waist, his expression serious and focused.

"As for me, I’ll have to stay stuck to its body for that long!"

The monster, true to its name, was composed of nine long segments.

Each segment was semi-flexible despite the armor-like carapace, and each one was as long as a multi-story building. Dozens of sharp, slender legs lined either side of every segment. That left Xu Tao with only one safe spot: the gap between the head and the first segment.

Using Ground Shrink, he flashed to the monster’s back in an instant.

"WOAH!"

But given its massive size, even minor movements felt like being on a rollercoaster. If he wasn’t careful, he’d be flung off in seconds.

Without delay, Xu Tao whipped out the ribbon and looped it around the first right leg, then the first left leg. He repeated this process several times until the ribbon secured him firmly in place.

SCREEE!

The Nine-Segment Crimson Yang Centipede screeched in irritation. It could sense Xu Tao on its back and how the ribbon was impairing the movement of all 24 of its front legs. But, true to its "indestructible" description, the ribbon held fast.

"This Gleipnir thing is so magical! It can even extend at will!" Xu Tao exclaimed in awe.

Though he was bound tightly to the monster’s back, the ribbon was so gentle it was like silk against his skin. He couldn’t feel its tightness at all!

"Anyway, with this, I can...!"

After securing the ribbon, Xu Tao gripped his "main weapon" in reverse.

"Now, do your magic, Heaven-Defying Sword Error 404!" he shouted as he jammed the blade-less hilt like a USB stick into the carapace—right between the cracks.

The quest hadn’t specified this action, but he figured the sword—being key to the quest—should be touching the monster.

His instincts were correct!

A loading bar appeared on top of the hilt, slowly rising pixel by pixel.

SCREEEECH!

The centipede thrashed violently, as if in real pain.

"Ugh! Sir Tao, be careful!"

"What the hell is this thing—why’s it freaking out?!"

Arthur and Jehanne struggled to hold their ground. The centipede was pushing harder than before, slowly forcing them back.

"NO!"

A brave figure rushed forward, slamming his shield into the centipede’s underside—Achilles!

The shield bash somehow caused the boss monster to seize up briefly, giving Arthur and Jehanne a moment to recover and regain their positions. However, the centipede’s aggro shifted instantly—now focused solely on Achilles.

"Ugh!"

Dozens of legs slammed down toward him!

Everyone braced for a gruesome sight—but it never came.

TING!

Instead, the legs bounced off harmlessly, like striking an iron wall. Achilles didn’t have a scratch on him—though the sheer weight of the blows did bury him deeper into the sand.

"Hah! You’re not the only one impervious to damage!" he grinned, leaping out and bashing the centipede again.

Once more, the centipede was stunned—briefly. Then it attacked him again, and the cycle repeated. They were stuck in a loop!

"...That guy’s actually useful," Xu Tao muttered, observing the fight.

"His shield bash is a soft technique—causing internal damage that spreads through the body. With that carapace so hard, the impact travels straight to its brain, giving it a minor concussion."

Even without dealing actual damage, it was enough to buy time!

"Heh! I alone am enough to handle you!" Achilles boasted, grinning.

Still, his eyes occasionally darted toward someone behind him—Jehanne. Although puzzled by his glances, she remained focused—but was quietly impressed.

"I see... So targeting internal structures works better!" she exclaimed.

She ran to join Achilles, leaping onto the centipede’s back gracefully. She spun her spear and slammed its butt into the monster’s spine using all her strength.

DING!

The sound echoed like a bell. The strike, similar to Achilles’, stunned the monster just as she hoped!

"Unfortunately, I’m not skilled enough for that," Arthur muttered, watching. "I’ll stick to what I can do!" he declared, rushing forward to continue slashing at the mandibles.

"Ice Flower Seal!"

Even Wu Zetian joined in, switching to indirect binding techniques instead of sword formations. While she couldn’t use her full power, her contribution was enough to help form a three-pronged lockdown.

"Good...!" Xu Tao grinned.

The centipede was momentarily immobilized, not even allowed time to breathe.

"Let’s keep this pace up!" he shouted.

By now, the loading bar above the Heaven-Defying Sword was already 20% full. Everything was going according to plan.

SCREEEEEECH!

"...!"

Well, it was—until it wasn’t.

The centipede let out a furious cry.

Then its body burst into red flames—roasting Xu Tao alive.