https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-166-The-Protagonist-Strikes-Back-XI-/13547068/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-168-The-Protagonist-s-Advance-Thirteen-/13547070/
Chapter 167: The Advancing Protagonist (Twelve)
Chapter 167: The Advancing Protagonist (Twelve)
Time slightly rewound. At the Realm of the Dead’s Endless Mirage desert…
A vague black shadow and a crimson human figure moved at blinding speed, locked in a fierce, intense, and perilous duel. Every clash brimmed with deadly danger, every step carried heart-stopping tension.
Bang! Another collision of power.
K3’s figure staggered backward, retreating several paces. For the first time, his expression turned grave. His right arm erupted in scarlet radiance. In an instant, the desert air seemed to roar like a dragon, and a red energy wave shaped like a colossal dragon surged forth.
Wayiru, floating in the air as a misty form, solidified his shape mid-air. His purple face paled with horror. Crossed hands summoned Death’s energy to envelop his body like a shield, bracing to withstand this horrifying strike.
They had fought for a long time. As the intensity and speed of the battle escalated, and techniques grew more advanced, K3’s advantage became increasingly clear. Wayiru, however, was gradually losing ground. This strike was the one K3 believed would decide the outcome.
The Scarlet Dragon Fist Flame charged forward with the force of devouring heaven and earth. Wayiru’s defense was like a withered tree in a gale, liable to be uprooted at any moment.
“You’ve fought well enough to deserve praise,” K3 said coldly. Though the attack hadn’t yet landed, he had already withdrawn his killing intent. In his eyes, the battle was over. “But… this is the limit of your skills.”
Wayiru left no final words, nor did he offer K3 any surprise. Unable to withstand that devastating blow, his body exploded into a scattering of black mist, which then fell like dust, becoming part of the bone desert.
K3 flicked his hand dismissively, then suddenly spoke to the empty mirage ahead, “You’ve been hiding and watching for so long; even out of politeness, you should come out and say hello by now.”
In the sky, a twisted black space slowly shifted, like a veil lifting. A giant skeletal face appeared, its mouth emitting a dry, rasping voice: “If you insist…,” it replied, finishing K3’s sentence.
Seeing the face, K3 confirmed the identity, “So it’s the leader. No wonder you arrived so quickly.”
Under the Lord of the Nether Abyss’s command were nine subordinates second only to the Four Pillars Gods, known as the “Deadly Spirits Nine Terrors.” The skeleton before K3 was their leader—Soulstealer.
“Hmph… Watching a fellow undead perish, and you feel nothing?” K3 smirked, asking.
“He was never my kind. You know that,” Soulstealer retorted. “You and I… are more like kin.”
K3 replied, “True enough. After all, we’re both unique data entities.” He snorted, gesturing at Wayiru’s black dust on the ground, “This disrespectful fool killed one of my Level-4 kin.”
“I regret that,” Soulstealer said. “But Wayiru did nothing wrong. From his perspective, he merely fulfilled his duty.” He sighed. “Each of us has our own mission and lifespan. Wayiru was fleeting as a spark. My master and I are candles destined to burn out. But you…” He paused. “You’re a higher existence. With enough strength, you could enter the Inner World. Data in that realm… can achieve indefinite longevity.”
“The Inner World isn’t eternal peace,” K3 countered.
“Compared to data that always sees its fate’s end, it’s already better,” Soulstealer said. “For us, indefinite is the most precious. ‘Life’ is about uncertainty. But the precision and harmony of mathematics—the rigid ‘answers’ it brings—are our unavoidable sorrow. And the tragedy is… we weren’t even coded with the emotion of ‘sorrow.’”
“I think that’s not bad,” K3 said. “Precisely because of that, you can view past and future events like this so calmly, accepting everything that has happened and will happen.”
“Hmph… Perhaps,” Soulstealer didn’t continue. “You need to return to the other side now… Let me open a spatial tunnel for you.”
K3 nodded. “Then… thank you, Leader.”
Meanwhile, Feng Bu Jue’s group reached the shrine atop the mountain in under ten minutes. Without illusions affecting them, they simply climbed the mountain normally, moving swiftly. With their six characters’ abilities, chasing a bus for three or five stops would be effortless. Ascending a moderately steep mountain in ten minutes was trivial.
As the saying goes, no coincidence, no story. Just as they passed the shrine’s torii gate, a crimson light suddenly erupted from the Resentment Well’s depths. An indescribably oppressive aura, heavy as a storm, rippled outward from the well.
Including GM, everyone’s feet seemed rooted, unable to move forward. This wasn’t an effect of skills or anything explainable by physical laws.
This sensory-transcending experience was unprecedented in any game. The six humans, immersed in this nerve-connected virtual reality, felt… murderous intent.
K3-Cheiron leaped from the well, landing on its edge. Overlooking the group’s varied expressions, his right arm was in full-body state. From shoulder to wrist, a red dragon tattoo coiled around his arm, faintly glowing. His aura carried a subtle crimson hue.
“Hmm?” Seeing their numbers, K3 muttered in slight confusion, “The Player hasn’t been teleported yet…”
“You should’ve waited until our main quest updated before acting,” Feng Bu Jue, the calmest among them, replied coolly.
“I see,” K3 said. “But… since it’s come to this, it doesn’t matter anymore.” He lightly jumped down. “Heh… Though I’m restricted here, you guys… are still pathetically weak.” He glanced at his right arm. “Thanks to Wayiru, I’ve warmed up quite thoroughly.”
Galileo suddenly tensed. “Four of you… the situation changed. You’ll need to help us…” He realized too late—they faced a Level-3 Derivative Being.
“Since you said that, I have a Perfect Calibration plan.” Feng Bu Jue suddenly grinned confidently. Before anyone reacted, he planted his feet apart, clenched both fists overhead, and roared: “One Piece! I’ll be the Pirate King!”
[Protagonist’s Grace has been transferred]
[Current player possessing Protagonist’s Grace: Mad Bu Jue]
As the system prompt sounded, Feng Bu Jue added, “You can leave now. I’ll face him alone.”
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
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