Chapter 284: A Man's Fight

Chapter 284: A Man's Fight

In the exotic realm, a surge of ferocious energy continued to expand, transforming what was once a spacious villa into a dimension capable of accommodating a small city.

It was an exaggeration, but Lu Ke was not satisfied.

"Is this the limit?"

He furrowed his brows, a hint of disappointment in his eyes. With his mastery of alchemy and spatial manipulation techniques from other worlds, this was the best he could achieve.

If he wanted to create a larger exotic realm without being limited to Norton Hall, he could do so by expanding his territory in the real world. He could even create a dimension larger than Earth itself by engulfing the entire planet.

However, this would be a massive undertaking, and it wasn't what he truly desired.

On this free day of trial, aside from having fun, Lu Ke had a practical goal—to experiment with creating a space of his own.

Lu Ke aimed to craft an independent dimension that didn't rely on the real world, a space exclusively his, inviolable and untouchable.

In simpler terms, he sought to create a 'God's Domain,' a realm that belonged solely to a deity.

For instance, the Root Between in the Jujutsu Kaisen world, the Dimensional Space in the Marvel universe, the Divine Residence and Hell in the Jackie Chan Adventures world, and more.

To avoid any mishaps, Lu Ke didn't openly announce his intentions. Instead, he used the alchemical domain he constructed as a cover, providing a pretext for his experiment.

Domains were incompatible with each other, so once Lu Ke's alchemical domain was complete, Flamel would be unable to sense anything within it. Meanwhile, Flamel's domain shielded the outside world from prying eyes. If something tried to peer inside, it would first have to breach Flamel's domain, giving Lu Ke advance warning.

It was a precaution, to say the least.

Although Lu Ke felt he might be the strongest in this world, as Accelerator had said, being the strongest didn't equate to invincibility.

Even the most powerful could stumble if caught off guard during a critical task. As long as one wasn't invincible, being cautious and vigilant was never a mistake.

Backstabbing was strictly forbidden; he couldn't afford to have his heart ripped out like Uchiha Madara.

The Pureblood Dragon Clan was a typical glass cannon. The First Generation's bodies were nearly impervious to conventional weapons, but their vulnerability to incantations that could destroy cities and influence nations was a glaring weakness.

Their incantations could manipulate the elements in the air, unleashing power a thousand times greater than their physical strength.

The incomplete Four Great Monarchs were unlikely to harm him, except perhaps for the extremely rare case of a fully-powered monarch of 'Strength' in their prime. However, if they consumed their siblings, the complete Four Great Monarchs could breach his defenses.

As for Black King Nigghard, he was a confirmed world-ending threat, capable of killing Lu Ke. Although the author, Jiangnan, had not provided detailed information about his state, it was a threat that couldn't be ignored.

There was a reason this task fell to Lu Ke.

In the Jujutsu Kaisen world, Lu Ke had learned over five thousand curses, and his path to godhood was about halfway complete. He hadn't yet mastered the Root Between, and the Dimensional Space in the Marvel world was too dangerous; unless one's power far surpassed that of the Dimensional Devil, entering it was a death wish.

In the Jackie Chan Adventures world, Lu Ke had the capability to consume the Divine Residence and Hell, but currently, he refrained from doing so out of respect for the World Child, Xiao Yu. Any further attempts would undoubtedly lead to a life-or-death struggle.

In the Naruto world, Lu Ke had considered the worlds of the Otsutsuki Clan as potential God's Domains, but with Kaguya Otsutsuki's seal still in place for some time and her susceptibility to the gravity world, they didn't meet the criteria.

After much deliberation, Lu Ke concluded that the current world, with its existing extradimensional space, Nibelheim, was the most suitable for his experiment in creating a God's Domain.

Lu Ke wasn't entirely opposed to this idea; after all, it was just an experiment. If he failed, the other Lu Kes wouldn't blame him.

Moreover, he couldn't just be a bystander in the lives of the other Lu Kes!

Embarrassingly, almost every Lu Ke from other worlds had contributed unique abilities from their respective worlds. Some, like the Lu Ke from the Jackie Chan Adventures world, obtained a golden finger and then shared the powers of their world with the others.

The only exception was the Lu Ke from the Dragon Clan world, who was an ordinary person without the Dragon Clan's bloodline or incantations. His recent foray into alchemy was essentially a free ride.

When the Jujutsu Kaisen Lu Ke converted the abilities of the other Lu Kes, his contribution was so weak that it took a world supplement to create a curse that barely improved his bed skills. The Jujutsu Kaisen Lu Ke had even complained that the curse was useless and only took up a slot.

Lu Ke could only imagine the psychological shadow this had cast on the Dragon Clan Lu Ke. In response, he hastily organized a pool party and orchestrated a classic 'Hundred Regiment Battle, Top War' to salvage his reputation.

"It's time to rise up and show them that I'm not just a bystander!"

Lu Ke clenched his fist, brimming with ambition. "I'll need a few Nibelheims as references."

The Dragon Bone Cross of the First Generation was also a valuable resource worth consuming. It was the energy source that sustained the Nibelheims and the foundation of the Dragon Kings, and consuming it would greatly benefit the Storm Dragon.

Lu Ke stretched lazily, feeling somewhat content despite the less-than-ideal experiment. It had at least provided a direction for his future actions.

He returned to the surface of the world and snapped his fingers.

With a creak, the doors of Norton Hall slowly opened, and a deep chill enveloped the area.

Despite the daytime, the interior of the hall was engulfed in impenetrable darkness, like a gaping abyss swallowing even the light, sending shivers down one's spine.

Students who had been lying in wait throughout the school immediately sensed this change through their eyes or surveillance and raised their vigilance.

The atmosphere became tense, and even the air seemed to freeze.

The opening of the doors signaled the start of the competition!

In previous years, Free Day was a battle royale, with the last survivor claiming victory. This year was different.

The Lu Corporation's patriarch had promised a reward far more substantial than usual, and with the Student Council and the Lionheart Society, two colossal student groups, already involved, the main event became the race to enter Norton Hall.

Chu Zihan stood atop a small building near Norton Hall, gazing into the distance, while Susie, beside him, focused her attention on their surroundings and spoke calmly.

"I know you're eager, but hold your horses. The rules this year may seem different on the surface, but they're essentially the same."

Susie pointed to an inconspicuous protrusion near Norton Hall, where a figure with little presence was slowly and subtly crawling towards the hall, blending with the ground.

This was an expert in disguise from the school, not affiliated with the Lionheart Society or the Student Council, but a lone mercenary.

As a minor figure without sufficient strength or background, he believed this was his turning point in fate. Getting into Norton Hall would change his life, so he had hidden near the hall in disguise, waiting for his chance to seize the initiative.

He was getting closer, so close! The master of disguise was excited, feeling the dawn of victory was at hand.

Bang—

A gunshot rang out, and a Frigg bullet from an unknown source hit beside him, startling him.

The difference between a hit and a miss with firearms could be millimeters, and not every hybrid was a skilled marksman.

Just as he breathed a sigh of relief, his body stiffened the next moment.

Bang—

A second bullet hit him, and the Frigg bullet exploded into a patch of crimson on his body. The anesthetic took effect, and he felt his whole body going numb; he was out.

But the situation didn't end with his elimination. From the first gunshot, the situation became uncontrollable. "Bang bang" gunshots rang out continuously from countless directions, as if they had planned it, with sparks flying and a relentless torrent of bullets flooding the area where the master of disguise was hiding!

"Damn it..."

The master of disguise closed his eyes in frustration, and the last thing he saw was an alchemical grenade rolling towards him.

The war had begun.

Susie, who had witnessed the entire scene, remained calm.

"Except for the 'Dormitory' members, anyone who dares to advance towards Norton Hall will become a target. Once we reduce the number of people to three, we'll naturally achieve victory."

"At least we know the Student Council's equipment has indeed been significantly upgraded."

Chu Zihan remained composed. He took out his walkie-talkie, "Begin the operation."

The well-prepared Lionheart Society members started hunting within their designated areas. The previous gunfight had exposed the sniper's position, and most of them were likely from the Student Council. They would undoubtedly change their position, but this would take time, and the fearless lions had already taken up positions in various corners, following the Lion King's orders.

Each member of the Lionheart Society was exceptional and proud. Charging individually towards a common direction was the most effective approach for them.

Caesar could unite the Student Council members to achieve a synergy effect, but the Lionheart Society didn't need that. They were already sharp blades capable of piercing the enemy's defenses when spread out!

Caesar listened to the screams coming from the walkie-talkie and calmly issued commands.

"Teams one, two, and three, tighten your formation, back-to-back to prevent surprise attacks. Stay away from grassy areas, corners, and other places with cover suitable for ambushes. Teams four, five, and six, take the high ground and use thermal imaging to scan. Our members have been marked, so identify suspicious individuals and shoot from the high ground."

Both sides engaged in a fierce battle, with the Lionheart Society members being super-soldiers, each worth two of the enemy. The Student Council had the advantage in numbers, equipment, and Caesar's leadership.

The two sides were evenly matched, with the Student Council slightly ahead. Money ability wasn't useless; it had its impact, and the sound of splashing water could be heard.

For a moment, the campus was filled with gunpowder smoke, and cold gunshots, grenade explosions, and the clashing of blades echoed throughout the academy.

Amidst the chaos, students' screams filled the air, followed by silence, indicating another elimination.

A chilling aura filled the air, and Caesar, who was commanding the operation, paused his observation of the situation and focused his gaze forward.

Chu Zihan's figure slowly materialized, holding the "Murasame," his Golden Eye never extinguishing, filled with cold intent. The two locked eyes, their gazes filled with destiny.

"The Student Council is a different beast with you, Caesar. Eliminating you will cause them to disband."

"So, you're here for a decapitation strike? It's a good idea, but have you considered that a leaderless lion pack might also lose its direction?"

Caesar retorted without backing down. He picked up the walkie-talkie.

"Attention everyone, maintaining the status quo will lead us to victory. The following actions are up to your judgment! You've transcended the lion; show your courage and let me see your strength!"

He hung up the walkie-talkie with a flourish and drew Dick Treadwell from his waist, the hunting knife and the demon blade facing each other.

The sky grew darker, and layers of clouds pressed down, instilling a sense of awe for nature's boundless power.

Crack—

A lightning bolt tore through the sky, followed by a dull thunderclap.

As if triggered by a signal flare, Caesar and Chu Zihan's bodies simultaneously pushed off the ground, moving too fast for the naked eye to discern. The two monsters with dragon blood wielded their weapons.

The blades clashed, sparking a dazzling shower of sparks!

...

"Go, Caesar, considering your 50-50 attribute, I'm rooting for you."

Lu Ke poured himself a glass of Macallan, and images of various areas of the school appeared before him.

Suddenly, his heart stirred, and he slid his finger to the right, replacing the image of Caesar and Chu Zihan's duel with a group of four at the school gate.

It was Professor Guderian, who had just arrived, Zero, Fingal, and his newly acquired subordinate, Lu Mingze.

Lu Ke glanced at the skinny boy who looked tired from the long journey, then turned his attention to the boy in a suit behind him, ignored by everyone.

He smiled slightly and raised his glass to the boy.

"Welcome to Cassel, Lu Mingze."

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end