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Chapter 288: Mantlescramble Battle (23)
Chapter 288 Mantlescramble Battle (23)
Within ten seconds, Shiva was caught by the light beam. In an instant, his entire body was encased in ice. The ice block was of moderate size, resembling a coffin that completely sealed Shiva from head to toe.
But this didn’t mean Feng Bu Jue had won…
The seven Stone Discs of the Celestial Dance Hourglass split into two groups. Three remained by Feng Bu Jue’s side, while four flew back to Shiva’s location.
The nine beams of light from the three Stone Discs converged at the same angle, striking the barrel of the Frozen Pulse Rifle. The rifle’s muzzle was forced aside, interrupting Feng Bu Jue’s pulse output.
Meanwhile, the twelve beams from the other four Stone Discs precisely targeted the ice binding Shiva’s limbs, shattering parts of the frozen restraints.
For Shiva, regaining mobility in his limbs was enough to escape. He shattered the remaining ice with a few swift movements, fled the area, and vanished into a nearby alley.
“You’re a lot like me, Mad Bu Jue,” Shiva called from behind a corner. “You can see through an opponent’s moves instantly and know exactly what combat strategy will secure victory.”
“Coming from the player ranked second in combat ability, that’s quite a compliment,” Feng Bu Jue replied, advancing slowly. His heavy cold blood armor made his steps sluggish and thunderous.
“Flattery aside, you should feel fear, not just pride,” Shiva retorted. As he spoke, the seven Stone Discs swiftly flew into his hiding spot, temporarily disappearing from Feng Bu Jue’s sight.
“Fear? Ha… Why?” Feng Bu Jue chuckled.
“Hard to grasp?” Shiva said. “Let me clarify.” He paused. “Possessing innate talent rivaling top-tier experts isn’t a blessing… because…” He darted out from the corner, a massive floating Celestial Dance Hourglass beside him. “The same domineering path cannot tolerate two overlords.”
In an instant, the hourglass blazed with blue light, unleashing a surge of overwhelming force.
Feng Bu Jue recognized this as a deadly move and braced himself. However, his heavy armor restricted movement, and both hands were occupied holding his weapon, leaving no way to deploy his death poker for defense.
He decided to endure the blow.
At least physically, the cold blood armor’s defense surpassed any shield. Unless Shiva used non-physical attacks, Feng Bu Jue had a 70-80% chance of surviving.
But Shiva opted for a mental assault.
He had already analyzed the cold blood armor’s defenses and feared Feng Bu Jue’s bombs. Given these dual concerns, a direct attack would be reckless.
Thus, he activated the “Water” special effect of the Celestial Dance Hourglass: Purge Sin. Ignoring physical defenses, it inflicted a wave of mental erosion on a target, applying the “Purge Sin” status for thirty seconds. Based on the target’s Terror Value reaction, a percentage of vitality value would drain every second (minimum 1%). After use, the Water Stone Disc would shatter, requiring return to Login Space for restoration.
From a player’s perspective, Shiva couldn’t confirm the bombs’ authenticity but was certain the claim—“bombs explode if the user loses consciousness”—was a lie.
If a player lost consciousness, they’d vanish as white light, and any carried items (like bombs) would exit the scenario. If bombs couldn’t leave the scenario, as non-plot-related Consumption Items, they’d reset to an “unactivated” state for others to collect, never detonating.
This rule prevented players from maliciously setting traps before exiting scenarios, disrupting future gameplay.
Shiva, well-versed in these mechanics, redirected his ultimate move—originally reserved for Seven Kill—toward Feng Bu Jue.
If this mental attack succeeded (which he deemed highly likely), he’d seize the frozen armor and rifle, and possibly the devastating Thermobaric Bomb. Sacrificing Purge Sin would be worth it.
“This move’s pretty sharp…” Feng Bu Jue muttered, his tone odd.
At that moment, Feng Bu Jue’s vision blurred with bizarre, horrifying illusions. His ears filled with ghostly wails and spine-chilling noises.
While Purge Sin resembled Scarecrow’s fear gas, their mechanisms differed. Scarecrow exploited internal fear, whereas Purge Sin induced direct “horror” through external physiological stimuli.
For example, the sound of nails scraping glass triggers goosebumps due to high-frequency vibrations stimulating the eardrums, prompting the brain’s reaction.
In Neural-Linked Games, even stimuli beyond conventional senses could be simulated and transmitted…
Ordinarily, anyone hit by this move would experience a physiological instinctive reaction, raising their Terror Value. Under Purge Sin, most victims became helpless. Thirty seconds wasn’t even necessary—maintaining 50% Terror Value for ten seconds would drain all vitality.
“Hmph… It’s over.” Shiva sneered confidently, watching Feng Bu Jue freeze in place. He eagerly opened the game menu, anticipating Feng Bu Jue’s status update to “Deceased.”
But he waited… thirty seconds.
After half a minute, Feng Bu Jue stood unharmed, remarking, “That’s it?”
“Huh… Huh huh huh!” Inside Shiva’s mind, a thousand horses of “what the hell” galloped backward. “He survived? Impossible! Even Blood Vials wouldn’t save someone hit by this…”
“Hmph… I thought this move was special, but it only drained 30% vitality in thirty seconds, huh!” Feng Bu Jue scoffed. “The sensory interference was decent, but with my armor and no follow-up ambush, it’s useless.”
Hearing this, Shiva’s own Terror Value spiked. This guy’s joking, right? No one’s ever survived Purge Sin! You only lost 30% vitality—Theoretical Minimum? Are you even human?!
“Apologies… From the scenario’s start until now, I underestimated you. I never expected such a person existed…” Shiva’s gaze sharpened, unprecedentedly serious. “Mad Bu Jue, facing an opponent of your caliber, I must adopt a new attitude.”
“Oh? What—” Feng Bu Jue’s words died as his expression shifted. His pupils constricted sharply.
In that instant, Shiva transformed into a virtual blur, charging forward explosively with a grim expression: “An attitude of taking you down with me.”
(End of Chapter)
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