Chapter 289: Mantlescramble Battle (24)
Chapter 289: Mantlescramble Battle (24)
By this point in the battle, Shiva’s words proved he had finally acknowledged Feng Bu Jue’s “strength.”
Though this opponent didn’t rank in the top twenty of the Combat Power Leaderboard—and might struggle to crack the top thirty—he clearly possessed the capability to rival even those in the top ten.
By skillfully utilizing the scenario’s environment and rules to devise tactics and execute them effectively, Feng Bu Jue had turned the tide of battle in his favor. This was not only normal but highly intelligent. As long as he hadn’t cheated by exploiting external conditions, there was nothing to criticize. After all, strategy itself was part of one’s strength.
A true strong one should have the magnanimity to recognize an opponent’s strengths. Clinging to excuses for self-comfort would never change the outcome. Only by sticking to one’s own path and defeating the enemy could one be called a true expert.
As The Gods’ top character and one of the Classgame Realm’s strongest players, Shiva naturally possessed the resolve and temperament of a strong one. His earlier mental attack had been his ace in the hole. When it failed, he abandoned any hope of victory without detonating the bomb.
Now, Shiva acknowledged the【Mad Bu Jue】’s strength. He believed it no shame to perish alongside an opponent of this caliber. Thus, he stopped dwelling on whether the Thermobaric Bomb strapped to Feng Bu Jue was real or fake and launched a full-force attack, aiming to annihilate him physically.
Feng Bu Jue, however, sensed danger. Analyzing his opponent’s eyes, words, and actions, he deduced a single chilling message: “Even if the bomb explodes, I’ll kill you first.”
This was the worst-case scenario for Feng Bu Jue—because his bomb was real.
As the “weakest” participant in this kill game mode, Feng Bu Jue’s advantage lay in the fact that these major characters had no desire to die alongside him. After Zhao Ying Wang and Wu Si Can Xuan’s defeat, the remaining players’ chances of ultimate victory had undoubtedly risen. They should have become even more cautious with their lives. Yet Feng Bu Jue never expected the second-ranked combatant to actually go all-out.
“Listen… don’t be reckless,” Feng Bu Jue pleaded, only to realize his feet had already begun lifting off the ground.
The heavy Cold Blood Armor, the Frozen Pulse Rifle weighing dozens of jin, and Feng Bu Jue himself—all floated upward.
Shiva interrupted him with a cold laugh: “It doesn’t matter. I think… with your strength, you won’t need long to become as famous as me.”
Feng Bu Jue’s heart sank further. This meant Shiva wasn’t bluffing.
【Name: Weightless Touch】
【Special Ability Type: Active】
【Consumption: 20% of maximum stamina value】
【Effect: Makes a targeted “whole” lose weight and float (cooldown 1 hour, duration 1 minute, target volume must be under 20 cubic meters, cannot target self)】
【Background: If you’re skilled in martial arts games, you’ll understand—infinite floating means infinite combos.】
This skill was granted by Shiva’s title, “Field Control Master.” He had earned this title through his calm, composed, and effortless mastery.
In team modes, a teammate like Shiva was an anchor, a stabilizing force. Players of his caliber provided psychological support to their team that no data could quantify. Even if he did nothing, his mere presence nearby would reassure his allies.
For example, imagine two youth football teams. One’s bench features Ferguson, the other’s features Carmargo. When the game turns tense or unexpected goals occur, it’s obvious which side would panic.
“There’s no choice then…” Feng Bu Jue strained mid-air, adjusting his body’s angle. After five or six seconds, he finally aimed the Frozen Pulse Rifle downward.
Before he could fire—well, technically “fire ice”—Shiva had already shifted position.
Still, Feng Bu Jue pulled the trigger, unleashing the pulse rifle’s beam. After all, it was an area attack. As long as he aimed roughly in the right direction, slight deviations wouldn’t matter.
“Hmph… such an attack is too hasty,” Shiva said, now experienced enough to dodge. He leapt far away.
But Feng Bu Jue’s intent went deeper. As the pulse beam propelled him, Feng Bu Jue rocketed upward, propelled by the recoil.
“Oh? So that’s your trick… heh… not a second to spare,” Shiva chuckled, pulling out a rocket launcher from his satchel.
Feng Bu Jue soared to nearly a hundred meters high. He clearly saw Shiva raising an Rpg (Rocket Propelled Grenade) to aim at him, but in zero gravity, dodging was nearly impossible.
“This is bad… if the anti-tank weapon hits directly, even the Cold Blood Armor won’t hold,” Feng Bu Jue thought. “Once the external defense breaks, the flames and explosion will trigger the Thermobaric Bomb even if I survive.”
“Farewell…” Shiva locked onto the target from a position far outside the Frozen Pulse’s direct line of fire and launched the rocket.
To briefly explain the Rpg’s mechanics: upon firing, the propellant ignites, launching the rocket at 117 meters per second. After 0.1 seconds and about 11 meters of flight, the rocket engine activates, deploying stabilizing fins and initiating spin. It accelerates to 294 meters per second until impact.
Compared to this, Feng Bu Jue’s movement speed was negligible. Trapped in heavy armor with no foothold in zero gravity, adjusting the pulse rifle’s angle was extremely difficult. Intercepting the rocket mid-air with the Frozen Pulse was impossible.
As the outcome seemed decided, an unexpected twist occurred.
A Batman Batarang sliced through the air, striking the rocket precisely as it left the launcher but before reaching peak speed. The impact triggered an explosion.
Feng Bu Jue emerged unscathed, but the blast shockwave drained significant vitality from Shiva himself.
“You…” Shiva’s fury surged as he glared toward the Batarang’s origin.
Jason Todd had already repositioned multiple times. Now standing atop a building to Shiva’s flank, his voice rumbled again: “Fool! If his Thermobaric Bomb detonates mid-air, a third of Gotham will be destroyed—and we’ll die too.”
“Trying to stop me…” Shiva silently activated his【Celestial Dance Hourglass】components, sending them flying toward Jason Todd. “Then die first!”
In an instant, six Stone Discs unleashed beams from all angles at Jason Todd’s position.
A blur of motion arrived—dual swords danced, their red and blue flames carving dazzling arcs mid-air, dispersing every beam from the Stone Discs.
“Tch… meddling fools,” Jason Todd spat.
Death Angel stood beside him, sarcastically adding: “You’re welcome.”
Meanwhile, two swift whistles signaled two projectiles hurtling toward Shiva.
Shiva reacted instantly, backflipping rapidly to narrowly evade. Glancing back, he saw two “net rounds” had just missed him, striking the street’s buildings.
Screeching brakes followed. The legendary Batman Vehicle emerged from the net rounds’ direction, executing a sharp turn to halt twenty meters from Shiva.
This vehicle was undeniably cool, its design embodying “Understated Elegance, Subdued Ferocity.” As it emerged from the darkness, its presence and momentum radiated power.
The cockpit split open, and Damian An Young Master (the fifth Robin, Bruce Wayne and Talia al Ghul’s legitimate son) and Squire (a knight’s squire, the Mantlescramble Battle-era Squire, secretly the heroine Hutchinson) leapt out.
“Otherworld Visitor, surrender immediately,” Damian ordered.
Shiva sneered, loading another rocket into his launcher.
“We’ve already captured one of your accomplices,” Squire said, opening the Batman Vehicle’s rear compartment.
A beautiful woman sat in the backseat, but Shiva didn’t recognize her.
Yet he quickly deduced her identity: this girl with an Eastern face and odd attire was undoubtedly a player. Who else but【caibupainenotafraid】?
“Hahahah!” Shiva roared with laughter.
Fearless Girl’s expression shifted instantly. Understanding his intent, she shouted: “Quick, let me out—”
Swoosh—Boom!
The rocket launcher fired, sending the Batman Vehicle skyward in flames.
Damian and Squire rolled away, escaping the explosion in disarray. But Fearless Girl wasn’t so lucky. Bound and strapped to her seat, her words cut off mid-cry, she was instantly sent back to Login Space.
As the saying goes: A True Man never looks back at an explosion. Thus, Shiva turned toward Feng Bu Jue’s position the moment the rocket left the launcher.
“I’ve told you countless times,” Shiva declared, finally entering a bloodthirsty frenzy. “I’m not with them.”
At this moment, the【Weightless Touch】effect expired. Feng Bu Jue plummeted earthward.
Shiva reloaded, aimed, and fired in one fluid motion. Before the heroes could recover from his earlier carnage, another rocket soared skyward.
The tail left a white smoke trail, carving a narrow arc under the moonlight. In the eyes of all present, it struck the Cold Blood Armor…
(End of Chapter)
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