Chapter 373: Toywar (Nineteen)
Chapter 373: Toywar (Nineteen)
When Si Yu declared, "Just like you, it's Soul Intent", Feng Bu Jue's mind erupted with questions. Though he and his teammates had shared nearly all information since entering the game, there were still secrets he'd kept to himself—like his encounter with Wooly in the Login Space, his interactions with several derivative beings, and the very concept of "Soul Intent" itself.
Yet Si Yu's words made it clear: not only did she know of Soul Intent, but she also knew Feng Bu Jue possessed it.
"I get it now", Feng Bu Jue mused after a few seconds. "She must have awakened her own Soul Intent earlier. She might not have known the name at first, but eventually discovered it was called 'Soul Intent.' Hmm... If I were in her shoes, I'd have done the same. When she found out I'd suddenly jumped to second place on the combat power leaderboard, she probably deduced my ranking surge came from Soul Intent's awakening. And our brief battle just now must’ve revealed my ability type differs from hers... Wait, does that mean she understands Soul Intent better than me? I'll have to ask her more once we're out of this scenario!"
These thoughts flashed through his mind in an instant. Now wasn't the time for deep reflection. Even if Si Yu held back, the bleed effect wouldn't wait. If he didn't activate Demon God Descent soon, Feng Bu Jue would soon vanish into white light.
"Then... I won't hold back." With that, Feng Bu Jue unleashed his title technique.
...
Darkness.
Endless, suffocating darkness.
Silent, still, colorless, odorless...
Here, low-dimensional beings would involuntarily question their own existence.
They'd lost all senses, left only with consciousness.
"What... is this?" Feng Bu Jue couldn't tell if he'd spoken the words aloud or merely thought them.
His five senses had vanished. Even his voice, though he could speak, was beyond his hearing.
"One moment I was lying on the Cargo Top... how did it become like this in an instant?" he pondered. "Is this some kind of hallucination? A game bug?" What unsettled him most was realizing he'd been in Non-Sleep Mode when this happened—yet he could no longer feel his physical body in the real world. Even the game menu had gone haywire...
"Could the mysterious shadow in my mind finally have gone critical?" Feng Bu Jue, ever a pessimist, began suspecting the worst—that he'd suffered a sudden death in the Gaming Pod.
"Another pitiful soul", a deep voice suddenly rumbled into his ears.
"Who's there? Yama? Satan? Hades? Anubis?" Feng Bu Jue fired off four names in one breath. Judging by the identities of those four, he had a fairly realistic view of where his soul might end up after death.
He'd long assumed that even if this universe had an underworld, he'd certainly never reach paradise.
"But you're... different", the voice ignored his questions, speaking instead. "I can't even sense your fear or helplessness... Why is that?" It paused.
"Ah~ Helplessness just isn't my style", Feng Bu Jue replied. As he spoke the second sentence, he suddenly realized his hearing had returned the moment the voice appeared. "As for fear... I'm afraid I can't deliver."
"Hmm..." The voice rumbled again. "Well then, insignificant ant, what brings you to my domain?"
"Er... Where exactly is 'here'?" Feng Bu Jue could only answer a question with a question—he genuinely had no clue how to respond.
"This is my prison", the voice replied.
"So... Who are you, exactly?" Feng Bu Jue asked with growing impatience. He clearly disliked repeating the same question twice.
"Who am I... Who am I..." The voice echoed the question, as if muttering to itself. "I... truly can't remember."
"You don't remember your own name, but you remember being trapped in a cage?" Feng Bu Jue quipped casually.
"Yes... I've been imprisoned for too long", the voice grew mournful. *"Though occasionally a lowly being stumbles here, if they remain in this space with me too long, these fragile existences are inevitably devoured and absorbed by me, unconsciously...
In the end, all that remains to keep me company is endless darkness and Gu Du..."*
"Hearing that speech... It's no wonder you're locked up", Feng Bu Jue said. "I'm curious, though—who imprisoned you? Some mighty immortal?"
"Who knows..." The voice replied. *"Long ago, I remembered that name clearly. Even after forgetting my own name, I never forgot my enemy's. I thought... even the ice of a hundred thousand winters couldn't cool my anger. Only tasting vengeance would quench my fury.
But... I did forget. I forgot their face, their name, even why I was imprisoned here."*
Feng Bu Jue grew increasingly annoyed. "Alright, Mr. No Answers, seems like you've got nothing useful to tell me."
"You should leave", the voice urged, its tone heavy with meaning. "Remaining here, you'll soon be devoured."
"Yeah, I've no intention of overstaying my welcome", Feng Bu Jue said. "But right now, I can't even feel my own body. How am I supposed to..."
"You came here on your own", the voice interrupted. "If you can recall why you came, you can return."
"That's the thing~ I don't know how I..." Feng Bu Jue's words halted mid-sentence as a sudden buzz filled his mind. "Right! I used a skill, and then..." He quickly spoke again. "Hey, Nameless Prisoner Mr. Whoever-you-are... Does the phrase 'Demonic Transformation' ring any bells?"
"Demonic Transformation..." The voice fell silent for several seconds. "Ha... Haha... Hahahahaha!" A chilling, ear-splitting laughter followed.
"Hmm... That reaction probably means he knows something", Feng Bu Jue thought.
"I understand your purpose now", the voice finally sobered. "You seek Demonic Transformation... Easily done."
In the darkness, the sound of a massive creature's deep breathing suddenly erupted.
The next moment, an unprecedented agony engulfed Feng Bu Jue's consciousness. It felt like the deepest fires of hell were scorching his very soul.
This sensation clearly exceeded the game's normal limits. Under ordinary circumstances, a person would have long fainted from such pain.
Yet Feng Bu Jue remained fully conscious, feeling every excruciating, bone-deep torment.
...
Time seemed to freeze, yet stretch into eternity.
Who knew how long passed before light returned to Feng Bu Jue's vision. The coolness of water splashing over him felt like rebirth.
The previous ordeal had felt both real and illusory, impossible to distinguish. Only the soul-searing pain remained etched in his memory.
Now, Feng Bu Jue found himself still atop the Shelving, but his entire body was enveloped in a swirling black battle aura. Like living flames, the dark energy surged around him. Even an expert like Si Yu couldn't close in under this invisible pressure.
"So this is... Demonic Transformation..." Feng Bu Jue muttered to himself.
"His eyes have changed..." Si Yu thought. "Is he finally getting serious?"
"Hmph... They named it 'Ghost God Power'—fitting indeed", Feng Bu Jue smirked, his lips curling with a sinister gleam.
"This transformation only lasts three minutes", Si Yu advised, "I suggest saving your amazement for later."
"Don't worry", Feng Bu Jue cut in. "Three minutes is more than enough."
As Si Yu heard the word "enough", she understood Feng Bu Jue's intent. Without another word, she pushed off the ground, blade flashing as she charged.
The Sealed Sainthood's blade slashed diagonally—seemingly slow, almost graceful—but unleashing crumbling power.
The swordlight flashed, severing a line.
For players, the colossal Shelving had been like a cliffside. Now, a portion the size of a mountain landslide broke away, slowly descending before crashing downward.
Yet Feng Bu Jue, leaping mid-air to evade the strike, remained calm as he murmured, "Mm, not bad."
(End of Chapter)
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