Chapter 498: The Ink Monster
Chapter 498: The Ink Monster
Chen Chuan observed his opponent's approach, and through his combat and the field's reaction, he could sense that the man's specialty was likely grappling techniques.
However, due to the high coverage of the aberrant organization, he had also incorporated other vital force techniques.
The opponent's aggressive fighting style indicated his intention to take down everyone, including himself, before the training class officially started.
Having discerned the man's purpose, Chen Chuan did not retreat; instead, he moved forward as if granting the opponent's wish. He raised his hand to block the opponent's outstretched hand, and in an instant, Yu Lie swiftly grabbed his arm, simultaneously channeling a grappling vital force that penetrated his body.
The grappling vital force could control the aberrant organization and interrupt the blood flow and muscle activity. Even if someone had a stronger overall vital force, they would still find it difficult to resist the grappling force. Therefore, Yu Lie was initially confident, but this time, after his vital force penetrated, he realized it had no effect.
Chen Chuan's eyes narrowed, "Iron Body Technique?"
Only the Iron Body Technique could withstand his locking grip, indicating that Yu Lie remained calm in this situation.
Although the Iron Body Technique was challenging to defeat, the human body's structure provided numerous exploitable areas, such as vulnerable spots and joints, where Yu Lie's grappling techniques could still be effective.
What truly surprised Chen Chuan was that his mental power had no effect on his opponent.
He could tell that Chen Chuan had embarked on a similar path, but judging by the spirit in his eyes, it seemed he had not been at it for long. Considering Chen Chuan's younger age, his mental power should have been even more profound.
However, Chen Chuan overlooked one crucial aspect: only a sufficiently strong body could nurture a sufficiently strong spirit. Chen Chuan had always emphasized foundational improvement, cultivating an abundant mental power. With his fixed mental frequency and tempering method, even without using his second self, he would not be shaken by such a simple mental impact.
As Yu Lie prepared to change his technique, Chen Chuan acted as if unaffected, suddenly closing the distance and grabbing Yu Lie's other arm with his free hand, simultaneously channeling his own grappling vital force.
Yu Lie was well-versed in grappling techniques, and he was surprised that Chen Chuan could also employ them. However, knowing how to use them meant he also knew how to defend against and escape them. Moreover, Yu Lie believed Chen Chuan's actions were unwise.
If Yu Lie had maintained the Iron Body Technique, it would have been manageable, but now Chen Chuan had entered his domain, forcing Yu Lie to grin menacingly as he shifted his aberrant organization to neutralize the grappling force. Simultaneously, he wrenched his arms outward, intending to counter-grab Chen Chuan.
Chen Chuan loosened his grip and moved his hand upward, then swiftly placed it on Yu Lie's shoulder, instantly transforming his technique into a throwing force.
This sudden change caught Yu Lie off guard, as defending against a grappling force and a throwing force were entirely different matters. He hurriedly adjusted his aberrant organization.
But it was too late; Chen Chuan's other hand grabbed Yu Lie's waist, and as their vital forces connected, Yu Lie's entire body stiffened. With a slight lift, Chen Chuan effortlessly lifted him off the ground.
After a moment in the air, Chen Chuan forcefully slammed Yu Lie downward!
A loud crash reverberated, and even the specially designed floor and reinforced boards shook, sending ripples across the ground.
As Yu Lie was unable to gather his aberrant organization for resistance, the impact shattered most of his bones. His limbs twisted as he lay on the ground, his face pressed tightly against the floor. The teeth and jawbone that had previously healed were now shattered again.
Although he did not lose consciousness, he was unable to move, and his appearance was terrible.
Chen Chuan looked at him and said, "Major Yu, you can go back and rest for a few days."
Only three minutes had passed since the fight began, and there were still seven to eight minutes before the official start of the training class.
Despite the intense battle, no one intervened.
Everyone was in the training ground, and those at the back must have been aware of the situation. However, no one came to stop them.
This was a training class, not a military exercise, and outside of training hours, Chen Bitong was not responsible for their actions or personal safety.
Footsteps approached, and Fang Zhixin entered the room. He glanced at the gruesome scene on the ground and shook his head, then notified someone using the interdimensional connector.
Soon after, medical personnel swiftly arrived and carried the injured men away.
Chen Chuan spoke, "Assistant Fang, you must have known that this would happen today, right?"
Fang Zhixin sighed, "Yu Lie is always causing trouble wherever he goes, but he has some background. When his application came, Councillor Pei did not refuse, so I couldn't stop him from coming."
Although Fang Zhixin said this, he knew that Yu Lie had likely come because he noticed the National Temporary Special Action Committee's interest in Chen Chuan. He was glad to see this situation.
Regarding Yu Lie's fight with Chen Chuan, to be honest, once Yu Lie started causing trouble, it was difficult to stop him. Moreover, Fang Zhixin did not believe Yu Lie posed a threat to Chen Chuan and even hoped that Yu Lie, this troublemaker, would suffer some setbacks.
Indeed, Yu Lie was no match for Chen Chuan.
This outcome is the best.
As he was speaking, Chen Bitong entered the room, not mentioning the previous incident at all. Instead, he directly instructed Fang Zhixin to fill the remaining spots. With people waiting outside every day to fill in, it only took a moment for someone to step up.
Noticing the time was almost up, Chen Bitong said to Chen Chuan, "Let's begin."
Chen Chuan nodded.
The surrounding scene began to change; the training hall faded away, and once again, they found themselves in the simulated Convergence Zone.
Over the past few days, Chen Bitong had been teaching them how to deal with various creatures in the Convergence Zone, the most troublesome of which was a plant-animal hybrid called the Devil Vine Root.
These creatures could lie dormant beneath the soil, invisible most of the time. However, once they launched an attack, they would emerge in large numbers from underground, making escape nearly impossible.
In such situations, one must quickly identify the most powerful ones within the Field Domain and eliminate them to have any chance of escape.
But these creatures weren't stationary; even the Field Domain's fluctuations could be strong or weak, requiring constant vigilance and mental focus to detect them while evading.
This was a significant test of both his mental and physical strength. The first time, he lasted for two hours straight, and even when the mimicry environment ended, he couldn't completely clear them all.
After returning, he repeatedly pondered countermeasures, and it took him two days to truly escape from their encirclement swiftly and accurately. He felt that through this training, his ability to discern the enemy's intentions had improved significantly.
The battle with Yu Lie was a testament to this, as he anticipated the opponent's every move, never allowing Yu Lie to fully exert his strength.
This enhancement came from facing various formidable enemies, each with their unique challenges. While the Wu Yi Academy focused on refining one's foundation, the training class aimed to develop his practical combat skills and experience.
However, he wondered who his opponent would be today.
As he was thinking, a flash of light suddenly appeared around him, and the previously intact surroundings seemed to shatter and become chaotic.
His gaze sharpened; he had seen this before—during his encounter with the Fusion Zone and the entity on the other side.
"We guard the World Ring, primarily to prevent infiltration from the other side," Chen Bitong explained. "When their power seeps through, reality and illusion blur.
At such times, you must be cautious. Often, without realizing it, those with insufficient mental fortitude and unfocused spirits will be influenced by the other side.
The most common and troublesome among them is a being called the Ink Monarch, or as you might call it, the Ink Monster.
This entity lacks a physical body but can infiltrate human consciousness through mental gaps.
Unlike Activation, it possesses sufficient consciousness to lurk within a person's mind, subtly altering their thoughts and using them unknowingly.
However, it's challenging for ordinary people to distinguish them. For instance, you believe that the person talking to you now is me... or the Ink Monarch?"
The first half of the sentence came from Chen Bitong's mouth, while the second half echoed from behind.
Chen Chuan turned to see another Chen Bitong standing there.
"As you can see, our strength is identical, and our external appearances and even our usual speaking habits are the same..." said one Chen Bitong.
"Even the closest people can't tell us apart," added the other Chen Bitong. "How do you think you should differentiate us?"
Chen Chuan considered the question. If it weren't for the mimicry environment, it would be simple; the entity's appearance would immediately trigger virtualization symptoms, allowing him to identify it instantly.
However, he also needed to consider the possibility of being in an environment where infiltration was omnipresent. Relying solely on his second self might not be enough to accurately locate the true source, so he would need to use other methods for verification.
He pondered for a moment and said, "I think, in that case, we might start with the Activation Index. As you mentioned, Teacher Chen, mental reliance cannot fully harmonize with the body in a short time, which will inevitably cause problems."
Chen Bitong nodded. "You've hit the nail on the head. The Ink Monarch's Activation Index always hovers between thirty and forty, and this can indeed help identify the issue.
But we can't solely rely on this method because, ultimately, it's just a tool. You can't be certain that what you see is definitely problem-free. If you don't notice it at first and it harmonizes completely later, it becomes even more challenging to find flaws."
"So, I need you to remember that when you suspect a teammate has a problem, there's a simple solution..."
He spoke in a calm tone, "You explain the situation to your teammate and then decisively take action against them. If they're compromised, don't hold back; your priority is to ensure your safety."
"But..." Chen Chuan looked up at him, "...how can I prove to my teammates that I'm also uncompromised?"
...
...
(End of Chapter)
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