kvmb Chapter 398 - 232: Setting the Rank
Chapter 398 - 232: Setting the Rank
"So this is the trial projection..." Su Chen observed it carefully. According to the voice he’d heard, his next task was to fight this thing.
The system’s explanation of the rules and instructions was extremely long. Since this was his first time being ranked, he couldn’t skip it and could only listen quietly.
It took more than ten minutes to finish completely.
’It has no specific strength of its own. All the techniques and power I display will be collected to establish a baseline. It will then serve as a training projection for others to challenge,’ Su Chen murmured to himself.
"Precautions explained. Detection complete. No traces of Potion use detected on the target. Combat commencing in 3, 2, 1..."
The instant the countdown ended, Su Chen’s eyes twitched. The training projection shot forward without warning, as if launched by an invisible catapult, its charge leaving a blurry afterimage.
It had already charged its right arm during the advance. A stream of dazzling white Energy spun violently, compressing the surrounding light as it shot straight for Su Chen’s face with a piercing shriek.
However, its speed wasn’t particularly fast. With a slight shift of his feet, Su Chen easily sidestepped the attack.
But he soon discovered that the projection’s speed had increased.
It pivoted in an instant and attacked again. Before the main strike even arrived, the leading edge of highly compressed Energy slammed forward like a solid wall, violently whipping the hair on Su Chen’s forehead back.
After Su Chen dodged again, its speed increased once more.
’Its speed will keep increasing until it reaches my upper limit...’
Su Chen pondered for a moment, then suddenly said, "Pause."
"Combat duration is less than one minute. Data will not be recorded..."
The training projection froze mid-motion.
Su Chen asked, "If I use an ability that has a continuous, lingering effect on an enemy, will that be recorded as well?"
He had to be sure, lest he have any lingering concerns.
"It will be recorded," the system replied. "However, an additional advisory will be issued after the battle."
"Understood. Let’s continue." Su Chen nodded, a plan already forming in his mind. His eyes flickered; he was better at explosive attacks, not drawn-out fights.
’It’s not often I get to go all out.’ Su Chen cracked his neck and dodged another of the training projection’s attacks. Crimson flames erupted across his skin as his `Life Burner` ability activated.
As power was wrung from his flesh and blood, `Tyrant` also took effect. His heart began to pound violently, and boiling power surged through his body.
`Holy Hand Enhancement`—`Might of the Law Master`! Instantly, a sharp light flared in Su Chen’s eyes. Immense `Spiritual Power` surged forth, faintly sketching a blurry face in the air. The face resembled Su Chen’s but was far more majestic.
It shot into the training projection, causing the projection to freeze for a moment as it seemingly analyzed the ability’s effects.
Su Chen had never tested this ability since awakening it. ’Whoever challenges me next is in for a real treat,’ he thought.
`Holy Hand Enhancement`—`Disaster Lord`! Without pausing, Su Chen drained his `Physical Strength` to convert it into `Spiritual Power`. The nutrients stored by `Gourmet` instantly replenished his reserves.
BOOM!
The black lightning around him suddenly turned violent, gushing from his every pore like a viscous, inky tide. It radiated a darkness that seemed to swallow the light. Behind him, a statue forged entirely from flowing black lightning faintly materialized.
It was profoundly dark, with only two narrow slits for eyes. It extended its slender arms, merging with Su Chen’s form.
BOOM!
The lightning surged and exploded outward. Su Chen’s pupils turned into pitch-black abysses as an aura spread out from him, faintly distorting the very light in his vicinity.
`Holy Hand Enhancement`—`Calamity Seal`! Su Chen slammed his palms together in front of his chest. Between his interlocked fingers, black lightning so thick it seemed solid was furiously compressed, faintly coalescing into black symbols.
A rapidly collapsing point of darkness formed between his palms, tearing at and sucking in the surrounding light, sound, and even the stability of space itself.
When the charge reached its peak, Su Chen’s figure abruptly vanished. Moving at an extreme speed, he reappeared behind the training projection as if he had transformed into a streak of black light.
He thrust his palms forward. There was no deafening explosion, only a low, drawn-out RIIIP, like a heavy curtain being forcibly torn apart.
A torrent of pure black `Energy`, condensed to its absolute limit and shaped like a massive spiral cone, erupted from his palms. It poured, completely and without reservation, into the training projection’s body.
Then, using the special ability of `Disaster Lord`, he detonated it!
BOOM!
A boundless storm of black lightning erupted from the training projection’s body!
...
Outside the room, Wei Zhenghong stood expressionlessly. Beside him, Steward Deng was drenched in a cold sweat, his peripheral vision catching the considerable crowd that had gathered behind them.
"Junior Master Wei, those people behind us... they have nothing to do with me! I’ve been standing right here the whole time, so I had no chance to notify any outsiders," Steward Deng explained cautiously.
"I know," Wei Zhenghong said flatly.
"Senior Brother Wei..." someone suddenly spoke from behind him. Without turning his head, Wei Zhenghong said coldly, "Meng Shiyu... you certainly get your news quickly."
"I just happened to be in the area. I heard our new Star Seed was here to get ranked, so I came over to take a look."
A slender man squeezed his way out of the crowd. He had high-set eyes and a sharp chin. Though he was smiling, it was enough to send a chill down one’s spine.
"This new Star Seed of ours is truly something else. I’d wager he can definitely take the top spot for Tier Four," Meng Shiyu said, his tone seemingly complimentary.
Wei Zhenghong, however, just sneered. "Su Chen came from a Desolate Planet. If he can take the number one spot in Tier Four the moment he arrives, what does that say about the youngsters in our Holy Hall? Should they just give up?"