novelraw Chapter 35 : Holographic Competition
Chapter 35 : Holographic Competition
Chen Sui flinched at the blade light that appeared from the side, leaning back to avoid the incoming blade.
A low, hoarse male voice advised with some disapproval:
"Hey, classmate, understand first-come-first-served? This energy body belongs to us Xitisi."
Chen Sui, irritated by a lightning flash that sparked aggression throughout her body, felt even more annoyed hearing his fussy intervention.
Not yet stopping her evasive backward motion, she took advantage of the posture, using her mecha's foot to kick the black mecha squarely in the chest.
Lu Hang Jiu felt an immense force in his chest, like a boulder hammering down, sending his mecha back a step in midair.
This space was enough for Chen Sui to sidestep him, her foot leveraging the force to lunge forward violently.
She swept her long spear, its sharp tip carrying green energy, cutting through the lightning net. Lightning points attached to her mecha.
Chi Buyu on the ground reacted a beat late, but still quickly arranged a blockade. Unexpectedly, Chen Sui fearlessly dove straight into the lightning net.
He opened his mouth in surprise: "Ah, this..."
The lightning exploded with a boom. Loose parts at the mecha's joint connections popped out from the electric shock, flying like bullets. Lightning followed the spiritual connection, and Chen Sui felt a trembling and numbness in her blood.
But she still firmly gripped her spear, seemingly unaffected, stabbing fiercely into the winged person's black shell.
"ROAR!!"
The winged person screamed in pain, its wings frantically flapping behind it, the surrounding wind transforming into countless wind blades, shooting indiscriminately in all directions.
Chen Sui's mecha was cut open by the wind blades. She slammed the spear shaft forcefully, sending the winged person flying more than three meters away.
Its wings beat against the ground, its skeleton-like body struggling. Blood flowed continuously from its black shell, and with the blood flow, the large hole in its chest visibly healed.
The winged person opened its lizard-like head, exposing its fangs, opening its mouth wide to howl, the slime creating sticky lines between its teeth, appearing extremely unpleasant.
With its roar, wild winds swept across the ground. The winged person's wings fluttered, lifting its entire body into the air.
Lu Hang Jiu, watching this scene from midair, still clutching his chest, instinctively warned: "It's going to run!"
Chi Buyu also hurriedly waved, instantly spreading a layer of lightning in midair. "Hey, hey, don't let it escape, it's worth several points."
Chen Sui, closest to the winged person, coldly observed the scene. She lowered her eyes to look at the mecha's joint that had lost parts and the outer shell cut open by wind blades. She gripped her spear.
Then she tilted her head slightly, clearly saying:
"Run?"
"Do you think you can escape?"
She asked softly.
As her words fell, the giant tree image appeared again. Countless vines extended, forming a huge shadow in midair, intertwining and weaving.
The winged person, carried by the wind, flapped its wings. Vines extended left and right, rushing toward it, entwining around the bases of its wings, restraining its movement.
Wind blades continuously cut around the vines, yet each blade left only a shallow white mark on the vines' surface.
As the winged person struggled violently, a loud whistling explosion sounded from behind.
The sharp spear tip tore through space and wind.
The cold tip rested at the connection point of the winged person's wings, and in less than a millisecond, with tremendous force, it thrust forward violently.
"Tear------"
The sound of flesh tearing was almost inaudible amid the chaotic environment.
But in midair, as the long spear entered the winged person's body, the vines released their coils.
Just as observers of this scene thought the vines were retreating.
The already-retracted vines suddenly paused, then violently thrust forward.
"Squelch..."
The sharp plant stems penetrated the winged person's body.
In just a blink, countless branches grew along the winged person's flesh.
Tearing through bone and flesh, piercing the outer shell.
When the long spear, carrying a gray energy crystal, emerged from the other side of the winged person's body.
The vines growing in the flesh extended outward, rapidly retracting.
"Rip------"
The winged person's body was torn apart by the retracting vines.
A fountain of blood spurted out like an exploding firework. Crimson blood sprayed onto the ground, and fragments of flesh slowly drifted down.
Chen Sui calmly removed the energy crystal from the tip, stepped onto the retracting vines, and propelled her mecha back to the ground.
The school team had arrived, gathering behind her.
Lu Hang Jiu, splattered with fresh blood in midair, was stunned for a moment before landing in front of his teammates.
Chi Buyu smelled the heavy blood stench on him as the winged person's energy dissipated, its flesh and blood slowly merging into the energy field.
When the blood stains on Lu Hang Jiu disappeared, Chi Buyu slowly approached him. "F*ck, she's even better at acting cool than you."
Lu Hang Jiu gave him a sidelong glance, his eyes warning.
Light footsteps approached from behind the two, who instinctively stepped aside to reveal their Commander.
Chen Sui looked at the familiar four-person formation across from her, her gaze stopping on the central analyst.
She sensed a faint fluctuation—the opposing analyst's energy perception.
The two teams looked at each other.
Corpses continually regenerated around them.
Above the church, circling ravens continued their harsh cries. Waves of energy storms swept like dust, beating against the mechas.
The low growls of the winged species drew closer from the distance.
"Commander Xie, long time no see."
The light mecha at the front of the Xitisi team said.
Xie Chunshi lightly raised his eyes, the shadows of his black lashes falling carelessly on his eyelids. He nodded softly: "What a coincidence."
Xitisi Team Leader Song Yuan.
Related information surfaced in Chen Sui's mind.
A member of the Song family, spiritual body water attribute [Black Tortoise].
Song Yuan glanced at the energy crystal in Chen Sui's hand without lingering, immediately looking toward the church: "The energy monitoring equipment is inside. From now on, may the best team win."
Her words were meant for her teammates.
Chi Buyu nervously rubbed the back of his neck, hearing the approaching sounds, hurriedly stating: "I hear it, there are energy bodies. This time I definitely won't delay, I'll resolve it immediately, absolutely won't be..."
He swallowed the words "intercepted," then cautiously glanced at Chen Sui.
Xie Chunshi nodded, looking at the spreading corpses. His palm turned downward, blue energy pouring like a waterfall, smashing violently on the ground and spreading outward, freezing the crawling corpses.
"That's the plan."
The Commanders reached an initial agreement.
Zhu Jing Fu and Xitisi moved toward their original directions.
Seeing everyone leave, Song Yuan hurriedly said: "Little Nine, clear the path. Chi Buyu, bring up the rear. Jing Yao------"
The combat unit brought the analyst forward, his massive figure appearing before the Commander, then slightly bowing to hear her orders.
Song Yuan paused: "Take the analyst with you. We'll open the church door and enter immediately."
As she spoke, her mecha's hand held a cross clasp.
It was the key to the church door, snatched by Chi Buyu from the winged person that had just died.
"The church door's defense is enough to hold back Zhu Jing Fu. Seize the time. After getting the equipment, we'll provide support outside."
Song Yuan's eyes signaled the combat unit and analyst, giving instructions in a low voice.
Jing Yao and He Chigui nodded.
The analyst was picked up like a chick. He obediently remained still as the combat unit, with outputs clearing the path, rushed toward the church. He Chigui, under the mecha's palm, carefully released energy sensing waves.
Jing Yao was blocked by a high-level corpse. After the analyst reported its position, he resolved it efficiently but still felt annoyed:
"Why is this energy crystal so hard to find," he said, recalling the green mecha's movements. "How did that wood system handle it so easily?"
He Chigui, being carried and careful not to hinder the combat unit's movements, remained perfectly still. Hearing this, he spoke, his voice weak, somewhat timid: "She-she seems to be an analyst, not an output..."
It was normal for an analyst to capture energy crystal positions and end battles quickly.
Jing Yao's massive frame paused, his fierce broken eyebrow raising: "An analyst?"
His deep voice complained quietly: "Zhu Jing Fu actually lets analysts charge at the front—are they crazy?"
Speaking, he lifted the analyst in his hand, belittling: "Little Gui, our Xitisi treatment is better, right? We definitely protect you well."
With that, he lunged forward, his light blade quickly slicing through the corpses. Several intersecting light lines flashed briefly in the dusky light, then divided the corpses rushing forward.
He Chigui, being carried along, replied unsteadily through the jerking motion:
"Ah, it is good, but, Brother Jing Yao... I-I get a bit motion sick from mecha flying..."
He Chigui's voice was too soft, completely inaudible in the environment. Jing Yao cleared the path with one hand, and under Lu Hang Jiu's shadowy traversals, quickly arrived at the bottom of the church stairs.
The Zhu Jing Fu team was on the other side. Chen Sui's perception probed the Xitisi energy fluctuations.
"Their output is dark attribute, high agility, enhanced with a rare attribute that can briefly create an illusion of space displacement and teleportation."
Hearing the analyst's description, Xie Chunshi nodded slightly. "Lu Hang Jiu's spiritual body is modeled after Black Shadow from the SSS-level energy field [White Day Paradise], an SSS-level energy body named Light's Creed."
"So chuuni," Zhou Chen commented upon hearing this. "Suits him well."
Xie Chunshi offered no comment, watching as Xitisi approached the church, then arranging the school team: "Xitisi has the key to the church door. Once they open it, the combat unit will take the analyst inside. Be quick. Zhou Chen, hold off the energy bodies. Qinxue and I will delay the other Xitisi members to buy time for our analyst."
Chen Sui uttered an "Ah," "The church door has a key?"
She kicked away a corpse lunging forward, its body flying out and knocking down a mass of energy bodies behind it.
She then looked at the main door, her mecha clenching its fist. "I thought we'd have to blast it open."
Xie Chunshi looked from a distance at the hollow imprint in the center of the church door, which appeared ant-sized in his view.
"If we can't follow Xitisi inside, then we'll blast it open."
Xie Chunshi said: "The church prevents corpses from entering. After blasting it open, corpses will regenerate inside. The church interior is the winged people's domain. Be careful once inside. After getting the equipment, we retreat."
Chen Sui quickly processed the information in her mind, turned to exchange glances with the combat unit, and from the corner of her eye, watched as Xitisi's combat unit and analyst climbed the stairs. She flexed her long spear, entering battle mode:
"Xitisi is about to enter."
Xie Chunshi coldly commanded: "Move."
The school team split into three routes, with Puluo and Chen Sui charging up the stairs side by side.
Seeing this, the other three Xitisi members handling energy bodies from a distance reacted. Chi Buyu landed beside the Commander: "They're charging so fast, do they also have a key?"
Inside the black mecha, Song Yuan swept her determined gaze over the front. Her teeth unconsciously clenched, her jawline tightened, her entire being in a tense state.
"They want to take advantage."
"Ah? Those bastards," he watched the school team climb the stairs. "I'll go help."
Song Yuan had just acknowledged when he leaped up.
A huge long-tailed cat condensed under the moonlight. Three long tails swung wildly in midair, lightning making the cat's fur stand on end, electric sparks flickering within.
Jing Yao brought He Chigui up the stairs. Outside the main door, countless corpses piled up. Among the layers of rotting flesh, hollow eyes were revealed, black eyeballs looking toward them. Black bodies like liquid crawled darkly on the ground.
A corpse above opened a large mouth, spewing balls of black gas like cannonballs.
Jing Yao dodged the projectiles, calling out: "Little Lu!"
Inside the black mecha, a young man with slicked-back hair and aggressive features looked up, revealing fierce eyes.
"Roger," his hoarse voice sounded, then he placed both hands on his chest, making a strange gesture.
"Light's Creed!"
Lu Hang Jiu recited the skill gently but forcefully.
With his summons, a huge black shadow gathered under the moonlight. Shadows of countless energy bodies converged toward him, the black shadow covering Jing Yao and the analyst, forming an invisible barrier around them.
The projectiles spewed by the corpses crashed against the shadow with a boom, then were swallowed by the pulsating barrier, disappearing into the shadow. The huge shadow suddenly erupted with golden light from inside the barrier surrounding Jing Yao and the analyst.
The golden wheel, like a sharp blade, cut through the church's marble floor, sweeping toward the corpses.
Golden light scorched the black flames, blasting open a path through the corpse pile.
Following the golden wheel, he moved with the barrier around him, placing the cross in the hollow imprint at the center of the church door.
A barely audible click, and the church door revealed a gap.
Dazzling light poured out.
Corpses touching the light screamed, burning into wisps of black smoke.
Seeing this, Chen Sui pushed forward violently, aimed her charged cannon at the corpse group ahead. A blue light beam shot out, forming a pillar of light. The shell exploded in the corpse group, and Chen Sui manipulated the trajectory to cut through surrounding corpses.
Puluo's shield opened in front of her, protecting Chen Sui as they plunged into the swirling black smoke.
Gu Qinxue and Xie Chunshi joined the battle a second later. Lu Hang Jiu, having just finished his ultimate skill, was caught between ice and fire energies from both sides, his mecha quickly dodging the fire dragon and ice spikes in the air.
Chi Buyu accumulated lightning, the three tails of his long-tailed cat swaying as lightning split the sky.
Zhou Chen broke free from the energy bodies. With a sharp eagle cry, lightning as thick as an arm fell, colliding with Chi Buyu's lightning in midair.
The dual lightning clash created a brilliant light, with electric sparks flowing along the lightning, cascading down from the sky like a grand firework waterfall.
"Eh?"
The same-attribute energy made Chi Buyu pause. Seeing the square baton chopping down at him, he complained loudly: "Zhou Chen?"
"It's been so long, and you're still fighting without honor!"
Zhou Chen snorted, his black arrow eagle swirling and soaring, lightning ferocious like snakes.
Amid the chaotic battle, Jing Yao pushed open the church door, entering first. He extended an arm backward, pushed the analyst inside, then raised his mecha's knee to close the door.
A long spear like a swimming dragon thrust through.
The sound of metal scraping the iron door was piercingly harsh.
Jing Yao pulled He Chigui aside, his hand grabbing the spear shaft, resisting the tremendous force from the other side.
"F*ck, were you raised on beef? What makes you so strong?"
His palm felt like it was being torn apart. The intense pain made the fierce-looking strong man's face twitch. He couldn't help cursing.
He Chigui, pushed into the church, saw this and flashed a green light around him. Straw-like stalks crept along the spear shaft, winding outward.
Chen Sui felt her spear being intercepted. Just as she was about to apply force to pry open the door, a plant like a weed crawled up the long spear.
Her vision paused for a second.
In that brief second, energy released from the stalk, like shackles and fetters, firmly restraining her movement.
Chen Sui's eyes dispersed for a second. Puluo sensed her motion halt and instinctively looked over: "Chen Sui?"
Feeling his opponent's force ease, Jing Yao looked at He Chigui releasing energy. "Well done!"
He hurriedly praised.
A burst of green light exploded from Chen Sui, cutting like blades through the invisible restraints. A wave of green energy followed the stalk up the spear, grinding it inch by inch to powder.
Jing Yao seized the moment, released the spear, and kicked it out from inside the door with his mecha's foot.
Then, with the analyst's mecha, both fully entered the church. With a twist of his leg, he slammed the church door shut.
"Bang!"
The church door closed. Chen Sui, forced back by the kick, stabilized with Puluo's support. The green energy severed the external energy connection.
Recovering clarity from the unusual fluctuation, she looked at the tightly closed door in front of her.
"Manipulation?"
Rare attribute-Manipulation, able to briefly confuse energy bodies and spiritual bodies, making awakened individuals lose consciousness briefly through resonance, becoming puppets.
"Are you all right?"
Puluo looked at her with concern.
Chen Sui shook her head. The unusual spiritual fluctuation made her increase her vigilance. Green light from her spiritual body covered the mecha's surface, with Wood-Born Flower's small figure crouching on Chen Sui's shoulder.
Behind them, corpses regathered, their howls and growls unceasing.
Chen Sui raised her cannon: "I'll handle the energy bodies, you blast the door."
Puluo nodded, switching positions with her, one in front and one behind. Chen Sui fired her cannon in a storm of firepower with one hand while wielding her spear like a dragon with the other, swiftly moving through the corpse group.
On the other side, He Chigui and Jing Yao entered the church.
The sound of thunderous cannon fire came from outside.
He Chigui glanced at the door, then surveyed the church interior.
The church was extremely spacious. Prayer benches were covered with black slime, and the building was full of slime and eggs. The putrid smell was somewhat uncomfortable.
He Chigui closed his eyes briefly. Energy particles around him gathered then dispersed.
Strange black murals hung on all four sides. On the walls, candles flickered with light.
Directly ahead, a huge black statue depicted a lizard-like, two-winged, snake-headed monster.
The monster's arms embraced a piece of white metal.
He Chigui and Jing Yao exchanged a glance, both somewhat speechless.
Whose taste was it to place the energy monitoring equipment in the arms of an evil god?
They walked toward the statue, so quiet that only their footsteps and breathing could be heard. The continuous gunfire outside made the atmosphere less eerie.
Just as He Chigui climbed the steps, a heavy breath suddenly sounded beside him.
Before he could look over, his instinct for danger overcame rationality.
A ball of green light gathered in his hand. He Chigui felt the wind rush past his face, quickly raised his hand, and a wooden wall rose beside him.
Then he turned his head and retreated.
Jing Yao watched as a winged person suddenly appeared from the darkness, looking remarkably similar to the sculpture. Its lizard head opened to reveal a mouthful of fangs, slime hanging from them, quite nauseating.
"Little Gui!"
Jing Yao pulled him behind, throwing out a wind ball. The wild wind swept the path ahead, only to be batted away as it approached the energy body.
The energy body roared at them.
Behind Jing Yao, the phantom of a white tiger appeared. Strange red patterns covered the tiger's head. Its massive form crushed the church's seats, then it raised its paw, elegantly licking its fur.
"Meow..."
The white tiger called out weakly.
Whirling winds gathered, rampaging through the church with extreme destructive power.
The winged person spread its wings, opened its huge mouth to emit a piercing sound wave, then with fury burning in its vertical pupils, quickly leaped toward Jing Yao.
Jing Yao led it away from He Chigui, moving toward the door.
He Chigui seized the opportunity, extending several branches from his hand, wrapping them around the statue, then quickly pulling himself toward it.
Just as he approached the statue, a pair of pitch-black eyes opened behind the giant sculpture. A golden light shot out from behind the statue, thrusting toward He Chigui.
"Squelch..."
A scarecrow figure blocked in front of He Chigui. Another winged person spread its wings, flapping once and flying out.
The scarecrow's hand pulled out the metal knife embedded in its chest. The dried grass extended, grinding the metal knife into particles.
The winged person flapped its wings, raising metal spikes from the church floor, piercing through in a line toward He Chigui.
"Huff," He Chigui panted heavily from the enormous physical exertion as he ran. His gaze flickered several times. The sounds of fighting outside and Jing Yao's difficult struggle with the winged person all reached his ears.
After a brief hesitation, he turned to look at the monitoring equipment in the statue.
He must quickly take the equipment away!
He Chigui made his decision. The scarecrow extended countless yellow straw branches, searching for the winged person's position. The winged person flapped its wings, but straw roots had woven a large net above the church, and he moved beneath it.
"Puppet!"