Zen In Scary Dream grabbed his sword, moving as fast as the wind with wicked and sly strikes. His power also inclined to the max.
Feng Bujue had turned into a plume of smoke; his blood shadow glided while his cards were continuously flashing. This intensity of his attack was completely above Zen In Scary Dream.
Both of them understood that facing the Derivative, even if they had put forth their best, they would not be sure about their victory. If it were going that way, saving force for later would have no meaning.
The two silhouettes were striking continuously. Even though K3 was in a two-against-one situation, his defense was flawless, not falling into the disadvantaged situation yet. Talking about potential, he was twice stronger than the combination of the two players; speaking about skills, he got the cutting-edge kung-fu; discussing fighting spirit, every battle he had been engaged was a bet with his life.
The fight between the three of them had formed a subtle balance. Although the two players were attacking K3 with dense and powerful strikes, they couldn't defeat the other. If it kept going like that, minutes later, Feng Bujue would lose his current power, and the balance would be broken. However, they didn't have that kind of extra strength to make a leading strike.
"You're a bit slow." In the middle of perfect striking and defending, K3 suddenly spoke up with contented tone. "Not strong enough, either." His right arm abruptly created an air shield that halted Zen In Scary Dream's oncoming gust of sword backward.
Zen In Scary Dream felt his hand tingling, and the shock wave had spread over his arm, making him drop his sword.
"You're so-so," K3 talked to Feng Bujue, "but your fighting experience and skill are just a mess…" He swayed forward, using a simple but unexpected move to break into Feng Bujue's unguarded right side then nudged Feng Bujue in the ribs.
Fortunately, he had the Echo Armor, which still protected him while he was using Body-Spirit Congregation Technique. This nudge had pushed Feng Bujue backward more than ten steps, but it cost him only 10% of Survival Value.
Of course, this 10% meant the time he could maintain the Body-Spirit Congregated Technique was reduced by 25 seconds…
"If you can't perform more than this, our battle will end here," said K3. "I still have four more to solve."
"Oh, turns out it's your weakness…" Feng Bujue sneered all of a sudden. His eyes became sharp, as cold as ice.
"What are you talking about?" K3 looked calm, but he was vaguely anxious.
Zen In Scary Dream had picked up his sword. His left hand grabbed his right wrist to stabilize his shaking arm. Of course, he didn't give up. Even if his strike failed, he wouldn't admit his lost just yet.
"Even the Derivatives can't have an unlimited physical strength," Feng Bujue said while pulling himself together, dashing forward. "Your air shield also needs Physical Value to maintain. I've recognized it… When the consumption has reached a certain point, you will launch a stronger attack." The Death Poker cards in his hands continuously flung out without any series or hand just attempted to hit more points.
"It's the best if you can kill the enemy. But if you can't, you will have time to recover when the enemy has to back off because of your strong attacks." Feng Bujue took out more than ten cards, approaching K3. "Your Physical Value recovery speed decides your attacks. The stronger your strike is, the nearer you are to be defeated. When you strike out the formidable assault, it means you have no way back."
Here, I'd like to explain a bit. K3's Air Shield is a passive defending skill. When encounter strong attacks (of course, using the folding stool to bang his back isn't a strong attack), it will be automatically activated and dissolve the attack power completely. The feature which is better than the Echo Amor is that it does not only protect the trunk but the entire body. Moreover, even if the enemy is attacking in a very close distance, it will still be triggered regularly.
Besides, this Air Shield also can be launched proactively. K3 had used it many times as the partial exploding, total exploding or just to enhance his far-range attack, etc.
Anyway, such powerful and useful skill like this would consume much. When K3's Physical Value was declined under 30%, the defending effect of the Air Shield would be lifted. Apparently, it would put K3 in danger. Thus, his fighting style was to use the attack to defend, and before his Physical Value touched the alarming line, he had to try overturning the situation.
Whenever his Physical Value had been consumed more than half, he would launch a tremendous strike. Just like Feng Bujue had assumed, even if it couldn't hurt the opponent badly, it would still push the other backward. Next, when his opponent was still gasping for his breath, K3 had seized the chance to recover. The forthright recovery speeds of the Derivative's Survival Value and Physical Value weren't something players could compare. They were born as data, and the worlds in the scenarios were formed by data. To them, recovering their blood and physical strength was like someone cultivating to be a deity absorbed the aura of earth and firmament. Their recovery speed was at least ten times faster than the players'.
Feng Bujue recalled the time he'd met X-23, also a Level 3 Derivative. When facing Pan Feng and Hua Xiong, she hadn't shown any special advantages, as she just won the fight by constant attacks. But this man standing in front of him here was so strong he was in defiance of the natural order. He had the feeling that even GMs would get killed instantly.
However, eventually, Feng Bujue understood his tricks… Those were just false appearance. K3's fighting style had a certain deceptive degree which made people think that he could infinitely increase the power of his attacks.
"Your method always works for sure." There was nothing blocked Feng Bujue's Death Poker cards darting from everywhere now, and they all hit K3. However, the Air Shield still worked. "You use 'Air' as an effective weapon… Most of the people, when facing someone who's getting stronger after each strike, gradually, they will have an oppressing feeling. This feeling will become their self-suspicion and fear towards you." When Feng Bujue was talking, the card flashed, cutting the other's throat.
Zen In Scary Dream lifted his head, aimed his sword at the middle of K3's back, silently stabbed forward.
BANG.
The same sound echoed. His sword was bent as the tip couldn't pierce through the shield. Zen In Scary Dream had put all of his strength to this attack. Although his Survival Value hadn't been damaged significantly, during this time, he had been draining his Physical Value catching up with Feng Bujue's rhythm.
And, K3 had caught Feng Bujue's wrist, which was holding the cards so he couldn't finish his attack.
"Your idea isn't wrong and your tactics are also correct," K3's face darkened. "Too bad you are not capable of carrying it out." He used force to break Feng Bujue's arm and tore it off directly. They could even see the bones at the cut of his arm; it was bleeding badly.
The pain was realistically simulated but the system had softened it somehow. If it were 100% real, Feng Bujue would faint in pain.
"If those two GMs could fight with me using your theory, if they were lucky, they would have had a chance to win," said K3 coldly. "Of course, I doubt if they could survive my murderous skills." He threw Feng Bujue's arm away. "And you guys…" He kicked Zen In Scary Dream at his shoulder. The latter panicked, spit out blood and was blown backward dozens of meters before banging onto a big tree. "I told you, he isn't fast and strong enough." He looked at Feng Bujue, "And you… Basically, you don't know how to fight. You gain less than what you've invested."
The scarlet light burst out from K3's right arm again like the dark cloud blocking the sun, towering the blood-like area around Feng Bujue.
Feng Bujue's Survival Value rapidly plunged down to 1% due to his wounded arm and the bleeding effect. It almost reached the bottom. His Body-Spirit Congregated Technique could be maintained for a few seconds. Whether or not this skill was still sufficient, Feng Bujue couldn't dodge K3's next strike.
"You're not worth receiving my strongest attack." From his move, K3 was about to use the Scarlet Dragon Fiery Fist again. "I haven't used this trike previously. I think it's more than enough dealing with you." He was totally correct. If Feng Bujue hadn't used that despicable tripping skill, the battle would have ended soon.
In this short moment, many thoughts were running through Feng Bujue's head. Should I say something to shift the Protagonist's Halo…It sucks if my equipment got broken again…Should I log out now… It's enough, I've lost already. Although I know I can't beat him, I've tried my best. Even so, I don't have half a chance to win…really unwilling a bit…
The dragon roar echoed. A red light flashed. The dragon-shaped flow of energy dashed forward, aiming at Feng Bujue's chest.
Feng Bujue's first reaction was, isn't it going to break my Echo Amor…I haven't worn it for the whole scenario yet…
BOOM…
That power hit on an invisible field of energy. But it wasn't the protecting wall of the Echo Amor, it was…
[Your spiritual weapon's data has been updated.]
[Your SCP-500 has been consumed. The remaining reserves are 19/20.]
"What?" As Feng Bujue was listening to the system's notification, he saw the wall in front of him more clearly. It was a gold shadow of a giant poker card as big as a door, blocking K3's attack.
[Death Poker] had three special effects, particularly:
[Special Effect #1: Infinite (one card will be generated at each five minutes. This only stops when fifty-four cars are fully created).]
[Special Effect #2: Combination (attacking opponents by combining the same kinds or suits will enhance the power of the attack).]
[Special Effect #3: Efficacious seek (spiritual weapon will always come to the target the user wanted to attack).]
At this moment, the Special Effect #4 appeared timely. Moreover, it was activated.
[Special Effect #4: 'Card' Shield (consume 10 random cards to create an unbreakable shield).]
This was hard to explain whether the new Special Effect appeared due to Feng Bujue getting more familiar with his spiritual weapon or the Protagonist's Halo had created it. It's really hard to say… Coincidently, many of the Death Poker cards had been consumed and he had just lost another ten cards, which meant he had only one card left.
What made Feng Bujue more suspicious was, why was his SCP-500 got consumed? Although it was a panacea, it couldn't recover Survival Value.
"How could it be…" K3 was also surprised.
Feng Bujue followed the other's eyes, cocked his head to look at his hand, which was being recovered with a speed that naked eye could observe. Flesh, tendons, bones, vessel, and skin… all were regenerated strangely as the data forming light running around his wound. The broken arm was recovered within more than ten seconds. Anyway, his sleeve didn't reappear.
It seemed the SCP-500 was forced to be consumed to cure this arm.
"Why are you not dead yet!" It was unknown why K3 suddenly couldn't hold his anger. He didn't care about his draining Physical Value as he launched another attack. His palm clapped together as ten of his fingers intertwined, moving and blasting out thick meshed air wall.
After Feng Bujue's cut arm was restored, the bleeding status stopped, and his Survival Value halted at 17%, didn't run down to 1% anymore.
That Scarlet Dragon Fiery Fist had lengthened the distance between them. Feng Bujue also had time to react. Facing the oncoming air wall, he was like a sparrow hawk turning his body and moved aside. Although his move wasn't precise, he successfully dodged the attack.
"Tsk.." K3 spat out and said, "Don't think that you can be lucky to avoid my attack forever. I've observed you. This high-speed status of yours can't be maintained for a long time."
"Huh?" Feng Bujue answered him despicably. "You don't need to mind this… Before beating you up, I will not dissolve this status." Actually, he was just trying to be like a dead duck, reluctantly admitting his mistake. In fact, not more than one minute, his skill would be automatically lifted.
"Go die!" K3 shouted, flexed his feet and jumped forward, striking three continuous fast and furious punches. These three attacks had sufficient speed, strength, and energy, which helped cast out the balanced and solid attacks.
[Your [M1911A1 Pistol] is broken.]
[Your [Eye of Hatred] is broken.]
[Your [Robots Must Die] is broken.]
"F*CK!" Feng Bujue slipped his tongue. By the way, there wasn't any player here so it would be all right.
In fact, his Survival Value didn't decline, but since these three punches were all the deadly strikes, his items got broken right away…
K3 didn't know what had been destroyed in the other's bag, so he looked at Feng Bujue, the one who didn't shed a drop of blood after receiving his three strikes at once, with fear. "You haven't died yet!"
"Die?" Feng Bujue's eyes were like they were sparking fire. He took out his [Mario's Pipe Wrench] as fast as lightning then pounded on K3's temple, which was really close to him now…
Puff! Puff! Puff.
The wrench hit K3 until he was bleeding. He immediately raised his arms to ward off, but his arms got damaged right away.
"Die! Die! Die!" Feng Bujue repeated the word while constantly pounding on the other. "You've consumed a lot within the short time, right? Your Physical Value's lower than the limit of the shield now, right?" He was pounding, punching just like he wanted to kill the old man. His attack scared K3 too much he had to run away.
At first, having several hits on the head dazed K3. He had never expected that other was still fine after receiving three tremendous attacks of his. As he was staggering backward, Feng Bujue caught up with him and started to beat him chaotically.