Volume Two: Life-or-Death Speed in the North Realm - The Third Stage Ends
Underground ruins, third level--
Only two people remained standing in the dilapidated square.
Geronimo, and the Xiu Lin.
"It's over just when we were about to have some fun. What a disappointment. I thought they'd be more interesting," Geronimo said, straightening his clothes with a disappointed look.
"It's because your superpower is too cheating..." Xiu Lin still couldn't muster any enthusiasm.
"Well, I've already taken them down. I'll leave the final blow to you, Xiu Lin ~ Anyway, my ability isn't lethal."
"Are you kidding me? It's so hot around them, the spores can't survive."
Xiu Lin pointed to the area around the three fallen people. Several beautiful crystals emitting intense heat fell to the ground, and even the air seemed to distort slightly due to the heat.
"But they're releasing less and less heat, aren't they? Just wait until these crystals fail before you make a move, and we can wait for Payne."
"No, no... it's too much trouble..."
"You said it was troublesome, but your expression gave it all away~ I bet you actually wanted to collect these pretty crystals and use them as decorations after they stopped emitting heat? There's no other way, you know~ Even though your abilities and personality have both turned to mush, a young girl still has some girlish sentiments after all~~"
... pinch!
"Ouch, that hurts! Shouldn't you be designed to be weak? Why are you using physical attacks?!"
"Geronimo, you're so annoying! Just kill them already! Before things get complicated!"
"Alright, alright~~~ But I'm not carrying any guns or anything, so if you want to kill them..."
Geronimo picked up a brick.
"This is the only way!"
"Stop talking nonsense and get going!"
Geronimo shrugged, picked up a brick, and walked towards the three men lying on the ground. Waves of heat hit him, making him frown.
"Okay, let's hurry up and finish this..."
Where to begin? Geronimo looked at the three stunningly beautiful girls.
"Let's pick the prettiest one."
He stepped forward, stopped, and Geronimo raised the brick high, looking down at the girl with beautiful long light brown hair and a gentle, pretty face.
"It's a bit of a shame to waste such a beautiful woman, but still—go die!"
The brick slammed down hard on the girl's head.
Everything happened in an instant.
The girl, who should have lost consciousness, suddenly leaped up, her body swaying, and a seemingly delicate, slender hand pressed against his chest.
"Huh?" Too fast.
There was simply no time to react.
In her fair palm, a transparent sphere the size of a marble instantly took shape.
Then, it suddenly erupted!
A sudden tightness gripped his chest, and Geronimo was sent flying backward, crashing heavily to the ground, groaning incessantly.
"He's really tough. He was hit in the chest by my air bullet, and he's still alive..."
Givinia tossed her hair, her gaze remaining as calm as still water.
"Geronimo!"
Xiu Lin was startled and was about to run to his side when Givinia swept her leg, kicking the high-temperature blood crystal on the ground towards Xiu Lin!
"Ugh! It's so hot--"
"That way, you won't have to worry about your mold."
As she kicked the Blood Crystal towards Xiu Lin, Givinia lunged forward, delivering a flying kick straight at Xiu Lin's temple.
Thump!!!
"... Wow, I didn't expect you guys to have such a strong sense of camaraderie."
One hand blocked Givinia's kick.
It is Geronimo has risen again.
"Your skills are better than they appear. So... how about this?"
A second air blast rapidly condensed beneath her shoe. Geronimo's gaze sharpened, and just before it exploded, he grabbed Xiu Lin and pulled away!
"That's quite surprising, that reaction speed."
Despite saying that, Givinia remained completely at ease, showing no sign of surprise.
"You're the one who's more surprising, aren't you? I never expected to meet such a rare Hybrid Ability User on this trip."
Hybrid Ability User.
As the name suggests, it refers to a person who possesses two or more superpowers at the same time.
The abilities of ordinary superhumans are like a tree, with the trunk being the Basic Supernatural Ability and the branches and leaves representing the various Basic Supernatural Ability derived from it. However, the abilities of Hybrid Ability User are not a single tree, but rather multiple trees coexisting. Different abilities can advance independently, without any connection between them.
However, every advantage has its drawbacks. If the same amount of energy is divided equally among multiple abilities, the growth rate of each ability will inevitably be slower than that of ordinary ability users. This is why many Hybrid Ability User are not as powerful as ordinary ability users. The vast majority of Hybrid Ability User gradually give up other abilities as they get older and specialize in only one.
"No, compared to that, why were you able to resist my 'Subconscious Severance'? I clearly activated my superpower from the very beginning!"
"Subconscious Severance is indeed powerful; it wouldn't be an exaggeration to call it the strongest negative state... But unfortunately, it's ultimately a form of mental attack. As long as it's a mental attack, I can project it onto my own consciousness to protect myself. Simply put—any mental attack-type ability is ineffective against me."
"Varied--"
"What a pity. You are indeed very strong, but the law of one thing subduing another does not show mercy. I can counter your 'Subconscious Severance,' and A Ye's high-temperature blood can counter that lady's fungus. You two are unfortunate to have chosen the wrong opponent."
Damn it!
Geronimo cursed, reached for a gray sphere, and crushed it with force.
With a loud bang, thick smoke burst out. Givinia immediately covered her mouth and nose and backed away. When the smoke cleared, the two of them had vanished without a trace.
"A smoke bomb, huh? You really know how to run away... Oh well, at this point, even if you escape, there's nothing you can do."
Givinia gracefully walked towards Sirius and forcefully pushed aside the stone pillar that was pressing down on Ally.
"We need to get these two into the car, drive back to check on Emilia and the others, and then meet up with A Ye... There's so much to do."
Everything that followed seemed to fall into place naturally.
That Third Hand was truly a wonderful thing. After absorbing its Blood Energy, my physical condition recovered to its best in a short time. Then, I rushed back to the third floor as quickly as possible to reunite with the other three.
I was prepared for another fierce battle, but to my surprise, when I arrived I saw a smiling Givinia and the Sena Sisters wrapped in bandages, and Givinia herself was almost unharmed.
After exchanging information, I told them about my victory—of course, I selectively ignored the part about being kicked around like a ball and having my kidneys ripped out. Givinia also reported on her battle.
"You're Hybrid Ability User? You didn't tell us before!"
"A casual remark isn't a trump card."
Givinia's second ability is called Air Bomb.
By compressing a large amount of air into a small sphere, the compressed air will explode violently upon contact. If the timing and power are well controlled, it can be incredibly effective at close range, making it an essential skill for ambushing people at home or while traveling.
I was brutally beaten to a pulp just to get one kill, while she easily got a double kill by simply feigning death... Is this the difference between a newbie and a pro?
Sensing my slight disappointment, Givinia patted my head to comfort me, "Don't be discouraged, A Ye. I was able to win thanks to your blood crystal, and you really put the enemy to death, while I let them escape. So the credit goes to you the most."
"Thanks..."
Then, Ailin made some simple repairs to the battered Sirius, and with the four members of the Abidal Beauties Team on board, we left the underground ruins.
With four more people, the car suddenly became incredibly crowded, and the horrific state of these four was astonishing. Emilia and Tani Hana Mei were relatively better off, suffering only fractures and mild concussions, while Tani Hana Hibiki had lost both arms, and Messiah had lost both legs. Only the three members of the organization could be so ruthless towards such beautiful girls.
In any case, Emilia has come to an end; they are in no condition to continue the remaining matches.
"I'm sorry, Emilia... I'm so sorry... If only we could have come sooner..."
Ally gently stroked Emilia's face, who was still unconscious, repeating apologetic words over and over, while large tears rolled down her cheeks.
"Cheer up, Ally. If we had been any later, they would have really been dead."
"But... but..."
"If it's such a pity, let's work hard for them too."
"Ferruggio Silver Wolf Team, 31st place."
The sign above reads this.
"Well..."
I sighed helplessly. Thirty-one, a world of difference compared to the ties for second and first place in the first two stages. Our team's supporters off the field were also complaining bitterly. But there was nothing we could do. We had already trembled with the Black Abyss Tribe and then encountered the organization, which had wasted too much time. The only thing we could do was to rest and recuperate during this short 24-hour break and win back in the final stage.
Therefore, Givinia went to purchase the necessary items with almost no rest, Ailin only treated the wounds further before going to maintain the battered Sirius, and the task of dealing with the ever-present reporters fell to me.
What will happen in the fourth stage?
The Engai Forest, the home ground of the fourth stage; Crystal Island, the finish line; the Gray Starling Group and its plans; Crystal Realm Fruit; the past grudges of the Ferruggio Silver Wolf Team; Ally's dream; the Noxar Team; the Vino Lions Team...
I have a feeling.
All of this will come to a close in this final paragraph.
The center of the North Realm Continent, the finish line of the rally --
This is an incredibly beautiful space.
Countless purplish-blue crystals covered the world, the entire land a smooth, mirror-like crystal surface. Giant Crystal Pillar, thousands of feet tall, converged to form crystalline mountains that pierced the clouds. Only one stone path remained uncovered by the crystals; it was specially laid by the competition's executive committee for the final stage of the race. This path, like a winding serpent, traversed the purplish-blue land, bypassing layer upon layer of Crystal Pillar, leading directly to the very center.
At the finish line, the gleaming trophy rests on a spotless crystal pedestal, awaiting the champion to lift it. Hundreds of staff members bustle about, clearing the path and checking the camera equipment.
"We've finally reached this point, Stone Strike."
At the summit of a crystalline mountain, the Sick Spider looked down at the finish line below and sneered.
"Strange... We haven't heard from Geronimo and the other two. What's going on?" Stone Strike asked with a grave expression.
"Who knows? It wouldn't be surprising if a small fry like that, who overestimates his abilities, were to capsize in a ditch at any time."
"But the seal..."
"They're almost completely destroyed, with only a few scattered pieces remaining, but that number is far from enough to stop the World Crystal Tree's revival."
"That's good. Now it's up to Yu He."
"What does this have to do with him?"
"You don't know this, but the fourth section of the competition, which is shared by all four routes— the Engai Forest —is the last barrier left by the ancient ancestors, separating the World Crystal Tree from the outside world. Now that almost all the seals have been broken, the forest's automatic defense mechanism should have already awakened to stop everything."
So--
"At that time, a large number of deaths will be inevitable, and how to deal with the outside world is something Yu He needs to consider."
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After finishing this chapter, I'll go study for my midterms.