The Battle Was About to Begin

[Go tell them to continue the operation. The target is the Terminal Signal Tower.]

Jiangnan handed the note to Liu Yuqing, who had just woken up.

"All right, boss. I'll go notify Wang Meng and the others right away."

Liu Yuqing answered with a smile.

"Buzz!"

The tablet on the Main Control Console lit up, and Liu Yuqing's voice came through.

"Wang Meng, the boss is awake. He orders everyone to head for the Terminal Signal Tower immediately."

"Roger!"

Wang Meng flashed an OK sign.

Then he floored the gas, and the RV raced toward the valley shrouded in rain.

At that moment, the atmosphere in the driver's cab was lively.

As Wang Meng drove, he glanced at Guo Shuai in the passenger seat and grinned lecherously.

"Heh heh, Guo Shuai, I just heard you describing it like it was the real deal..."

"So there's an old man living in your 'eye' now, huh?"

"Cough, cough..."

Guo Shuai was drinking water and nearly choked.

As a seasoned driver with years of late-night dorm-room chatter under his belt, he instantly caught Wang Meng's meaning.

He laughed and scolded him without a trace of good humor.

"Brother Wang, you'd better mean this 'eye,' or I'm gonna get mad at you!"

"Hahahaha!"

They looked at each other and burst out laughing, sharing the sort of joy between men that only needed a knowing glance.

Meanwhile.

Fite Albert, who was parasitizing Guo Shuai's left eye, was utterly baffled.

"What eye?"

"What are you talking about? Are you discussing this god?"

Albert's elderly voice sounded puzzled.

"Shoo, shoo, shoo."

Guo Shuai grumbled back to him in his mind.

"Young people are talking. Old man, don't butt in. Go sit over there at the kids' table. This isn't your seat."

"You!!"

Hearing such an outrageous reversal of the natural order, Albert was instantly displeased.

"Tch, brat. If you don't want to talk, then don't. Why put on such a damn show?"

Feeling he'd lost that exchange, he was irritated, so he began needling Guo Shuai with sarcastic remarks.

"Hmph. I bet your so-called boss was scared, and that's why he only ordered you to set out now."

"An entire night has passed, and only now does he dare to move."

"In my view, once we reach halfway up the mountain, he'll find some excuse to turn around and run."

But before Guo Shuai could retort—

"Skree!"

The sound of a sudden brake rang out.

The RV stopped smoothly halfway up the mountain, several hundred meters from the middle school at the summit.

"Why'd we stop?"

Guo Shuai asked, puzzled.

Wang Meng pointed at the Control Screen. "The boss said to stop here."

"See? What did I tell you?"

Albert instantly grew smug, his voice rising an octave.

"Haha! I was right, wasn't I? He stopped!"

"Next, he'll turn around and run! I told you he was a coward!"

"Shut up!"

Guo Shuai roared in his mind. "The boss isn't a coward! Stop being so damn sarcastic!"

"Hmph. Actions speak louder than words."

Albert sneered. "Kid, you can't handle losing."

"How about we make a bet?"

"If I'm wrong—if your boss really dares to go up there and fight that monster head-on, and wins—"

"I'll tell you about my true, secret trump card!"

"You don't really think this god only has Auto Combat and Panel Analysis, do you?"

Guo Shuai's heart stirred at those words.

This old bastard really was holding something back!

"Then what if you win?" Guo Shuai asked.

"If I win, you'll leave him and follow my orders from now on!"

Albert finally showed his hand.

Guo Shuai answered in his mind without a moment's hesitation.

"Deal!"

"I have ten thousand percent confidence in the boss! Just wait until you lose your pants to me!"

"But..."

Guo Shuai changed tack. "How do I know you won't welch when the time comes?"

"After all, you've pulled this sort of thing before. I need a reason to trust you."

"How dare you!"

Albert shouted. "That was different! This god's disguise was for survival!"

"I never intended to reveal myself. Who knew I'd run into a Madman like you?"

"But now I can tell you: you and I have long been Soul Bound. When one prospers, both prosper; when one suffers, both suffer!"

"I have no reason to lie to you about something like this!"

Guo Shuai thought it over. When they'd been ambushed on the mountain, this guy really had saved him right away.

It all added up.

"Fine, it's a deal."

Guo Shuai sneered. "I'll show you just how poor your judgment is."

"Right back at you! Hmph!"

In the RV's living area, inside the cramped Car Toilet.

Jiangnan had no idea about the bet outside. At that moment, he was crouched on the toilet lid, his expression grave.

He'd stopped the RV halfway up the mountain because its body was coated in Guardian Demon Skin.

That was the aura of an S-class BOSS.

If they drove straight up, the monster hiding in the rain might not dare show itself.

If he wanted to kill the monster, he had to toss the Deterrent Source far away.

And he had to add a little extra to the mix.

Jiangnan looked at the newly acquired A-Class Word Spirit on the System Panel, the corner of his mouth lifting.

"With the Hundred Ton King, the monster's vaunted speed and evasiveness from the intel will be useless."

"But..."

"Better play it safe."

Jiangnan took a deep breath, knelt on one knee, and pressed his right palm against the floor.

Then he murmured softly.

"This court weighs heavy. Halt."

Hum!

The air rippled faintly as the first layer of Gravity Field settled into place.

Six characters spent.

Jiangnan didn't stop. He continued chanting.

"This court weighs heavy. Halt."

The second layer...

"This court weighs heavy..."

The third layer...

He recited it seven times in a row!

A full forty-two characters spent!

Watching the balance drop made his heart ache a little, but this was a life-saving move.

Worth it!

"Seven stacked layers—that's like wearing seven layers of Life-Saving Armor."

"I refuse to believe even this torrential rain can withstand it."

Jiangnan stood up, straightened his clothes, and pushed open the bathroom door.

He typed a message into the Main Control Panel and sent it.

[Guo Shuai, get out of the car with me.]

[If the monster doesn't die right away, have that 'Roadside Eye' of yours memorize its stats.]

"Yes, boss!"

Guo Shuai's voice came through at once. "Should I bring a gun?"

Jiangnan replied, [No need.]

A gun?

In front of the Hundred Ton King, a gun was just a fire poker.

After all, judging by the Word Spirit · Silence from before, bullets counted as a form of killing intent too.

[Wang Meng, keep an eye on the vehicle and be ready to assist at any moment.]

[Chen Tong, you all stay in the vehicle.]

After giving those simple instructions, Jiangnan opened the car door and walked into the pouring rain.

"Good luck!"

The three women and Wang Meng called after him.

Halfway up the mountain, in the rain.

As soon as Jiangnan stepped out, the rain soaked his black hair.

Guo Shuai followed close behind, clutching the rusty cleaver in his hand. He hurried in front of Jiangnan.

"Boss, I'll go first!"

"Tsk, tsk, tsk."

In Guo Shuai's mind, Albert launched into a tirade. "He hasn't even asked, and you're already volunteering to be a human shield? Are you an idiot?"

Guo Shuai ignored him, keeping a wary eye on his surroundings.

Jiangnan looked at Guo Shuai standing in front of him and gave a slight nod inwardly.

This guy wasn't bad.

But he didn't write a note, and he couldn't.

He merely extended his hand and pointed behind himself.

The meaning was obvious: Get behind me.

Going first? That was just asking to get killed.

His [Abyssal Court Heavy Domain] was centered on himself. If Guo Shuai strayed too far, the monster could kill him in an instant.

"Huh? Oh, right!"

Guo Shuai didn't understand, but he was the obedient sort. He quickly ducked behind Jiangnan.

"..."

Albert stared at the back of the man in front of him and fell completely silent.

He couldn't understand it.

"Where did this kid get all that confidence?"

"An ordinary mortal, without armor or weapons, who can't even produce a hint of Supernatural Ability..."

"And he dares to swagger right up and provoke that monster?"

"Does he have a death wish?"

Driven by curiosity, Albert couldn't help quietly activating his scanning function.

[Analyzing target...]

[Target: Human Male]

[Health: 100%]

[Supernatural Ability: None]

[Paper Combat Power: D+]

[...]

"Whoa?!"

Albert exclaimed in Guo Shuai's mind.

"D+?!"

"How is that possible?!"

"Yesterday, when I scanned him, he was still E-. In just one day, he crossed two whole ranks?!"

Albert was stunned.

What kind of growth rate was that?

Not even a rocket could move that fast!

"Could I have made a mistake before?"

"No! That man must have some high-level Shielding Item on him! He's pretending to be weak so he can catch us off guard!"

Hearing Albert's exclamation, Guo Shuai secretly felt smug, but on the surface, he was furious.

"You old geezer! Who told you to scan the boss without permission?! That's disrespectful to him!"

"I'm reporting you!"

With that, Guo Shuai told Jiangnan what had happened.

Jiangnan merely waved a hand, indicating it was fine.

If Albert had truly meant to kill him, he would've already been crushed to pieces.

"Ahem... Sorry."

For once, Albert didn't try to talk his way out of it. "I did act without permission."

"Your boss... really is no ordinary man."

"He's so confident because he must have a trump card."

"But I still don't think he can win."

Albert's tone grew serious.

"Although I haven't seen that monster's true form, I can sense that it's powerful, with immense potential."

"Even though it was born only recently, its strength is growing at a tremendous rate."

"Even at my peak, I'd have to be wary of it."

"It's not too late to turn back!"

Guo Shuai snorted and ignored him.

Five minutes later.

The two of them finally climbed to the mountaintop.

Before them stood the eerie Rose School, along with the Humvee and bones scattered all over the ground.

Rain washed over the ground, smearing the bloodstains.

With both hands in his pockets, Jiangnan walked ahead, calm and unhurried, as if he were strolling through his own backyard.

Guo Shuai swallowed and followed close behind.

"Hey, kid!"

Seeing this, Albert began to have second thoughts.

He'd thought Jiangnan would have some kind of plan, or take action beforehand. Instead, the man was just swaggering over there!

"Seriously! It's not too late to leave!"

"That man is way too reckless! He's just walking over there without making any preparations? He's practically walking to his death!"

"This god and you will die too!!"

Gritting his teeth, Guo Shuai pointed the tip of his cleaver at his own left eyeball.

"Shut up!"

"If you dare take control of my body and run away again, we'll both die here!"

"And didn't you say you couldn't lie? Did you forget that already?"

"Calling yourself a god? You're more like a coward!"

"You madman!! You're insulting me again! I was only trying to stop you for your own good!"

Albert yelled furiously.

"Since you've decided not to leave, then today I'll fight alongside you!"

"If your boss loses, from now on, you'll have to let me control your body!"

"Don't worry! That day will never come!"

Guo Shuai roared in his mind, "There's no way the boss could ever lose!!"

At that very moment, while the two of them argued,

amid the curtain of rain,

a seemingly ordinary raindrop at the school entrance suddenly veered off course.

Then came a second drop, then a third...

Countless raindrops began to refract strange light, heading toward the man with his hands in his pockets...

They shot toward him at incredible speed!