This Humble One, Reincarnation Stream Player Chapter 42

Yuki felt the earth shaking and saw the Giant dash before him in a matter of seconds; he no longer had the luxury of settling scores with Li Dan.

Boom—

A massive palm slammed down, kicking up a cloud of dust. Li Dan and Yuki rolled to the side together, though neither could find an opening to scramble up the walls. With a tacit understanding, both men backflipped, watching the chains sweep through the space where they had just stood.

Neither dared to stop; they raced like sprinters back to the center of the vast hall. Looking up, they saw the Giant's colossal frame blocking the exit completely, slowly turning around.

The area was a scene of utter devastation, a testament to the intensity of the attacks.

"Brother Li, we need to hurry. The gate Mai Sakurajima closed won't hold for long." Yuki licked his lips, feeling the floor trembling beneath him.

The Living Corpses within the Ancient Castle were surging toward this location at full speed, hammering frantically against the gate Mai Sakurajima had sealed. This Giant alone was trouble enough; add the endless tide of Living Corpses, and no one would survive.

So now you know to call me Brother Li?

Li Dan felt a wave of nausea, as if he had swallowed a fly, and said coldly, "Then don't play any tricks. Let's cooperate one last time."

"No problem. Honesty and integrity are my guiding principles." Yuki grinned, flashing a mouthful of white teeth, looking like a sunny, carefree boy.

I wouldn't believe a single word of that, yet I have no choice but to believe it.

Li Dan was too tired to retort. He slowly pulled back the hammer, staring straight at the Giant that was arching its back like a human spider; there was no time for careful deliberation now.

"Find a way to buy me three seconds. Scatter!"

The two split left and right. A thunderous bang echoed behind them as a massive foot stomped down on the spot where they had just been standing.

The stomp was only the beginning. The hyperactive Abnormal Type began to spin like a ballerina, its two iron chains whistling through the air, carving into the floor and shattering the atmosphere.

With such agility combined with immense strength and constant motion, it was nearly impossible to target. Yuki noticed that most of the attacks were concentrated on Li Dan, forcing the latter to scramble away in a sorry state.

Whack, whack, whack.

Lashes, stomps, and punches—let alone counterattacking, Li Dan had to use every ounce of his strength just to escape, leaving deep craters in the ground with every move.

Three seconds? It matches the footage Hayasaka Ai recorded, and that revolver clearly still has two bullets left.

Yuki recalled the footage Hayasaka Ai had secretly filmed when they killed the Tyrant. With that prior intelligence, he could already guess what Li Dan was planning.

Cooperation? As expected, not a single word can be trusted!

Yuki seemed to realize something, but he tossed his empty pistol aside, gripped his greatsword with both hands, and charged forward instead of retreating.

Clang!

Sparks erupted as the chains slammed viciously into the serrated blade. Even though Yuki's physical constitution had reached its peak, he still felt a tightness in his chest and his palms split open, his body plowing a dark "skid mark" into the ground.

He watched the sawed-off chain spinning in the air and saw the Giant's head turn toward him; a chill surged through his heart.

It was thinking about whom to kill first. Yuki was covered in wounds, and his threat level had increased significantly; it seemed safer to eat him first.

The Giant's arches tensed, its eyes locked onto him with predatory hunger. With a single step, it lunged over a dozen meters, its massive shadow engulfing Yuki.

His heart stopped for a beat. Yuki saw the taut iron chains and countless violent attacks poised to strike.

I can't dodge it, I can't block it, but that man's greed never fails to disappoint me.

BANG!!!

The chains grazed his shoulder and smashed into the ground beside him, instantly carving a trench a palm-deep. The spreading shockwave made it impossible for Yuki to stand, so he simply used the momentum to roll away.

The Abnormal Type, of course, did not suffer from strabismus. Its "wise" goldfish eyes were merely confused, for it no longer saw its prey, but rather a Giant standing with its back to it.

Why did I suddenly get smaller? And why does this Giant look so much like me? The wisdom bestowed by the Crimson Moon left it bewildered, unable to grasp the situation.

So it really was that thing—his trump card.

As Yuki rolled on the ground, he saw Li Dan standing not far behind the Giant, his right hand holding the gun and his left hand clutching a cylindrical object.

"Chaos Item. Distortion Kaleidoscope."

Li Dan wore a faint smile. Using Yuki's stalling as a distraction, he had activated the item, projecting his own vision, senses, and cognition onto the Giant. Whether it had a brain or not, it would be confused by the distortion, stunned by an attack originating from itself.

The hyperactivity vanished. Before him stood a massive, stationary target. He locked eyes with Yuki for a split second and pulled the trigger.

The Death Knell tolled!

Boom—

The massive gunshot echoed through the underground chamber like a cannon blast. The Abnormal Type's enormous head shattered into pulp on the spot. It was as if someone had shoved it from behind; it collapsed heavily to the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust.

It was over.

Since entering the dungeon, Li Dan didn't know how many Living Corpses he had blown away. He glanced at the now-silent Giant without a moment's hesitation, his muzzle sliding smoothly with his gaze until it pointed directly at Yuki.

Click.

The final bullet was chambered. A hint of pleasure finally appeared in his gloomy eyes, for the little bastard who had slapped his face so hard was now decisively raising his hands.

"Brother Li, we're on the same side! Don't shoot!" Yuki dropped his greatsword, his expression one of shock, as if he hadn't been prepared for this at all.

"Who is your Brother Li? Who the hell is on your side?" Li Dan was so angry he laughed. This bastard had been trying to screw him over just a minute ago; if he hadn't been denied the chance, he likely would have backstabbed him.

It felt like a chess game that had finally reached checkmate. He was in a good mood, yet he suppressed his excitement, swallowing his sarcasm, and merely frowned with a cold expression.

"You have many things you want to ask. In truth, the way I do things is simple—"

"To survive, if a man stands in my way, I kill the man. If a god stands in my way, I slay the god."

His tone was as firm as iron, yet his footsteps kept retreating; this behavior, which defied the usual tropes, left Yuki speechless.

Having turned the tables, he shouldn't just be laughing heartily; he should be acting like a villain and trampling on my self-esteem. Why cut the conversation short? At the very least, he should have let me ask a few more questions before giving the final answer.

"Villains die from talking too much; I understand that principle better than you do." Li Dan seemed to see right through Yuki, finally unable to resist a mocking smile. Seeing the other man open his mouth, he snapped his fingers cleanly.

Snap.

Following the sound of the snap, the fat corpse in the corner actually split into dense fungal threads, as if that body weren't made of flesh and blood at all. They spread up the walls, intending to seal the exit.

The Giant had fallen, but the Ancient Castle's corpse tide was close at hand; this wasn't just sealing an exit, it was sealing off the final path to survival.

The series of actions was decisive, fluid, and without a hint of hesitation, leaving Yuki's mouth twitching. All the lines he had prepared were useless, so he could only manage to ask:

"You never intended for us to survive from the very beginning?"

"Don't make small talk; you've known that in your heart all along." Li Dan didn't say more. He fired his Rope Gun at the wall and gripped the long rope. As he ascended, he saw Hayasaka Ai struggling to stand and Mai Sakurajima running into the hall from the direction of the Ancient Castle.

Finally, his gaze rested on the expressionless face of Yuki. Everyone had finally arrived, and all the cards of this newcomer had been turned over. As his line of sight rose, he could even see the corpse tide roaring through the corridor.

Only then did that cold, stern face finally show the pride of a victor, his chin lifting slightly.

"I live, you die. We shall never meet again. The Reincarnation Game is just that simple."

Ever since he dropped the mask, his attitude had been clear. His fluid, practiced movements were meant to ensure the other side had no chance of a comeback. If this were an average newcomer, they might not have even regained their senses by now, let alone launched a counterattack.

Yuki slowly lifted his chin, watching Li Dan get closer and closer to the wall of air. He only needed two or three meters to pierce through the Bloodthirsty Red Moon.

"Li Dan, you gave me quite a few pearls of wisdom, it's just a pity this game cannot accommodate two chess players." His tone was sincere. Whether intentional or not, Yuki had gained many insights from Li Dan, allowing him to pass the novice period more quickly.

"Hmm, you're at death's door, yet you don't drag out that 'justice and evil' nonsense. That pleases me." Li Dan nodded, feeling that this final heart-to-heart wasn't bad; at the very least, this youth had left a deep impression on him. "By the way, there's something I've been wanting to ask you."

"Speak."

"Are you truly not afraid of death? An average person would have died ten times over at this difficulty, and you almost turned it around." Li Dan almost asked what kind of monster he was, but as the words fell, he saw Yuki curl his lips, revealing a few white teeth.

"Of course I'm afraid of death, but I have something to tell you, too—" Yuki took a deep breath, as if a beast were roaring in the depths of his heart.

"You've learned my secret, and likewise, I never intended for you to go back from the very beginning."

!?

Li Dan's pupils contracted. His first reaction was that this man was insane; his second was the side effect of the Distortion Kaleidoscope. He was only three seconds away from escaping the instance, and then the fungal threads would seal the path, trapping them all within the Red Moon.

Ha, you won't let me go back? Who do you think you are?

The mocking question surged to his throat, only to be swallowed back down due to the rattling of chains. He subconsciously turned his head.

The Giant stood up. Its head was emitting steam, reconstructing a pale lower jaw. The head wasn't fully repaired, but it didn't hinder its movements; it stretched its body like a bodybuilder.

"It's not dead? How is that possible!" Li Dan instinctively wanted to dodge, but his hand was stuck to the rope and couldn't break free—no, he could only continue to ascend at a steady speed.

This was also in his calculations???

Time seemed to slow in his eyes. He just watched as the Giant raised its hand and swung the thick iron chain toward his face, gradually occupying his entire field of vision.

Only then did he hear a response filled with irony.

"Who told you the weak point of an Abnormal Type is its head!"

Chapter 52: Bloodthirsty Red Moon—End! (Revised)

Reversal, reversal, and another reversal.

Hayasaka Ai leaned against the wall, watching the taut chain slice through the air and smash fiercely into Li Dan.

Splat.

This veteran player, who had survived at least two instances, didn't even let out a groan before turning into a blooming flower of blood on the spot. Watching the severed limbs and flesh fly, Hayasaka Ai felt no joy, no fear—only a sense of numbness.

Her mood had been like a roller coaster: from the near-death experience of being trapped in the corpse horde, to the slight touch of being saved by Yuki, to the shock of Robert's betrayal, and then the relief of surviving the final night.

Then, Li Dan and Yuki teamed up to take down the Giant, but before she could see hope, she was doused with cold water by Li Dan's decisive backstab. Just as she was surrounded by despair, Li Dan—who had been so composed and acting like a victor—was suddenly blown to pieces.

Chaotic and stimulating, Hayasaka Ai didn't even have time to wonder "how did he know the Giant's weak point?" Pain and exhaustion occupied every nerve until the noisy sound of a chainsaw cutting through the ground reached her ears.

The sounds of cutting, whimpering, and chains smashing arrived one after another. Hayasaka Ai looked around blankly, seeing the living corpses flooding into the basement, while Mai Sakurajima, panting, rushed into the hall with a detonator.

She looked disheveled, but she gritted her teeth and pressed the button hard.

Boom—

The planted explosives erupted in bright flames before her eyes. The passage collapsed, rubble piling up, only to be slowly pushed aside by countless living corpses. A single glance told her it wouldn't hold for long.

But just then, a pitch-black figure flashed past her eyes.

Unlike his previous act of slacking off, Yuki had entered a desperate state. Taking advantage of the fact that the Abnormal Type hadn't fully recovered, he charged forward with his greatsword.

He didn't look at the encroaching corpse tide, nor did he seem to see Li Dan's mangled remains. He charged toward the Giant, meeting the chain head-on with a roar.

"Help me!"

Hayasaka Ai shuddered, instantly returning to reality. Like a rebooted robot, she forgot her exhaustion, pain, and numbness. She stood up, leaning against the wall, and turned her gaze to a severed arm not far away.

That forearm was clutching a massive silver revolver, the final bullet already loaded into the chamber. Without needing to think, the girl leaped toward it.

"Right."

The final battle!

The Chainsaw Sword had begun to fade from its peak, feeding a sense of intense exhaustion back to its user, yet Yuki fought against it with a desperate, extreme craving.

The path to survival had already opened, and he could already see the dawn within the doorway; how could he possibly admit defeat at a time like this?

"I haven't been able to catch my breath for two whole days—no matter what, I am going to kill you!"

In an instant, all the suffering he had endured and all his pent-up resentment erupted; he saw the Giant's skull had already reconstructed and was growing muscle, and as the iron chain swept over like a long whip, he chose not to retreat.

Whoosh—

Yuki leaned his body backward, using the momentum to slide forward, watching a silver chain sweep past the tip of his nose before he plunged his greatsword into the ground to force his sliding body to a halt.

Thud.

A giant foot stomped down in front of him, causing the entire basement to tremble for a moment; Yuki did not hesitate in the slightest, sweeping low against the ground toward the Giant's heel.

Slash!

With his current strength, it was impossible to sever the thick foot, but Yuki accurately located the Achilles tendon; after he cut through it, the Giant's body swayed, and the hammer-like hands that had been joined together missed their target.

THUD!!

This sound was even more violent, the vibration bouncing Yuki into the air; he saw steam rising as the Achilles tendon repaired itself at a speed visible to the naked eye, and as he watched the Giant collapse to its knees, a shadow completely engulfed him.

The Giant did not stand up, but instead lunged downward like Mount Tai pressing down; Yuki hurriedly rolled to the side, and as he turned his head, he saw the Abnormal Type raise its palm, pressing it close to the ground and slamming it over like a wall.

There was no dodging it, nor was there any need to.

Yuki turned his head to look toward the center of the hall, where the blonde girl held a gun in both hands, aiming a giant revolver that looked somewhat uncoordinated with her body toward this side.

[Enhancement point used, Firearms Proficiency upgraded to Skilled.]

A strange murmur echoed in her mind as Hayasaka Ai locked onto the rapidly moving giant hand and Yuki, who was about to be covered by it.

With a smile on her face, she pulled the trigger without a shred of hesitation.

BANG!!