Chapter 492

With two muffled thuds, Yuki hung upside down on the bridge, watching the Garou leap into the air and charge back, while the falling bridge piers shot out like javelins.

'Maintaining the rules requires increasing effort, but this also brings us closer to the critical point. If we reach the activation state, it will attract direct attention from the cycle of Reincarnation Game, which is unacceptable.'

Yuki, holding guns in both hands, hung upside down on the bridge, deflecting the flying bridge pier, then retreated slightly before charging forward with a thrust.

Swish!

A concrete cylinder weighing tens of tons was pierced, but followed by a superhuman flying kick from Garou.

Thump--

The bridge behind him shattered into dust, and Yuki passed it by, speeding towards the city's interior.

'I am Epic Tier III, he is Epic Tier II. A single rule can suppress him, but multiple rules won't work.'

[Create a rule space. The rarer and more direct the rule, the better its effect. This is also affected by the difference in strength between the enemy and ourselves, the scope of its effect, and the unlocking time.]

Yuki recalled the description of the Divine Torch in his mind, but did not establish a second rule. He gradually formed his own opinion about this reincarnation item.

Playing to one's strengths and avoiding one's weaknesses—that's the true value of the Divine Torch. People are adaptable; you can't expect a single item to make you invincible. If Garou were an Epic Tier II mage, he could simply hide outside the rules. If a rule like "only one person remains" were added, it might not be able to suppress him.

The best approach is to use it in conjunction with Furnace to limit the battlefield area.

That's fine.

Yuki wasn't really thinking about revenge. He had no grudge against Garou, and this was their first meeting.

He had already planned his escape. He looked behind him at the figure rushing towards him. Despite their similar physiques, the figure was much faster under the suppression of the Divine Torch.

Is this the Resolve?

Battle, endless battle, infinite evolution.

This was the Garou's Resolve. With his racial talent unleashed, even with the Divine Torch suppressing him, he was faster and more insane than Yuki, who possessed the Orc King.

"You want revenge, don't you? Fight me!"

Garou transformed into a true Battle Maniac, sensing that his opponent's strength was insufficient, but as they approached the city, members of the Hero Association also rushed out.

Two epic-level players are enough to turn City A into ruins, leaving them no room to stand idly by. With good and evil facing off and everyone watching, they naturally have to deliver a crushing blow.

In the blink of an eye, Yuki was caught up. Garou's fist was even heavier, and with one punch, he almost tore apart the spiral-shaped light band. He then used his fingers as a blade to strike the spear, cleaving it in two with a 'crack'.

He lunged forward, raised his knee, and spun around in front of Yuki like Tatsumaki.

Water Stream Explosion Kill!

All he could see were punches and kicks, and all his escape routes were cut off. But just then, a Stand appeared beside him. Garou turned his gaze, wondering what it was, but then he saw the Stand raise its hand, and light flashed on Yuki's body.

Full-range enhancement.

A legendary Reinforcement Magecraft that simultaneously boosts defense, speed, and power, allowing you to fight fist to fist, storm to storm, tiger to wolf.

Bang bang bang bang...

The sounds of flesh colliding blended together, the tall buildings at the edge instantly crumbled into dust, and continuous sonic booms spread from the sky to the ground.

He was filled with excitement, but Garou wasn't satisfied. The battle was too commotion, forcing the Hero Association to come out and fight. His plan didn't include a full-scale war between the two sides.

Next punch, and I'll kill you!

Resolve boils over, the storm subsides, the Garou leaps back a hundred meters, bouncing back the instant its toes touch the ground.

God Slayer Fist!

Just like in the usual routine, one punch can decide life or death; a pure physical attack is enough to pierce through everything. But Yuki didn't follow the routine.

Immortal Crystal.

Void Alchemy.

Concept Enhancement.

Instead of meeting fist to fist, he transformed into an iron turtle, his clone appearing in front of him, layer upon layer of defensive skills stacked up, and then there was a loud 'boom'.

The crystals, transformed into particles, scattered and a mushroom cloud hundreds of meters high rose into the air. The Stand was actually blasted apart by a single punch.

The next instant, the afterimage pierced through the particles, Garou saw Yuuki being swept away by the shockwave, his Yuki full of confusion.

Why? Wasn't he looking for revenge? Isn't this the perfect opportunity?

Before he could think any further, he leaped backward, and an invisible blade of telekinesis sliced through a vacuum. Led by a petite girl, the heroes poured out. The answer was now self-evident.

They would stop at nothing to kill me.

From Garou's perspective, this was clearly Yuki him, which wasn't exactly honorable behavior, yet it was precisely this that made Garou value him.

This was no longer the arrogant and reckless wanderer from memory; he had truly grasped the meaning of 'Resolve'.

To accomplish what needs to be done, one must exhaust all means and disregard the cold stares of the world; this is Resolve.

Bang!

Yuki's fist shattered the afterimage. He half-squatted on the ground and suddenly looked up. Garou was already on the rooftop a thousand meters away. The latter wasn't stupid. Why would he fight to the death when the Hero Association had come out in full force?

"You can't kill me, but I will definitely kill you."

A sharp gaze delivered the answer, disappearing as the building split in two. He wasn't in a hurry; if this person wanted to kill him, there would be a next time.

They still have some sense.

Yuki certainly wouldn't chase after him. If he really wanted to kill him, after destroying the Stand, Garou would be met with the Black Hole muzzle of a gun.

If they start by seeking revenge, how can the show continue?

"Hooray! The Garou has escaped!"

"He's the one who protected City A, so why are the Hero Association members taking so long to arrive?"

"They must have planned this together; that weirdo escaped really fast."

Cheers erupted from the ruins, and within a few rounds, one-tenth of the city was reduced to rubble. Yuki was not surprised at all; it was all expected.

The attack by the monsters caused heavy casualties, which was undoubtedly a catastrophe in the eyes of ordinary players. However, Garou and his protection of Yuki City A were certainly worthy of celebration.

What good show is without the applause of the audience?

Yuki turned his head to look at the heroes in the sky, caught in a dilemma. The beautiful filter had been completely shattered, and he no longer needed to feel guilty.

"We're all players anyway, so let's scheme against each other."

Reincarnation Game, with no heroes.

Chapter Six: No Reconciliation

There are no saints in the Reincarnation Game.

The heroes have good reputations among the various factions, yet they still stand idly by for their own benefit; their thoughts cannot be hidden from Yuki.

Unable to withstand the pressure from the Judge, betraying Yuki would come at a price. It would be better to pass this hot potato to the villains, or better yet, have Garou kill him, thus ending the matter once and for all.

It aligns with human nature, but it's still somewhat disappointing. Perhaps true heroes who disregard personal safety and hate evil are long gone, but for Yuki, this is a good thing.

'Since they're putting on a show, they might as well play along. Anyway, I've never considered myself a good guy.'

Yuki smiled. Whether it was fanning the flames or letting the tides turn, this was all bloody and devoid of any virtue. Just like the players of 'Aether Particles', once they understood the situation, the first thing they would do was Yuki.

But why should I have the virtue to risk everything and fight the Judge to the death, even if I perish and it's none of your business, while you benefit from my victory?

There's no such thing as a free lunch.

The Stand can reunite in no time, but this skill is crucial because it originated from Dio Brando, proving that Yuki was the culprit behind the Grand Inquisitor's downfall.

"You've really gotten me into a huge mess. Don't you know those Judge are watching you?"

A sweet female voice rang out, and a green-haired girl floated in the air with an unfriendly expression.

"You mean I should just be killed by the Garou?" Yuki glanced sideways, his words concise and to the point.

You!

Tatsumaki glared at Garou, the strongest hero in City A, but under the watchful eyes of everyone, she couldn't bring herself to nod. Garou was the most ferocious and powerful monster the Association had desperately created, and Yuki, who defeated him, was of course a hero.

This value system has been ingrained since the early days of the game. Besides, "commoners" are also players, so such a convenient skill as large-scale brainwashing is not feasible.

The heroes had various expressions and couldn't find the words to refute it. Denying that they repelled the Garou and protected the city was to deny their own achievements, but the key issue was that this 'Civilian Superman' had a complicated background.

What exactly do you want?

"Kill the Garou."

"I know, but you're causing us trouble!"

"Then please hand me over to the Judge, Miss Tatsumaki." Yuki was quite straightforward, simply raising his hands, and saw that this epic-level player's face turned red.

If they could do it, they wouldn't have waited until now. Compared to the threat from the Judge, shaking their foundations seems more troublesome. The key is that Yuki has shown great strength, and it's obviously a pipe dream to suppress him silently.

It's good to be conflicted; it seems the Future Diary won't be locked this time.

Yuki revealed a 'plan in motion' expression. His script didn't manipulate either side; it was precisely to attract attention. No wonder it was a carefully selected faction. If it were something like 'Aether Particles,' they would have attacked without hesitation.

But here, heroes should fight against evil. The one who can defeat an epic villain is, of course, an epic hero. If anyone tries to harm him, the entire Hero Kingdom's values will be thrown into chaos.

Snort.

Tatsumaki couldn't answer, and didn't know what to do with Yuki, so she just snorted heavily and turned her head away.

The atmosphere became awkward, and the cheers became extremely shrill. At that moment, a blond youth landed on the ground and strode towards Yuki.

His face showed respect, along with a hint of shame.

Genos?

Yuki recognized the other person and swallowed back the words, "Where's your bald teacher?" The reason he played the positive role was to avoid causing trouble and attracting the attention of the bald man.

The young man first introduced himself, bowing his head sincerely. "I'm sorry, your identity is special, and it is indeed very difficult for the association. Of course, I personally admire you very much; such a firm Resolve is rarely seen in modern times."

"I understand, but I've given everything for this day." Yuki's expression softened slightly as he glanced at the other heroes. "Here's what we'll do: you help me kill Garou, I'll leave the Outpost, and what happens after that is none of your business."

That's a solution. Sending Yuki Rei out of the country would be the best outcome. As long as it doesn't attract powerful enemies, they can do whatever they want.

But can it really solve the problem?

They could have eliminated the monsters led by Garou long ago, why wait until now? Besides, this would cause a chain reaction.

The Hero Kingdom is based on city clusters. Each city has its own hero organization and its own villains. Over the years, the two sides have maintained a tacit understanding.

Villains cause trouble, heroes protect the city; the same scenario plays out repeatedly. Essentially, it's a matter of mutual benefit, as the old saying goes:

If you truly eradicate evil, heroes will lose their purpose.

Is there no Justice, only the pursuit of self-interest?

Yuki revealed a barely perceptible smile. Having experienced it firsthand, the Hero Kingdom was stronger than most factions, but only to a limited extent. The Reincarnation Game inherently lacked fertile ground for idealists.

Of course, this was within his expectations. The Hero Kingdom, like the Aether Particles, was merely a target to attract attention. It wouldn't be a good thing if a winner were decided too quickly.

"Let's discuss it among our various hero organizations," Tatsumaki replied. This was a last resort; at least they had to wait for the other side's popularity to die down.

"Okay, I'll wait for your news." Yuki was quite straightforward, nodding and leaving.

"Mr. Rod, where are you going?" Genos called out to him. This man was eager to learn and wanted to learn something from Yuki.

"Of course, it'll be after you've finished discussing it. If I become a VIP, it'll be difficult for you all, won't it?" Yuki swept his sarcastic gaze over everyone, and many heroes lowered their heads in shame.

Such strength and Resolve undoubtedly make him a hero, yet the pressure from the Judge prevents him from accepting it, and his deeply ingrained values are shaken.

But they can't act recklessly on impulse. If the eccentrics and the Judge unite, all the city clusters will fall. This is the clash between Justice and 'righteousness'.

"We will do our best to protect you, at least to prevent the Judge from tarnishing this camp."

Tatsumaki made a guarantee, which in fact overturned the previous 'discussion' proposal: they would not turn a blind eye and letting the Judge in would be considered more than merciful.

Yuki did not answer her. Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, he walked into the distance, waved lightly, and disappeared without a trace on the ruined street.

Um?

The instantaneous disappearance from perception startled everyone; it was clearly a high-level stealth ability, something that players with a constitution-based playstyle shouldn't possess.

This would have aroused suspicion before, but now there is a reasonable explanation.

"This counts as an inheritance?"

"Probably. I scanned it with my telekinesis. This isn't some low-level thing like invisibility." Tatsumaki bit her lip lightly. No wonder this guy dared to come back for revenge so brazenly. She and Atomic Samurai exchanged a glance, both feeling that something was seriously wrong.

If they can't find Rod, the Hero Association won't be able to tip him off and turn a blind eye anymore. The Judge will inevitably come to question them and then push them to the forefront.