A Fight to the Death

The sounds of battle could be heard intermittently in the woods.

Yun Jingheng habitually touched his Soul Tool... It wasn't there; it seemed Aunt Cai didn't allow him to bring it in.

That combo killed them instantly? No, the Soul Bone needs to be hidden.

Gu Yue peeked out from behind him. "What are you looking for?"

Yun Jingheng lowered his hand. "It's nothing."

Suddenly, a mechanical voice rang out in the air, devoid of any emotion, as if it came from all directions at the same time.

"There are forty-six people left in the field. Now we'll reduce the size of the field."

The moment the words left his mouth, the color of the sky changed.

The originally bright light began to turn dim and yellowish, like the setting sun, except that darkness fell simultaneously from all directions.

At the edge of the forest, a pale golden light barrier rose from the ground and slowly moved towards the center.

Wherever the light barrier passed, trees, shrubs, and grasslands were swallowed up and turned into nothingness.

Nothingness is spreading, like the Tide Rise tide, silent yet unstoppable.

Xie Xie's expression changed. "Shrinking the space? Does this mean you're forcing us to meet?"

Tang Wulin frowned as he watched the slowly advancing light barrier. "At this rate, everyone will be forced to the center within a quarter of an hour."

"Wouldn't that mean..."

Gu Yue continued, picking up where Xu Xiaoyan off, "Everyone will meet."

"Hey! Do you think we don't exist?!" Yang Nianxia roared, venting her dissatisfaction.

Xie Xie frowned, leaned close to Yun Jingheng, and whispered, "What was the point of him yelling?"

Yun Jingheng looked at Yang Nianxia, thought for a moment, and said, "It expresses the author's homesickness."

"What?"

"He's sick."

"Oh, oh." Xie Xie nodded in sudden realization.

Before she could finish speaking, Yang Nianxia had already rushed forward.

But Tang Wulin dodged in front of him, his Golden Dragon Claw fist meeting the attack head-on.

Dark gold patterns covered Yang Nianxia's arms. When she threw a punch, the air was compressed and produced a sharp whistling sound.

"Bang--"

The shockwave exploded, Yang Nianxia retreated. Tang Wulin swayed, then used his leg to charge at Yang Nianxia.

Yun Jingheng's lips twitched at the sight. Wasn't this just "Great Fortune"?

Xie Xie's figure had disappeared from the spot at some point.

Yun Jingheng turned his head to look behind him, but there was nothing there except the rustling of the wind through the bushes.

He paused for a moment, stunned.

Why does a virtual arena have an escape option?

Gu Yue nodded to the right with her chin, and Yun Jingheng looked in that direction.

Xie Xie was locked in a fierce battle with Xu Yucheng twenty meters away.

The two moved so fast that they were just afterimages; light blades and high-speed movement intertwined, and sparks flew from the air every now and then.

Oh, no doubt about it... When did you get there?

Xie Xie's attacks were fierce, but Xu Yucheng never fought back, only dodging.

Gu Yue Xu Xiaoyan joined the battle, forming a team to continuously bombard the opponent's small snakes and... camels.

Meanwhile, our Yun Jingheng is still watching the game.

Wu Siduo looked at Yun Jingheng, then shifted her gaze to the group of people who were fighting.

Yang Nianxia and Tang Wulin were still exchanging blows, with Yang Nianxia at a disadvantage.

The combination of Gu Yue and Xu Xiaoyan overwhelmed Luo Guixing and Zheng Yiran, bombarding them with ice, fire, wind, and earth elements in turn, and occasionally subjecting them to hard control.

Xie Xie is still pursuing Xu Yucheng, Xu Yucheng is still dodging; the two seem to be dancing a dance where they can never step on each other's feet.

Wu Siduo watched for a while, and the corners of her mouth curved slightly, so slightly that it was almost imperceptible.

She walked over to Yun Jingheng, leaned against a tree, and crossed her arms.

There was a tree between the two.

She watched the battle unfold, and so did Yun Jingheng.

The wind blew, and the leaves rustled.

"Let's have a fight," Wu Siduo said softly, almost as if she were talking to herself, but Yun Jingheng heard her.

He turned to look at her, but she didn't look at him; she was still watching the battle.

Her profile was serene in the sunlight, her chin still slightly upturned, but the curve of her lips had changed slightly—it was... curiosity.

"Oh? I thought you would just take action."

Why do you say that?

"When you were in class, didn't you directly oppose my suggestion to become class monitor?"

"Yes, I objected."

"Then why aren't you making a move?"

"You're different from them." She gestured with her chin towards Tang Wulin, Xie Xie, Xu Xiaoyan, and Gu Yue.

"You're in a team with them, but when you stand next to them, you always feel... there's a barrier between you. It's not that they don't accept you, it's that you've created that barrier yourself."

She turned to look at Yun Jingheng, "You're clearly with them, but it's like you could walk away on your own at any moment. I understand that feeling."

Her voice was very soft, as if afraid it would be blown away by the wind.

Although... what do you know?

Yun Jingheng looked at her.

Wu Siduo withdrew her gaze and looked at the battle in the arena.

"I used to be like that too. When I was with other people, I always felt like we weren't on the same wavelength. It wasn't that they were bad, it was just me..."

She didn't continue.

The wind blew, and the leaves rustled.

Yang Nianxia was knocked back three steps by Tang Wulin's punch, and with a muffled groan, she charged forward again.

Gu Yue bombarded them with ice spikes and fireballs, forcing Luo Guixing and Zheng Yiran to retreat continuously.

Xie Xie finally touched the hem of Xu Yucheng's clothes, but only a corner, Xu Yucheng dodged away again.

Wu Siduo watched the people fighting and suddenly smiled.

"Look at them, how lively their fight is. But have you noticed that although they're fighting, no one is really going all out?"

Yun Jingheng nodded.

"Um."

Wu Siduo turned to look at him, "Do you know why?"

Yun Jingheng thought for a moment. "Because we're classmates."

Wu Siduo nodded, "Because we're classmates. After the competition, we'll still go to class together, eat together, and train together. So no one will really eliminate anyone else."

She paused, then said, "But you're different. If you play seriously, none of them can keep you here."

"This is a virtual venue."

Can you guarantee they won't have any ulterior motives towards you?

Wu Siduo withdrew her gaze and looked at the arena.

"That's why I opposed you becoming class monitor. It's not because you're not capable enough, it's because you're too strong. Strong enough that you're not even on the same level as them."

She paused, "But there's nothing wrong with having a strong person as class monitor. I just..."

She didn't continue.

Yun Jingheng looked at her. "Just what?"

Wu Siduo lowered her head and looked at her hands.

"I just felt that you looked quite lonely standing alone in front of me."

Her voice was very soft, so soft it was as if she were talking to herself.

Yun Jingheng paused for a moment, then asked, "You said you wanted to fight me earlier, is that because of this?"

Wu Siduo looked up at him. "No. I just wanted to see what you look like when you're serious."

We haven't seen it before.

"I have met your father."

"You think I'm very strong just because you've met him?"

"Not only that, think about it yourself. A few years ago, when strange phenomena appeared at Shrek, the Inner Court was locked down, and those with titles were put on guard."

"And you, you didn't appear on the Genius Youth Ranking."

"Shouldn't this prove that I'm not capable enough?"

Wu Siduo looked at him, and the corners of her mouth curved slightly.

"Not strong enough? You're twelve years old, level forty-seven, a dual-elemental Soul Master, Level 5 Soul Engineer, and a level six mecha designer. You call that not strong enough?"

Yun Jingheng nodded. "Yes. There are many people stronger than me."

Wu Siduo took a deep breath, "Then how many do you want to name?"

Yun Jingheng thought for a moment, "My dad, my mom, Grandma Long, Aunt Cai, Grandpa Zhuo, Grandpa Feng..."

Wu Siduo interrupted him, "I meant peers."

Yun Jingheng thought for a moment, then said, "No."

Wu Siduo looked at him. "Then you are the strongest."

Yun Jingheng shook his head. "The strongest aren't necessarily on the list."

"I know."

Yun Jingheng didn't respond, but simply looked at Gu Yue quietly.

Wu Siduo was silent for a moment, then asked, "You... like her?"

Yun Jingheng suddenly turned his head, his eyes filled with astonishment, and looked at Wu Siduo.

I like her?!

Am I out of my mind?!

How dare you slander me! You've already committed suicide!

The Moonlight Sword materialized in his hand, its tip pointing directly at the Wu Siduo.

"Come on, let's settle this once and for all!" Yun Jingheng's voice was half a tone higher than usual.

Wu Siduo looked at him, then at the sword in his hand, and raised an eyebrow.

"Alright~ Let's decide life and death."