As if You're the Only One Who Can Flash

A dozen or so minutes later.

In the darkness outside Wandering Soul Alley.

Deep in the darkness, a flashing light could just barely be seen approaching rapidly, like a signal beacon.

That light was like a firefly in the dark.

Blink, blink!

A moment later, accompanied by the thunder of a warhorse's hooves, the Black Knight charged over, his face grim beneath his shining bald head.

Swarm after swarm of moths circled his forehead.

His eyes were dark as he searched everywhere for traces of the Witcher.

More than half an hour earlier.

He had already severely wounded the Witcher.

But in the end, the man had taken advantage of the gap when his potion wore off to escape.

Still, he believed the Witcher couldn't have gotten far.

They had been sworn enemies for centuries.

As long as he could kill him, his combat ranking in the Dark World would rise another tier.

He had finally seized this opportunity, and he absolutely wouldn't let it slip away!

Just then.

His eyes flashed.

He instantly sensed that familiar presence coming from the direction of Wandering Soul Alley.

"Found you!"

He sneered and abruptly turned toward the hazy black mist in the distance.

Ding-

A flash lit up within the black mist.

He froze.

"That's..." He hesitated, struck by an indescribably powerful sense of familiarity.

Deep within the roiling pitch-black mist.

He could vaguely see a flickering glow slowly approaching him. It flashed roughly once every two seconds, its light brilliantly bright.

He didn't know why.

But it felt strangely familiar.

Just like...

Just like...

And in the next instant, a bare-chested figure with eyes hidden in darkness slowly appeared in his field of vision.

The Black Knight jolted.

He immediately recognized the figure as the Witcher he had fought earlier!

"Th-that's..." He took a step back in shock.

Carrying his long blade, the Witcher walked toward him step by step, his expression grim and cold, his eyes concealed in shadow.

Ding-

A "+"-shaped glow lit up on a gleaming bald forehead exactly like his own.

The Witcher slowly stopped, opened his eyes wide, and tightened his grip on his blade.

"Now we can finish our battle."

Ding-

His forehead flashed.

Ding-

As if answering him, the Black Knight's smooth forehead flashed as well.

"..."

"..."

An inexplicable, eerie silence spread around them.

The Black Knight stared at him in shock. His gaze immediately fell on the potion bottle in his hand, and he gritted his teeth.

"Don't tell me..."

"That's right!"

An imposing aura surged from the Witcher with a whoosh. He raised his head and looked down coldly at the Black Knight.

"I went bald, but I also got stronger."

Ding-

An even brighter light flashed across his impassive forehead.

"Don't think you're the only one who can go bald. When I go bald, you'd better step aside!"

His gaze darkened, and his eyes snapped wide open, blazing with fighting spirit and killing intent.

The Black Knight's face darkened, and he said in a low voice:

"So! We're back on equal footing."

Ding-

His head flashed.

"That's right."

The Witcher stared at him coldly.

Ding, ding-

He flashed twice in succession.

"And I flash more often than you do, which means..."

He rolled his neck with a series of cracks, then slid his hand across his gleaming bald forehead. As the wind howled, he declared in a low voice:

"I'm stronger than you!"

Ding, ding, ding-

He flashed three times to show his arrogance.

"..."

Howling winds formed one swirling vortex after another at their feet, and waves of fighting spirit thundered upward around them.

Both men stood motionless, their eyes narrowed.

Like the stillness before a duel atop the Forbidden City, their imposing auras climbed madly.

Even the lights on their foreheads competed, one flashing, then the other.

And in the very next instant.

Neither said another word!

In the darkness, two points of light rapidly converged.

A metallic clang rang out.

Their blades collided instantly. Enraged, the two men hammered their weapons against each other with repeated clanging blows, countless sparks exploding from each clash.

They pressed their foreheads hard against each other, gritting their teeth as neither gave an inch.

"You damned baldy, I've hated your guts for ages! Don't think going bald means you can beat me! (〝▼皿▼) As if you're the only one who can go bald!"

"(▼皿▼#) You're still no match for me, even bald!! I'll teach you to flash! I'll teach you to copy me! Fuck you-"

Bang-

Sparks flew everywhere.

"Fuck! You actually dared to headbutt me! I'll crack your fucking skull too! (｀皿´)ﾉ"

Bang-

For a time, the two furious points of light in the darkness kept crashing into each other, neither yielding.

[Ding! Congratulations, host! You have earned the achievement: Potion Peddler. You have received 200 base experience.]

[Potion Peddler]: Earn over twenty thousand Skeleton Coins by selling the same potion. You have received a permanent bonus: all attributes +1, and an additional 1% income from potion sales.

[Ding! You have successfully reached level 6. The system has unlocked a new feature for you: "Vision Realm." You may log in to explore it at any time.]

At the counter.

Several system notifications rang out in succession in Lynn's mind.

Lynn quickly allocated all four of his newly acquired attribute points to Constitution.

"Vision Realm? What does that feature do?"

Lynn stirred slightly.

He immediately brought up the system interface and spotted a large eye icon in the corner of the panel.

The system said, "The Vision Realm is an illusory domain created by the supreme will of the Dark World that overlaps with the Dark World. It is a mirror world that has existed for tens of millions of years."

"As long as they are within the bounds of the Dark World, any dark creature can send its consciousness into the Vision Realm through a special [Vision Realm Stone]."

"You can exchange information with other creatures within the Vision Realm. Upon death, you will be forcibly expelled from the Vision Realm, but your physical body will not suffer much damage."

After hearing the system's explanation.

Lynn had a rough understanding.

It seemed to be a world of consciousness similar to the modern internet.

Looks like I still know far too little about this Dark World...

Lynn pondered.

For the past two years, he had been so weak that he had never had the chance to leave this little shop.

Much less come into contact with the wider world beyond Wandering Soul Alley.

"Do I need to consume one of those [Vision Realm Stones] to enter?" Lynn asked uncertainly.

[Ding! The system has successfully completed integration for you. Each login will only cost you 500 Skeleton Coins, and the system will automatically connect you.]

"That expensive?!" Lynn was stunned.

Fortunately, he had accumulated a fair amount of money by now, so he could give it a try.

Without another word.

Lynn reached out and tapped the eye icon on the system interface.

"Activate!"

And in the very next instant.

Lynn felt as though his brain had been struck by a heavy blow, and his consciousness plunged into darkness with a buzz.

Dimly, he felt as if an unimaginably vast will had locked directly onto him and seen through his entire soul.

It sent chills down his spine.

But that sensation lasted only an instant.

The next moment, Lynn abruptly opened his eyes.

"This is..."