Chapter 855 - 370: Self-Destruct
The players qualified to enter the Steam Phantom Dungeon are those perched at the pinnacle of the Desolate Realm pyramid, their prowess and vision far surpassing that of ordinary full-level players.
Their power is sufficient to withstand the effects of abyssal corruption, allowing them to remain calm and avoid impulsive decisions.
Of course, except for the lunatics.
Their calm minds prevented the players from taking immediate action when Julie announced the start, instead cautiously observing their surroundings.
There were thirty-five players present, but only five invitations to be contested.
Many would face elimination, the sooner one acts, the higher the chance of being eliminated.
The most important aspect among players is to avoid an all-out conflict.
Getting hit by unknown range Skills and walking off stage full of questions is a scene everyone wants to avoid.
Players slowly moved around, forming five small circles around the invitations.
As the first player remotely transferred an invitation into his hand and stealthily escaped, the players in the square began to fight.
Apart from Wu Chang’s main body, his True Self and members of the Management Bureau stood atop the distant clock tower, gathering information on the players in the field.
After brief observation, he found the final scramble far more interesting than he thought.
He noticed that not all players in the square were last-minute hopefuls.
Among them were strong players eager to showcase their prowess in the final battle.
For instance, near the invitation closest to Saint George’s Cathedral, one player stood out conspicuously.
He carried a ridiculously large sabre at his waist and wore a black evening suit, as if attending a gala rather than a brutal contest.
With elegance, he ignored the surrounding players and walked straight toward the invitation.
"Choosing this group shows your Eye Power unworthy of tonight’s gala." He taunted while reaching for the invitation.
By then, battles had commenced in the other four areas, and players around the Sabre Man were already poised to fight, incensed by his taunts.
A bald man in a studded leather jacket and sunglasses burst into flames, aiming for Sabre Man’s face.
"Let’s see if you’re worthy..."
Before the bald man finished his vile words, he was sent flying backward, scraping a black line on the stone plaza until crashing into the battle space’s barrier.
The crowd looked at the flying bald man, seeing a clear fist imprint on his face, a powerful punch not only smashing his nose but compressing his features.
Thankfully, it was just a flesh wound; the bald man crawled up and escaped using hands and feet.
Leaving signified his withdrawal from the invitation’s final contest.
Before the crowd recovered from the bald man’s exit, the next moment, three other men around the invitation followed suit, knocked out.
Sabre Man picked up the invitation from the ground and smiled at the two female players still processing, saying:
"I dislike hitting women, especially beautiful ones, it’s too brutal and mars their beauty."
The steps of the two backing female players slowed slightly, relieved, as they went to say, "I withdraw from the contest," only to produce "uh, uh" sounds from their throats.
Looking down, they found crimson blood gushing from their necks, unknowingly sliced open by Sabre Man.
They hadn’t even seen how Sabre Man drew his blade.
The two covered their neck wounds, one drinking a Healing Potion before fleeing in a stream of light.
The other, more cautious, worried about Sabre Man following up, directly activated a Dungeon Item for escape.
"Such a fast blade." Sword Star on the distant clock tower couldn’t help but marvel.
A fellow cold weapon expert, he couldn’t resist comparing his Flying Sword Technique with Sabre Man’s Sword Skill.
After mentally simulating the comparison, his expression darkened as he said:
"Within thirty meters, my sword isn’t as fast as his blade."
Though he could see Sabre Man draw his blade, he couldn’t surpass it.
Wu Chang also noticed Sabre Man’s performance, he said:
"His speed isn’t solely due to his Sword Skill; look closely, he used Power of Root related to speed."
Cold Mountain nodded in agreement, ready to echo Wu Chang, but his words transformed into an "Hmm?"
"You can see him using Power of Root here?"
Cold Mountain suspected a hearing issue, Power of Root normally detected between those close to each other with mutual sensing.
Seeing Power of Root directly over a thousand meters, what’s happening here?
Wu Chang showed confusion, countering with: "Isn’t mastering Power of Root naturally allowing you to see others’ Power of Root?"
Cold Mountain shook his head: "This is the first I’ve heard of that, though I’ve heard another saying that might relate to your situation."
Wu Chang asked curiously: "What saying?"
Cold Mountain moved his lips and shook his head: "Nothing, let’s pretend I didn’t say anything."
Cold Mountain struggled hard to suppress the comment, "Dogs can see what humans can’t."
Wu Chang shrugged, guessing Cold Mountain was about to say some baseless cheat-talk, so he didn’t probe further.