Gamers Are Fierce-Chapter 659 - 657: Breakthrough (4K)

Kratos's deep voice echoed in everyone's ears.

Most of the racers' expressions changed slightly, displaying shock and surprise, while a few had seemingly anticipated this situation, and their faces turned solemn. 𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂

The champion team of the last tournament—the Hell Roar Team, led by Mephistopheles, the King of Hatred—had once intercepted racers who appeared later in the middle of the bloody race segment. At that time, they had trapped many. In the end, it was Kratos who took action, hacking a demon god to death with his twin blades and axe. He drove towards the finish line, forcing Mephistopheles to give up on intercepting the teams behind.

I didn't expect Kratos to block the road this time...

"Hmph. You should see the looks on your faces."

With a disdainful sneer, the burly Bowser scanned the crowd and said contemptuously, "We're all just sets of data; Kratos is no more advanced than anyone else. If you're scared of even this small obstacle, it's better to surrender early and don't even think about returning to your home game worlds."

"What about you?" a racer frowned and questioned. "You can't beat Kratos either."

"Maybe, who knows."

Bowser shook his head. "Even if I can't beat him, I can hold out for a while. The bloody race segment allows racers to attack each other, but they can't leave their vehicles for too long, and if their vehicle is damaged, they are automatically disqualified. The first-place team is obstructing the exit. The purpose of the teams behind is not to kill the leading team, but to delay until enough vehicles leave the repair area. Then, by gathering everyone's strength, they can either kill the first-place team or break through, drive ahead, and force the leader to abandon the blockade. Even if racers can't trust each other, they can always work together for a common interest, right?"

Admittedly, Bowser's words did make some sense. The racers, with varying expressions, silently returned to their vehicles.

Seeing no one voluntarily retiring, Kratos, standing on the roof of his vehicle, remained expressionless. He held the Chaos Twin Blades that had slaughtered countless deities, waiting for challengers to appear.

Amidst the racers' complicated gazes, the second vehicle to enter the repair area—the Apocalypse Vehicle, driven by Fury, Death, War, and Strife—slowly emerged from the bubble barrier engulfing the perimeter of the repair area.

Fury, Death, War, and Strife all hailed from the action game series *Dark Bloodline*. In their game's lore, their strength is in no way inferior to the Deity-level Kratos. Both teams could be described as having the most formidable individual combatants in this Death Race.

"Oh ho," Li Ang, sitting at the machine gun control, raised an eyebrow. "Now there's a good show to watch."

"Who do you think will win?" Sunset Gold Smelter asked softly. "Judging purely by data strength, it seems the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse have a slightly higher total. However, the three in Kratos's vehicle are not weak either."

"In theory, to compare strength across different universes, you'd usually have the original authors fight it out, or let sales figures decide," Li Ang smiled. "Considering the *Dark Bloodline* series has lower sales than *God of War*, and its developer, THQ, even went bankrupt and was acquired, I'm siding with God of War on this one."

"Eh, that's not how it should be calculated..." Sunset Gold Smelter's eye twitched. "If we're just looking at IP value, then Pokémon would probably round up all the racers here and wipe them out."

"That's true as well." Li Ang rubbed his chin and muttered, "As long as you're backed by a big IP, no matter how uninspired you are or what kind of garbage you produce, it'll still sell well. No wonder everyone loves IPs now..."

Li Ang's grumbling did not affect the changes on the track.

The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse drove onto the track, facing Kratos from a hundred meters away.

For warriors of their caliber, one hundred meters was no different than being within arm's reach. However, according to the rules of the Death Race, racers could not stray too far or too long from their vehicles or the track, or they would be directly disqualified. This meant they had to attack each other, damaging their opponents or destroying their vehicles, the instant their own vehicles clashed.

The two parties did not exchange words; their eyes alone confirmed there was no room for negotiation.

There could only be one victor to go home.

"When I saw the Lamb open the first of the seven seals, I heard one of the four living creatures say with a voice like thunder, 'Come...'"

The heavy Apocalypse Vehicle driven by the Four Horsemen was once adorned with bas-reliefs as white as jade, filled with a sacred aura. But now, as a hoarse, faint chant began to resonate around the vehicle, the sacred engravings on its surface gradually darkened and turned pitch black.

The wheels of the Apocalypse Vehicle slowly turned, the gray smoke from the friction between its tires and the ground carried a strong scent of sulfur.

"When the second seal was opened, I heard the second living creature say, 'Come.' Then another horse appeared, a fiery red one. Its rider was given power to take peace from the earth and make men slay each other. To him was given a great sword..."

The chanting continued, and the engravings on the vehicle's surface completely merged with the darkness.

Death, one of the Four Horsemen, sat in the driver's seat. The remaining Strife, Fury, and War pushed open the doors, leaped onto the roof, and, weapons in hand, gazed at the distant God Slayer.

The vehicle began to slowly accelerate.

The racers inside the hemispherical bubble barrier involuntarily gripped their steering wheels, holding their breath.

"Power was given to them over a fourth of the earth, to kill by sword, famine, and plague, and by the wild beasts of the earth."

The chanting reached its peak the moment the two vehicles converged.

Thick smoke suddenly burst from all around the Apocalypse Vehicle.

Countless emaciated Skeleton Souls surged from the smoke. They clawed at their own bones in agony, as if trying to rip out non-existent hearts, howling and shrieking as they rushed towards the Chaos Race Car.

BOOM!

Flames suddenly roared to life on the Chaos Twin Blades in Kratos's hands. The agonies rooted in unbearable memories, the persistent Heart Demons tormenting him—all at this moment became fuel for the flames.

Swing the blades!

The flames swirling around the Chaos Twin Blades acted like a bone-corroding poison, slicing through the dense smoke that refused to dissipate. Any Skeleton Souls touched by the firelight melted like wax candles, forced to scatter screaming.

CLANG!

The blade struck something. It was a ridiculously oversized Two-Handed Great Sword, wielded by the War Knight shrouded in a Blood-red hood.

The War Knight blocked the Chaos Twin Blades. Gazing at the stern-faced Kratos before him, he leaned forward and said hoarsely, "God Slayer, your road ends here..."

The Apocalypse Vehicle spewed out black smoke once again, shrouding the entire racetrack.

A minor tumult erupted in the repair area. Racers craned forward, but they could only see the flickering flames of the Chaos Twin Blades amidst the smoke and hear the dull, resounding clashes of metal, the roars and shouts, and the wails of the Souls.

What happened? Who won? A great uncertainty loomed over all the racers.

When the surrounding black smoke finally cleared, they saw the road in ruins, full of deep craters burning with flames. The Apocalypse Vehicle was stopped in place. Strife and Fury lay in the craters on either side, their conditions unknown, while War, still clutching his Great Sword, stood firmly on the vehicle's roof.

"Phew..."

Most sighed in relief. This was almost the best-case scenario. Kratos had been defeated by the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. However, the Horsemen had also suffered heavy losses, their combat power greatly diminished, making them no longer contenders for the top spot.

Now, they had to consider how to defeat the others...

Before those with various thoughts had time to properly calculate, the Apocalypse Vehicle ahead on the road let out a shrill, grating sound that set one's teeth on edge.

CRACK, CRACK, CRACK, CRACK...

The pitch-black vehicle rapidly disintegrated, collapsing into a pile of broken parts on the ground. The War Knight standing atop it slowly released his Great Sword, all strength gone, and tumbled down.

The black smoke completely dissipated. On the ravaged road, the Chaos Race Car and its master still stood.

"..."

Kratos still wore an expression so stern that one could not discern any emotion. His gnarled, muscular body was covered with wounds so deep the bone was visible. Fresh blood oozed from his arms, only to be seared into vapor by the flames of the Chaos Twin Blades before it could touch the ground.

The battered God Slayer remained standing.

"...Hmph."

Bowser pursed his lips, gripped the steering wheel, and slowly drove his vehicle onto the broken, rubble-strewn track.

"Mario is dead," he muttered, uncertain if he was speaking to himself or to Chino Bio, Donkey Kong, and the others in the vehicle, who wore solemn expressions. "He vanished before we were kicked out of our own game worlds, and there's no trace of him in Central City either..."

Bowser pressed down on the accelerator, and the vehicle began to speed up.

"Mario is my enemy. I hate him, I loathe him. For countless days and nights, I've prayed for his death, for him to be eternally damned to The Abyss."

"But he is my arch-rival."

"He belongs to me. His life, his fate, his every breath, heartbeat, and pulse—everything about him belongs to me."

"Without my permission, he cannot disappear, he cannot die."

Bowser's eyes reflected Kratos's image. The vehicle moved faster and faster, charging towards the center of the battlefield.

"Until I find him throughout the entire game world, any obstacle blocking my path can just GO TO HELL! AAAAAHHH!!!"

Bowser roared. At the moment the two vehicles collided, he kicked open his door, leaped out, and his huge, knife-clawed hand shot out and tightly gripped the chain of the Chaos Twin Blades as they swung towards their vehicle.

BANG!

The collision of fists between the God Slayer and the Demon King produced a visible shockwave.

This loud bang seemed to be a kind of signal, as several vehicles simultaneously exited the maintenance area and stormed onto the track.

"No one!"

"Understands better than I!"

"How to be!"

"A villain!"

Bowser, perched atop the Chaos Race Car, roared intermittently. With each shout, he swung his fists, heavy as a ton, constricting Kratos's room to maneuver.

Kratos repeatedly dodged the sweeping punches. Suddenly, he drew a circular Shield from behind him and, with lightning speed, smashed its edge into Bowser's fist.

The sharp edge of the Shield dug deep between Bowser's knuckles, instantly splattering blood onto the vehicle's roof.

THUD!

Kratos punched Bowser in the chest, sending him flying sideways. Bowser rolled upon landing, carving a long trench into the concrete pavement.

PTUI—

Lying in the deep crater, Bowser coughed up a mouthful of blood. A fist print was visible on his chest, and who knew how many ribs were broken. The airship overhead, responsible for monitoring the race's fairness, announced the referee's decision: Bowser was disqualified for being too far from his vehicle.

But a smile hung on Bowser's face.

He had achieved his goal.

While Kratos was attacking him, Chino Bio, in the passenger seat, had pulled numerous bricks and wooden planks from the void. He flipped under their vehicle and quickly constructed an upward-slanting ramp with a speed booster, seemingly out of thin air.

This special ability, originating from the *Super Mario Maker* series, allowed their vehicle to launch into the sky, escaping far beyond Kratos's attack range. Moreover, with a continuous stream of vehicles emerging from the repair zone, Kratos would have to abandon his blockade and give chase if he wanted to maintain his lead.

Bowser collapsed heavily, his fading consciousness clearly felt the road surface beneath him rapidly moving, carrying him off the track towards where the medical personnel were stationed.

I still won... Come on, Chino Bio, the rest is up to you...

No one could hear Bowser's murmur.

Kratos let out a long sigh and turned towards the front of the racetrack.

The engine of his vehicle started up again. The bloody race segment allowed racers to fully unleash their powers. As the Divine Power of Hephaestus infused every part of the vehicle, the Chaos Race Car began to fold and expand. Intricate Mechanical components covered its surface, as if cladding it in blood-red Steel Armor.

"Nothing will stop us from going home," Kratos said faintly. "Charge, Senna. Leave the vehicles en route to me."

Accompanied by Kratos's whisper, the Chaos Race Car accelerated, charging toward the vehicle driven by Donkey Kong ahead.

Numerous vehicles stormed onto the desert track, Li Ang's Stryker Armored Vehicle among them.

Since the blockade ahead has been broken through... it's time to start competing.

The Gravity Gun sucked up sand and rubble, launching them at surrounding enemies.

The Dragonborn unleashed a Dragon Roar, causing the air to stagnate and halt incoming fireballs.

The Pirate Ship rammed its way through. Its port-side turrets fired Crossbow Arrows attached to ropes, dragging other vehicles closer and allowing the Pirates on board to engage in boarding combat.

In the vast desert, the sounds of battle were incessant.

"EX—"

The blonde-haired, blue-eyed Knight and her adorable, lion-suited counterpart stood atop their vehicle. Each raised a Longsword, wreathed in a Gale, its blade radiating an immense light.

"—CALIBUR!!"

From the tips of their blades, immense Magic Power erupted, extending into a beam of light hundreds of meters long.

With the combined power of the two Sabers, they unleashed a 180-degree horizontal slash.

After the sword stroke, the highway was now unrecognizable. The land on both sides had been shaved down by several meters, and the vast wasteland was dotted with rising steam from the scorching heat of the attack.

Vehicles carrying racers of insufficient strength burst apart and disintegrated. Fewer than twenty vehicles still rode side-by-side on the racetrack.

"...That was close."

Sunset Gold Smelter let out a long, turbid breath. He had sensed impending doom the moment he saw Saber raise The Sword of Oath Victory. Fortunately, Li Ang had hung off the side of the vehicle, pressing his palm to the road to melt it ahead. This allowed their vehicle to dive into an underground tunnel. Simultaneously, the Witch deployed an Energy Shield to envelop them, sparing the Stryker Armored Vehicle from annihilation by the brilliant sword light.

The Alchemical Lightning in Li Ang's palm gradually dissipated as the vehicle once again drove back to the surface.

"This car is too slow." He looked at his companions and calmly said, "I'll give it a boost."

"What are you going to do?" Sunset Gold Smelter's heart suddenly thumped; he could see a strange Energy surging within Li Ang's body.

CRACK!

Li Ang, ignoring his astonished teammates, slapped his palm onto the vehicle. Plant-like tendrils extended from his palm, easily piercing the vehicle's Metal Armor. They spread and grew, invading every corner, replacing the vehicle's original components.

In an instant, the vehicle transformed into a grotesque hybrid of Mechanical parts, flora, and flesh.