Gamers Are Fierce-Chapter 741 - 739: Ventilation
I didn't know the specifics behind the energy system of the Catastrophe Mechanical Golem operated by that mule, but the intense beams of light it released with its arms were highly resistant to the energy absorption properties of the corridors in the Dolphin Hotel.
The crimson beam was fleeting, scorching a circular hole about a meter in diameter through the horde of rats along its path. Through this opening, one could faintly see the round clock fixed to the wall at the end of the corridor with metal nails, and above the clock, the lattice-shaped ventilation ducts.
THUMP!
Bai Haozheng's feet stomped on the walls in rapid succession, leaping into the hollow carved out by the Mechanical Statue. The Telekinesis filling the corridor was no longer the gentle calm of before; it rapidly churned and solidified, transforming into a massive storm that blew away the obstructing rats. Simultaneously, the needle-like Light Beam Saber in his hand moved with dazzling and terrifying speed in mid-air—stabbing, slicing, slashing, chopping, and shaving. The players could only barely see a faintly glowing afterimage progressing at high speed down the corridor. Along its path, rats inexplicably flew into the air and, before they could even touch the ground, split into countless pieces.
Slicing. 𝘧𝓇ℯ𝑒𝓌𝑒𝑏𝓃𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝒸ℴ𝓂
Everything the Beam Sword touched was cleaved apart, the cut surfaces smooth and flat with no indentations or scorch marks.
The Light Beam Saber in Bai Haozheng's hand didn't rely on lethal high temperatures to inflict damage. Instead, it consumed all energy transferred to the saber's hilt by the user—including but not limited to Spiritual Power, Spiritual Energy, and Inner Strength—to create an abnormally sharp beam blade capable of cutting through iron as if it were mud.
Users could, based on a series of complex and tedious calculation formulas, input different frequencies of energy into different parts of the hilt to adjust the blade's length, thickness, shape, and solidity.
It sounded cool, but in practice, it was akin to torture.
Every time Bai Haozheng swung the Beam Sword, he had to anticipate the strike's energy consumption in advance, adjust the energy output, and even calculate the minute changes in the Beam Sword's shape after cutting through an enemy's body, preemptively altering the position and pressure of the five fingers gripping the hilt.
The overall difficulty was comparable to asking a pianist to compose and perform live in Vienna's Golden Hall before a hundred excessively critical critics, without any error or flaw. Any mistake would lead directly to death.
It demanded computational power in the brain akin to a computer chip, muscle control precision comparable to an industrial machine tool, and for the swordsman to remain calm and steady, maintaining absolute composure under any intense pressure.
Luckily, Bai Haozheng lacked none of these.
In the blink of an eye, he had already crossed half the corridor. The Distant Light Glasses on the bridge of his nose shone a strong light, like a searchlight, onto the pitch-black ventilation ducts. Using the slight differences in light reflection, he sketched out in his mind the shadow of a colossal rat hidden in the corner of the 'T'-shaped vent.
Found it.
Bai Haozheng pointed the hilt of his sword straight at the ventilation duct, his fingers moving rapidly over it like a pianist's. Energy, output.
The low-energy Light Beam Saber instantly expanded into ten parallel lines that penetrated the grilles of the ventilation duct. These lines then merged into one, taking on a 'T' shape within the curved duct. The right end of the 'T' extended, silently piercing an exceptionally large, vicious rat with a long tail that seemed to stretch endlessly into the darkness.
Everything happened so quickly. The obese giant rat was still cowering and retreating when its body was pierced by the cone of light. Its brownish-yellow incisors trembled slightly, and its crimson eyes slowly lost their luster. The corpulent body slumped down listlessly, motionless.
At the same time, the swarms of rats continuously pouring out from the stairwells on both sides of the twelfth floor twitched in unison. Without any warning, they stopped surging out, fell to the ground, and melted into the corridor floor.
Had the giant rat melted too... Bai Haozheng felt the subtle vibrations from the tip of the Beam Sword and heard the System's kill notification in his ear. He silently let out a sigh of relief, then turned and nodded to the other players, signaling that he had killed the Rat King variant.
When he had suddenly leaped out of the Vajra Circle to strike at the Rat King, his companions within the circle had also provided support. The Plague Doctor threw corrosive bottles, Liu Wu Dai shot Exploding Arrows, and the Black Holy Son chanted spells to set the carpet ablaze. Li Ang used Alchemy to create a metal sign that read, "Go for it! Fighting!"
Truly reliable teammates.
Bai Haozheng stepped on the ground. The surrounding Telekinesis condensed into four streamlined nozzles that spewed gas, providing thrust and propelling him towards the Vajra Circle.
The Rat King's swarms regenerated instantly, their numbers seemingly endless. If this continued, they could easily wear out the players, who would eventually run out of ammunition and energy. However, the Rat King's central body itself was too weak; its physical strength was only slightly higher than an ordinary wild beast, on par with the lowest-level Monster Beast. Slay its central hub, and all the rats could be killed...
His thoughts were abruptly interrupted.
Bai Haozheng saw a blur; the Vajra Circle, which had been just ahead of him, suddenly retreated ten meters to the other side of the corridor.
No, it wasn't the Vajra Circle that had retreated, but Bai Haozheng himself...
The startled and astonished faces of his comrades were still imprinted on his retinas. Bai Haozheng twisted his waist sharply. The four telekinetic nozzles before him spewed gas as his fingers frantically danced across the sword's hilt. Ignoring the consumption of Spiritual Power, he forced the Beam Sword to form a wall of light in front of him.
The instant the light wall formed, Bai Haozheng clearly saw a decaying elderly creature, its body covered in black, oily matter, standing at the staircase on the left side of the corridor, one hand outstretched towards him.
Compared to the last time Bai Haozheng had seen it, the signs of decay on the horror elder were even more pronounced. It was this creature that had just dragged him through the air, attempting to pull Bai Haozheng towards itself.
Just killed the Rat King, and now I have to face the horror elder...
Bai Haozheng's mind raced. His right hand maintained the light wall while his left hand flipped, pulling out a thick stack of yellow Talismans and throwing them into the air. The omnipresent Telekinesis, even as it pushed Bai Haozheng to continue retreating, also transformed into sharp spikes and nails, pinning hundreds of Talismans firmly to the walls, floor, and ceiling of the corridor.
These Talismans were drawn by colleagues from the Heterodox Academy. Each one possessed the ability to seal, immobilize, and strangle evil spirits. But at that moment, Bai Haozheng only hoped they could slightly hinder the horror elder's advance...
"Be careful!" Wanli Fengdao's warning came from behind.
Bai Haozheng heard a hissing sound from the corridor walls to his side and rear, as if something was boiling and liquefying.
That's... the horror elder!
Just as Li Ang had described, its power had increased once more. It ignored the light wall created by Bai Haozheng's Beam Saber and the Talismans lining the walls. From a distance, it projected large amounts of black mire onto the walls behind Bai Haozheng on both sides. Emerging through the walls via the black mire, it swung a bag, trying to ensnare him.
