Chapter 29: The Strongest Cyborg of Dream-Maker Entertainment
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Defeated!
The Dragon Sword Ninja had been reduced to a single head, staring up at the ceiling he had chosen moments earlier.
A master assassin, he had actually been assassinated face-to-face by Mo Wen.
This young man was terrifying. He had already mastered the art of psychic invisibility, even deceiving the cyborg’s sensory systems. Though standing directly in front of him, Mo Wen had gone unnoticed simply because the cyborg’s brain was incapable of recognizing him as an enemy.
“Damn it! But among the twenty-five captains in Division Sixteen, I’m only middle-ranking. Even if you defeat me, there are plenty of stronger enemies ahead of you. Don’t start thinking you’re invincible!”
Mo Wen agreed. “You’re absolutely right. I also feel that I still have plenty to work on.”
“You’ve reminded me of something, too. I should spar with everyone and try to figure out exactly where I stand.”
He opened the Field Operations Department’s software.
[16-25-Mo Wen: I trained all day and feel like I’ve grown much stronger. I’d like to find out how strong I really am now. Anyone willing to have a match with me?]
[16-1-Windchaser: Rookie, you think you’re impressive after training for only one day? Arrogance is a bad habit. Let me teach you a lesson.]
A new connection request immediately appeared in Mo Wen’s virtual training space, and he naturally accepted it.
The next moment, a cyborg slowly materialized. A wing-shaped structure was mounted on his back, making it clear that he excelled at aerial combat.
After resetting his body and activating peace mode, the phased Dragon Sword Ninja could not help exclaiming, “That’s the strongest member of our division! Mo Wen, be careful. He has a record of a thousand victories in a thousand internal matches, and he once made it into the top sixty-four in a headquarters tournament. On the world stage, he can still be considered a first-rate powerhouse.”
Windchaser wore a proud expression. “That’s right. Prepare yourself. I’ll even let you choose how to challenge me.”
Mo Wen was not intimidated in the slightest. “Fine! Begin!”
A flash of steel, and Windchaser’s head fell.
Even after resetting his body, he still had no idea what had happened. “That can’t be right. I’m obviously very strong.”
Mo Wen had no intention of explaining. He simply continued issuing challenges.
[16-25-Mo Wen: Next.]
[12-5-Edge of the World: Hm? Windchaser hasn’t said anything. Was he defeated? What a formidable rookie. In that case, allow me to fight you.]
A new connection request arrived, and a cyborg appeared before them. He was ethereal and indistinct. Though clearly standing right in front of them, he somehow gave the impression of being separated by ten thousand miles.
Whether he was trying to drag someone down with him after his own defeat, or whether his instinct as a commentator had simply taken over, the phased Windchaser spoke before the Dragon Sword Ninja could.
“It’s Edge of the World! In the last headquarters tournament, this contestant shamelessly squeezed into the top eight. He once gifted everyone with an utterly boring match in which he forced his opponent to fly helplessly for an entire hour.”
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“His ability is to adjust the psychological distance between himself and others, thereby distorting their perception of space. In practice, it makes people believe they cannot hit him, or causes them to run in circles while thinking they are advancing. You need powerful attacks covering a wide area to defeat him.”
The corner of Edge of the World’s mouth twitched, but he remained composed. “Only the weak conceal their abilities. There is no need for me to hide my strength. I deserve to be praised by others.”
“This challenge has already begun. Come and fight me!”
Mo Wen was familiar with this technique. He had once been killed by an ability of the same type and had spent time considering how he ought to deal with it.
A flash of steel, and Edge of the World’s head fell.
His head lay on the ground. Rather than immediately resetting his body, Edge of the World seriously reviewed what he had felt moments before.
“You didn’t select me as your target or attack me directly. You bypassed my ability.”
“Then, based on the arrangement of the matter you sensed, you constructed a model in your mind and attacked a specific region of matter. Is that right?”
Mo Wen nodded. “That’s right.”
In truth, he could have crushed his opponent’s mind with psychic power and forcibly broken through the ability, winning through sheer force. But after obtaining the fruits of Death Remembrance, not using them felt like a waste.
Having secured yet another victory, Mo Wen impatiently issued another invitation.
[16-25-Mo Wen: Next.]
[12-5-“Double Seven-Five-Five”: Edge of the World was beaten that quickly? Isn’t that a little too fast?]
[8-21-Who Am I: Is this really a rookie? His strength is absurd. Did he bribe the GM of Averill Online and buy himself some upgrades?]
[6-15-Calcium, Not Gay: According to the records, he has been a military cyborg for less than three days. He isn’t a New Human and hasn’t undergone any special enhancement surgery.]
[Headquarters-1-Madman: Holy crap, you’re incredible, brother! Let me see what you’re made of.]
The connection request was approved, and a wild, unrestrained man appeared in Mo Wen’s virtual training space.
He was the most cyberpunk-looking individual Mo Wen had seen so far.
For one thing, the plasma cannon mounted between his legs had gone well beyond Mo Wen’s understanding. The sight became even more astonishing when it swung up and down, electricity flickering across the plasma power cells beside it.
Without a certain level of psychological fortitude, it would surely be difficult to clash with a man like this.
Madman declared confidently, “I am the reigning champion of the headquarters tournament and the strongest cyborg in Dream-Making Entertainment. I accept your challenge!”
“Allow me to introduce myself. My ability is ‘Self-Enhancement.’ Its rating is Alpha Plus, with a maximum energy level of five. Even at energy level three, I can strengthen myself fiftyfold in every aspect.”
“My strength, speed, weapon damage, energy-generation efficiency, psychic resistance—even all of them—can be increased by such a terrifying ratio.”
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“Absolute stats are the very reason I’m the strongest! Come at me!”
A flash of steel, and Madman’s head fell.
Before it reached the ground, however, he realized what had happened. Using psychic power, he halted his head in midair and pondered.
“You pierced through my resistance, left my thoughts blank for an instant, and then ‘killed’ me… So even those at the same level can be worlds apart.”
“Your psychic power is utterly placid in its normal state, like an ascetic monk on the verge of entering nirvana. But the instant it erupts, it turns death into life, rising from the ashes like a phoenix reborn. You seize that moment of transformation and compress all your strength into a single point, making it dazzling beyond measure.”
“That doesn’t seem to match the personality you display. You’ve got some serious mental issues, buddy.”
“But since you defeated me, you deserve the honor that is rightfully yours.”
Madman’s decapitated body caught his head and reattached it. He then produced an iron baton.
“Here. Take it. This is the iron baton symbolizing Dream-Making Entertainment’s strongest cyborg. Once you hold it, you become the company’s strongest cyborg.”
The other three only realized what was happening at that point. Edge of the World could not help complaining, “You lunatic! When did the company ever have such a bizarre tradition?”
Madman replied solemnly, “Every tradition is created by someone. I am the person who created this one—the first bearer of the baton.”
“Outside the virtual world, I’ll pass the iron baton to you in reality as well.”
“As for what the iron baton means? That is for us to decide.”
Mo Wen hesitated, but in the end he accepted the baton symbolically. Then he tossed it aside and let the virtual training space’s reset mechanism deal with it.
Madman was not displeased. He had only wanted to pass along the baton; what happened after it was passed did not matter to him. Besides, the real-world baton had yet to be delivered.
But even after defeating Madman, Mo Wen’s test of his own strength was not over.
[16-25-Mo Wen: I won. Anyone interested, come gang up on me.]
[12-5-“Double Seven-Five-Five”: ???]
[8-21-Who Am I: You’re a cheater! Do you sell cheats?]
[16-Field Operations Director: Huh?]
[Headquarters-Field Operations Director: I suspect I’m dreaming.]
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