Chapter 401: Chapter 343: The Gentlest Way to Die in the World
"Need help?"
Zhan Zhouzhou spoke up, loudly asking Phoenix Mountain.
Fujita Daigo’s defense far exceeded the limit of damage that Phoenix Mountain could inflict. It was difficult for him to take down the opponent quickly while attacking alone.
"No need!"
Phoenix Mountain’s face was grim as he once again activated his flying device and charged at Fujita Daigo.
He had thought that by developing a new ability, his strength would greatly increase, and he would be able to coordinate his abilities to at least harm some lower-tier Extraordinary beings.
But reality gave him a heavy slap, as he almost stumbled despite bursting out all his abilities.
Thanks to his new ability, though, his previous attack wasn’t fruitless. At least the part where he struck got a bit of "attributes" snatched by the Greedy Hand, reducing its strength and activity, transferring the benefits to his right arm.
Phoenix Mountain wasn’t a mindless brute. If he hadn’t developed the "Greedy Hand" ability, he would have certainly accepted Zhan Zhouzhou’s help.
But with the "Greedy Hand" supporting him, the situation was entirely different.
One could say, as long as he’s given time and enough Genetic Force, he’d dare to kill even a god!
"Then good luck." Zhan Zhouzhou said nothing more and calmly watched the scene.
Both she and Li Zheng had actually discerned Phoenix Mountain’s intention.
During previous battles against the mutants, Phoenix Mountain was virtually coasting throughout. What was initially a level where he could compete with the two suddenly became far inferior. With his slightly arrogant mindset, he wouldn’t accept that.
That’s why Zhan Zhouzhou and Li Zheng tacitly gave him a stage to play on, so at least he could feel better about himself.
Of course, all of this was based on the fact that both of them had already seen through Fujita Daigo’s abilities.
Otherwise, if it were any other enemy, the two wouldn’t have allowed Phoenix Mountain to fight alone.
At least safety had to be ensured.
"Watch, this guy is about to stumble soon." Li Zheng mumbled, realizing that Zhan Zhouzhou, with the Old Pupil body, could also see through Fujita Daigo’s attributes, awkwardly rubbing his nose.
"Are you talking about the Hypnotic Gas?" Zhan Zhouzhou’s eyes flickered slightly as she asked, "Do you think... its coverage range and toxicity strength, could it possibly..."
Could it possibly what?
Li Zheng was suddenly startled, "Crap! Yeah, that’s right!"
Fujita Daigo’s strength definitely exceeded the Diamond Limit. So, could anyone in the team withstand the Hypnotic Gas he releases?
Yes!
That would be Li Zheng himself.
With the Earth Dragon Armor’s resistance to toxins, even against Extraordinary level toxins, Li Zheng could hold on for a while and wouldn’t fall so quickly.
Thinking about this, Li Zheng began to warm up, activating his muscle flexibility and loosening his joints.
"What are you doing?" Zhan Zhouzhou asked curiously.
"What else?" Li Zheng put his hands behind his back and stretched forcefully, "Getting ready to relay, of course."
"Relay?" Zhan Zhouzhou asked, "But that’s an Extraordinary level toxin. Can you hold on?"
"I should be able to manage for a while." Li Zheng didn’t say much more.
Zhan Zhouzhou’s gaze fell on the Earth Dragon Armor Li Zheng wore, her eyes flashing a few times, roughly guessing the confidence behind his words.
She was still a bit worried and told Li Zheng, "You first transfer the team’s forced exit credentials to me. If something goes wrong, I’ll take you all out together."
Li Zheng thought it made sense, so he granted Zhan Zhouzhou credentials. This way, if Li Zheng and Phoenix Mountain were both hypnotized, Zhan Zhouzhou, standing a bit further away, could still take everyone out together, avoiding a total wipeout.
After a pause, Li Zheng also gave Yan Guang credentials, preparing for contingencies.
With everything arranged, the situation in Phoenix Mountain’s battle changed.
After a failed attack, Phoenix Mountain adjusted his tactics. Instead of going for the Full Power Burst each time, he relied on the "Greedy Hand" to steal attributes, circling around and attacking Fujita Daigo.
The reason for circling attacks was Phoenix Mountain’s concern about possible countermeasures from Fujita Daigo, implementing systematic evasion strategies.
In reality, every attack hit the same spot, and that petal developed a purplish-black spot under the erosion of the Greedy Hand.
The spot’s defense continuously dropped, even impacting cellular activity, with a sense of decay lingering on the surface.
"Pretty much there."
Phoenix Mountain’s eyes suddenly focused, and his right arm, several times thicker, was pulled back in preparation, as he pushed the power of the flying device on his back to its maximum, creating a thunderous boom.
"Full Power Burst·Tenfold!"
A punch was delivered with ferocity, its power at least three times greater than before!
However, before the Greedy Hand could even touch Fujita Daigo, the two crimson leaves behind the bud suddenly lit up, transmitting a feeling of annoyance.
"So noisy! It’s deafening!"
The bud opened slightly, releasing a wisp of pink pollen, which surged towards Phoenix Mountain’s face.
"Sleep."
"Once you sleep, it won’t be noisy anymore."
Poof!
Phoenix Mountain broke through the petal with one strike, simultaneously getting sprayed with pollen on his face.
Before he could take joy in successfully breaking through the enemy’s defense, his eyelids started to feel as heavy as lead. His body went limp, and the flying device behind him lost control, the airflow rapidly decreased, and he fell from the air.
"This fool..." Li Zheng knew it was his turn to take the stage, unfolding his seven-meter Thunder Wings behind him. With electric sparks flashing, he caught the falling Phoenix Mountain and brought him back to the others.
"You guys take care of him, I’ll go finish off that mutant." Li Zheng didn’t bother with whether Yan Guang and Phoenix Mountain were squabbling, directly tossing Phoenix Mountain to Yan Guang for her to take care of.
"Cough... If Zhan Zhouzhou and I also aren’t a match for him, you use the forced exit and take us out," Li Zheng reminded, fearing Yan Guang might screw everyone over due to some other factors.
"Rest assured." Yan Guang nodded, casually tossing Phoenix Mountain heavily at her feet, the force making Li Zheng’s eyelids twitch violently.
Does this woman wish for Phoenix Mountain to die?
Women’s hearts, truly hard to understand.
Luckily, he didn’t have such troubles.
Being single is truly liberating.
Li Zheng silently shook his head and turned to charge at Fujita Daigo.
At this time, Fujita Daigo was already completely shrouded in pollen, with those particles swirling around him as if alive.
"It hurts."
"It really hurts."
"Why are you hitting me?"
"I just want to be alone."
"Why won’t you leave me be?"
Getting closer, Li Zheng vaguely heard a murmur from the center of the bud, in genuine Mud Furnace language.
"Mom says she loves me, yet she always bothers me."
"Classmates bully me, teachers preach to me."
"It’s so annoying."
"It hurts so much!"
"You use needles to prick me, draw my blood."
"Use a knife to cut me, taking my flesh."
"Why is everyone bullying me?"
"Sleep."
"All of you, sleep."
"Once you all sleep, no one will bother me anymore."
At this moment, listening to those words, Li Zheng felt unexpectedly sympathetic.
Severe autism is very dangerous, and Fujita Daigo even generated a rejection towards his mother’s approach.
Misunderstood during his schooling, his autistic self was bullied by classmates, yet he had no one to tell.
Teachers thought his autism was mere affectation, not only ignoring his plight but preaching to him, advising openness and generosity.
Contaminated by nuclear radiation, he became a mutant, but still couldn’t escape being disturbed by others.
Those people drew his blood, cut his flesh for research purposes.
He should have angrily killed those researchers, yet he chose a gentlest way to protect himself.
As long as others are asleep, no one would trouble him anymore.
"Please, fall asleep."
[The most gentle way to die in the world is to pass away in sleep.]