A one-sided, utterly ruthless, and predictable slaughter.
As Euphemia unleashed her 'Ten-Blade Style,' Chen Kong, who had previously been able to hold his own, was now completely overwhelmed and trapped in a hopeless situation. Between the flashes of her blades, more and more wounds appeared on his body.
Crimson blood seeped into his clothes without him noticing.
During this process, Chen Kong didn't stop struggling. But his newly learned Winged Gun Fighting Style and his once-awakened Astral Core: Void Mark were both completely useless against Euphemia's pure stats and overwhelming skill.
Void Mark?
Void Mark, no matter how much it countered Astral Energy and techniques, couldn't block a real, physical slash.
Gun Fighting Style?
What's the difference between a bullet that can't even graze an opponent and fireworks that fade away after the celebration is over?
In the face of an absolute disparity in strength, a feeling of despair called 'helplessness' completely took over Chen Kong's mind. His limbs grew heavier, and his eyelids felt heavier. His once-fluid Gun Fighting Style movements became distorted and crumbled under Euphemia's relentless blade flashes.
In a daze, Chen Kong felt his mind grow chaotic, and memories from his past rushed back like a flood. He suddenly remembered his childhood, the Ember Base, and the people from the base he hadn't seen in a long time.
And when Chen Kong compared himself to the people in his memories, a sense of bitterness welled up in his heart.
'I was always being protected, after all.'
Perhaps he really should do as Euphemia said: admit his incompetence and accept his ordinariness. Because if he did, he might live a little easier.
Once the thought of giving up took root, it wrapped around Chen Kong's heart like a crazily growing vine. So much so that his movements in reality gradually stopped, and his eyes slowly closed, as if he was welcoming his final end.
'What's wrong, Kong? Giving up already?'
A familiar, teasing voice suddenly rang out, like a stone thrown into stagnant water, instantly bringing Chen Kong back to his senses. He opened his eyes and found himself standing in a vast, clear space full of calm water. Not far away, a silver-haired young man in a black trench coat and sunglasses sat on a square black crystal, with his usual arrogant smile on his face.
'Brother Tendo, how are you here?'
Hearing this, Tendo jumped off the black stone and landed in front of Chen Kong. He lowered his sunglasses, revealing his signature pale blue eyes, and said with a look of disdain, "Kong, you shouldn't be asking why I'm here. You should be asking why you're here."
"You know, this is the deepest part of your soul. It's the final stop for all living souls after they exile themselves."
"Only those who give up the will to live run to a place like this to hide."
As he spoke, Tendo waved his hand, and the void of the soul space rippled, projecting the real scene of the outside world.
In reality, Chen Kong was being wantonly 'played' by Euphemia, covered in blood, and looking very disheveled.
Yes, he had indeed chosen to give up in reality, which was why his soul had hidden here. It was to escape the cruel fate that was about to befall him.
Thinking of this, Chen Kong couldn't help but mock himself. "Brother Tendo, you must be laughing at me now. Laughing at my incompetence, laughing at my overestimation of myself."
"I'm so weak, yet I still try to reach for things I can't touch. Someone like me is just..."
"Laughing? No, no, no."
Before Chen Kong could finish, Tendo suddenly reached out and patted his shoulder, so hard that he stumbled.
After a moment, Tendo's expression became serious for once, and his pale blue eyes were filled with seriousness and sincerity.
"Listen up, Kong. Weakness is never a sin. Cowardice is."
"Challenging a god is stupid, but kneeling before one without doing anything... is shameful."
Tendo retracted his hand and put it in the pocket of his black trench coat. "Because the former means you've done everything you can, which is not a sin of war."
"The latter, on the other hand, means you've chosen to give up from your heart, which is a disgusting act of begging for mercy."
"And while you're always confused about yourself, you've proven to everyone time and time again that even though your body is weak, your soul and will are stronger than anyone else's."
At this, Tendo tilted his head and said with a smile, "Kong, do you remember what I told you?"
"Huh? What did you say?"
Because Tendo and Chen Kong had talked a lot, he couldn't remember what Tendo was referring to.
"You really are..."
Tendo helplessly held his forehead, and then put on that familiar, incredibly arrogant smile. He said what he had told Chen Kong on the eve of the Ember final assessment.
"Remember, when you feel like you've reached a dead end, ask yourself why you're still alive."
This sentence was like an electric current running down his spine, making Chen Kong instantly remember that scene.
At that time, he hadn't awakened Void Mark and was incredibly afraid of the upcoming final assessment. Because he didn't think that he, a 'normal person' at the time, could pass this test that only monsters could pass.
But everyone knew the result. He not only passed but also performed even better than the No. 2, Chen Xing, and No. 5, Ye Shenrin.
Why? Why was I able to do that back then?
Chen Kong fell into confused thought. Soon, scenes from the past began to flash before him like a slideshow.
He saw himself as a child, who was bullied by everyone at the base, but still didn't give up and worked hard to study and train.
He saw himself, who was tricked by the Dark Star Envoy and whose body had reached its limit, but still believed that he could see a bright future.
He saw himself, who had fallen countless times but gritted his teeth and stood up countless times.
Seeing this, Chen Kong understood.
Yes, weakness was never a sin. Cowardice and giving up were.
The moment you chose to give up, miracles... also gave up on you.
Before that, Chen Kong had never denied his weakness, and he had never given up on believing in miracles. That was why he was able to create a miracle back then.
After all, those who believe in miracles are just as amazing as the miracles themselves.
"Looks like you understand now."
Chen Kong looked up and saw that Tendo had walked to the square black crystal and was beckoning to him.
After Chen Kong walked over with a puzzled expression, Tendo said to the square black crystal in front of him, "Although believing that a miracle will happen is amazing in itself, it's also very unrealistic to expect miracles to keep happening."
"So, Kong, you have to learn to tap into your own potential, like learning to command that unruly guy who's always hiding in the deepest part of your body."
When he finished speaking, Tendo suddenly kicked the black block in front of him hard.
"Hey, I'm talking to you. Come out."
To Chen Kong's surprise, the huge black block crumbled in response. Before long, a person who looked exactly like Chen Kong but had white hair, white eyes, and was wearing white clothes, appeared strangely in front of them.
And although he had the same appearance as Kong, his face was full of defiance and evil. Looking at Tendo, who had forced him to appear, White Kong was very displeased.
"Tendo Simei, this is someone else's sea of souls. What right do you, an outsider, have to boss us around?"
In response, Tendo's reply was not polite.
"White Kong, I don't like what you're saying. What do you mean by me bossing someone else around? It's clearly someone who forcibly put a projection of my will here without my permission."
"So instead of me barging in here, it's more like someone was desperately hoping that I would show up at this time."
"Otherwise, you think I have nothing better to do than appear in a grown man's soul? I, Tendo Simei, am not that perverted, okay?"
Hearing Tendo's words, the kind Kong on the side scratched his head awkwardly, while White Kong looked at him with a look of disdain.
"Heh, a guy who is so weak that he sincerely hopes for help from others. I really don't know how someone like you got the recognition of the Miracle Stone."
After saying that, White Kong turned back to Tendo, his attitude very hostile.
"Tendo Simei, I know what you want to say, and I know it's time for me to show up, but why should I help a piece of trash like him?"
Tendo held up two fingers.
"Two reasons."
"The first reason is that helping him is also helping yourself. After all, if he dies, you'll disappear too."
"And the second reason..."
As he spoke, Tendo's eyes instantly became dangerous.
"Don't tell me you think I'm asking you. You can choose to help him, or you can choose to be beaten by me until you're willing to help him."
Looking at Tendo's arrogant expression, as if he was the only one in the heavens and on earth, White Kong gritted his teeth and said, "You're just a memory projection condensed here from someone's excessive wish. You're not the real Tendo Simei. What right do you have to say that?"
"You know, this is my home turf!"
As his words fell, a huge phantom, of which one could only vaguely see the tip of the iceberg, suddenly descended on top of White Kong's head. And at the same time this monster appeared, the surrounding soul space, which had been bright and clear, instantly turned to night.
But this terrifying scene, which was enough to suppress most people, had no effect on Tendo.
"Your home turf? Sorry, but now..."
Tendo shrugged his shoulders, then pulled down his collar with his left hand, and brought his index and middle fingers of his right hand together, with his middle finger resting on the first joint of his index finger.
"...this is my home turf."
In an instant, endless stars surged from the void, completely dispelling the darkness created by White Kong and the unknown monster! Tendo stood in the center of this brilliant galaxy. Although the smile on his face was still gentle, his pale blue eyes held an undeniable, powerful dominance.
"Come on, White Kong. Tell me your choice."
"Are you going to go out obediently on your own, or are you going to be beaten out by me?"
"Just a friendly reminder, my patience, Tendo Simei's, is running thin."