TN: And we're back! sorry for the week long hiatus, it was not intentional since I had to get my right leg in a cast after tripping 3 floors down a stairwell (like an idiot ://) and be unable to use my PC setup upstairs BUT I should be OK now.
Anyways, Thanks for Arcanic Madness, WeissAkumu and WolfWTF for becoming as Supporters!,
===BREAK===
Virtual Reality, the streets of Lumina Square.
Miyabi gripped her sword tightly, breathing slightly heavy.
In virtual reality, she had infinite stamina, but her mind still grew weary.
Twenty-nine consecutive serious slashes had already consumed ten percent of her energy.
Ninety percent would have been enough, but the data rings orbiting her—representing data collection progress—were almost fully green.
She only had one last chance. If this final slash failed to eliminate the special data entity, her body would also turn into a Bangboo.
"Slash, no mercy!"
Miyabi's expression was solemn, swinging a half-to-three-quarter-strength slash with unwavering determination.
Because a full-strength slash would shatter the VR space, Soukaku and Harumasa Bangboo would die.
Her body shone like the cold frost of a bright moon, her resolute protective will nearly permeating the entire virtual space.
Harumasa Bangboo and Soukaku Bangboo couldn't help but hold their breath, eyes captured by the section chief's awe-inspiring presence.
At that moment, the once formidable fox-eared girl suddenly shrank, turning into a fox-eared Bangboo with eyes like red rubies.
"Eh-ne!"
"(Section chief… she's turned into a Bangboo too)!"
Harumasa Bangboo and Soukaku Bangboo exclaimed, but Miyabi Bangboo remained calm, her gaze fixed ahead.
Fortunately, the slash had already been executed.
Frosty blade energy appeared, with mighty momentum, cutting toward the horde of data entities.
"Ahhhh!"
Null_Face, hiding behind the special data entity, screamed in terror.
He had watched twenty-nine slashes before, each making him shiver; in reality, he had wet his pants multiple times.
This was only a VR simulation—so, in other words, he'd peed several times just from watching the "movie." Was this reasonable!?
Even when possessing the special data entity and being stabbed by that pink-haired woman, he hadn't been this scared!
This thirtieth slash—he thought he'd already dried up, but apparently men were made of water too!
"D-d-damn it!"
Null_Face shouted in terror, focusing all his attention on the programmed defense routines.
Row after row of data entities blocked him like a human pyramid.
The frost-white blade energy cut the front row, only for them to immediately respawn at the back—a method he had devised using his clever brain for optimal defense.
Even if the blade's speed was double the respawn speed, this provided 1.5 times the defensive effect!
Boom!
Masses of data entities were cut into glowing fragments; in an instant, most of the ones blocking Null_Face were destroyed.
The residual frost-white blade energy struck the special data entity, penetrating half a meter deep.
"Hsshh! Hsshh!"
Null_Face panted heavily, his voice cracking with excitement. "Blocked it!"
The special data entity was damaged but not completely destroyed. Next was his turn!
"Blocked it?"
Harumasa Bangboo and Soukaku Bangboo were extremely disappointed.
They had almost succeeded… but still fell just short.
"This is the limit of this space."
Hoshimi Bangboo whispered a soft sigh.
Any stronger, the special data entity would shatter, but Harumasa and Soukaku would die.
"Heh-heh-heh!" Null_Face, pants still wet, vented all his fear. "Your moves are finished; now it's my turn!"
Vast computational power quickly formed a horde of new data entities around him.
Among them was even a black Miyabi.
These data entities surrounded the crippled special data entity, forming an impenetrable defensive barrier.
Null_Face beamed with pride. Across from him, three had turned into Bangboo, while he had an ethereal data entity. Miyabi had been terrifying, and now he was perfectly safe!
"Sorry I'm late."
Yanagi suddenly appeared, looking apologetic at the three small Bangboo.
"It's fine. Now it's up to you," Miyabi said, exhaling with relief, speaking seriously. "Use your strongest technique to defeat those data entities."
She trusted Yanagi. When learning from Sol in Hollow Zero, she had also understood the power of spirit.
Combined with her time-stopping special ability, it was enough to handle this menace.
After all, the ethereal data entity was still just a data entity, incapable of replicating sword intent or spirit.
"Mm, leave it to me!"
Yanagi nodded lightly, her expression solemn.
"Are you kidding me!" Null_Face scoffed arrogantly. "Do you see the ones around me? Those are ethereal data entities! Do you think a mere mortal like you can defeat ethereal ones?!"
After the previous battle, he had realized just how unstoppable Miyabi was. Aside from Sol traveling out, in all of New Eridu, she was unmatched!
That kind of overwhelming power—no one could compare.
And he would grant such a powerful being death—what an honor!
Null_Face looked at Yanagi, smugly saying, "You didn't appreciate being let out before; now die with us here!"
"Hmph!"
Yanagi's face was icy, holding her naginata as she charged toward Null_Face.
If the section chief trusted her, she could do it.
The ethereal data entity could only copy the appearance. She remembered the section chief saying she could forcibly leave this place—she didn't believe that entity had that power.
Along the way, all kinds of data entities tried to block her, but the naginata pierced and cleaved them effortlessly.
Even strengthened, those things were nothing before her.
"Go, ethereal, strike with your strongest blow!"
Null_Face remained calm, proudly ordering the ethereal data entity to attack.
A weakling is a weakling—how could they defeat a powerful ethereal!
The ethereal data entity grabbed the greatsword, replicating Miyabi's stance and techniques perfectly.
"Hm?"
Null_Face was slightly puzzled. This one seemed to lack the oppressive force that made him wet his pants earlier.
He shook his head, assuming it was just his imagination.
Earlier, the ethereal was an enemy—of course it was intimidating. Now, as his ally, it shouldn't make him wet his pants.
"Hah!"
Yanagi inhaled deeply, her gaze resolute.
Indeed, compared to when she sparred with the section chief, this data entity carried none of that unbeatable pressure.
Even after sparring with the enhanced section chief a few times, she noticed two or three flaws—it was too rigid!
The section chief only looked absent-minded, but was actually incredibly clever.
She held the naginata with both hands, her blood pumping faster. From a previous special mission, she had inherited Soukaku's blood, treating Soukaku like her closest little sister.
That blood granted her a special ability—time acceleration, reaching extreme speed!
She raised her naginata, a figure swinging a sword flashing through her mind.
It was as if Sol had stepped out of her memory, holding her hand as she swung the blade!
[Edge of Taixuan – Steel Flash!]
She and the naginata became one, a purple electric light streaking towards Null_Face's special data entity!
There, the ethereal data entity also struck with a slash.
"Ahhhh!"
"D-d-damn it!"
Masses of data entities overlapped once again.
Null_Face shamefully realized he had wet his pants again.
Wasn't this ability supposed to be unique to the ethereal!?
Whoosh!
The ethereal data entity's slash was completely dodged.
Yanagi, transformed into purple lightning, plunged directly into the core of the special data entity.
Boom!
The special data entity exploded into fragments.
Null_Face roared at the four: "I will come back!"
Meanwhile, Yanagi, overexerting her abilities, lost consciousness and logged out of the VR system.
Soukaku Bangboo and Harumasa Bangboo also exited immediately.
"You have no chance left."
Hoshimi Bangboo's small body, gaze sharp as lightning, spoke coldly as frost.
She forced her will to remain, intending to slay Null_Face here and now.
"You're just a Bangboo—what can you do to me in VR?"
Null_Face felt both anger and laughter.
Even ethereal data entities couldn't threaten him like this!
"Die!"
Hoshimi Bangboo's small body surged with sharp intent.
No sword, no blade in hand, yet it felt as if the heavens and earth themselves had become a sword.
With her companions gone, she was invincible!
[Edge of Taixuan – Illusion Breaker!]
The entire VR space could not withstand it—garbled code erupted in the air, an incomprehensible display of power.
Shattering, collapsing, countless data fragments fell into the void.
"D-d-damn!"
Null_Face screamed in collapse, as if he had already seen death itself.
Buzz!
Null_Face's voice abruptly cut off, his mind severed into nothingness.
Their wills had never existed on the same level.
In a corner of New Eridu, a room of black-clad worshippers stared dumbfounded at the soggy corpse before them.
Null_Face was finished!
===BREAK===
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