Thriller Paradise

"Do not use energy attack" that Phantom Dawn shouted, Smiling Divine Question naturally heard. He had fought Phantom Dawn before so he believed if the kid said not to use it, then better not to use. Therefore, after reaching ROOT, Smiling Divine Question used a close quarter combat skill—Guan Yin Hands of Compassion. His fingers pierced like rapier, his hands fast like lightning, striking everywhere. Just from pure damage, this skill was almost as powerful as Flying Dragon Fist but it had more stylistic changes. Even if the opponent had a fast reflex, they would have a hard time defending against it.

But… ROOT barely cared about the attack. She stood where she saw and slowly turned her head around and her eyes fell on Phantom Dawn. "Finally, I've found it… the perfect candidate."

Phantom Dawn scoffed. "Sorry, but you are really not to my taste…" Then, he too rushed forward with his fist.

"Since it has already been decided…" ROOT raised her hand to block Phantom Dawn's punch as she said, "Then things will be much simpler…"

Phantom Dawn's fist was fixed in ROOT's grasp, he froze in the moment and was unable to move. ROOT stood where she was, and did not budge.

"Not bad…" ROOT said with a smile. The next second, her back suddenly broke open and a slime of metallic liquid burst forth. Smiling Divine Question knew this was Phantom Dawn's favorite skill. The kid could channel his energy through his opponent's defence and directly attack the opponent's internal organ. Therefore, most defensive skills were pointless before Phantom Dawn. If there was a player who could stop him, probably it was King of Shadow who could self-regenerate…

"Why don't you go and rest in another dimension for now." After ROOT was injured, she was unfazed. She pushed her fist forward and flung Phantom Dawn away. Phantom Dawn felt like he was being dragged by a moving train. Pulled by an indescribable, powerful force, he was thrown backwards… into the sky. It would not have felt incongruous if he yelled out something like 'I hate this so much' or 'I will be back' at that moment…

The group saw the player ranked top on the combat stat ranking disappeared from their eyes and they couldn't do anything… things were heading for the worse.

"Now… we shall start with you…" ROOT turned towards Smiling Divine Question that was closest to her. "You're not satisfied I killed your friend?" Smiling Divine Question was stunned and a call of Death echoed through his mind… He did not answer her but tried to do everything he could before death claimed him… He abandoned all the stylistic and flashy moved and used all his brute force to use a skill that couldn't be simpler, Ban Rou Palm Strike. The palm strike cut like metal, rush like a waterfall. When he made his move, even ROOT was slightly taken aback.

Hong

The skill hit but this time ROOT had to block. She raised the metallic armor around her right elbow to block against the palm strike. One hit later, ROOT's right arm was bent backwards and turned into half-liquid state. But Smiling Divine Question's own arm had already shattered into blood and bones, spraying everywhere.

"Do not wish to answer me?" ROOT continued her question, "Or you don't think a creature of a lower dimension like myself deserve an answer?"

Smiling Divine Question was speechless. He did not expect the opponent would be this strong. The rebound from his attack not only shattered his arm but also seriously injured his internal organ. Smiling Divine Question felt his organs burning and his Life Points was already dropping to zero. Even ROOT didn't do anything, he would not live for another 1 minute.

"Then let me answer it for you…" When ROOT spoke, her right arm already recovered. "When my kin fell, my rage and pain is hundred time of yours…" When she reached the final word, she opened her arms and swiped. In most wuxia novels, this would be called 'pushing open the cloud to see the sun', it would be perfect to push away a crowd of enemy to blaze a way forward. But when used by ROOT in her seventh form, the effect was… Smiling Divine Question was cut into two. And then the raging winds rolled over like waves and slashed out cracks on the walls of nearby buildings. Even the players felt like they were standing near a level 16 tornado. Those without anything to hold onto flew into the air and rammed into the wall. The three fighting Quick Bell, including Quick Bell was lifted off the ground.

"What the fuck!" That was the inner wail of every one present exclude Not a Scaredy Cat. She plunged her spear into the ground and refused to budge.

"This is ridiculous… what are we to do… against this monster and we can't even use energy attack…" Uncle Worthless pushed on his sunglasses and said.

"I'd advise you to not have any idea." Lying Drunk warned. "Even though Phantom Dawn might get a bit crazy in combat… but his analysis is very reliable. You have seen the result from Bladeless Swordsman's attack earlier… I suspect energy attack might energize her." At that point, he paused. "Other than that… I want to ask… is your Mafuba still usable?"

Uncle Worthless turned to look at the man, "Yes…"

"Then you shouldn't act recklessly." Lying Drunk said as he moved forward. "We still don't know how many times this thing can revive, perhaps your Mafuba… will be our last saving grace."

"Oh? We have a volunteer?" ROOT said Lying Drunk who walked towards her and she scoffed.

"You… are not invincible." Lying Drunk said, "Your current four… at least have four weaknesses." He said as he extended four fingers.

ROOT smiled. "Hah… well don't you tell me then."

"One, your speed has decreased." Lying Drunk began. "Two you lost the ability to change the form of your body, the earlier skill where your fingers sharpened into chisels cannot be used anymore…" When ROOT heard that, her expression changed slightly. "Three, you cannot use energy attack." With each thing listed off, Lying Drunk put down one finger. With the last finger, he said, "Four… your regen level has lowered." This person who was so happy go lucky and spouting nonsense everything would become so sharp and astute during a serious battle. Lying Drunk was not a tactician who could come up with brilliant strategy; he was not a detective who could solve impossible puzzle. But… in battle, he had a talent that was unique and put him above the rest—his analytical power.

To use boxing as an analogy… Lying Drunk was like both boxer and coach combined into one. Even when he was in the ring, he could accurately analyse the opponent weakness as if he was watching from the sideline. It was this talent that made him one of the top players. And in Thriller Paradise, his talent… had materialized at a certain moment into Soul's Eye.

"As a player, you are impressive." ROOT praised. "You manage to analyse so much in such a short amount of time…" She said, "Was it through the last hit made by Smiling Divine Question? Or…" She smiled. "Never mind, it's not important." She paused. "You are not wrong… My seventh form while greatly increasing my offense and defense, sacrificed my speed and ability to control pure energy and I also lost the dexterity I would normally have over my body… that's why I said it was so inconvenient."

"This Boss sure is open-minded… she told us all of her weaknesses." Pegasus mumbled.

"Qie…" Ambitionist grumbled. "That's because she looks down on us… She believes even if she tell us all her weakness, she wouldn't lose." At his point, his face darkened. "And the term 'seventh form' seems to imply that things still can get worse…"

Of the two, the former only knew one skill and the latter's battle style was focused on energy attack so they were completely useless in this scenario. They could only watch.

"Don't hurry to praise me." Lying Drunk put down his hands and continued. "If I am not mistaken… even you are destroyed in your current form, you won't die… right?"

"Yes." ROOT admitted.

"Fine…" Lying Drunk tilted his head and scratched his head. He used this motion to sneak a look at Uncle Worthless. Then he lifted his head and said seriously. "Then… how about you praise me after I have destroyed your seventh form."

"Hmph… based on the strength of your current data?" ROOT scoffed with derision. "It was Quick Bell who left the wounds on your body right…" She said as she turned her attention elsewhere to look at Quick Bell. At this moment, Quick Bell had returned to battle with Red Iron, Flashes of Sword and Zen Dream. The sound of metallic fell like ran and the blade aura circled around their battle.

"You can't win Quick Bell…" ROOT continued, "But you have confidence you can win me?"

"You can't see such a simple solution?" Lying Drunk said, "I am talking to you, other than to get more information from you, I am obviously buying time…" As he spoke, he already moved to stand before ROOT.

"Oh? How come I didn't see any data change to your status then?" In ROOT's eyes, she could look into the data level so she was confident.

"Phew…" Lying Drunk took a deep breath and said, "Certain skill needs the preparation of the heart and anything else that can be traced by the system…"

"I wish to remind you of two things…" ROOT's tone was turning icy. "First, bluffing will not work on me. Two, if you wish to do something like self-destruction, you might want to consider whether the nature of that damage is energy-based."

"Don't you worry…" Lying Dark replied airily. "I know what I am doing…"

It was hard to tell the timing. The aura gathered exploded within him in that instant… and shot right to the maximum. In that fleeting moment, even ROOT's expression changed. Actually… After Lying Drunk analysed everything, he knew… only he could defeat ROOT at her seventh form. Because in his skill tab, there was an exhaustible skill that was A level and dealt pure physical damage.

Name: Tenchi Haou Ken

Skill Card Property: Active, usable once

Skill Type: Fighting

Effect: Hit the target with a direct punch

Exhaust: 80 percent of maximum Stamina Points (Before using the skill, the user has to spend one minute 'Gather Qi' status)

Learning Requirement: Fighting A

Remark: The ultimate skill from Kyokugenryu Karate that combines the trinity of heart, skill and body. Enemy hit by this will die from one blow.

If Dragon Slave was the most powerful energy-based skill, then this skill could definitely be deemed one of the most powerful physical-damage based skill.

Lying Drunk knew this skill was too slow to hit Quick Bell but… it would hit ROOT.

In that moment, time stopped as Qi gathered around Lying Drunk's fist. The ultimate that combined the man and the heaven, was fast like wind, strong like dragon, enveloping like the sea!