Great! I'm surrounded by villains!
Chapter 50: Formidable Opponent

Chapter 50: Chapter 50: Formidable Opponent

As Bai Gu roared, the steaming mist from the pot was sucked into her body, and the lost flesh began to fuse together at a speed visible to the naked eye, forming not a human silhouette, but that of a monster bristling with sharp teeth, its swollen body almost reaching the ceiling.

Its existence almost matched all of Duan Mingyuan’s imaginations of monsters and formidable enemies.

The trip to Congyun Hotel was not just for Yang Ping and Tang Qianqian, it was also his best opportunity for learning and exchange.

Whether it was a barrier or a domain, he could finally discern their differences more finely.

Life Energy, unknown.

It was very likely that it had broken through the boundaries of a mid-level title, stepping into a higher level.

The ability was related to the creation and use of urban legends...

However, the moment the monster moved, Duan Mingyuan’s pupils suddenly contracted.

The right claw swinging toward him vanished, and at the same time, the sound of tearing air came from behind, its speed so fast that it left him no chance to react, as the claw, several sizes larger than his body, smashed forcefully onto the ground.

Was this an attack mode beyond urban legends?

In Duan Mingyuan’s conception, the owner of the Congyun Hotel should be a summoner, whose mode of attack should involve controlling and summoning evil spirits. He had thoroughly read every urban legend about the hotel, and none mentioned this space-crossing method of attack.

Looking back, everything about Qian Congyun’s wife was a puzzle.

The monster formed from Bai Gu did not pursue, its limbs touching the ground, its scarlet eyeballs unbelievingly looking at its right hand, even its whispers turning into strong winds and roars, trembling the entire space, "What is this? What on earth is this thing? What is going through your mind?"

The continuous influx of "information" almost caused her brain to crash.

The attack could cross space, and the energy stored in the beast’s pupils could bring time to a halt.

An unparalleled physical strength, along with a regenerative power that could renew from a single cell in an instant.

Besides, there were dozens... no, hundreds of abilities, and at this moment, each ability flooded into Bai Gu’s mind like an "Ability Usage Guide".

This strength was incomparable, far exceeding her understanding.

It was neither an evil spirit nor a monster, but an ultimate creature that stood above all life forms.

"I call it ’Destruction’."

A voice that should have been crushed into mush by the space-crossing attack came through, and the figure was faintly visible amidst the dust.

The moment the monster launched its attack, Jiuyue had already tensed up, her whole body seemingly entering a state of emergency.

This was different from the rumors!

The owner of Congyun Hotel had some skills, but if calculated according to Mr. Mingyuan’s formula, at best they were only half a step into the realm of a high-level title, but the monster before her seemed like an entity capable of destroying a city.

Could there be an error in her intelligence network?

What did Mr. Mingyuan mean by "Destruction"?

"This is one of the few pleasures I have. I like to try to piece together abilities and traits I’ve encountered or seen in some fictional works onto one creature. According to the setup, it should be able to be considered as an entity that could destroy a country."

Duan Mingyuan’s voice was aloof. No wonder he felt a strong sense of familiarity the moment he saw the monster’s silhouette.

He just hadn’t expected his personal hobby to be revealed to others in this manner.

It was somewhat embarrassing, like when someone discovers the fantastical settings you wrote as a child.

But precisely because of this, he understood the other party’s Ability, and the purpose of the large cauldron simmering with inky green liquid.

"It’s the odor emitting from the pot, isn’t it? The moment we entered this room, your Ability was already activated."

Ghost stories essentially manipulate the negative emotion of human fear, but ordinary people’s fears are insufficient to handle battles of this caliber.

So, what really constitutes a worthy opponent deep within his own heart?

Perhaps only this monster, which combines all his "knowledge" to date, can undertake such a role.

Duan Mingyuan observed the creature of his imagination, "The real enemy is one’s own heart? Truly an interesting Ability."

The monster’s roar was deafening, "This is all your fault, it’s all on you!"

After a brief discomfort had passed, the monster looked down at its brand-new body; having understood the "Ability Usage Guide," it realized just how invincible this entity of "destruction" really was.

However, at the same time, unease took root in Bai Gu’s heart.

The strength of a Barrier cannot possibly expand limitlessly alongside the boundless imagination of humans; it can only transform into a being that exists in the depths of the other party’s heart, yet is comprehensible and acknowledged by them.

If all that the other party imagines is a monster "capable of destroying the universe," then the transformation will fail due to a lack of detail, and all that will appear is an empty shell.

To quell the unease in her heart, she had to end the battle swiftly.

"Go reflect on why you’d create such an abomination in hell!"

The monster’s enormous beastly pupils shifted to resemble clocks, the ticking hands stopping at this instant; the drifting dust, the scattered rubble, all froze at this moment, and the swung claws transcended space. According to the "setup," these claws could effortlessly tear apart solid alloy.

"Because I, too, indulge in some unrealistic fantasies."

The approaching claws halted less than a centimeter from Duan Mingyuan’s back, an invisible wall of air stood between them, creating a barrier that would forever remain unsurpassable.

The monster’s gaze was filled with shock, for according to the "setup," Duan Mingyuan should have remained frozen in place with time; by the time time flowed again, his body should have been torn to shreds.

He looked intently at the monster; until now, their scholarly exchange had progressed very smoothly.

It could even be considered far beyond his expectations.

"Don’t be fooled by appearances, I too sometimes wonder what kind of enemy would bring about a battle worthy of my mettle."

Just as hot-blooded youths fantasize about one day awakening an Ability, becoming extraordinary, and ultimately invincible under heaven, Duan Mingyuan also seriously and carefully added every powerful setting he could imagine for a formidable foe.

But in the end, it failed.

He gradually realized that there was never going to be a result from the beginning.

The more he knew, the more settings he added for "destruction," the more his own Ability grew in tandem.

"As you can see, as long as it’s something within my cognitive range, no matter what form of attack it takes against me, it will be deconstructed by my Ability before it can touch me."

He glanced at the space-transcending claws behind him, from the very start he had no intention to dodge or defend.

There was no need for meaningless actions.

"You are one of the strongest opponents I have faced."

Duan Mingyuan touched his chin with his left hand, then after a moment, he exclaimed, "How about ’growth potential’? I think the term suits you well. The stronger the opponent you encounter, the stronger the effect of your Ability’s activation. Without any information, even opponents with Life Energy stronger than yours could probably capsize in the gutter."