Doomsday Jigsaw Puzzle

Chapter 200: Chapter 4: The Battle Before Leaving the Tower for a Breath of Fresh Air

Liu Hu had originally thought that Bai Wu, upon seeing the fate of a few others, would not choose to fight and would look for a way to shirk the challenge.

But when Bai Wu suddenly accepted the challenge, he was somewhat surprised.

"Even a lowly warrior has quite the temper," Liu Hu said, rubbing his hands together in anticipation.

Bai Wu, on the other hand, was calculating the situation. ƒгeewebnovёl.com

"Dwarf isn’t intervening because as the deputy commander of the Legion, his involvement would escalate the situation, which I can understand. Plus, his silence probably means he wants me to teach Liu Hu a lesson. If it were a life-and-death struggle outside the tower, I might not be his match, but if it’s just a sparring session, I still have a chance to deal with him."

"His Innate Force is at the seventh tier and sixth stage and seems to be oriented towards strength. Our Innate Forces aren’t too different in level. As long as we are inside the Black Tower, no matter how much he disregards the rules, he’ll be limited in how far he can go. What’s more, there is that two-faced Yan Zizai, which is like an upgrade to my eyes."

After calculating the possibilities of winning or losing, Bai Wu said with a smile:

"Dueling in this setting feels a bit restrictive, but it might be for the best, to avoid injuring you. After all, you are a noble high-ranking warrior, fragile and easily broken. So, to deal with you, I won’t use my Sequence. You can rest assured."

Hearing these words, Lin Wurou was quite relieved. He had thought Bai Wu would tolerate the big lug.

Of course, Bai Wu would not let it go. As a subordinate, even if he had a foul mouth, at most Wu Jiu would remark in front of others: "It’s my fault my subordinate spoke out of turn. I will take him back for strict discipline."

Seeing the expression on the captain’s face and Qin Zong’s reaction, he knew he had to recover the face the Investigation Corps had lost.

Yan Zizai was somewhat puzzled by Bai Wu, but he knew Bai Wu’s Innate Force.

In his opinion, although Bai Wu was indeed strong, he definitely was not a match for Liu Hu. Out of pride, Yan Zizai also said:

"Liu Hu, if he won’t use his Sequence, you are not allowed to use your Sequence, either."

Hearing Yan Zizai’s words, Bai Wu said with a laugh:

"Captain Yan, that doesn’t seem fair. How can he be my match if he doesn’t use his Sequence? This is a bit too much like bullying a child."

Bai Wu’s arrogance didn’t seem characteristic of him, making even Lin Wurou think he was asking for a beating.

"To hell with you!"

Provoked by these words, Liu Hu bellowed and stepped forward with his left foot, causing the entire Black Tower to tremble slightly.

It was during this tremor that, in the still room, a rush of air surged. Liu Hu’s size made him a giant among men, with immense strength that was unexpectedly also incredibly fast.

In the blink of an eye, he had reached Bai Wu, his fist like an axe, intent on finishing Bai Wu in one blow.

Previously, people like Yuan Du, Tang Zhen, Long Xiao, and Meng Yuan, despite their defeats, had not been significantly inferior to Liu Hu.

They had just mistakenly thought... they could counterattack through the openings exposed during Liu Hu’s assault.

Liu Hu’s straightforward and domineering axe-like punch seemed to be riddled with openings, but as someone equipped with the superhuman abilities of Iron Armament and Vajra Indestructibility, Liu Hu was actually intentionally deceiving his opponents into attacking.

Naturally, Bai Wu didn’t fall for it.

The fight, for him, began the moment Liu Hu uttered the words "lowly warrior"; Bai Wu had already envisioned this scene.

Prayle’s Eye hadn’t turned into "maximum speed mode" and its snarky commentary was still filled with a strong stylistic nonsense.

[What a punch, this punch is filled with a tale of suffering from a robust man high up in the High Tower, his discontent with life, injustice of the system, and the coldness of human nature! You need to move your body to the right by forty-four degrees and step back a step and a half to perfectly dodge this punch. As for what I said earlier, that was just nonsense; if you can’t dodge it, I don’t know if he’ll wail tears of blood, but you surely will be mangled. By the way, you could make a "just this" expression, to enhance the dramatic effect.]

And Bai Wu did indeed make a "just this" expression.

This battle, although Liu Hu was stronger than him, was different from the fight at the casino, where God of Wealth showed strength clearly beyond what he as a human could match.

The Eye had even entered "maximum speed mode" without any nonsense. But at this moment, the stream of remarks was filled with banter, giving Bai Wu the confidence that the battle might not be easy, but it was definitely not dangerous.

As expected, he dodged the punch by an extremely narrow margin, his mocking expression startling everyone who could see it.

But Liu Hu’s attack wasn’t over. After his punch missed, he pivoted on one foot and swung his arms in a giant windmill motion.

Bai Wu could imagine that such a powerful body, if used among the Evil Fallen, would be like a meat grinder.

Of course... that was his thought five seconds ago.

"With such spinning speed, it’s a shame he’s not twirling hula hoops. The opponent is faster, and this move doesn’t seem like a punch that ends with one hit. The follow-through isn’t sustainable. He’s not the brightest, keeps spinning without stopping, you need to find yourself a ’shield’."

Liu Hu’s whirlwind attack was indeed hard to deal with, much like a rapidly spinning top closing in.

Bai Wu could dodge, but the distance between them kept shrinking.

This didn’t trouble Bai Wu; he actually wanted to do an experiment even though he already knew the outcome through his eyes.

Ultimately, Bai Wu chose Zheng Yue.

Liu Hu charged at Bai Wu, and Bai Wu, at Zheng Yue.

Yan Zizai witnessed this scene too, the Eye of the Scales allowed him to see the future, making him think differently about Bai Wu.

"Impressive battlefield adaptability. Has he spotted Zheng Yue’s laziness? Wait... that is..."

Also seeing a few seconds into the future, Yan Zizai’s expression changed abruptly, as if he’d witnessed an inconceivable event.

Zheng Yue was very lazy, extremely lazy.

Moreover, Zheng Yue was very slow. His Innate Force was entirely invested in vitality and regeneration, combined with Endless Nirvana, making him an inexhaustible punching bag.

The notes from Prayle’s Eye mentioned that Zheng Yue never moved his feet in combat. ƒгeewёbnovel.com

Watching Bai Wu approach, bringing along Liu Hu, buzzing like a chainsaw, Zheng Yue remained unfazed.

He appeared as if he was neither asleep nor fully awake.

Just as Liu Hu was about to collide, Bai Wu’s figure suddenly flashed, accelerating sharply to get behind Zheng Yue.

Something eerie happened. The overbearing Liu Hu suddenly stopped his attack, halting abruptly from his spinning charge.

Just before running into Zheng Yue, Liu Hu saw his slightly open eyes with eye crust from staying closed too long, his gaze not particularly sharp.

Yet, Liu Hu felt as if he saw another version of himself, attacking with the exact same move.

"Ha—yawn—"

Zheng Yue yawned, one hand digging his nose, sleepily gazing at Liu Hu.

Liu Hu was arrogant, but he didn’t dare to rush forward recklessly.

The moment Zheng Yue yawned, Bai Wu swung his bronze axe, striking from Zheng Yue’s flank.

Liu Hu could have avoided it, but the illusion he saw in Zheng Yue’s eyes slowed his reaction.

Bai Wu wielded the bronze axe, smashing it down hard on the back of Liu Hu’s head with the flat of the blade.

Ever since the incident at Baichuan Middle School East Campus, Bai Wu had planned to retire this Unlucky Detection Axe.

But under the bonded state of Prayle’s Eye, Bai Wu had already seen a future.

A future where someone’s sudden move startled everyone.

So-called unluckiness is relative; from the moment Liu Hu decided to challenge Bai Wu, he was destined to be someone with worse luck than Bai Wu.

In contrast, Bai Wu’s axe strike would not be obstructed, instead delivering a stunning blow.

Thud!

Like wood striking a bell, the bronze axe hit Liu Hu’s head, producing a dull thud.

The moment Liu Hu was knocked out, Bai Wu also felt the exaggerated defensive power of his body.

It was as if he had struck something harder than the bronze axe itself, the muscles on Liu Hu’s body actually giving Bai Wu a sensation of recoil.

Ironically, this should be the weakest spot in a person’s defense.

Indeed, it was a formidable body that left one in awe.

The dizziness that lasted a mere second was transient, and Liu Hu was furious after coming to his senses. He was actually circled to the back by a lowlife from the lower levels!

In that instant, Liu Hu activated Tyrant and Overload Form. His speed increased slightly, but his strength increased tremendously.

Although Bai Wu appeared composed, constantly suppressing Liu Hu, a single touch from Liu Hu would surely result in severe injury.

After the Overload Form ended, Liu Hu would experience brief weakness, but during its duration, his attributes would be significantly enhanced.

The gap between Liu Hu and Bai Wu now had become considerable, and Bai Wu could no longer deal with Liu Hu’s attacks with ease.

A punch that distorted the surrounding air came hurtling towards him!

Yuan Du, Tang Zhen, Long Xiao, Yin Shuang, Wang Shi, and other experts from the two Legions all sensed the unstoppable force of this punch.

But Bai Wu did not move.

From beginning to end, he wore a smile as if he was taunting his opponent.

This punch was unavoidable for Bai Wu, and he couldn’t dodge it. If struck, he would undoubtedly be downed.

When Liu Hu activated Overload Form, the red energy surging around his body and the bulging veins on his forehead clearly indicated he had crossed a line.

He was intent on killing.

A spar was supposed to be a contest of skill, but Liu Hu had already initiated a Sequence.

Yet such a formidable punch was unnecessary for Bai Wu to avoid.

Because a familiar figure appeared in front of Bai Wu, blocking Liu Hu’s ultra-fast punch with even more exaggerated speed.

This scene shocked everyone!

Liu Hu’s stature was that of a giant. Wu Jiu’s height reached just about Liu Hu’s waist at best.

Yet this seemingly frail man, who was insignificant in Liu Hu’s eyes, suddenly moved from afar at a speed Liu Hu couldn’t react to, coming between him and Bai Wu.

Those squinted eyes opened slightly, their sharpness laid bare:

"It was just a spar, Mr. Liu. Wasn’t using a Sequence a bit excessive?"

The massive fist was stopped by one of Wu Jiu’s hands, a visually shocking scene—

A slight and short figure effortlessly blocked Liu Hu, the strongest in terms of power among the six people of the Order Faction, like attempting to stop a vehicle with a mantis’s arm, except the vehicle was not just stopped, it was flipped. It was that kind of exaggeration.

Yan Zizai had seen this scene early on. His initial astonishment was such. Nearly reaching the tenth level of Innate Force, along with two visual talents, allowed him to clearly see Wu Jiu’s movements.

But precisely because everything in his eyes could be translated into data, at that moment, he felt that the strength of this short deputy commander of the Legion was not on the same level as the others.

Yan Zizai quickly calmed down.

According to those who lived on the third level beneath the High Tower, who were like ants in the eyes of those who lived perennially on the fifth level, even the nobles were no different.

He just had to admit that among the ants there were occasionally exceptional outliers.

"Liu Hu, you’ve lost. The opponent didn’t use a Sequence, but you did, which is shameful."

Had it been any other time, enduring such humiliation, Liu Hu would surely have vented his fury by tormenting his opponent to prove himself.

But not now, he didn’t dare to move.

With one hand on his blade and the other against his huge fist, Wu Jiu’s presence was even more terrifying than when facing Zheng Yue.

It seemed as if moving forward by an inch would inevitably result in his arm being severed.

At this time, Qin Zong laughed and said:

"Hahaha, a contest should not be taken seriously. This building has actually started to sway; you gentlemen truly have opened my eyes. Alright, alright, the fight is over, isn’t it time to talk about the real issue now?"

Yan Zizai also warned:

"Liu Hu, aren’t you ashamed enough?"

Grinding his teeth, Liu Hu withdrew his hand.

Wu Jiu didn’t pay attention to him and turned to look at Bai Wu:

"Are you okay?"

Although he had already seen Dwarf’s thunderous intervention, Bai Wu knew that it wasn’t a deliberate opportunity created by Dwarf. It was because he saw himself in danger, and the "sparring" turned sour, leading to an impulsive defense.

His smile grew wider as he continued to act cool to the very end:

"It was lucky that Valley Squad stepped in to save him, otherwise, if it had been me, his end would not have been this simple."

The moment these words came out, Liu Hu also became perplexed. He had been overwhelmed by Wu Jiu’s presence before, and although angry about his defeat, he dared not cause more trouble.

Now thinking about it, Bai Wu’s effortless demeanor began to lead him to suspect whether Bai Wu was really holding back a trump card, keeping his strength in reserve.

Those who understood, understood.

How could Wu Jiu not know Bai Wu’s strength? He smiled silently as the indignation his comrades felt from being humiliated dissipated with Bai Wu’s handling of the situation.

This confrontation, although seeming like Liu Hu’s irrational obstinacy, was in fact tacitly permitted by the Order Faction.

The purpose was to gain a psychological advantage over Qin Zong and Wu Jiu during the so-called meeting.

The content of the meeting was unknown to Bai Wu and the other captains, who were merely waiting outside.

Outside the conference room, Yuan Du and Tang Zhen were making a phone call in the corner, while Long Xiao and Meng Yuan were chatting with Bai Wu.

Long Xiao said:

"Kid, well done. You knocked that big guy out with a single move. He couldn’t even touch you. Seeing you like this, obviously you held back your strength, right? I didn’t expect that after Wu Jiu, Squad Seven would have another expert."

Long Xiao’s words were sincere.

He had no idea that if it weren’t for having foreseen the future, Bai Wu might have been beaten to bloody tears in no time by Liu Hu.

"What do you think? How will they monitor us? They surely can’t be planning to venture out of the tower with us, can they?" Meng Yuan said.

He had somewhat looked down on Bai Wu, especially since Wu Jiu made a rookie the captain, which Meng Yuan thought was rather hasty. But now, after Bai Wu’s performance today, Meng Yuan regarded him on the same level as Wu Jiu.

Lin Wurou, Yin Shuang, and others were also eager to know the true purpose of the Order Faction.

Bai Wu had already guessed roughly:

"No idea, let’s wait for the meeting to end and then ask the captain."

After saying that, Bai Wu was ready to leave.

"Hey, where do you think you are going?" Lin Wurou asked.

"I’m going out of the tower to clear my mind, care to join?" Bai Wu said casually.

Meng Yuan and Long Xiao exchanged a look. This kid calls venturing out of the tower ’clearing his mind’?

Bai Wu was not unaware of the real intentions of the Order Faction. He had a premonition that from now on, Squad Seven’s expeditions out of the tower would not be the only team exploring the outside.

The temporary shelter at Baichuan Middle School being set up intensified Bai Wu’s desire to collect more Doomsday Fragments.

He was well aware that the team led by Yan Zizai from the Doomsday Team was probably the strongest human exploration squad in history.

Clashing with such a team outside the High Tower was a troublesome matter.

So, rather than picking a date, he decided it was time to exit the tower right away.

Lin Wurou, Yin Shuang, Wang Shi, and the others were quite used to it; Bai Wu was indeed that rare kind of rookie who would venture out of the tower at the drop of a hat.

"Vanguard Group of Squad Seven has nothing to do now. Meet at Lower East Square in two hours."