Marvel: The other side of the double-passing door is Devouring the Stars

Chapter 320 The Strength of Earthlings!

“You’re right, I didn’t use my full strength,” Rowan finally admitted. “And I deliberately lost to Princess Silvermoon.”

These words immediately made the atmosphere in the living room even more tense. Thor's expression turned somewhat grim, Hong frowned, and Luo Feng looked completely puzzled.

"Why?" Thor's voice was tinged with anger. "Do you know how important this competition is to us? Do you know what the honor of Earth's warriors means to us?"

Rowan turned around, his expression turning serious as he faced the questioning of his three teammates: "It's precisely because I know the importance of this match that I made this choice."

He walked to the coffee table and took out a document from his storage space—the complete schedule of the Virtual Universe Company Challenge. The document unfolded in the air, forming a three-dimensional chart covered with densely packed information.

“Look at this,” Rowan said, pointing to a spot on the schedule. “If I had defeated Princess Silvermoon just now, I would have faced this person in the next round.”

The three of them took a closer look, and the name displayed on the schedule stunned them: Rong Jun.

“Wild Man Rong Jun?” Hong’s voice held a hint of gravity. “My God, it’s him.”

Thor suppressed his earlier anger, his expression turning serious: "This guy is indeed a problem."

Although Luo Feng wasn't very familiar with the name, judging from the reactions of the two seniors, this Rong Jun was definitely no ordinary person: "Is he very strong?"

Hong nodded and began to explain, "Rong Jun comes from the Savage Starfield and is the most outstanding genius of this generation of the Savage race. The Savage race is naturally physically strong, and Rong Jun is the best among them. It is said that he could tear steel apart with his bare hands when he was ten years old, and at the age of twenty, he even comprehended the mysteries of the Law of Force."

“What’s even more terrifying,” Thor added, “is that the savage tribe’s fighting style is extremely ferocious. They are impervious to pain and death, fighting entirely on a life-or-death basis. Rong Jun has taken this style to its extreme; his nickname is ‘Crazy Savage.’”

Luo Wen nodded: "That's right, that's the reason. Rong Jun's strength is definitely above mine. If we go head-to-head, even if I use all my strength, my chances of winning are no more than 30%. More importantly, even if I win by chance, I will inevitably pay a huge price, affecting the subsequent matches."

He swiped across the schedule, pointing out a series of matchups: "You see, if I win all the way, I'll still have to face 'Sword Demon' Adrian from the Galaxy and 'Iron Will' Carlos from the Machine Race. These opponents are stronger than the last. If I expend too much energy on Rong Jun, I won't have a chance of winning the later matches."

Hong carefully studied the schedule, his expression gradually turning to understanding: "So you chose to stop here, avoiding Rong Jun, this hot potato?"

“Not only that,” Rowan continued, “Don’t forget, we’re representing the Black Dragon Mountain Empire in this competition. What are the Black Dragon Mountain Empire’s demands of us?”

He paused, glancing at his three teammates: "Although I've lost to Princess Silvermoon, my impressive performance just now has stabilized my ranking at around eighty. This result is enough to satisfy the King of the Black Dragon Mountain Empire."

Upon hearing this, Thor's anger gradually subsided, replaced by thoughtful contemplation: "You mean, instead of risking a challenge against Rong Jun, it's better to maintain our current ranking?"

“Exactly,” Rowan nodded in confirmation. “Moreover, Princess Silver Moon is now going to face Rong Jun. While she is very strong, the outcome against an opponent like Rong Jun is uncertain. If she loses, Rong Jun will continue forward and encounter even stronger opponents; if she wins, she will have also expended considerable strength, which would be advantageous for us.”

Hong nodded thoughtfully, "Indeed, this arrangement is reasonable from a tactical perspective. However," he looked at Luo Wen, "wasn't your acting in that fight just now a little too realistic? Even we didn't notice."

Rowan gave a wry smile: "If my acting isn't convincing, how can I fool Princess Silver Moon? She's no ordinary person; she's incredibly perceptive. Besides, I'm not entirely acting. Princess Silver Moon is indeed very powerful, and defeating her will require a considerable price."

Upon hearing this, Luo Feng thoughtfully said, "So you chose a way to appear to lose in a worthwhile way? Demonstrating your strength while avoiding powerful enemies later on?"

“That’s one way to put it,” Rowan admitted. “I know this might disappoint you, but from an overall strategic perspective, it’s the optimal choice.”

Thor sat back down on the sofa, hands behind his head. "Sigh, I thought you really did your best. But thinking about it carefully, your strategy does make sense. I've heard about Rong Jun's strength; he's definitely not easy to deal with."

"So what do we do now?" Hong asked. "What are the match schedules for the rest of us?"

Luo Wen pulled up the schedule again and began analyzing the other players' matches: "Brother Hong, your first-round opponent is 'Frost Mage' Ezra from the Blue Crystal Galaxy. This opponent specializes in ice magic and is quite strong, but with your experience and strength, you have a good chance of winning."

Hong nodded: "I know something about Ezra; he is indeed a formidable enemy, but still within my capabilities."

"Brother Thor, your opponent is the 'Thunder Mech' Cybertron from the Machine Race," Rowan continued his analysis. "This opponent's strength is roughly equal to yours; the outcome is about even. However, the Machine Race's fighting style is rather formulaic. If you can find their weaknesses, your chances of winning are quite high."

Thor stretched his shoulders: "The Machine Race, huh? Interesting. I'd like to see whose power is greater, their Thunder Mechs or my Lightning Laws."

"As for Luo Feng," Luo Wen looked at his youngest teammate, "your opponent is Mel, the 'Mind Controller' of the Milky Way. She's not particularly strong, but she excels at mental attacks, so you need to be careful."

Luo Feng nodded: "A mental attack? We certainly need to be careful. But I'm confident in my mental defenses."

The four sat together, carefully studying the match schedule. The atmosphere in the living room gradually eased, transforming from initial doubt and tension into rational analysis and tactical discussion.

“Wait a minute,” Hong suddenly pointed to a spot on the schedule, “If we can win all our matches, I’ll likely face Rong Jun in the third round.”

This discovery stunned everyone. Rowan carefully calculated the various possible matchups and nodded in confirmation: "That's indeed a possibility. If Princess Silver Moon loses to Rong Jun, and Brother Hong continues to win, you will indeed meet in the third round."

Upon hearing this news, Hong was not afraid at all; instead, his eyes gleamed with excitement: "Is that so? That's interesting." "Brother Hong, you wouldn't be thinking of..." Thor saw through Hong's thoughts.

“That’s right.” Hong stood up, walked to the window, and gazed at the starry sky. “Rong Jun, a genius of the savage tribe, the master of the Law of Power. I’m very interested to see just how strong he really is.”

Luo Wen was somewhat worried: "Brother Hong, Rong Jun is not easy to deal with. His fighting style is extremely ferocious, and the savage tribe is naturally physically strong. A head-on confrontation..."

“I know,” Hong interrupted Luo Wen, “but that’s precisely why such an opponent is worth challenging. In all my years of martial arts training, I haven’t encountered many truly formidable enemies. A fight with Rong Jun, regardless of victory or defeat, would be a valuable experience.”

Thor stood up as well: "Well said! Brother Hong, I support you! Martial artists should have this kind of courage, facing powerful enemies without backing down!"

Luo Feng nodded in agreement: "Yes, and we all know Brother Hong's strength; he might still have a chance to win."

Seeing his three teammates' reactions, Rowan's fighting spirit was also ignited. His choice just now was indeed based on rational consideration, but Hong's words reminded him of the true nature of a martial artist: to pursue greater strength and challenge stronger opponents.

“Alright, since Brother Hong is so determined, then we will fully support him.” Luo Wen also stood up. “However, we need to carefully study Rong Jun’s fighting style and formulate targeted tactics.”

Hong turned around, a determined smile on his face: "You don't need to worry about me. Rong Jun is indeed very strong, but I'm not without my advantages. Although the savages are physically powerful, their skills are usually rather rough. I have more combat experience than him, and my understanding of various laws is also deeper."

“That’s right,” Thor agreed. “Brother Hong, your combined use of the ‘Law of Earth’ and the ‘Law of Gravity’ is already masterful, and your combat intelligence is the highest among the four of us.”

Luo Feng added, "Furthermore, Brother Hong excels at protracted warfare. If we can drag it into a war of attrition, our chances of victory will be even greater."

Luo Wen thought for a moment and said, "How about this? We'll first gather detailed information on Rong Jun, study his combat videos, and find out his weaknesses and habits. Then we'll develop targeted tactics to maximize Brother Hong's chances of winning."

“Good idea.” Hong nodded in agreement. “Know yourself and know your enemy, and you will never be defeated. Even when facing a powerful foe, we must be fully prepared.”

The four sat down again and began to discuss the tactical arrangements in detail. Luo Wen pulled up Rong Jun's detailed information, including his upbringing, combat records, and preferred moves.

"Rong Jun, 25 years old, is the number one genius in the Savage Starfield." Luo Wen read the information aloud, "He began cultivating at the age of five, reached the Warrior level at ten, the War General level at fifteen, broke through to the War God level at twenty, and comprehended the Law of Power at twenty-three. He is hailed by the Savage Chieftain as a genius appearing once in a millennium."

"This rate of growth is truly astonishing," Hong remarked. "However, the savage race is inherently a warrior race, so while such talent is rare, it's not entirely incomprehensible."

Thor watched Rong Jun's combat video, frowning as he said, "This guy's fighting style is indeed very violent, a complete head-on collision. But I have to admit, his fundamental skills are very solid."

In the video, Rong Jun is a burly man with bulging muscles, nearly three meters tall, exuding a wild aura. His fighting style is simple and brutal, but every punch and kick contains terrifying power, often defeating his opponent in one blow.

"His application of the Law of Power is quite unique," Luo Feng analyzed. "Unlike ordinary practitioners of the Law of Power who pursue technique, he perfectly combines the law with his own savage physique, forming a unique fighting style."

Hong carefully observed Rong Jun's every move in the video, trying to find a weakness he could exploit: "His attacks are indeed very strong, but his defense is relatively weak. Furthermore, his fighting style is too direct and lacks variation."

"This is your opportunity," Luo Wen pointed out. "Brother Hong, your fighting style is known for its stability and your skill in utilizing terrain and the environment. If you can leverage these advantages, your chances of winning will be much greater."

After much discussion, the group finally devised a relatively complete tactical plan. The main idea was to leverage Hong's experience and skill advantages, avoid a direct confrontation with Rong Jun, and achieve victory through guerrilla tactics and attrition warfare.

"Alright, the tactical plan is basically finalized." Hong nodded with satisfaction. "The rest is up to us in its execution."

“Oh, right,” Thor suddenly remembered something, “we’re representing the Black Dragon Mountain Empire in this competition. If Brother Hong really defeats Rong Jun, it will be a great thing for the Black Dragon Mountain Empire.”

Rowan nodded in agreement: "That's right. The Savage Starfield and the Black Dragon Mountain Empire have always had some friction in interstellar politics. If we can defeat their genius in the Virtual Universe Company's challenge, it will greatly help improve the Black Dragon Mountain Empire's reputation."

Luo Feng also said, "Moreover, this also proves the strength of Earth's martial artists and helps Earth gain more say in the universe."

"Then it's settled." Hong stood up and stretched. "Let's get some rest today, and our individual competitions begin tomorrow. Whatever the outcome, we must do our best."

“That’s right!” Thor pumped his fist. “Let the other forces in the universe see the power of us Earthlings!”

The next day.

As morning light streamed through the energy-constructed dome, the entire arena erupted in cheers once more. Yesterday's thrilling duel between Rowan and Princess Silver Moon was still fresh in people's minds, and today's upcoming battle was equally anticipated.

Inside the Earth team's rest room, Hong was making final preparations. He sat cross-legged on the floor, his hands hanging naturally at his sides, his entire being like an immovable mountain, exuding a calm and profound aura. Around him, one could faintly sense the pulse of the earth's laws, as if the entire room resonated with his breath.

"Brother Hong, how are you feeling?" Luo Wen asked with concern. Yesterday's "loss" made him pay extra attention to his teammates' matches, after all, the honor of the Earth team now rests on their shoulders.

Hong slowly opened his eyes, a determined light flashing in his deep gaze: "Your condition is excellent, better than ever before. I studied Ezra's combat footage yesterday and have a thorough understanding of her fighting style."

(End of this chapter)