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

Chapter 323 Breaking the Memory Maze!
“Psychological attacks are indeed quite troublesome,” Thor cautioned. “You need to be careful.”

Rowan nodded, "Although Mel isn't the strongest, her mental attacks are quite unique; it's said she can create various illusions to distract her opponents."

“I know,” Luo Feng nodded, “but I’m confident in my mental defenses, and I also have specific tactics.”

Hong patted Luo Feng on the shoulder: "Go and fight with confidence, we believe in you."

At lunchtime, the four of them went to the restaurant prepared by the Virtual Universe Company for the contestants. Geniuses from all star systems of the universe gathered there, and the atmosphere was both tense and exciting.

"That's the Earth team?" A contestant from a distant star system pointed at them. "I heard that guy named Hong had a really impressive performance this morning."

“Yes, the saying ‘Great virtue carries all things’ has spread throughout the entire competition area,” another contestant said. “Earth is truly an interesting planet; it has actually nurtured such outstanding martial artists.”

"However, their opponent this afternoon is no pushover either; the mental controller Mel's strength should not be underestimated."

Hearing these comments, the four felt a sense of pressure, but also a sense of honor. They represented not only themselves, but the honor of the entire planet.

After lunch, the four returned to the lounge to continue studying Luo Feng's opponent's information. Mel is from a psychic race on the edge of the galaxy, skilled in various mental attack techniques, especially possessing a unique talent for illusion creation.

"Her fighting style is rather unique," Rowan analyzed the data, "unlike typical mental-based martial artists who directly attack their opponent's mind, she disrupts their judgment by creating illusions."

Hong added, "This tactic, while not lethal, is extremely difficult to deal with. If you fall into her illusions, it's easy to make wrong judgments."

Thor frowned: "How should Luo Feng respond?"

Luo Feng answered himself, "The key is to maintain inner peace and not be misled by external illusions. My plan is to use my superior mental strength to forcefully break through her illusions and then quickly end the battle."

“That’s a good strategy,” Hong nodded in agreement. “Mental-based martial artists are usually physically weaker. If we can break through her mental defenses, our chances of winning are very high.”

It was soon afternoon, and the second round of the Virtual Universe Company Challenge continued. Luo Feng, representing the Earth team that afternoon, was about to face his opponent, Mel.

The spectator area was once again packed with spectators, and Hong's outstanding performance this morning had aroused even greater interest in the Earth team.

"Is that Luo Feng from the Earth team?" a spectator asked, pointing at Luo Feng who was walking towards the teleportation area. "He looks very young."

“Being young doesn’t mean being weak,” a spectator nearby pointed out. “Look at his eyes, they’re very determined; he must be a skilled martial artist.”

"The key is that his opponent, Mel, is no pushover either; mental attack-type martial artists are always difficult to deal with."

In the VIP spectator area, Zhenwu and the Inspector were also watching the upcoming battle.

“This Luo Feng gives me a very special feeling,” Zhenwu said. “Although he is young, he has a special aura about him.”

The inspector nodded: "Indeed, and judging from the information, he's quite a renowned genius on Earth. However, I wonder how well prepared he is to face Mel's mental attack."

In the teleportation area, Luo Feng saw his opponent. Mel was a slender woman with silver skin and purple eyes, exuding a mysterious and dangerous aura. Her clothing was simple, but her purple eyes seemed to see right through people.

"You're Luo Feng from Earth?" Mel's voice was soft, yet carried a strange rhythm. "I heard your Earth team performed quite well today."

Luo Feng nodded: "Thank you for the compliment. Ms. Mel's mental attacks are renowned throughout the Milky Way; today's battle is sure to be spectacular."

Mel smiled slightly, a hint of mystery in her smile: "I hope you won't be disappointed."

"Teleportation initiated. Battleground: Illusion Forest."

A flash of white light, and the two disappeared from the teleportation area at the same time.

The next moment, Luo Feng found himself in a mysterious forest. Ancient trees towered overhead, vines tangled, and strange plants and flowers bloomed everywhere. A light mist hung in the air, making the entire forest seem like a dream.

“An interesting battlefield choice.” From the other end of the forest, Mel slowly appeared. “The Illusionary Forest is perfect for my fighting style.”

Luo Feng looked around, secretly on guard. This kind of environment was indeed advantageous to mental martial artists, as there were elements everywhere that could create illusions.

“Then,” Mel raised his hands, his purple eyes beginning to glow, “let’s begin this battle of wits!”

"Battle begins!"

In the illusory forest, mist swirled and ancient trees reached for the sky. Luo Feng warily surveyed his surroundings, sensing the mysterious atmosphere of this battlefield. Mel stood at the other end of the forest, her purple eyes gleaming in the mist like stars in the night sky.

"The spiritual realm unfolds!"

Mel softly chanted an ancient incantation, and her body began to emit a faint purple glow. As the incantation continued, the entire Illusion Forest began to subtly change. The already mysterious environment became even more enigmatic, and the mist in the air began to swirl, forming vortex-like patterns.

The spectators in the viewing area immediately sensed the unique nature of this battle.

"The battle of the mental types has begun!" an excited spectator from the mental race exclaimed. "Mer's mental domain is expanding very quickly; it looks like this is going to be a good show."

"Can that Earthling handle it?" a spectator asked worriedly. "Mental attacks aren't as direct as physical attacks; a slight misstep could lead to utter destruction."

The mechanical spectators adjusted their observation mode: "Interesting, the intensity of the mental fluctuations is rising rapidly. Mel's mental strength is indeed remarkable."

The winged woman nodded: "Moreover, she chose to fight in the Illusion Forest, where the environment itself possesses illusory properties, naturally amplifying her abilities."

On the battlefield, Luo Feng felt unprecedented pressure. As Mel's mental domain expanded, he found that his surroundings began to become unreal. The once clear trees began to twist and deform, and the ground became blurred.

"Has the illusion begun?" Luo Feng thought to himself, becoming wary and concentrating his mental energy to try and see through these changes.

Mel smiled slightly: "Young warrior, welcome to my world. Here, everything you see may be an illusion, and everything you believe may be a deception."

As soon as she finished speaking, dozens of Mel's figures suddenly appeared in the forest. Each figure was lifelike, as if they were real. They spoke at the same time, their voices echoing through the forest, creating an eerie stereoscopic sound effect.

"Guess which one is the real me?"

The discussion in the spectator area became even more heated.

“That’s Mei Chi’s signature skill, ‘Thousand Shadow Clone Technique’!” an audience member familiar with her explained. “These clones aren’t simple illusions, but projections infused with mental energy, each possessing a certain offensive capability.” “That Earthling is in trouble,” the Rock Clan warrior shook his head. “In this situation, it’s difficult to distinguish the real from the fake, let alone launch an effective attack.”

The elven woman carefully observed Luo Feng's reaction: "But look at his expression. Although he's wary, he's not panicked. This shows he was prepared for this situation."

Indeed, despite facing difficulties, Luo Feng remained calm. He closed his eyes, no longer relying on sight, but instead using his mental power to perceive the true situation around him.

"Want to use your mental power to probe?" Mel's voice came from all directions. "Then give it a try."

Dozens of Mels attacked simultaneously, unleashing a torrent of mental attacks upon Luo Feng. Some were direct mental assaults, others were disruptive waves that clouded his mind, and still others were suggestive attacks designed to instill fear.

Luo Feng immediately felt immense pressure. Although most of these attacks were illusions, they were interspersed with real mental attacks, making it difficult for him to distinguish them. He could only defend with all his might, using his mental energy as a shield to protect himself.

"A mental barrier!"

Luo Feng shouted, creating a mental barrier around himself. This was a defensive technique he had mastered through long-term training, capable of effectively resisting mental attacks.

The spectators in the viewing area were all surprised to see this.

"That Earthling's mental defenses are really solid!"

"The fact that he could build such a stable mental barrier amidst such chaotic attacks shows that he has a very solid foundation."

"However, mere defense is not enough; he must find an opportunity to counterattack."

In the VIP spectator area, Zhenwu was also carefully observing the battle: "Luo Feng's mental strength is higher than I expected. To remain so calm under Meier's illusionary attacks is truly remarkable."

The inspector nodded: "However, Mel has clearly not used her full strength yet. Her tactics usually involve first exhausting the opponent's mental energy before launching a fatal blow."

On the battlefield, Mel saw that Luo Feng had successfully defended against his initial attack, and a hint of appreciation flashed in his eyes: "Not bad defense, but this is just the beginning."

She waved her hands, and the forest environment changed once again. The trees disappeared, replaced by an endless desert. The scorching sun poured down from the sky, making it feel suffocatingly hot.

"Environmental alteration technique!" A spectator in the viewing area recognized the move. "Mel is starting to change the battlefield environment!"

“It’s not just a visual change; even temperature, humidity, and gravity are affected!” another viewer added. “If you’re not strong-willed, it’s easy to be misled by these environmental changes.”

Luo Feng did indeed feel the effects of the environmental changes. The desert heat made him feel parched, and the intense sunlight stung his eyes. But he knew that all of this was an illusion, and he shouldn't be fooled by appearances.

"These are all fake," Luo Feng reminded himself. "The real battlefield is still that forest."

However, Mel's attacks did not stop. Under the cover of the desert environment, she began to unleash more complex mental attacks.

"Memory illusion!"

This is another of Mel's special skills, capable of interfering with the opponent's memory system, making it difficult for them to distinguish between reality and illusion. As this move was executed, Luo Feng suddenly found himself on Earth during his childhood.

He was surrounded by familiar houses, familiar streets, and even familiar people. He saw his parents, his childhood friends, and many fond memories.

"This...this is my memory?" Luo Feng was somewhat confused. "But how is this possible? I was clearly participating in the Virtual Universe Company's challenge."

The spectators in the viewing area became tense upon seeing Luo Feng's reaction.

"Oh no! He's trapped in a memory illusion!"

"Memory illusion is one of Mel's most dangerous skills; once trapped in it, it's easy to lose yourself!"

"That Earthling looks confused. Can he break through this illusion?"

In the Earth team's rest room, Hong, Thor, and Rowan watched the battle unfold with bated breath.

"Luo Feng is trapped." Hong frowned. "The most dangerous thing about memory illusions is that they exploit the softest part of a person's heart, making them very difficult to resist with reason."

Thor clenched his fists: "Damn it, if it were me, I would have charged in and fought her head-on! I hate these kinds of mental attacks the most!"

Luo Wen carefully observed the battle situation: "However, look at Luo Feng's expression. Although he's confused, he hasn't completely lost his way. This shows that his willpower is very strong."

On the battlefield, Luo Feng, immersed in his childhood memories, suddenly heard a voice.

"Luo Feng. Luo Feng," it was Mel's voice, but it sounded very gentle. "Stay here. Your best memories are here. You don't have to face those dangerous battles anymore."

The voice was like a devil's temptation, trying to make Luo Feng completely succumb to the illusion. If he really chose to stay, it would mean his spirit was completely captured, and the battle would be over.

However, at this crucial moment, another voice resounded deep within Luo Feng's heart:
"What is your mission? Why do you want to become stronger?"

This was the voice of his own heart, reminding him of his initial dreams and goals. Luo Feng thought of the crisis facing Earth, the expectations of his teammates, and everything he had to protect.

"No! This is all fake!" Luo Feng suddenly roared, his powerful will erupting from the depths of his heart. "My path lies ahead, not in the past!"

As his will awakens, the illusions around him begin to crumble. Childhood memories shatter like bubbles, the desert environment begins to distort and deform, and the real illusionary forest reappears before him.

The spectator area erupted in enthusiastic applause.

"That was incredible! He actually broke through the memory barrier through sheer willpower!"

"Such willpower is truly admirable!"

"As expected of members of the Earth team, each one possesses a strong heart!"

The audience of the Spirit Race was even more shocked: "To be able to maintain one's sense of self within a memory illusion, what incredible willpower that requires!"

(End of this chapter)