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

Chapter 325 A spectacular battle!

Hong carefully observed Rong Jun's combat video: "Look at his fighting style; it's all about savage charging and striking. But don't underestimate this seemingly simple tactic; every strike contains terrifying power."

Rong Jun in the video was indeed impressive. He had bronze skin, bulging muscles, long, flowing hair, and a fierce, beast-like gaze. In battle, he never used weapons, relying entirely on his fists and body to attack, yet each strike was powerful enough to split mountains and shatter rocks.

“What’s most terrifying is his recovery ability.” Luo Feng pointed to a clip in the video. “Look here, he was hit in the chest by his opponent and was clearly seriously injured, but he fully recovered in less than ten seconds.”

“The savages’ innate physical attributes,” Hong explained. “They are not only physically strong, but also possess extraordinary regenerative abilities. This is a huge advantage in a protracted war.”

"What about Princess Silver Moon?" Thor asked. "In her battle against Rong Jun, who do you think has a better chance of winning?"

Rowan switched the screen, and Princess Silvermoon appeared: "Arya Silvermoon, we've all witnessed her power. Her mastery of the Wind Law is profound, her swordsmanship is exquisite, and she has also mastered the ultimate secrets of the Silvermoon Sword Codex."

“The problem is that her physical abilities are far inferior to Rong Jun’s,” Hong analyzed. “If Rong Jun gets close, her physique simply cannot withstand that level of attack.”

Luo Feng offered a different perspective: "But Princess Silver Moon's advantage lies in her speed and skill. Her wind magic grants her incredible speed, and her swordsmanship is incredibly versatile. If we can maintain distance and employ guerrilla tactics, we might have a chance to win."

The four began to analyze the possible combat patterns of their two opponents in depth.

“I think the key lies in the battlefield environment,” Thor said. “In an open field, Princess Silvermoon can utilize her speed advantage; in a confined space, Rong Jun’s advantages will be more pronounced.”

“There’s another problem,” Hong suddenly realized something. “Although Rong Jun seems rough, he’s gotten this far by more than just brute force. The combat intelligence of the savages might be higher than we imagine.”

Rowan nodded in agreement: "Indeed, to reach this level in a cosmic-level competition, pure brute force isn't enough. He must have his own tactical thinking."

“Then let’s assume two scenarios,” Luo Feng suggested. “If Princess Silver Moon wins, Brother Hong will face a combination of the Law of Wind and exquisite swordsmanship; if Rong Jun wins, he will face a combination of the Law of Force and savage impact. We’ll formulate corresponding tactics for each.”

Over the next few hours, the four discussed in detail various possible tactical options.

The main strategy for dealing with Princess Silvermoon is to use the stability of the Earth's laws to restrict her movement, and then use the laws of gravity to interfere with her swordsmanship.

“Princess Silvermoon’s swordsmanship is exquisite, but it requires perfect body coordination,” Hong analyzed. “If I could alter the local gravity, the rhythm of her swordplay would be disrupted.”

"Furthermore, while her Wind Laws are incredibly fast, they are severely limited in a gravitational field," Rowan added. "The key is to control the intensity of the gravitational field, enough to affect her movements without hindering your own combat."

The tactics against Rong Jun were even more complex. The savages were simply too physically strong, making it difficult to gain an advantage in a direct confrontation.

“My idea is to avoid direct confrontation and instead use the laws of the earth to alter the battlefield environment,” Hong explained his plan. “For example, by creating traps, utilizing terrain advantages, or using lava attacks to restrict his movements.”

“That’s a good idea,” Thor nodded in agreement. “While Rong Jun is physically powerful, his attack methods are rather limited. If we can restrict his movements, we can leverage your strengths.”

“But there’s a problem,” Luo Feng expressed his concern. “Rong Jun’s Law of Power not only strengthens his body, but also affects the surrounding environment. If he unleashes his full power, the traps you’ve created using the Law of Earth might not be able to withstand them.”

Hong pondered for a moment: "This is indeed a problem. It seems we'll need to adapt to changing circumstances and can't rely entirely on pre-established tactics."

Just as the four were engaged in a lively discussion, the doorbell suddenly rang. They exchanged glances, wondering who could be visiting at this hour.
Hong got up to open the door, and standing outside was none other than Princess Aria of the Silver Moon. She had changed into a light blue casual outfit, looking much gentler than when she was in battle, but her noble aura was still undeniable.

"Princess Silver Moon?" Hong asked, somewhat surprised. "Is something the matter so late?"

Arya smiled slightly: "Excuse me, I'm here to discuss some things with Rowan. If it's inconvenient..."

"No, no, no, please come in." Hong quickly stepped aside. "Everyone's discussing tomorrow's match."

Arya entered the room and saw the four people sitting around a table, on which various combat data were projected. A hint of appreciation flashed in her eyes: "Looks like you guys are taking this very seriously."

Rowan rose to greet her: "Your Highness, your visit so late at night must be of great importance."

Arya nodded, her expression turning serious. "There is indeed something I'd like to discuss with you. I'd like to hear your opinions on the battle between Rong Jun and me tomorrow."

These words stunned all four of them. Princess Silver Moon had actually come to ask for their opinions?
“Uh…” Thor scratched his head, “We’re just ordinary contestants, how could we possibly be qualified to give advice to Her Highness?”

Aria shook her head: "Strength has nothing to do with status. Yesterday's battle with Rowan made me realize that you Earth martial artists possess unique combat wisdom. And you were just analyzing my battle with Rong Jun, weren't you?"

Her words had hit the nail on the head, leaving the four of them somewhat embarrassed. Indeed, they had just been analyzing the battle, and in great detail at that.

Hong frankly stated, "Indeed, we were discussing your fight. Because regardless of who wins, I could potentially face them in the next round."

“I know.” Arya nodded. “That’s why I came to see you. I hope we can have an open discussion about my thoughts on Rong Jun.”

Luo Feng saw this as a good opportunity: "What does Your Highness know about Rong Jun besides publicly available information?"

Arya sat down in the empty chair, her expression turning serious: "Rong Jun is far more dangerous than he appears. Although his fighting style is brutal, his combat intuition is extremely sharp. And..."

She paused for a moment, then continued, "As far as I know, he hasn't shown his true strength yet. In all his previous matches, he won easily and has never been pushed to the brink."

This information shocked all four of them.

"He didn't show his true strength?" Rowan couldn't believe it. "But his previous combat footage was already terrifying."

“That’s just his base level,” Arya explained. “The savages have a special ability called ‘Berserk.’ In this state, their physical abilities increase exponentially, but the cost is the loss of their sanity.”

"Berserk mode?" Hong's expression turned serious. "How long does this ability last?"

“It usually takes ten to fifteen minutes, but it varies from person to person,” Arya replied. “And there’s a period of weakness after he goes berserk; that’s his only weakness.” Hearing this, Thor couldn’t help but ask, “Are you confident you can finish the fight before he goes berserk?”

Arya shook her head with a wry smile: "It's difficult. Rong Jun's basic strength is already very strong. To defeat him in a short time, we would have to use forbidden techniques. But even if we won, we would pay a huge price."

"So what's your plan?" Hong asked.

“A delaying tactic,” Arya said frankly. “Using my speed advantage and the Law of Wind, we should avoid direct confrontation and wear him down. If we can hold out until his berserk state ends and he enters his weakened state, we'll have a chance to win.”

Luo Feng analyzed, "This tactic is theoretically feasible, but it will be very difficult to execute. Rong Jun isn't stupid; he won't let you buy yourself time easily."

“I know,” Arya nodded. “That’s why I came to see you. I’d like to hear your suggestions.”

The four exchanged glances and began to think seriously. Being able to exchange tactics with a master like Princess Silvermoon was a rare opportunity for them.

"I think the key lies in utilizing the environment," Hong said first. "If the battlefield environment is favorable to you, the success rate of delaying tactics will be higher."

“For example, what kind of environment?” Arya asked.

"Terrain with many obstacles, or environments with height differences," Rowan suggested. "This way, you can utilize the flexibility of the Law of Wind, while Rong Jun's size disadvantage will become apparent."

Thor also offered a suggestion: "You can also utilize ranged attacks. Your sword aura should have a certain range; maintain distance and harass them, accumulating small attacks over time."

Arya nodded thoughtfully: "These suggestions are valuable. However, there's still one problem: Rong Jun's recovery ability is very strong, so minor injuries don't mean much to him."

"Then let's inflict massive damage," Luo Feng proposed a bold idea. "Since the goal of delaying tactics is to wait for him to enter a weakened state, why not deliberately provoke him when he's in a berserk state, making him expend even more energy?"

"Intentionally provoking me?" A hint of doubt flashed in Arya's eyes.

“The savages lose their reason when they go berserk; this is their weakness,” Luo Feng explained. “If we can guide them to make wrong judgments when they’re in a berserk state, such as attacking the wrong target or wasting energy on ineffective attacks, we can accelerate their stamina depletion.”

This idea caught the attention of everyone present.

"That's a very interesting idea," Hong agreed. "Using the opponent's weaknesses to formulate tactics is the most basic and effective method."

Arya's eyes gleamed with excitement: "That's a great idea indeed. If we can make him make a wrong judgment when he's in a berserk state, we can not only deplete his stamina but also buy ourselves more time."

“But this requires a great deal of skill and courage,” Thor warned. “Playing psychological warfare against the berserk Rong Jun is a recipe for disaster; one wrong move and you’ll be instantly killed.”

“I understand,” Arya nodded, “but it’s definitely a tactic worth trying.”

In the following time, the five continued to discuss various tactical details in depth. Although Aria was a princess of the Silver Blue Empire, she was very approachable during the tactical discussion and communicated very well with the four of them.

“Oh, right, there’s one more question.” Arya suddenly remembered something, “If I’m seriously injured in this battle, will it affect Hong’s performance in the next round?”

This question stunned everyone. Indeed, if Arya had to pay a heavy price to defeat Rong Jun, then Hong would face a weakened opponent in the next round, which seemed unfair.

Hong replied earnestly, "I hope to face an opponent at their peak. Whether it's you or Rong Jun, I hope to fight you both when you are at your strongest."

“This is the spirit of a martial artist,” Arya exclaimed. “But don’t worry, even if I’m injured tomorrow, I’ll be fully recovered before we fight. The Virtual Universe Company’s recovery system is very sophisticated; as long as it’s not a fatal injury, it can heal quickly.”

"That's good." Hong nodded. "I look forward to fighting you or Rong Jun."

Time had flown by, and Arya rose to take her leave: "Today's exchange was very fruitful, thank you for your advice. I will give it my all in tomorrow's battle."

“We’ll be watching closely,” Rowan said. “Whatever the outcome, I hope it will be a great fight.”

After seeing Arya off, the four of them sat down around the table again. Tonight's conversation had given them a deeper understanding of tomorrow's crucial battle.

"How are you feeling?" Hong asked everyone.

“Very fruitful,” Luo Feng replied. “Through our conversation with Princess Silver Moon, we gained a more accurate understanding of Rong Jun’s strength and characteristics.”

“And the berserk ability she mentioned is information we weren’t aware of before,” Rowan added. “This is crucial for developing our countermeasures.”

Thor yawned: "But the most important thing now is to rest. I have a game tomorrow."

“Yes, everyone should get some rest.” Hong stood up. “Tomorrow will be a very crucial day.”

The next day, early in the morning.

The main arena was even more bustling than yesterday, with the spectator area almost completely full. In addition to the ordinary contestants and spectators, there were also many spectators with special identities—representatives from various major forces in the universe, specifically responsible for discovering and recruiting outstanding martial arts talents.

Inside a special box in the spectator area, three people dressed in luxurious clothing were talking.

"Thor, a warrior from Earth, specializes in the laws of lightning." One of the middle-aged men flipped through the documents in his hand. "Based on previous intelligence, his mastery of the laws of lightning is quite impressive, and his fighting style is very distinctive."

Sitting opposite him was a tall woman with lightning flashing in her eyes, clearly also a lightning-based cultivator: "Earth is a very interesting planet; several promising martial artists have emerged one after another. This Thunder God's lightning fluctuations are very pure; he must have a natural lightning physique."

(End of this chapter)