Anime: Fight Sukuna at the beginning?.

Chapter 448 The Monster Seen by the Ten-Victory Martial God and the Sword-Raising of the Ten-Defeater
[Derivative World] Three hours and fifty-nine minutes after opening, late at night.

A forest outside a temporary stronghold where reincarnators gather.

Sensing this expensively crafted mechanical body, for some reason, emotions that shouldn't have arisen surged within him.

Unable to maintain the "divide and conquer" state, Luo Yi transformed his body back into human form.

He is leading Fang Yi into the [Martial Arts System] that he is familiar with to begin research.

After realizing that the other party was not the type to combine various [body forging methods] and gravity chambers.

It enables the human body to quickly absorb various drugs and biologically formulated gene solutions.

And through various gene surgeries, the body is targeted and modified in a specific way to continuously enhance its strength.

Alternatively, different materials may be used to cast the body to enhance its strength.

Once the physical body reaches a certain level of strength, one can awaken spiritual energy to empower the body through visualization techniques.

The [Starry Sky Martial Arts System] is said to have an upper limit capable of destroying galaxies.

It doesn't involve going through the old-fashioned process of body refinement, organ refinement, and marrow refinement to unlock the acupoints for storing energy.

The [Human Immortal Martial Arts System] utilizes the energy within acupoints to power attacks.

It was as if some strange memory had been awakened in him.

He trembled uncontrollably, as if recalling something extremely terrifying.

Bionic sweat glands on the body used to disguise the organism.

They also subconsciously started working, adding a layer of fine beads of sweat to the surface of their bodies.

Finally, it gets mixed with dander and oil.

It created an extremely disgusting, slippery feeling on the skin.

Upon noticing these details, Luo Yi's face was filled with disbelief.

Am I feeling fear?

Why do I, as a "God of War," feel fear?

I would never.

However, Luo Yi's thoughts had not yet finished processing.

His body, like that of a person in a state of exhaustion, collapsed onto the ground.

He spread his legs wide, leaned against a big tree in a very unladylike manner, and began to pant heavily.

After sensing that his body was experiencing a strange reaction as if it had encountered a natural enemy.

He then cut off his thoughts at the opportune moment.

[I can't bear to think about it anymore; that knife wound was rather eerie.]

I need to rest now!

Growing increasingly confused, he closed his eyes, determined not to think about it anymore.

It then sends a command to the body to rest.

"Adjust the [Prototype II - Apprentice-level Body] to Alert Correction Mode, reducing power in certain areas of the torso."

"Injecting a 'sedative' into the brain and guiding it to prevent useless thinking, achieving high-quality biomimetic sleep, fine-tuning the biomimetic spine, and stopping simulated tremors."

After issuing several 'energy-saving' commands, I felt drowsy in my brain.

Luo Yi closed his eyes.

I want to take a break, just like humans, to banish the strange images from my mind.

But for some reason, even though the cerebral cortex is no longer active.

His body seemed to be frozen in the moment when the man swung his long sword down.

Whenever he closes his eyes, that nightmarish scene automatically replays before his eyes.
-
Faced with that vehicle, which reportedly cost nearly 200000 points, 17 B-level points, and 171 merit points to build.

The 'base vehicle' flew in at unparalleled speed, about to touch the man's nose in the next second.

The man named Fang Yi was in a situation where he had no way to dodge.

He unleashed a slash that defied common sense, ending the self-destructive attack.
-
After several screen flashes...

As the prompt "Your cerebral cortex is abnormally active and unable to enter a high-quality sleep state, would you like to increase the dosage?" appeared in my ear.

Luo Yi simply opened his eyes and gave up resting.

He continued to ponder the question he had just asked.

That man's physical strength was clearly so weak, and the long sword in his hand could hardly be considered powerful, nor did he seem to be using any significant energy.

But how was he able to unleash that seemingly illogical strike?

What kind of martial arts system did he enhance? Was it something from the New World?

Luo Yi didn't have much time to ponder it.

The notification sound in his ear interrupted his thoughts.
[You are in an environment similar to "magic scarcity." Magic floating in the air is difficult to manipulate and is extremely prone to unpredictable random movements.]

Energy-based skills have been weakened; items made purely of energy may be distorted.

The energy replenishment rate for maintaining the [Prototype II Apprentice-level Body] is relatively slow.

[Current body energy reserves are 21%]

For safety, it is recommended to supplement with external energy.

Hearing this warning...

Without any hesitation, Luo Yi took out a purple crystal and pressed it against his chest.

In an instant, the man's chest began to flow like liquid, revealing a passageway.

Luo Yi treated the purple crystal called "Energy Crystal" like a radiator.

It was attached to four fingernail-sized, silver-white chips with the words "Designed and co-developed by Arasaka Corporation & Yoko Corporation" and "Manufactured by Arasaka Corporation" written on them.

"hiss--"

Then a sound like a venomous snake spitting its tongue rang out.

In a short while, the "Energy Crystal" turned into dust and fell to the ground.

He heard the notification sound in his ear: "Current torso energy level is 79%."

Calming down considerably, Luo Yi walked towards the camp where the fire was relatively small and where many reincarnators and travelers had gathered.

New directives were issued.

"Based on the [Martial God] database and the destructive power of the opponent's previous attacks, please analyze the difference in combat strength between myself and my forces compared to Fang Yi, and predict the outcome."

He soon got the answer he wanted.
-
[Your physical strength, converted to attributes, is normally 39 for Strength, 39 for Constitution, 38 for Agility, and 5 for Intelligence.]

[You gain one victory, while Fang Yi suffers one defeat.]

[Up to 31 points of Spirit, the converted Spirit Power will provide additional attribute bonuses.]

This results in two victories, while Fang Yi suffers two defeats.

[This energy shield, created from a replica of the Phase Storage Core Cavity—a replica stolen from the 'Legendary' tomb in Night City before the transaction, and activated within the world of 'Eternal Aragaki Tower'—can withstand four attacks from the opponent.]

This is the third victory.

[You can use special equipment to contact powerful reincarnated beings with special abilities in different dimensions, frame them as trading partners for [Gu Qi], and obtain additional assistance.]

This is the fourth victory.

You used the "Split Up" mode to relocate, and the enemy was unaware of your presence.

This is the fifth victory.

[You have changed your appearance, and [Hamlet Town] is a 'safe zone'. You can return to the town to gather intelligence on the enemy up close.]

This is the sixth win.

[After using bionic martial arts, you can...]

【.】

In conclusion, you have ten victories, while Fang Yi has ten defeats.

You are destined to win this battle!
-
Upon hearing these emotionless words, the fear that had inexplicably arisen within Luo Yi vanished instantly.

A slight smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.

"Since the [Martial God Database] has given such a conclusion, then there shouldn't be any major problems."

"All you need to do is figure out how to lure the other side out of the 'safe zone' as the mission progresses."

He looked up at the camp not far away, where the firelight was dim, and he already had a rough draft.

"Perhaps I need to blend in with these reincarnators."

"Transform into [Reincarnator Li Yi] and follow the [Guided Mission] of the space to further explore this somewhat strange world and [Module].

"Rethink how to formulate a plan."

But recalling the other party's strange behavior earlier, Luo Yi's smile vanished instantly. "But to be on the safe side, I must calculate everything carefully and maximize my 'hand'."

"You must be absolutely certain of crushing your opponent when you make your move!"

Thinking of this, Luo Yi took out gauze and wrapped it around his arm.

At the same time, it issued entirely new commands to the body.

Inflict the injury inflicted by the [Bandit Musketeer].

He only took a step after the gauze on his arm was visibly soaked with blood.

However, he hadn't taken more than a few steps when he began to greet the reincarnators in the camp and reveal his purpose.

My body then instinctively felt a strong urge to vomit.

A notification sound from the space also rang in my ears.

You witnessed something indescribable, lurking in the darkness.

[Affected by the [Prototype II - Apprentice-level Body] and the [Destiny] and [Martial God].]

Your stress level has been reduced to 57/100.

As the "pressure value" on the screen soared like a stock after tariffs were lifted, it jumped up dramatically in an instant.

After the third-tier epic's prosthetic eye underwent a violent contraction.

The instruction to "Inject [a tranquilizer] to reduce stress" was given.

Luo Yi, who had reduced the pressure to 32 points, found the culprit.

It was a thick, inky shadow that quietly appeared in a dark corner of the camp where the faint firelight could not reach.

However, in a short while, this irregular shadow rapidly took shape under the [pressure] of everyone.

It transformed into a deformed creature whose body gradually solidified, as if formed from some kind of malice, limping out of the darkness.

At this moment, Luo Yi and the others in the camp finally saw what the thing looked like.

Or rather, the appearance of a monster.

The monster's overall outline was somewhat blurry, seemingly blending into the surrounding darkness or being darkness itself.

Its body is enormous, with a back that is as high as a mountain and covered with jagged thorns.

Its entire body is covered in dark purple scales and muscle tissue, while its surface gleams with an unsettling sheen, and it has constantly writhing, twisting tentacles.

Its abnormally deformed head was covered with multiple blood-red eyeballs arranged in a disordered manner, staring intently at the people in the camp.

It gives the impression of a diner in a buffet restaurant holding a tray, looking at the various dishes, and preparing to pick food from the plate.
-
The moment Luo Yi saw it, an indescribable chill ran down his spine.

"...What is this thing again!"
"Why are these reincarnators fighting such monsters before they even reach the town!"

"This is unreasonable!"
"Is it because of the cumulative thirty-seven [Grand Prizes]?"

Luo Yi's thoughts were still racing.

massacre.

Or rather, the monster's feeding has begun.

Approaching the monster, the pressure on several individuals shrouded in darkness exceeded 100 points.

Unable to control their own actions, the reincarnators, whose basic attributes were around 25 points, didn't even have time to scream or resist.

He was then pulled into a swarm of rampaging tentacles by the monster.

After several "crackling" and "snap" sounds indicating that bones were breaking and flesh was being torn apart.

Immediately following was the loud thud of a head being forcibly ripped open.

And the sound of blood dripping onto the ground.

Finally, there was the sound of bones being chewed and crushed, echoing in the air as the human body was shoved into the monster's fanged mouth.

Hearing this sound, and seeing the monster appearing at the edge of the camp in an incomprehensible way.

The entire camp collapsed instantly.

Some people screamed, while others ran around frantically in all directions.

Some people started talking nonsense, laughing and crying at the same time, "There are fewer competitors, fewer of them!"

Some people collapsed to the ground, clutching their heads and screaming frantically, "It wasn't me! I did nothing wrong! Let me go!!"

Only a few reincarnators and travelers with healthy [stress levels] gritted their teeth and gripped their swords, raising their guns in a defensive stance, despite their discomfort.

I instinctively retreated to the campfire.
-
The monster ignored the rebellious reincarnators and did not actively destroy the campfire.

Instead, they acted as if they were elegant nobles enjoying a grand feast, following some inexplicable etiquette.

Only when someone's [stress value] spikes above 100 points and they are in an area with weak firelight.

It then uses its tentacles to lure these chaotic people to deliver goods to its door.

Then they killed and chewed these people.

Seeing this bizarre scene before me.

Despite the fact that Luo Yi already had the illusion that his heart was pounding, his hands were unusually cold, and his whole body was tense to the limit.

But he didn't move.

He did not choose to fight or run away.

Instead, it suppressed its biological instincts and froze in place.

He knew that once he made a move, or if that thing noticed him...

His identity could change from "observer" to "prey" in the next instant.

He could only watch as the monster resembled a machine programmed to clean up some kind of "residue."

The scene depicts the creature opening its twisted mouth and devouring one mentally broken reincarnator or adventurer after another who willingly offered themselves up.

About ten minutes later, the monster finally stopped moving.

It seems they were full, or perhaps they received some instructions.

It stood at the edge of the camp for a few seconds, then waved its tentacles with satisfaction.

It vanished into the depths of the night, as if it had never existed, untouched by the firelight.

All that remained were scattered pieces of flesh and blood, and a few scattered reincarnators and adventurers huddled fearfully around the campfire.

Only then did the countless crows perched on the carriage begin their mournful cawing.

It has a raven-black body and pupils that gleam like rubies.

It instantly created an extremely eerie atmosphere.

Yet it also gives people a strange sense of peace, as if "order has been restored".
-
Luo Yi took a deep breath in the shadows, confirming that the monster had completely retreated.

After waiting for another ten minutes or so, he finally removed the gauze to remove the bloodstains.

Meanwhile, some deliberately broke the dead branches.

After being met with shouts of "Who! Who's there!" from the junkers in the camp, who were as frightened as startled birds.

He then raised his hands to show no hostility, walked out of the forest, and slowly headed towards the camp.

He put on an expression that was both weary and unusually determined.

He began by introducing himself.

"You went through a battle?"
"I think you need some help."

"...My name is Li Yi, mechanical reinforcement."

"Accumulated merit points: 452, verifiable."

After Luo Yi reported his merit points, the expressions of many reincarnators suddenly relaxed, and they were about to reply.

Unexpectedly, Luo Yi pulled out several syringes and began to introduce the products with a smile.

"【Sedative】, can reduce stress level by 15 points."

"50 [old gold coins] per injection."

"The first person to tell me what happened here will receive a 10-old gold coin discount."

"Those who are willing to cooperate with me in the future and share information will receive a 15 [old gold coin] discount."

Watching the crowd eagerly recount what had happened, while simultaneously pulling out old gold coins and adopting ingratiating expressions.

Luo Yi smiled with satisfaction.

No surprises.

These survivors will become his 'tentacles' and new 'pawns' after they travel to the 'town' tomorrow.
-
At the same moment, Fang Yi, sitting on the bed, took out the somewhat dilapidated [Kashuu Kiyomitsu].

Begin researching the traits [Substitute Spirit] and [Resonance Spirit Empowerment - Blade lv15].

Consider how to perform the first spiritual empowerment on [California Clear Light].

(End of this chapter)