This villain is too popular.

Chapter 329 Star Source: Shadows of the Past - The Strongest Substitute

[Real world, 13 stations]

'This Yagami Rin is so quiet! She didn't even flinch at the tower guard's gaze. She's got that emotionless, emotionless vibe to the max!'

'Rin's martial arts uniform is so plain! It feels like the production team is targeting her. They deliberately dressed her in a seemingly loose but actually tight-fitting training outfit. This is clearly persecution!'

'She stood there like a sapling, so quiet and unassuming; who would have guessed she was a top player with 90 badges!'

[The Tower of Shattered Rocks, the Training Grounds]

"Now that you understand the rules of the challenge, then..."

The tower guard, a bearded man, spoke with a smile, his voice deep and resonant, like a polished stone.

Then, he raised his hand and moved his wrist.

The next second, dark gray rock-like patterns spread across the skin of his right arm, making his arm look like a real 'rock'.

"Let me show you the true meaning of 'Rock Shattering' martial arts."

boom!
The bearded middle-aged tower keeper took a step, and the hard granite ground, unable to withstand the force of the step, instantly cracked open with numerous fissures.

At the same time, countless tiny pebbles shot out in all directions.

The speed of those shattered stones was comparable to that of ordinary bullets.

Whoosh whoosh whoosh.
Amidst the whooshing sounds, the dangerous rubble arrived before Yagami Rin in an instant.

Yagami Rin remained calm in response, as if she were completely oblivious to the danger lurking within the rubble.

Just as the pebbles were about to hit Rin Yagami, her shadow moved!

The black shadow behind Yagami Rin rapidly withdrew like ink, and in a very short time, it condensed into a human form.

Although the shadow clone looks exactly like Rin Yagami, her clothing and appearance are completely different from Rin Yagami's.

The shadow clone was wearing a 'haori' woven from black raven feathers, with several sharp feather shoulder pieces adorning its shoulders and neck.

With every gesture, tiny black feathers would drift down from the air around them.

Black, aloof, mysterious, and handsome.

Looking at Rin Yagami, who stood one in front of the other and the other behind his shadow clone, amidst the sky full of black crow feathers.

Even though she hadn't made a move yet, everyone sensed the special aura of a 'strong person'.

boom!
After the shadow clone appeared, it gently raised its hand.

The next second, the crow feather that had been floating in mid-air reversed and flew rapidly toward the flying pebbles.

They easily thwarted the bearded tower guard's probing attack.

Seeing this, some spectators outside the tower expressed their doubts.

"Isn't the main point of a martial arts challenge to see if the challenger has mastered the corresponding martial arts style? Yagami Rin used Star Source to meet the challenge, which should be against the rules, right?"

However, right after this layman finished speaking, the people around him looked at him with strange eyes, as if they were looking at something strange.

Before the passerby who had raised the question could figure out the meaning behind everyone's looks, the bearded tower guard in the arena actually made his move.

"interesting."

As soon as he finished speaking, the bearded tower guard pushed off with his feet, charging towards Yagami Rin like a cannonball.

After getting a certain distance from Yagami Rin, the bearded tower guard raised his right fist.

The pale gray star energy wrapped around his right fist began to flow along the meridians in his arm, making the granite patterns on his skin even clearer. "Girl, be careful."

The bearded tower guard said politely, then threw a punch at Yagami Rin's face.

Marshfall – a stream of loose rocks!
This punch was not only incredibly powerful, but it also generated an exaggerated commotion, with the gust of wind causing Yagami Rin's black, tousled hair to flutter in the air.

Not to mention Rin Yagami, who faced the punch head-on, even Liu Ma, who was watching this scene on the big screen outside the tower, felt the power of the punch.

And subconsciously, he wondered if he could block that punch if he were facing it himself.

The answer is obvious: he can't do it.

Even if this punch was just a test from the bearded tower defender.

Even with such a 'shattered stone' that made Liu Ma's heart tremble, Yagami Rin did not move an inch until the fist was about to touch the tip of her nose.

boom!
Amidst the astonished gazes of countless people, Yagami Rin's 'shadow clone' suddenly appeared in front of her and helped her block the powerful punch from the bearded tower guard.

The shockwave from the collision of the stars sent sand flying everywhere, and the hard granite ground cracked open in several more places.

After the punch, the shadow clone was forced back half a step, and several black feathers fell off its shoulder.

But Rin Yagami's true form remained standing still, not even lifting her eyelids, as if nothing had happened.

To the audience's surprise, after delivering that punch, the bearded tower guard strangely stopped and looked in a certain direction of the shadow clone.

"Your shadow... learned our 'Stone Breaking' technique just like that?"

The tower guard's tone was tinged with surprise, and even his bushy beard twitched involuntarily.

In response, the usually taciturn Rin Yagami finally spoke up again.

Her voice was very soft, like a gentle breeze rustling through leaves, without the slightest undulation.

“You is another version of me. Since she has learned it, it means that I have learned it too.”

As she spoke, Rin Yagami slowly raised her arm.

The next second, the same rock-breaking patterns appeared on her arm as those of the bearded tower guard, with the patterns following the exact same direction.

Upon witnessing this scene, everyone, including the bearded tower guard, fell completely silent.

Because things had come to this point, they all understood what Rin Yagami's trump card was.

And what exactly did she rely on to obtain a full 90 martial arts badges in such a short period of time?

She, or rather 'them', is a true 'monster'.

【Star Source: Shadows of the Past】

[Type: Control System]

[Number of Awakenings: 2]

【Effect 1. Shadow of the Past: Can separate one's own shadow into a physical clone with a maximum range of 100 meters. The clone possesses 80% of the original's base attributes (Strength/Agility/Star Energy). The original and clone share the five senses and can switch dominant consciousness at any time.】

【Effect 2. Shadow Body: The Shadow Stand has no fatal weaknesses and will only disappear when the user's Star Energy is exhausted.】

[Second Awakening Effect - Shadow Assault: By seizing the opponent's 'shadow,' one can gain partial access to the opponent's memories, habits, and 'knowledge' (including astral energy spells and other combat skills)]

[Note: The severity of the Shadow Invasion depends on factors such as the opponent's Star Source level, type, base Star Energy value, and one's own willpower, and there is a possibility of failure.]

[Comment: 'The shadow follows the heart; the heart understands, and the shadow understands. The past leaves no trace, but days can leave a shadow. Therefore, anyone can betray you, but your shadow will not.' — Rin Yagami]

(End of this chapter)