Infinite Gods Reign Supreme

Chapter 126 Nightmare Space, Contractor

It seems that the man does exist.

It seems that information about that existence is being protected by some kind of force.

Yu Zhiwei wasn't angry, because rejection itself meant gain. She cleverly changed the subject, shifting the focus of the conversation to topics that had no direct or indirect connection to the 'navigator'. And everything went exactly as she expected; with just a slight change of topic, the female fighter's attitude naturally shifted from icy coldness to a friendly one.

--I see.

—It's some kind of special effect, like a 'secret hint'.

—Phew, someone not from the original text. The effect of protecting information… it feels like a counterpart to the charm school? It can directly cause changes in 'favorability' through actions, and then the attitude and approach towards targets with different 'favorability' will be different?

A judgment formed in Yu Zhiwei's mind, a conclusion she had reached based on the exchanges among her companions in the group chat. Si Ming's judgment had become a reality at this moment—although it was still uncertain whether they were truly subordinates of 'another main god.' But at least, she now knew that there was indeed a group of 'outsiders' living alongside the Celestial Team.

as well as……

"Professor, what should we do?"

Simin remained atop Gista. The area remained completely still. The existence of the third party had been confirmed, but their whereabouts were yet unknown. This proved that they were trying to avoid the Reincarnators' view and were reluctant to make contact with them.

That's a possibility.

However, it cannot be ruled out that the other party is lurking in the shadows, waiting for an opportunity to make a desperate attempt at the crucial moment.

Si Ming lowered his eyes slightly.

Si Ming: [Prepare protective measures against mental interference; there's no need for rash action for now. The Supreme God hasn't yet given us any missions for external warfare. Since the enemy is currently avoiding us, let's focus on the matters at hand.]

Ultimately, every reincarnator must complete one thing: their main quest. Even though the Celestial Team is stronger than many other reincarnation teams, they only have the freedom to choose how to complete it.

Si Ming: [Let's speed things up. We need to take action against the Eight Heroes immediately. In any case, we've achieved our first-stage objective. We've proven our combat strength in this world—this world is undoubtedly an 8-player difficulty level.]

Unknown fighters are at the first tier of the class, famous fighters are at the second tier, and fighters with a boss-like template, who can be considered truly powerful, are at the middle stage of the third tier. However, the fighting skills they possess are not enough to significantly amplify their combat power.

The possibility of being taken down in one combo by an opponent has been greatly reduced.

Therefore, 'Storm Goenitz,' whose energy level alone surpasses the high-level of the third tier and which even Siming could not easily claim victory over, is no longer an untouchable powerful monster.

Si Ming slightly opened his heart.

The immense aura that was bound within the body then silently overflowed.

His gaze swept over the neighborhood that should have drawn his attention, moving westward towards South Town. And the next moment, to the senses of this transcendent being, a pitch-black sun suddenly appeared abruptly from the highest point in the heart of South Town!

A pitch-black sun.

The glow of dusk.

Dark and divine forces intertwine here.

A wisp of wind that had quietly crept up to the top of Howard Tower since Gis's defeat was silently dispelled and crushed. At the same moment, an invisible vortex of wind suddenly emerged atop the Western Church in South Town!

The weak are completely unaware of this. They simply perceive that the air has become scorching hot, and the wind has turned chilling. Normal breathing becomes slightly difficult as a result. And above, dark clouds gradually gather.

Inside the church, the blue-clad priest, who was preaching, closed the book in his hand.

He slowly bowed slightly to the unrelated people in the church, and an apologetic voice came from his throat.

"Ladies and gentlemen, that concludes today's sermon. The weather is bad, please go home."

He could sense Si Ming.

Just as Si Ming could sense him.

The dark sun, which only he, and perhaps Rugal, could perceive, hung quietly atop Gista. It neither pressed nor urged. But he knew very well that he was about to face a thrilling battle.

The crowd surged as a result.

Goenitz's words were particularly persuasive at this moment.

Even the most steadfast and fervent believers of the past obediently followed his orders at this moment. Only a few fighters who usually helped him with the church and handled many of his trivial matters were able to barely hold their ground.

“Father,” a eccentrically dressed fighter asked eagerly. “Is there anything we can do?”

They received a reply immediately, and the high level of goodwill prompted Goenitz to wave his hand gently.

"That's not something you can interfere in. Leave. A battle is about to break out here."

Information that was originally reserved only for members of the Orochi clan was casually leaked by Goenitz here. The few fighters who were somewhat famous in the streets and alleys, but ultimately remained unknown, hesitated slightly. They seemed about to speak, but then seemed to hear some invisible yet urgent sound. Several of them hurriedly left.

Only the one who appeared to be the most powerful among them had a grim expression, but he still managed to speak to Goenitz.

“Father, please be careful of that man who claims to be God. He may be skilled in using the power of light, and his combat suit may be his weakness. If you find that enemy too troublesome... please, please forget about us.”

"Yes, I understand." Goenitz's voice remained gentle, but the faint warmth he had previously sensed had transformed into a cold indifference. Without waiting for the fighter's reply, he waved his hand. The next moment, the fighter who had 'made the request' was enveloped by an invisible wind and thrown out of the church, falling to the ground and barely managing to regain his footing.

The battle has not yet begun.

The nameless fighter, his face ashen, straightened his back and turned to leave—a unique power was released as he entered the crowd, allowing him to easily blend into the dispersing flow without attracting any attention or causing a commotion.

This is not the kind of power the world should have.

This power shares similarities with the stealth techniques in Assassin's Creed.

He moved swiftly, weaving through the crowd and teleporting seamlessly as he passed through a door. When he finally found his footing, he was in a completely secluded conference hall.

"You used up all the goodwill I worked so hard to raise to a friendly level with just one sentence! Now Goenitz is treating me coldly! Captain, you'd better have a good reason!"

The conference room was filled with people, all dressed in different styles. Many wore Howard Corporation security uniforms, while others looked like regulars at a bar. A few individuals, distinguished by their attire and demeanor, remained on the outer edge of the hall, seemingly of lower status.

Almaria might recognize some of them. She might recognize the Shocker officers, the Rogue Encampment archers, the Metal Slug frontline officers, and the elite captains from Dynasty Warriors. But beyond that, in the very center of the crowd, a tall, imposing man cast his gaze toward the fighter who had initiated the attack.

“You can choose to face that ‘god,’ Wind Fist, yourself,” the tall man said slowly and deliberately. “That’s my reasoning.”

"You—!" the fighter glared angrily.

But he only glared at her angrily.

A calm and wise voice then rang out, soothing the slightly tense atmosphere.

“This isn’t like you at all, Navigator.” It was a smartly dressed, yet sophisticated, dark-haired woman. Her voice was convincing. “Has the situation really gotten this bad? It’s just that a ‘god’ has appeared, an outsider.”

“Scales.” The navigator nodded to the woman, showing a degree of respect between individuals of the same rank.

"Gise Howard is dead," the navigator said calmly. "The battle lasted less than five seconds; it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say he was killed instantly."

"...If it were Igniz, it wouldn't be surprising if he did something like this."

Igniz.

This word, which should never have appeared in this world, has finally come out of someone's mouth.

"There have also been intruders at the Kyokugenryu Dojo, but their identities are currently unknown. Also, at the Phantom Bar, a woman who appears to be a Saint Seiya defeated Joan in a playful manner."

Saint Seiya.

When the word was uttered, everyone's eyes were filled with astonishment. Some even turned pale and nearly collapsed to the ground with a loud thud.

"This is impossible!" the terrified man shouted. "Saint Seiya is the highest level of forbidden world. How could Nightmare Space allow intruders from that world to come to our normal world... This is clearly just a very ordinary King of Fighters '98!"

"Could it be a mistake?" The woman called Libra frowned slightly. "Perhaps it's a character from the Hunter x Hunter world? Uvogin from the Phantom Troupe? Super Destruction Fist?"

“I’ve fought Uvogin from the regular world,” a tall, thin man beside the navigator said in a deep voice, still reeking of the Phantom Bar. “I can assure you that Uvogin from the regular world wouldn’t last five moves against that woman. Unless it’s Uvogin from the forbidden world… ha, then he’s no different from someone from the Saint Seiya world.”

“This is against the rules.” Libra turned his head. “We are contractors of the Nightmare Space. The space gives us the power to survive and fight. And we create worlds for the space—only the most powerful ‘titled powerhouses’ are qualified to create forbidden-level worlds for the space. Wait, Captain, could it be that you—”

“I am indeed very close to that level, but I am not yet.” The man looked up, peering through the magnificent top floor of this hidden space. He seemed to see the invisible pillars of wind and the pitch-black sun above South Town. It was a terrifying spectacle of the mind, a symphony of auras, that the weak were not qualified to see. His gaze then fell.

“The item that forced us to return to the space has malfunctioned. I suspect there’s something seriously wrong with the Nightmare Space. And… haven’t you noticed? Those powerful intruders have been here for so long, but none of us have interacted with them at all.”

The conference room suddenly fell silent.

An unnamed fear gripped the hearts of the contractors at that moment.

They knew who they were—death row inmates, outlaws, terminally ill patients. The Nightmare Space pulled these dying people, living in a nightmarish reality, into its space and made contracts with them. And these people, who relied on contract points to maintain their second life, were willing to do anything and dared to do anything to survive.

They should have encountered those unknown powerful figures long ago, they should have carefully used their skills to probe their information, or even directly used favorability items to ingratiate themselves with them. But now…

Is it an instinctive fear?
Or is it something lurking in their subconscious that is doing everything in its power to prevent their rash actions?
"I hope everyone will exercise restraint as much as possible going forward," the navigator said in a deep voice. "Take a complete retreat and erase as much of the traces you've left behind as possible. Unless absolutely necessary, avoid conflict with those intruders... no, it's best to completely disappear from their sight!"

"You mean," Libra's face darkened, "that we should just abandon this world?"

“Yes.” The navigator nodded without hesitation. “The point at which this world will leave is the end of KOF. If… the space doesn’t issue any new missions for a long time, then what we need to do is stall until that point arrives, and then leave this world directly!”

(End of this chapter)