Infinite Gods Reign Supreme

Chapter 135 - Now We Have Numerical Values
Breathe.

The navigator, staring intently at the formidable enemy who refused to reveal a single weakness, exhaled with all the breath he could muster. The overflowing breath transformed into countless invisible, powerful viruses the instant it touched the air. However, before they could effectively spread and take effect, the man, who hadn't even acknowledged the name 'Igniz,' vanished from sight amidst a sonic boom.

—We're doomed.

The burly man thought, his face calm, but his heart filled with despair. He struggled to swing his arms and widened his eyes. However, even with all his might, he could only barely see, and couldn't keep up with the other person's movements at all.

He was too fast.

That man who called himself a 'god' was too fast.

The 'Slow' field that the companion had painstakingly deployed could theoretically reduce the movement speed of all non-friendly creatures within a ten-meter radius by 25%. But this still couldn't slow down the opponent. And the combined shield that the other companion had erected, capable of easily withstanding a grenade launcher's bombardment, shattered into nothingness in less than a moment.

A 'bang' sound rang out in 'expectation'.

Before his hearing could register the shattering, excruciating pain surged through his entire body. He struggled to reach out, unleashing a forced grappling PvP skill. But all he could hear was the chilling voice emanating from the Nightmare Realm beside his ear.

[Check in progress... Peak Strength is 25% lower than the opponent's normal attribute, and peak Agility is 25% lower than the opponent's normal attribute. Grappling attempt failed by default, and this check cannot be corrected with items.]

Failed.

This was supposed to be a guaranteed hit.

By restraining his opponent and restricting their movements, he had already used this method to achieve victory after victory in desperate situations before today.

but……

This time it won't work.

[Takes 440 points of blunt force damage, HP drops below 25% in one hit, forcibly entering a critically injured state; HP and stamina recovery efficiency is temporarily reduced. All attributes decrease by 25%.]

The spatial notification sounded, and he proactively refused his companions' damage-sharing, because it was pointless. 440 points of damage would only leave him, a tank, with a sliver of health, while for others, it would simply add a few more severely wounded with drastically reduced stats.

Might as well...

"Look at me!" he roared in fury, unleashing his signature skill. This ability, known as 'Hateful Gaze,' not only forces an enemy target to suffer holy damage equal to the total HP reduction inflicted on him over two seconds, but it also forcibly redirects the enemy's primary aggro target, creating an opportunity for his allies to act.

[Check in progress... Willpower peak is 50% lower than the opponent's normal attribute. Check failed. Skill effect reduced. Use a special item to force a pass?]

--use.

The team's precious supplies were silently being depleted, and the man with the appearance of 'Igniz' hesitated for a moment. Tiny wounds seemed to appear out of thin air on his body and then instantly heal. In that fleeting instant, one of the navigator's companions drew his Golden Desert Eagle, loaded with gold-coin bullets. At this extremely close range, a powerful shot was fired, instantly consuming all of his contract points.

'Bang!'

From the muzzle of the gun came a deafening roar, comparable to that of a naval cannon. It was a powerful barrage capable of blowing away the ground beneath their feet and the surrounding ruins. Its existence represented the strongest destructive force of the naval squadron.

It did hit the target.

However, it did not bring any surprises to the navigator.

The 'gunner' who used full force to fire the shot had a contorted expression and made an incredulous sound.

"Can't break through the defense!?"

The flames of the explosion were abruptly dissipated. The man who called himself a god emerged from the flames with an unharmed arm. Several giant, stitched-together monsters from the Warcraft universe, known as Abominations, summoned in the wake of the all-out shooting, appeared from the smoke but were powerless to do anything, for in the next instant, a fist shrouded in black armor was already hurtling towards the gunman's chest!
"Hey! You little bastard!"

Another companion roared; it was another main tank (MT) in the Navigator's team—in the Nightmare Space, those with the Main Battle Tank talent easily become the backbone of the space. This is because they possess abundant vitality, excellent attack power, and the ability to forcibly transfer aggro and share damage reduction. And within the Navigator's team, there were two individuals destined to become the tactical core.

He gained great fame because of this.

Because a team with two main tanks (MTs) can often grind down theoretically invincible enemies by constantly switching aggro. He had indeed won that victory more than once in the past. But now…

'Boom—'

Failed.

The taunts from his companions had no effect.

The gunman who delivered the powerful blow couldn't dodge the man's punch—his entire upper body exploded into dust and then disintegrated into points of light in mid-air. Only now did the man look towards the other MT.

"I'm somewhat familiar with your techniques of mind manipulation," the man who called himself a god said calmly, his tone still polite. His cloak billowed behind him, revealing an unparalleled, sharp blade that easily tore apart the bodies of several flesh-shielding abominations.

"Thanks for clearing up the confusion."

The navigator tried desperately to do something, but his severely injured state left him with no strength to act. His core skills were already on cooldown, and he could only watch helplessly as the blond man in black raised his fiery hand high.

"Quickly—" Run away!

The sound didn't get a chance to come out.

A series of pale pillars of fire had already engulfed the bodies of the remaining companions—the navigator recognized the move; he knew it was Igniz's ultimate attack, Holy Light Blade. Even in the ordinary world, such a direct strike from a world-class boss's ultimate attack was enough to take the life of any constructed, non-title-level powerhouse.

The scorching air swirled and billowed.

Within the exploding pillar of fire, only fragments of light remained from the moment the contractors died—a few crimson treasure chests, visible only to the contractors and representing the deceased's legacy, floated there. This was undeniable evidence of total annihilation. —They failed.

The navigator thought to himself.

He was not surprised by this.

Because he only used less than a third of his methods, tactics, and all his trump cards. The reason he only used that third was because he simply couldn't find the right moment to cast his skills.

This is simply an opponent that he and his team cannot defeat.

He used all his strength and gave his all, but all he managed to do was raise a little dust off the other person.

What's even more terrifying is that, from beginning to end, this blond man in black, or at least who appeared to be blond and in black, showed them not even the slightest bit of hostility.

How could a person possibly feel hostility towards ants...? No, not even ants, not mosquitoes, not bacteria. It's the documents on the desk, the onions and ginger on the cutting board, the squares and rectangles on the monitor. And the next step is to process them methodically.

There will be no special events, no surprises.

Everything will become natural, and everything will eventually fall into place.

--but……

The navigator roared in anger.

All his anger, all his thoughts, all his ideas converged in his hands at this moment. And at the cost of all his 'losses,' he was finally able to leap up, forward, and deliver a powerful blow to the blond man in black.

No style.

This was originally a signature move possessed by Kyo Kusanagi, the protagonist of the King of Fighters universe, after enduring countless hardships. The Captain obtained a fragmented version of it in other King of Fighters worlds. The reason he brought his entire team to this world was to complete this attack, which could be considered a divine technique.

Even though it is not complete at this moment, it still possesses the most core special ability.

The ability to increase power without limit.

The more you invest, the more skills you can improve.

However, if all contract points, all consumable items, all free attribute points, and even one's own life were invested into it, this unparalleled strike might even be able to seal away a god.

perhaps.

The fist stopped in a raised palm.

A strike powerful enough to shatter mountains could only futilely unleash a raging wind that tore apart the surrounding earth. The unstable energy ball tore, rubbed, and leaped within the blond man's palm, and finally, he heard a response.

[Using the skill 'Formless Remnant' deals 0 damage.]

They failed to make a breakthrough.

However, he laughed.

Because the person in front of him had his hands covered by a set of red and black gauntlets, instead of the pure white gloves that fit Igniz's character.

“You are not a god after all.” — He ultimately forced out abilities beyond those of a ‘god’.

The next moment, he saw the man in front of him close his five fingers and crush his fist and hand bones. Then came a swift slash.

The battle continuation has just been burned, and what follows is eternal darkness and silence.

he died.

He realized that in the instant of his death, he reviewed all his tactics, but he found no mistakes or opportunities for victory.

A defeat is a defeat.

He regretted his defeat, but he did not regret it. Because he had given his all in that battle.

Well then... it's time to rest.

Yet, even on the verge of death, he still heard the voice.

No, you can't die. You must live.

The voice was firm, filled with the familiar sense of unquestionable authority.

You must buy time for Nightmare Space; the Contractors must buy time for Nightmare Space. Once the last Contractor dies, the space will lose its influence over this world. External enemies will be able to use this world as a springboard to directly capture the true form of Nightmare Space. Therefore, you must survive.

An undeniable force surged into his mind, instantly washing away all the obsessions and emotions of this man known as the Navigator. A mechanism that took precedence over the death of the contractor was thus triggered, transforming into a vast roar that brought power.

[Conditions not met... Forced to skip, Contractor 'Navigator', immediately complete title certification!]

The next moment, in the ruins of Howard in the King of Fighters '98 world, a radiance that should not exist suddenly shone.

(End of this chapter)