ALL NOVEL Chapter 36: Chapter 36: Fate, Grant Me Power
The corpse demon, Nurarihyon, seemed unfazed by the constraints of the teleportation gun. It fixated on the tiny flicker of black flame on its fingertip, mesmerized.
What is this power?
It could sense the destructive energy contained within the minuscule flame but was unable to comprehend it.
It was... a power of a higher dimension.
Buzz!
The energy tether pulling at Nurarihyon's form shifted from blue to red as the teleportation sequence neared completion. Calmly, it broke off the flame-lit finger, and in an instant, a new one regenerated.
With a push of its arms, the red energy tether snapped like thread. The teleportation attempt was thwarted.
Nurarihyon turned to the small group of humans persistently firing at it. Every bullet's trajectory was seen clearly through its gaze, and wounds that formed healed instantly upon impact.
It advanced unhurriedly, a suffocating aura forcing Reika Shimohira and Anzu Yamasaki to suppress their screams.
Suddenly, Nurarihyon stopped mid-step. Its gaze shifted to the building ahead, where a tall, black-clad swordsman slowly emerged.
Boom!
The ground quaked with the resonance of a heavy footfall. The vibrations reminded Nurarihyon of the essence behind the swordsman's movements—or rather, the essence of his swordsmanship.
Tong Gu took a single step forward, and everything within a kilometer seemed to unfold in his mind.
The humans in the area were long dead, and the survivors had sought refuge far away, allowing Tong Gu to perceive his surroundings with precision.
Nurarihyon mirrored the step forward. The mortal before it no longer carried the same dangerous aura—just a mere human now.
"Your life is but a flickering flame in the wind, easily extinguished. Why do you not flee?"
Tong Gu stepped forward again, unsheathing his long, slender Nichirin blade with his left hand, his right hand hovering above the hilt.
"A flickering flame?"
Tong Gu chuckled softly, as if recalling something amusing. A faint smile curved his lips as he muttered:
"Then isn't this situation ideal?"
"Fate, grant me power!"
[Player: UD389033995]
[Blademanship/Fist Combat]
[Attributes:]
In the Game of Fate, human attributes are not quantified on an average basis but according to the levels of life quality:
• Strength: 17
• Constitution: 19
• Agility: 15
• Spirit: 7
• Energy: 0
• Free Attribute Points: 4
• Strength levels 1–5 are achievable through natural human growth. With proper diet and exercise, levels 6–10 are attainable, though each point becomes increasingly difficult. Level 10 represents the pinnacle of normal human training.
• In the ordinary range (1–10), one free attribute point increases a corresponding stat by 1.
• Beyond level 11, one enters the realm of the extraordinary—traits born of genetic mutations, ancient martial arts, or supernatural abilities.
• At this stage, raising a stat requires 2 attribute points per increment. At level 20+, humans transcend their physical limits, entering the Extraordinary Realm, where abilities beyond human comprehension emerge.
Tong Gu had planned to save his attribute points to push his strength into the extraordinary range, seeking the divine powers tied to it. But now, he decided it was time to spend them.
The Game of Fate had proven time and again that long-term plans were meant to be broken.
Humans can only live in the moment!
[Spend 2 Free Attribute Points to increase Constitution?]
Tong Gu confirmed inwardly.
An excruciating pain tore through his body, but before he could even grimace, the sensation disappeared, as though it had never existed.
[Your Constitution has reached 20, entering the Extraordinary Realm. Attempting to activate extraordinary traits...]
[Activating...]
[You have acquired the trait: Extraordinary Resilience.]
Tong Gu felt a surge of joy. According to the forums, when constitution entered the extraordinary range, common traits included accelerated regeneration and armored skin, both useful but mundane. Yet, without a bloodline, the rarest abilities were ones like the Extraordinary Resilience he had just gained.
This trait granted unparalleled vitality and resistance to damage, even against the most dangerous instant-death abilities in the Game of Fate. It was an invaluable boon in high-difficulty worlds!
Initially aiming for basic regeneration to sustain himself in battle, Tong Gu instead pulled out a large golden ring resembling a thumb ring and pointed it at himself.
His body now possessed immense resistance, but the debilitating pain in his chest—the searing agony within his lungs—remained his greatest hindrance.
[Agonizing Bliss]
[Absorb?]
With the pain dissipated, Tong Gu drew a long, steady breath, his mind clearer than ever.
Nurarihyon, now five meters away, raised its right arm sharply.
Roar!
An invisible force erupted, fracturing the ground and shaking the air with deafening shockwaves.
Recognizing this familiar power, Tong Gu stepped forward in tandem with its release.
Earth Breathing, Fourth Form: Earth Pulse Dragon's Roar!
Boom!
The ground beneath him exploded as his muscles surged, vanishing from his previous position.
Nurarihyon, now fully evolved from its Beast Bone form, tracked Tong Gu's trajectory perfectly. It turned its head, meeting the swordsman's gaze as Tong Gu appeared at its left flank.
Blade Form: Iai Slash!
Clang!
The Nichirin blade's sound was crisp and pure, less savage than in his berserk state but far swifter.
Nurarihyon's scythe-like arm rose to defend, yet a black slash had already traced its cheek.
Its head jerked from the force of the strike, but as it turned back, the gaping wound across its face had already healed.
Tong Gu adjusted his footing, sidestepping as beams of energy burst from Nurarihyon's eyes, scorching the ground he had just occupied.
Deflecting its massive scythe arm with his enhanced blade, Tong Gu stumbled only slightly. What strength...
The duel continued, with Tong Gu maneuvering for position while internally marveling at Nurarihyon's resilience. It was a foe whose hardness and regeneration exceeded even Muzan Kibutsuji's.
But this wasn't the Taisho era of Demon Slayer. Humanity was no longer shackled by its lack of weaponry.
Times have changed, Nurarihyon.
---
Satisfied that Kato Masaru and the others had reached their sniper positions, Tong Gu shouted:
"Hachiro! If you don't show up now, this boss's points will be mine!"
Nurarihyon roared in fury, its wings of bone spreading wide as it launched skyward.
Bang!
A blue-white laser struck from above, severing the bone wings and sending Nurarihyon crashing down.
From the rooftop descended Hachiro, clad in a gleaming, mech-like Combat Suit, tossing the severed head of a Great Tengu toward Nurarihyon's feet.
Nurarihyon howled, its psychic force exploding outward, but Hachiro's suit easily absorbed the attack.
MT is essential for boss fights.
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