Alice in the Land of Steam

Chapter 203: Can the strong and the weak fight fairly?

Starlight gushed out, merging into a vast ocean. A swirling nebula covered the sky above the Fire Arena, swallowing up the faint light released by the remaining fire rings. After being assimilated by the flow of starlight, it exhaled an even brighter and more brilliant light. The entire field of vision suddenly became like an illusion from outer space, magnificent and colorful.

As if the stars were woven by the hand of God, they were drawn in this brilliant ocean, gradually forming two different figures. One was a petite little girl with an innocent temperament, and the other was a little fairy flapping her butterfly wings behind her, looking as agile and light as a star elf. Although their faces were hidden under a layer of hazy gauze, anyone could easily see that these two figures were Metien and Shemi.

The star staff in Olvera's hand slowly floated towards the sea of ​​stars above her head, and was finally grasped by the phantom of Metien, who then gently waved it, and the starlight in the sky fell like raindrops. The gentle and dreamy star rain gently embraced the princess on the ground, and used every drop of rain to caress her weak cheek, conveying a warmth that went straight to the depths of her heart.

沐浴于星雨之中，奥薇拉的血条迅速恢复，很快就回到了满值，甚至已经超过了满值，开始突破上限：1000/750、1500/750、2000/750……很快就涨到了一个令人瞠目结舌的数字：5000/750。

The phantom of Shaymi took out a huge gift box from somewhere, opened the lid, and took out all kinds of things from it: windmill toys, soldier dolls, pocket wooden swords, bows, half an apple, shriveled carrots, seeds that could not germinate, withered branches... There were so many things that it was dazzling.

She shouted happily, making cheers, and flew happily under the sea of ​​stars, drawing irregular arcs with her butterfly wings. At the same time, she threw everything she took out of the gift box to the two people on the ground: toys, dolls, bows and other things that symbolized beauty were thrown to Olvera, turning into bright starlight and merging into her body, accompanied by the buff states popping up one by one in the attribute panel: all attribute bonus, attack power bonus, defense power bonus, immunity to damage, increased movement speed, reduced cooldown, physical shield...

As for the uneaten apples, dead seeds, withered branches and other things that symbolized bad luck, they were all thrown to the Martial God Emperor Karna, and transformed into dim gray light and merged into his body, accompanied by various negative states: HP limit halved, defense halved, physical vulnerability, magical vulnerability, speed reduction, attack power reduction...

[Contract of the Pure: The magical power that can only be released by the legendary heroes Metien and Shemi working together. The magnificent changes brought by the Holy Staff Star are also the embodiment of the infinite possibilities of the Star Key. Continuously restore the HP value of our character, and it will not stop even if the upper limit is reached; at the same time, within 120 seconds, every second, give our character a random buff state and give the enemy character a random weaken state. This state can be stacked and has no upper limit. The effect of the buff and weaken is determined by the numerical difference between the two characters. The larger the difference, the more significant the effect.]

Soon, the attribute panels of both parties were filled with various states. Dozens or even hundreds of BUFFs were squeezed into three or four columns of dense patterns under the health bars of the two people. At a glance, it was even difficult to count how many types of BUFFs there were. Moreover, many of these BUFFs can be stacked. For example, in Ovella's attribute column, there are ten layers of attack power +50% BUFF stacked. In other words, she now has a 500% attack power bonus.

The health bar that had been displayed as a question mark finally showed actual numbers after five layers of the "health limit reduced by half" DEBUFF were superimposed, and it happened to be consistent with Olvera's health bar after being strengthened.

After completing their tasks, the phantom of Metien put away his staff, and the phantom of Shemi threw away the gift box in his hand. The two looked at each other, stretched out their hands in tacit understanding, and clapped their hands under the reflection of the starlight. Then they turned around at the same time, clenched their fists, and made an encouraging gesture to Ovilla on the ground. Then they turned into stardust in the sky and dissipated under the shining sea of ​​stars.

Although he is still powerful at this moment, he is no longer the invincible and unbeatable arena overlord. There is a number that can prove this point: Martial God Emperor Karna, current HP5000/5000.

If these negative states were added to the bosses on the first three floors, they would probably be weakened to be even more fragile than the monsters in the corridor. Although the Martial God Emperor Karna was weakened, he still maintained a breathtaking aura, which further proved his strength.

As more and more starlight merged into her body, the princess's aura gradually rose, while in contrast, the aura of the Martial God Emperor Karna continued to decline. He had too many negative states superimposed on him. If it was just one or even a dozen negative states, it might not have a big impact on his strength, but at this moment, he had dozens or even hundreds of negative states.

The holy staff - the Star Key slowly fell and was held in Olvera's hand again. When the princess raised her arm again and pointed at the Martial God Emperor Karna across the ruins, the Star Staff had been replaced by the pale blue holy sword - Broken Steel. The bladeless sword was shining with holy silver light, as if challenging the Overlord of the Arena. The confident and firm voice echoed in the collapsed broken tiles and ruins: "Now, we can continue the fight!"

“So that’s how it is…” Martial Emperor Karna silently felt the power flowing through his body. This feeling was the first time he had experienced it during his long years of training. “The strong are not always strong, and the weak are not always weak. The trend of strength and weakness is reversed in constant attempts and challenges. This is the answer you gave me, Princess of Belmang.”

If the weak cannot defeat the strong, then let the weak become stronger and the strong become weaker. In this way, both sides will stand on the same starting line and can usher in the most fair battle. "This should not be considered a violation of the rules of the trial, right?" Avella said.

"Human wisdom is also within the scope of the strong, so it naturally does not count, and--" Martial God Emperor Karna smiled slightly, which surprised people, because since his appearance, he has always been a serious, majestic and steady image, which fits everyone's definition of the word "strong". But at this moment, he suddenly chuckled. Was this reaction out of anger or satisfaction?

As it turned out, it should be the latter, because he said it himself: "I am very satisfied."

"How long has it been since I last fought with someone like this? Ah, that must be a memory from a long time ago, right? So long ago that when I think back on it, I still feel it was such a wonderful time - you all need to know that although the strong are at the pinnacle of power, it is difficult for them to find an opponent they like. How sad it is."

"This moment, just like that moment."

"I don't need to suppress myself because I am too strong, and you don't need to worry about being too weak and falling into despair. Let's be upright and fair, and give this arena the most glorious battle!"

His tone suddenly became high, as if he had finally become interested at this moment. At the same time, his already sturdy and strong body suddenly began to swell and expand, from the original 100 meters to 200 meters, 300 meters... until it filled the entire field of vision, and even filled up half of the arena. The oppressive size of his body blocked out the sky and was so exaggerated that it was jaw-dropping. It actually felt like a mountain range was rising before one's eyes.

His lower body melted into flames, infusing the ground of the arena, melting the ancient stone bricks and collapsed ruins into viscous magma, which hissed and flowed with boiling bubbles. The high temperature even instantly vaporized the still standing buildings, boiling the stone pillars, arches, spires, reliefs and high walls, melting and swallowing them as part of the boundless volcano; while the upper body still maintained that tall and heroic posture, but it was even more massive and majestic. Every sturdy muscle flashed with the luster of solidified steel. The red-gold giant swords in his three hands were like the sun waving in the sky, stirring up the chaotic ocean; the two dark and gloomy full moons in his eyes were each rotating in opposite directions, one absorbing and the other releasing, completing the cycle of internal energy in the same way as human breathing, and the energy absorbed and discharged by each cycle might be enough to stir up a tide in the magma sea and bring about a violent vibration of the underground rock strata.

On the surface of his iron body, every hole and every crack was flowing with sticky, boiling blood. The blood was burning, making him like a giant who was integrated with a volcano, venting the fighting spirit and wild power accumulated in his chest: "The one who challenges the trial, the princess of Beman——"

A thunderous roar like thunder rang out, and the red-gold sword tore open the dark and cold sky. It looked up at the mortals below, with a blazing and boiling gaze, passionate and heroic: "Come, come and complete this ultimate trial with me, to prove your courage as a challenger, and to show me your faith in fighting!"

"If you think you are someone who can defy fate and intend to rebel against the curse placed on you, then show your awareness here, and then try to take on my sword skills that have been honed through thousands of trials!"

The sword was raised high, flashing in countless directions, and spinning countless rounds of flames, like a burning bright moon, illuminating the ocean in the sky: "This is the essence of the endless years of tempering, the gathering of countless memories, and the ultimate martial arts in the world—"

"Illusions, illusions, and illusions are all destroyed here!!!"

[Phantom Collapse of the Moon - Smile of the Bright Moon: The ultimate martial arts secrets that the Martial God Emperor Karna realized after arduous training. With this sword skill, he can bring the enemy the ultimate destruction of power, the collapse of the end of martial arts, and the enlightenment of the strongest person.]

　Give me some meow
　　
　
(End of this chapter)