36: But I tried my best

“Frail human, you didn't run away?”

The Wood Monster stood on the tall building that Cheng Yang had fallen from, looking down at him.

Cheng Yang didn't answer. Even though his body was numb, he still firmly raised his Light Shadow Sword with his right hand and drew a card with his left.

“...This is...”

“This is truly...unpleasant for me!”

The monster's tone became cold, then angry.

Why was this frail human not afraid? Why didn't he run away?

Facing its powerful self, why was there no fear, no begging for mercy?

It had already displayed such immense power!

You should have shown fear and begged for mercy!

If he hadn't witnessed its true power and still raised his sword against it, then it was his ignorance.

But he had already witnessed its true power, and still raised his sword against it.

This was contempt for it!

Contempt for its noble self, a provocation against its noble self!

A mere, a mere, a mere...

A human under its servitude!

An inferior race!

Cheng Yang took a deep breath. His bulging lungs sent sharp pain, but it didn't stop him from breathing.

“Shining Form.”

“Light Shadow Thorn F!”

“Light Fist F!”

Click, click!

Two skill cards inserted simultaneously!

Instantly, the golden light from his waist lit up Cheng Yang's entire armor, and the blade of the Light Shadow Sword seemed to transform into a sun.

Then, Cheng Yang stomped his feet hard on the ground.

The ground beneath his feet cracked open like a spiderweb under the immense force.

Cheng Yang's golden-glowing body shot into the air like an arrow released from a bowstring, charging towards the Wood Monster's position.

The swinging blade slashed down fiercely!

In an instant, the power of the two F skill cards erupted simultaneously, and dazzling golden light exploded in the air.

The glass of the surrounding tall buildings was also illuminated with a golden glow.

Passersby covered their eyes, shielding themselves from the dazzling golden light.

“Mere human!”

In its extreme anger from being provoked, the monster suddenly calmed down.

Its icy gaze watched the incoming blade.

The green blade in its hand moved horizontally, meeting the sword.

A faint green light glowed, colliding with the dazzling golden light.

Clang, clang, clang, clang!!!

The ear-splitting crunch exploded with visible ripples. In an instant, centered on the point of blade collision, the glass of the entire building shattered continuously!

Shards of glass flew everywhere.

The fleeing people covered their ears, letting out pained wails.

“Ah ah ah!!!”

Cheng Yang also let out a cry with all his might.

Blood began to stream from the corners of his eyes, and the blood vessels throughout his body bulged like earthworms.

Yet, even so, the Wood Monster in front of him remained unmoved.

Its arm, holding the blade, did not even tremble slightly.

An overwhelming power gap.

It was not something that one side could contend with by giving their all.

“This farce, it's time for it to end.”

The Wood Monster exerted force on its arm, subtly vibrating the blade.

The immense force instantly sent Cheng Yang flying, and the dazzling golden light's power was torn to shreds.

Cheng Yang was sent flying and crashed into a tall building on the other side of the road, his entire body aching intensely.

[armor Adaptability increased to 99%]

After the recent battle and his newfound resolve, the Light Armor seemed to recognize Cheng Yang even more.

However...

“I no longer have the strength to continue fighting.”

Cheng Yang lay on the cold ground, looking at the mess around him, but his heart was surprisingly calm.

It seemed he had long anticipated this outcome.

“Wuwu… wuwu…”

A crying sound reached Cheng Yang's ears.

He followed the sound, looking towards where it came from.

He saw only a little girl, seven or eight years old, hiding under a bed, covering her mouth, sobbing softly.

Perhaps because her family was still working overtime and hadn't returned.

In this house, only she was sobbing in fear, yet helpless.

Hearing the crying, Cheng Yang didn't know where the strength came from, or how his broken body managed to stand up again.

“Keep hiding, don't make a sound.”

He said in a hoarse voice, as gently as possible.

Then, he painstakingly walked to the hole he had crashed through.

Even if he couldn't move, he couldn't lead the monster here.

He had to lead the monster to a place where no one was.

“Motorcycle F!”

Click!

As the card was inserted into the belt, a hovering Motorcycle appeared in the air.

Cheng Yang quickly mounted it and soared into the sky.

The Wood Monster leaped up, chasing closely in the air.

One in front, one behind, they quickly arrived at the outskirts.

Indeed, even with Motorcycle F, it was impossible to shake off this monster.

Where did he go wrong?

Even if he hadn't met that Mysterious Person, if he had just continued fighting, his true identity would have been discovered sooner or later.

What about humanity?

The armor's power needed to grow.

And how many powerful monsters like the Wood Monster were there?

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!

The air was torn apart as several sharp wooden spears sliced through the air, stabbing towards Cheng Yang.

Cheng Yang quickly controlled the Motorcycle to spin and move sideways in the air, dodging the attacks.

However, the monster was getting closer and closer.

[armor Adaptability increased to 100%]

[You have met the prerequisite for armor upgrade, obtaining Light Bloodline]

armor upgrade? Light Bloodline?

Cheng Yang didn't understand.

armor upgrades not only require the Summoner and the armor to reach 100% adaptability, but also the corresponding upgrade card.

Lin Ti hadn't had time to smelt the Light Armor's upgrade card yet.

An upgrade card requires the Light Bloodline of a 100% adaptable Summoner as a sample, sufficient monster energy, and special items containing the power of light.

Currently, even if Cheng Yang's adaptability increased to 100%, Lin Ti couldn't create an upgrade card in an instant.

Whoosh!

Another wooden spear shot from the air.

At this moment, Cheng Yang, being so close, had no more room to dodge. He was heavily struck by the wooden spear on his Motorcycle, falling to the ground and raising a cloud of dust.

The Wood Monster followed closely, descending from the air.

However, in the dust, Cheng Yang did not fall. Instead, he stood in the dust, his right hand gripping the Light Shadow Sword, and his left hand clutching a card.

“Still want to fight?”

“Besides those card tricks, do you have nothing new?”

The Wood Monster raised its blade, letting out a disdainful sneer.

Even through the armor, it could sense that the frail human inside the armor had very unstable vital signs.

Even if it let him go now, his likely outcome was still death.

It was also very curious why, despite being on the verge of death, this frail human could still maintain the armor.

And still fight.

It could sense that driving this armor and gaining power to rival monsters, surpassing humans, was extremely physically demanding.

An ordinary human simply couldn't possess the physical stamina to manipulate this armor.

Now, this severely wounded, dying human was still maintaining this armor.

He was merely overdrawing his life.

It wouldn't be surprising if he died in the armor the next second.

Cheng Yang's hand, clutching the card, trembled slightly.

“Trembling? Are you afraid, or are you so tired that you can't even hold a card like this?”

The Wood Monster slowly, step by step, approached Cheng Yang.

It greatly enjoyed this feeling, watching this guy, who had recognized its power and still dared to draw his sword against it, break down.

It was even more satisfying than killing him.

It was as if this could wash away the shame of its previous caution and slight fear.

“Yes, I am indeed afraid.”

Cheng Yang gripped the card tightly, trying hard not to tremble.

“Oh?”

The Wood Monster stopped, seemingly wanting to hear what the human, who was about to die, had to say.

Was it begging for mercy?

If so, that wouldn't be bad.

It was worth stopping for, letting him live a few more seconds, and enjoying its mood.

“I'm afraid I didn't do well enough. I'm afraid I disappointed the Summoner, disappointed the Light Armor.”

“If the armor hadn't chosen me that night, if the Summoner hadn't chosen me.”

“Would today's outcome be different?”

“Did I really do my best?”

“Did I fulfill the responsibility of being chosen? Was I too reckless?”

Although Cheng Yang was blaming himself, the more he spoke, the more resolute he became in his heart.

“I didn't do my best. There's definitely someone who could do better than me.”

“But I have given my all.”

“Torrential Rain E.”

Click!

The [Torrential Rain E] card, as his fingers moved, was inserted into the Summoner!

“Adaptability 50%!”

“armor 強化 (armor Enhancement)!”