Chapter 274: Time

Like a skipping stone, Seeing Gouchen rolled through the air, bouncing off the ground several times before slamming into a tree trunk.

His right arm, hastily raised to block the Skull Crusher, was blasted into a mist of blood by the shockwave.

"Talk so much—do you think you're the protagonist?"

Hui Yu sneered, curled his lips, leapt high into the air, and swung the iron hammer down again.

At the last moment, the short sword in Seeing Gouchen's left hand tugged him involuntarily sideways and backward, creating distance.

"In my story, I am the protagonist."

Seeing Gouchen hovered among the treetops, the grotesque beast-face on his mask twisting into a faint smile.

His Xuanlei Qilin bloodline, activated passively under worsening injuries, accelerated the healing of external wounds alongside the alchemical elixir.

From the severed edge of his right shoulder, numerous flesh buds sprouted, intertwining to form a tiny, miniature infant arm that barely gripped the hilt of the long sword.

"In another life, I was born into a noble house, took a sword master at age four, awakened sword intent at seven, completed my training at eleven, and alone stormed the Eighteen Clouds Bandit Strongholds, challenging hundreds of bandits and river pirates; at fifteen, I entered the Zhao Prince's mansion and was appointed as a guest minister."

As Seeing Gouchen spoke loudly, he suddenly sensed something and sharply dodged sideways.

A rapid volley of bullets shot from deep within the forest, clinging to Seeing Gouchen's silhouette. With a sound like a loom firing, trees shattered and branches snapped everywhere they passed.

Seeing Gouchen twisted and darted through the woods, seizing the moment to fling his light short sword.

The short sword darted up and down, evading the metal storm, and with a sharp "zing," struck the invisible target—Li Cheng in his People's Power Armor.

In the Fallout series' lore, China and the U. S. erupted into an energy war in 2066; America pioneered power armor technology, while China led far ahead in stealth tech.

Such as stealth suits, stealth submarines, and this power armor equipped with a stealth module.

Li Cheng held the power armor's built-in Gao Si rotary machine gun, one foot pressing down on the Disha Short Sword. The sword writhed violently, disrupting the stealth module and causing the armor to flicker in and out of visibility.

"Talk so much—do you think you're the protagonist?"

Li Cheng's dismissive voice echoed through the forest via the loudspeaker; he dropped a gravity energy sphere on the ground, firmly anchoring the Disha Short Sword.

Then he activated his jetpack and stealth module, retreating into the woods, and pulled the trigger, unleashing a stream of bullets.

The Gao Si machine gun, being a piece of near-future tech, surpassed even the Avenger cannon in rate of fire, bullet velocity, and power.

By the time Seeing Gouchen heard the gunfire, the metal storm was already upon him.

At the critical moment, Seeing Gouchen flipped his palm and clamped down on a blue card.

【Item Name: Time Walk】

【Type: Consumable Item】

【Quality: Perfect】

【Effect: Savor this moment. After use, slows all objects within a 200-meter radius, while increasing your own reaction and movement speed—lasts up to three seconds.】

【Cost: None】

【Cooldown: None】

【Requirement: Perception ≥ 13】

【Note: The alteration of time flow is confined to a spherical area 200 meters in diameter and does not move with the user.】

【Note: If I could preserve time in a bottle, the first thing I'd do is save every day until eternity fades, then share it with you.】

【Note: Can be stored in the backpack slot; cannot be taken out of the script world.】

This card, like the People's Power Armor, was a reward Seeing Gouchen received from Yeshen Yue.

It originates from the game "The Binding of Isaac," its effect simple yet potent.

First second: As the card instantly burned away, the metal bullets racing toward Seeing Gouchen slowed abruptly, allowing him to barely evade.

Second second: He dove downward and activated his skill.

【Skill Name: Flame Cloud Scorching Heaven Palm】

【Type: Spiritual Energy】

【Effect: Scorch and purify heaven. Summon a colossal burning hand to grip a motionless target and incinerate it with intense heat.】

【Cost: 200 Spiritual Energy, 150 Physical Energy】

【Cooldown: 10 minutes】

【Requirement: Level ≥ 20, Martial Arts Mastery at Master Level】

【Note: Grasp it firmly—and instantly purify.】

This skill requires the target to be motionless, so it cannot be used on Li Cheng, who is using his jetpack; it can only target Hui Yu.

A colossal palm wreathed in roaring flames materialized midair, clamping Hui Yu in its grip and searing him fiercely.

As for Seeing Gouchen, he kicked off the ground and, in the final second of Time Walk's effect, lunged toward Li Cheng, his left hand gripping the long sword as he slashed at the vulnerable neck joint of the People's Power Armor.

Just as Seeing Gouchen was certain this strike would cripple Li Cheng, the armor suddenly raised the Gao Si rotary machine gun and—"clang!"—blocked the blade.

?!

Seeing Gouchen's pupils contracted; he reeled back before Li Cheng could swing the gun at him, frowning: "Impossible! How did you react so fast?"

Time Walk slows the motion of all objects within its radius; since thought is fundamentally the transmission of electrical signals in neural networks—a physical process—it too is slowed.

"Adidas. Nothing's impossible."

Li Cheng's voice came through the armor's speaker; he glanced at the ruined Gao Si rotary machine gun, tossed it aside, and drew a rusted, nearly shattered cleaver.

True, Time Walk had slowed Li Cheng's thoughts—but he possessed the Multi-Threaded Brain Domain Method.

A normal person generates a thought through a single process, counting from 0 to 100.

Li Cheng, with Multi-Threaded Brain Domain Method, runs ten processes simultaneously, each counting from 0 to 10.

Like a multi-core processor, his reaction to Time Walk's slowdown is comparatively minimal.

Just now, he first activated the 【Lightning Flash】 skill to forcibly boost his body's movement speed, then used his title skill 【Dead Man's Gambit】 to guess which direction Seeing Gouchen would attack from, preemptively blocking.

He won the bet.

"You okay?"

Li Cheng shouted toward the distance; at that moment, Gray Rain had smashed the flame palm with his iron hammer, fell to the ground glowing red-hot, and grumbled, "It's fine, just a bit hot."

The temperature of the Flame Cloud Scorches Heaven Palm was roughly equivalent to the fourth setting of a nuclear lighter—enough to melt copper and iron.

Gray Rain walked through it unharmed, only his entire body glowing red, needing to breathe to cool down, and incapable of combat for a short while.

"First kill Bart Moss, then kill Eugene. At only Lv16, to have come this far is truly impressive."

Gouchen squinted, watching Li Cheng with keen interest. "Someone as outstanding as you shouldn't remain unknown. Would you like me to recommend a job?"

"Huh?"

Li Cheng looked at Gouchen like he was an idiot. "Bro, you haven't read too many old-school dragon-dominating web novels, have you? Thinking a single display of overbearing dominance will make people bow their heads in submission?"

"Not for me—for my brother."

Gouchen said calmly, "He's competing for the position of Southeast Asia Regional Head of the Global Occult Coalition. The deputy role is still vacant."

Southeast Asia has over six hundred million people; the GOC regional head there is effectively a supreme emperor.

His deputy, at minimum, would be equivalent to the Deputy GOAT.

"Oh, awesome. Even more empty promises. You haven't even gotten the job yet and you're already handing out IOUs?"

Li Cheng sneered. "If I kill you and take all the keys, wouldn't that be better than some Southeast Asia Deputy GOAT title?"