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"You shorty! I'm going to have a one-on-one duel with you!"
Having his sore spot poked, Sonic also blurted out impulsively.
However, after he uttered these words, Boros and the Mumen Rider had yet to react, but Xiao Yao was visibly stunned.
"What… did you just call me?"
Xiao Yao stared intently at Sonic not far away and asked.
"Was I wrong?" Sonic, clearly being stubborn, actually repeated his words: "I called you short, I want to duel you…"
"Very well."
Xiao Yao, seemingly amused by the challenge, responded: "A duel, you say? Alright, bring it on."
"Oh no, this is bad…"
Seeing this, Fang Mo immediately felt uneasy and slapped his forehead.
Indeed, despite being small, that little partner of his had quite the temper. Previously, she got provoked by other PvP players on the server, and what happened next was a disaster… Well, one could say not even the territory plugins could save their lives then.
This little one might not be good at fighting.
But the gadgets she tinkers with are absolutely extraordinary.
"Um, Xiao Yao…"
Thinking of this, Fang Mo also walked over, attempting to intervene.
Of course, his intervention was mainly because he feared that once Xiao Yao got really worked up, Sonic could seriously hurt her, and he would be heartbroken.
"You haven't eaten much of that essence berry, and you're as fragile as paper, let it go."
Fang Mo approached and gently stroked the top of her head, persuading: "This is reality, not a game. You're not good at PvP, so maybe I should just teach him a lesson for you?"
"What, you think I haven't been doing anything all this time?"
However, to Fang Mo's surprise, Xiao Yao just glared at him irritably and then dismissively waved her hand: "I've fully upgraded my equipment… Just step aside, I have to pin him against the wall today."
At this point.
Xiao Yao suddenly narrowed her eyes.
The next second, a halo slowly emerged above her head.
Fang Mo instinctively looked up and noticed that this object was a ring made of pure light, but unlike the simple halo atop the heads of angels or demons, this one resembled the complex structures seen in anime and video games, like Jibril's halo in "No Game No Life," a crown of the Aetherial tribe, made of several electronic rings intertwined.
Xiao Yao's halo was clearly more complex, each ring flashing with different colored glows, and when all these interlaced together, they created a dazzling spectacle, akin to the most magnificent stellar rings in the universe.
It's worth noting that this halo seemed to have no thickness at all, resembling a pure, constantly expanding and transforming two-dimensional plane.
"Wow, she really did graduate," Fang Mo remarked, scratching his head in surprise. "You've graduated in 'Azure Lane,' haven't you? You didn't encounter that abstract Wanzi-looking guy, did you? I heard he likes to flirt with students…"
"…"
Listening to this, Xiao Yao merely rolled her eyes at Fang Mo.
But she was already furious, and quickly turned her head back to Sonic: "Don't say I'm bullying you, I'll give you a chance to show your ultimate move."
"Hehehe, you asked for it!"
Hearing this, Sonic's face suddenly revealed a sinister smile: "Since that's the case, I'll test my new skills on you. I've been enlightening myself recently, and now I can split anything in half in an instant… Ten Shadows Burial!"
Before he could finish speaking, Sonic instantly transformed into a streak of black light rushing towards Xiao Yao.
It must be said, his move was indeed fast, significantly faster than the original character.
Unfortunately for him, everyone present was a monster. Boros and Fang Mo aside, even the Mumen Rider had consumed two types of golden apples and had reached S-class level.
So, even though Sonic was fast.
Everyone clearly saw his trajectory.
Sonic rushed forward laughing, like a child testing a new toy, heading towards Xiao Yao, and although he was holding a broom, he unexpectedly managed to create several slashes of light.
"What incredible speed…"
The Mumen Rider was startled by this display; he had fought Sonic in real combat before and immediately noticed the improvement in his strength.
However, before he could say more, a flash of white light suddenly burst.
A thunderous explosion resounded in the basement, and Sonic was sent flying backward.
"… Nani!?"
Not only was the Mumen Rider startled, but even Fang Mo was shocked.
He had been thinking about intervening if his partner failed, but it turned out she didn't need his help at all.
Thanks to his remarkable dynamic vision, Fang Mo keenly captured what happened in that moment.
Just as Sonic was about to strike Xiao Yao, a faint ripple appeared around her, resembling some sort of shield, and in the next second, Sonic was repelled, with Xiao Yao not even lifting a finger throughout.
"Wow, you…"
Seeing this, Fang Mo was about to say something.
However, Xiao Yao didn't bother with him and instead menacingly waved her hand, pulling out a high-tech looking device, somewhat resembling a scepter.
"…Hmm?"
Seeing this object, Fang Mo was slightly taken aback.
It looked a bit like a scepter and somewhat like an energy gun, about two meters tall, sleekly oval-shaped, with a hollow interior and a red translucent crystal embedded in the middle, while the muzzle was a large red metal probe secured by several gray metal bands.
Honestly, Fang Mo thought this device looked familiar.
He had definitely used this item in a game in his past life, but after being realized into reality… he couldn't quite remember what it exactly was.
"Mocking me for being short, huh?"
While Fang Mo was trying to figure out what this device was, Xiao Yao, dragging the energy gun taller than herself, walked directly towards Sonic.
Sonic, who had crashed into a wall, although a bit dizzy, quickly stood up ready to face her, but Xiao Yao merely waved her hand and, as if a tremendous force was applied, Sonic was suddenly plastered against the wall in a spread-eagle position.
Struggling desperately, Sonic realized he couldn't resist this immense force and started to panic: "What… what are you going to do?"
"I'll teach you for mocking me!"
Without any further ado, Xiao Yao unleashed the most vicious blow on Sonic.
…
What followed doesn't need to be elaborated much.
But if it must be described, then it's that Sonic, the cold-hearted ninja… was directly beaten to tears.
It wasn't his fault, after all; the device Xiao Yao pulled out was too powerful. One strike shattered even the wall behind him, nearly causing the basement to collapse. Fortunately, Fang Mo was quick to act and saved the house with a time stop.
After this incident, Sonic indeed bowed his head and admitted his mistake.
He had gradually mastered the essence of being a ninja, which wasn't about speed or strength, but about learning to endure. This woman was more formidable than his own master, and losing to her didn't seem so unjust… so Sonic wiped his tears and decided to simply concede.
Of course, Fang Mo didn't go too far either.
After Sonic apologized, Fang Mo also agreed to make him a ninja sword, just as he had promised to make one for the Atomic Samurai; might as well do both at the same time.
In addition, Fang Mo also broke off half a golden apple for Sonic as a nutrition supplement.
After all, only a man knows.
How consuming it is to regrow a…
And as Sonic left wiping his tears, Fang Mo, curious, had a chat with Xiao Yao and found out that the reality was indeed as she had described. During the time he was engrossed in the storyline, she had actually mastered several technology mods.
Like that device resembling a science fiction gun.
In fact, it was an item from the Gravity Armor mod, capable of mining any block, the Diamond Cudgel.
But compared to the Gravity Armor's Diamond Cudgel, Xiao Yao mentioned that she had also discovered a truly divine-level mod, which was named Level Storage.
At first hearing, this name might sound like a functional mod, for storing experience and such.
However, it actually turned out to be a powerful technology-oriented mod from ancient times.
Fang Mo had some familiarity with this mod.
Earlier in the Marvel universe, he had drawn an item called the Atomic Flint.
After being realized into reality, this item became a technology product capable of disintegrating matter into atomic dust, which Stark later borrowed to replicate and equipped in the new generation of armor, boosting his combat capabilities.
However, the replica Atomic Flint had an extremely high power consumption and its disintegrating force field even affected the user, so it had its limitations.
And this so-called Atomic Flint…
Was actually just a minor item in Level Storage.
But thinking back on it, considering the function of the Atomic Flint in mining tunnels in games… the purpose of developing this item might have been to compete with the Equivalent Exchange mod's Destruction Flint.
In fact, while talking with Xiao Yao, Fang Mo felt quite nostalgic, mentioning that if the mod were further developed, it could completely become a technological version of Equivalent Exchange, only it's a pity the author abandoned it for unknown reasons, leaving the mod perpetually stuck in version 1.6.
But putting aside the abandonment.
According to Xiao Yao, she pursued this mod with the aim of reminiscing about the past.
However, even she hadn't anticipated that the ultimate equipment of this mod, once realized into reality, would turn out to be unexpectedly strong.
Aside from the item of Avaritia.
Calling it endgame equipment was absolutely justified.
And this so-called endgame god equipment… actually referred to the ultimate item in Level Storage, the Quantum/Antimatter Ring.
Just hearing this name, it's clear it has something to do with quantum theory, a topic with undeniable prestige.
Fang Mo hadn't attended any PhD programs, nor had he been taught quantum theory or anything like it.
But if he remembered correctly, he had seen related settings in various novels, games, or anime, and what impressed Fang Mo the most was a novel by a genius author… talking about magnetic field rotations, quantum immortality, and such. When he first read it, he was absolutely amazed.
So, after some consideration.
Fang Mo figured the Quantum Ring was probably pretty strong.
This item in the game, consisting of the ultimate quantum set… the Tesla Crown, Force Field Chestplate, Supersonic Leggings, Magnetic Suspension Boots, combined with a Matter Orb and reinforced iridium plates…
After synthesis, this item not only had an absurdly high EU storage capacity but also retained the full capabilities of the ultimate quantum set, including emitting Tesla rays, annihilating force fields, magnetic suspension, supersonic movement… and being immune to any damage in the game.
And the most outrageous aspect of it.
It was just an item…
You should know, back in version 1.6 there wasn't even an accessory slot, and it wasn't translated as the Quantum Ring, but as the Quantum Circle.
That means just by throwing it in the backpack or inventory.
Its capabilities would continue to be effective.
Players could even wear another set of armor, like the custom armor from Tinker's Construct, the Armor of Avaritia, or the Armor of Dragon Research? (Or Draconic Evolution?).
Although at that time there probably weren't these mods yet.
All in all, the Quantum Circle was indeed an incredible item.
Even in the game, possessing it allowed one to strut around, let alone after this thing was realized into reality.
You should know, in the game, when powerful items are realized into reality, they usually become even more absurdly powerful, like the Planet Eater Shovel and such.
After all, even Fang Mo himself couldn't understand the logic behind realization; the rules of the world are still a mystery to him. The Quantum Circle was originally just an item, but after being realized, it mysteriously turned into a bodiless halo.
But thinking about it.
This kind of scenario wasn't unprecedented.
Like the earlier Ender Hand… it was originally just an item, right? But after Fang Mo realized it, it turned into a type of force field.
Maybe the world rules have their own ideas.
Anyway, no matter what, Fang Mo was sure this item's strength was top-notch.
Maybe not as powerful as his own cheating Dimensional Force, but if he could research it a bit, this little thing would have no problem without doping… after all, it's a ring, right?