Tang Wulin showed his cunning as Tang San's son. He turned his face red from 'embarrassment'. "I'm sorry Brother Nianxia. I was too excited to see a dragon I could fight, since my own powers suppress them, and wanted to try it out."
Karni turned towards Li Tai and Yu Tian, or where they would have been. They were already sent back to the real world.
Karni decided to play along with Tang Wulin. "Since you've already saved one of ours, we should work together—or at least stay out of each other's way until the final face off. What do you think?" He knew to look at Yang Nianxia; Tang Wulin clearly let him play the boss for now. That guy's smile really was one of his strongest weapons.
Yang Nianxia turned silent and before he could answer, another big group came. A team of six. Among them were another two people Karni recognised. Xu Xiaoyan and Luo Guixing, who addressed them. "Brother Nianxia, how about you help me take down Val Karni and Wu Siduo instead. This is probably the only chance we'll get. You remember how strong they were in the exams, right?"
Yang Nianxia looked at the Shackler. Karni's face soured. That was the face of someone who just got convinced instantly. He turned to Karni, analysing his team's exhaustion—they must have been looking at the battle for a while. Truth be told, Tang Wulin only punched an already dead horse, well, dead dragon. Only he 'accidentally' saved someone else while doing it. Yang Nianxia must have seen this as a chance, the group would be tired after such a battle.
"I'm sorry, Val Karni, Wu Siduo, but I agree with Luo Guixing on this one."
Karni sighed. If this was a different scenario, he would argue that after they were defeated, why wouldn't Luo Guixing directly attack Yang Nianxia? Seeing how that guy was a control system, after he would lose the control of the battlefield, the battle would be easy. He really did want to say all of that—it would have probably convinced Yang Nianxia—if it were not for Tang Wulin winking at him.
Then again, that was definitely the more straightforward solution, maybe even a safer one. He just didn't expect Tang Wulin to be prepared to throw away Yang Nianxia so heartlessly. Though… thinking of the Youth Ranking people… these were the last two, right? If he remembered correctly, Yang Nianxia should have gotten rid of the poisonous snake lady at the very start.
Karni gave a quick nod to Tang Wulin. This was the place of the final fight then.
"Well, since you don't want a truce," Karni looked at Yang Nianxia, "I won't be polite either." He disappeared and reappeared above Luo Guixing, ringing Soundwaves heard directly above everyone.
Yang Nianxia charged as soon as Karni disappeared and Siduo met him. Her fourth, Black, Soul Ring was pulsating. She rushed in—a meteor—with her other Soul Skills supporting her.
Karni activated Sonic Rhythm, striking his now drumsticks together with frequencies he knew would clash, releasing a shockwave so loud people's ears bled. The closest people, including Luo Guixing, were pushed back, almost falling because of its power. Xu Xiaoyan wasn't one of them. She'd already backed off, noticing her captain's signal beforehand.
Karni could feel the Space around him beginning to lock away. Luo Guixing. He looked him in the eye and the elemental Space cage fell apart. The second Soul Ring was activated.
Meanwhile Yang Nianxia was finally betrayed. He was pushed back when he clashed with Siduo, which already surprised him, but in the next moment, a Golden Dragon Claw hit his head, which was defenceless. He was back in the capsule the very next moment.
Luo Guixing noticed his mistake. Yang Nianxia's members weren't really on his side. Were they working with Val Karni?
A double Ghost Light Dragon Storm from Xie Xie entered into the midst of Luo Guixing's members. Luo Guixing's third Soul Ring shone: he and his comrades immediately teleported farther back. As the group reappeared, his face changed. Frozen ice attempted to lock him in place from below.
… … …
That asshole Karni was next to him again. Luo Guixing felt anger building. Wait. The dragon storm guy as well. When did they come here? No. Could Karni teleport others as well? Like him? Shit. Tang Wulin, the guy he's been looking out for recently appeared in the middle of the group as well. A bunch of icicles began to fall, wind was picking up. What was happening?!
He watched with intensity, forming Spatial whirlpools around his teammates as a parameter. Out of the corner of his eye he glanced a dark grey shadow fly toward him. When he turned to look it was already too late. A great metallic arrow hit his chest, but he wasn't out yet.
Luo Guixing quickly used his third Soul Ring: Spatial Retreat, on himself. He teleported out of the hot zone and ran, forming more whirlpools of the space element behind him, his second Soul Ring, to cover him.
He turned to look and noticed another metallic arrow flying at him… ignoring the pull effect of his whirlpools! It shot true, hitting him in the head. His look allowed him to see a grinning girl full of confidence. He didn't know who she was.
… … …
Karni turned to look at Liu Liu with the bow. Her second Soul Ring shone bright Yellow. Though her first Soul Ring was odd, now that he finally noticed it. Metallic. Sculpting itself just like her Martial Soul. She was definitely not simple. She just casually ignored Luo Guixing's Soul Ring effects!
The others didn't last long without Luo Guixing. It was even worse when Xu Xiaoyan kept on sending spears of ice at the most uncomfortable of spots. Her Martial Soul was scary too. No. In this case, it was the person who was scary. Was she the one who cast that freezing lock on Luo Guixing's legs at the start?
That was actually Gu Yue. Xu Xiaoyan rather focused on poking knees and feet. The lock on legs was Gu Yue.
Tang Wulin's group, back together, were staring at Karni's. Four versus four. An announcement was made: "Eight students remaining."
They were the last? Well that was quick. Their time here has been barely more than half an hour. Then again, they did say that the forest was small and the opponents close by.
"So. I guess we fight now?" Karni asked.
"Yes!" Xie Xie attacked. He'd been a bit frustrated having to follow Karni. Tang Wulin was always shrewd. He could be too. He charged at Karni with his highest speed.
Karni simply sidestepped. While Xie Xie was confused for a second, still having Karni's Vision Bestowal on him, he suddenly found himself floating mid-air. Karni Shifted him into the sky.
Karni threw the Drumstick to where he Shifted Xie Xie to before he even used his fourth Soul Ring. Xie Xie lost immediately. Karni stared at the flash of light which transported Xie Xie back into the real world, then glanced at Tang Wulin. "Is he always that reckless?"
"Well, he's been complaining about you guys since the first time we met each other. Don't mind him. He got what he wanted. How about a rematch then, Val Karni? You and Wu Siduo against me and Gu Yue? Rematch for the one in Eastsea City a year ago?"
Karni nodded, then made an awkward face. "Well," he turned towards Wen Bao and Liu Liu. "If you two are okay with that."
Liu Liu nodded. "It's not like I would've survived this long without you. You guys have your match. I'd lose the position of class president immediately."
Karni turned to Wen Bao, who laughed. "I'm a food system."
Karni could only really nod to that. What else was there to say?
Tang Wulin turned to Xu Xiaoyan with an apologetic look as well. Xu Xiaoyan just smiled. "Don't worry captain. I'm the same as them, not even a Soul Elder yet, so I shouldn't covet positions that would just be taken away from me immediately, at least not until I can support them on my own. I don't want to end up like that idiot Xie Xie."
Karni felt a bit bad for Xie Xie. They really bullied that guy, though he could see why to an extent. The guy was just asking for it.
"Now then." Tang Wulin's eyes turned a shade of gold, and his arm turned golden as well. He jumped up high, threatening with golden sharpness.
"Now then indeed." Karni glanced at Siduo. She was already rushing towards Gu Yue.
Karni spun his Bo Staff and appeared above Tang Wulin, his eyes golden too. Both pairs of eyes turned a shade of purple at once. Purple Demon Eyes were locked. Yet Tang Wulin's eyes turned wide. Tens of golden Karnis rushed at him by Karni's order.
As Karni closed in on Tang Wulin, he saw an additional Golden Lustre from his claws. Yellow golden streaks that would tear him apart surfaced.
"Shiiiit!" He quickly swung his staff and Shifted. As soon as he appeared even higher in the air, he felt his lock on the Space from which he Shifted being torn apart. His expression darkened.
Those claws. That was the Duskgold Dreadclaw Bear's Bone. It affected the very Space. Great. Just what he needed. Terrifying claws to tear him apart like butter.
Karni split his Bo Staff into two and threw one of the drumsticks filled with sound. It was perfectly aimed at Tang Wulin.
Tang Wulin smiled. Karni could tell Tang Wulin wasn't the same as the person he battled before. His body was much stronger now. His claw should be able to take that drumstick without the stun effect. Or at least that's what Tang Wulin assumed.
Tang Wulin's Golden Soul Ring shone brightly. Karni threw the other drumstick. A stronger one. He was a Tang Sect student. Hidden Weapon Hundred Separation was one of the first things he learned.
Just as one drumstick was about to hit the second drumstick—before Tang Wulin intercepted it—Karni used his Skull Bone, Nerve Authority, directly hitting Tang Wulin, forcing him to a stop. The effect took, jumbling Tang Wulin's Soul Power to a mess. He was paralysed.
And it was then that one of the Drumsticks hit the other. A ringing sound of terrifying volume hit Tang Wulin almost point blank; furthermore, the one in the front bounced to hit Tang Wulin in the face.
Karni kept on falling while Tang Wulin crashed into the ground. Karni squinted. He could swear he saw a last second golden shine. From the dust he noticed a figure slowly standing up with difficulty.
"Tough motherfucker."
The dust cleared, and Karni saw how Tang Wulin bled from all of his orifices. The eyes and the ears were especially bloodied. Karni straightened like a spear, letting the falling velocity increase.
Tang Wulin simply waited while looking up. His Golden Dragon Claw ready to intercept Karni.
Karni's third Soul Ring shone brightly, before finally, towards the end, his black Soul Ring activated as well. He had to surprise him. But how. Tang Wulin would expect teleportation, but…
The words of the crow came to mind. The act of using the skill was that it Shifted one Space with another. It didn't exactly switch it, though it also technically did. The more detailed the shape to switch, the harder it was to lock onto Space. But that was something he knew already, and readily practised. What if he used the simple version, perhaps a square, but just… shifted it sideways? Whenever he Shifted, he always kept his momentum. He might be able to use that.
"I suppose I'll find out today." He spun the Bo Staff. Tang Wulin was on guard. He'd definitely figured out Karni's ability by now. What he did not expect was Karni appearing directly next to him—to his left—charging at him as if gravity was taking him from left to right at full force.
The Bo Staff stabbed Tang Wulin at full force, putting both the momentum and the sound into Tang Wulin's body. No wait, it was a bit of a squishy feeling. At the last second, there was a plant in the way, though it didn't actually block much. Tang Wulin was sent crashing. Even prepared, he could not react to something like that.
Karn coughed up blood. It wasn't only Tang Wulin's body that felt the collision. Tang Wulin was suddenly pushed, Karni was suddenly stopped point blank. A headache was setting in. But more than that, Karni couldn't feel his limbs right now. His body was about as tough as an above average agility system Soul Master.
He could see in the distance… Tang Wulin still stood, though his injuries were clearly having an effect on him as well.
"Oh for fucks sake. Just fall down already. Can there please be a limit to your ability to take a beating?" Karni complained out loud.
The most absurd thing was the fact that the guy could still stand. That single plant intercepted some force. More importantly, it intercepted the Sound. In fact, Tang Wulin actually started walking. Slowly and with a limp, but he still walked. He summoned his Martial Soul for the first time in this fight. Bluesilver Grass stretched everywhere around him, though luckily, it couldn't reach Karni.
"Fuck." Karni thought out loud. He leaned on his Bo Staff. His body might be kaput right now, but he still had a decent amount of his Spiritual Power left. He could at least continue to Shift until Tang Wulin fell due to a lack of Soul Power. He refused to believe that Tang Wulin could do enough emergency defence with the Bluesilver Grass at this stage of his life to keep him going for a long time still.
And he was right. Tang Wulin could barely walk. He supported himself with Bluesilver Grass to do that. That wasn't a look of confidence Karni saw, only stubborn willpower. He was far too slow to actually reach Karni, especially seeing the guy prepared to teleport at a moment's notice. Tang Wulin was still a Soul Grandmaster at the end of the day.
Then, before Tang Wulin could even start getting close to him, a giant explosive storm of elements shook them from the neighbouring fight. Both Tang Wulin and Karni stopped to look. Gu Yue and Wu Siduo.
… … …
The two were already greatly spent, yet Gu Yue still went all out, because Wu Siduo was much stronger than their previous fight in Eastsea City. The combinations of all the abilities gave Siduo four times the variety she had before.
Gu Yue caused a storm of three elements. And Siduo was now caught in the middle of it. Ice, Wind, Fire.
Wu Siduo now knew why Karni told her to save her self fusion. She transformed into the Hell White Tiger. Her transformative abilities activated, fusing to handle this storm of elements.
An elemental storm was truly terrifying. It felt like her very being was being torn apart. The very nature of this world was being torn apart.
… … …
Gu Yue was filled with frustration, Siduo took her elements head on. That woman was strong. Only now was she willing to admit it.
To challenge Siduo she would need more. One more element. Earth. A hard and sturdy element.
Gu Yue could feel the blood in her mouth as soon as she fused it with the rest of the elemental storm. It was one thing to keep the small particles of elements together in working tandem, but something as chaotic as a storm?
Yet she had no choice. Not if she was going to beat that monster inside.
… … …
Siduo gritted her teeth, feeling the sudden increase of sturdiness in this rage surrounding her. The storm did not become just a bit stronger, but multitudes stronger. The elements were fusing in a chaotic manner.
Siduo fused as many Soul Rings as she dared. She had to tear the storm apart and escape. Hell Blade, Sun Tiger Meteor along with Hell Rush and White Tiger Diamond Transformation. All of them fused together. She didn't want to risk the six skill fusion, for fear that it would affect her real self as well.
She started tearing at the storm. And it worked. It just needed one more push. Her Torso Bone. Instead of applying the light stripes on herself for defence, she spread them out in a chaotic manner, cutting at the storm.
… … …
Gu Yue spit out blood. She was losing control over the element because of the interference. How was this not enough?! This should be able to easily deal with a Soul King, let alone a Soul Ancestor!
Another element. Just one more. Light—soft yet blinding.
The Storm lit up, and inside, she felt the beast pushed from the edges of freedom.
… … …
Siduo felt her flesh tear. The storm was completely breaking her. That woman had control over so many elements! She really was the Silver Dragon King! Or Queen?
But Siduo had one more move too. Her Skull Bone activated. Horns appeared on her head, a horned Hell White Tiger of a blood red colour. Her strength increased, but… it wasn't on the same level as an Elemental Storm of Five Elements.
She attacked furiously, trying to get outside. Her skin tore apart apart. Her claws broke. Even one of the horns… cracked.
She didn't have a choice. She had to fuse the last two Soul Rings. A combination of six will work.
… "Huh?"
She couldn't. The storm was messing up her insides, the elements were bursting out inside her, disturbing every function of her body.
She should've fused beforehand. She should've taken the risk. Now she couldn't hold on any longer.
She collapsed in the storm, and soon, it dissipated as well.
Gu Yue lost control, the system forcefully cancelled it as it was threatening the environment of the illusionary space itself. The destabilisation of elements would be terrifying.
… … …
Gu Yue panted and looked at the lying body of Siduo, a grin on her face—unnatural with her usually neutral appearance. She won, though should that woman have gotten out, she would've been finished. Gu Yue couldn't move right now. She could barely think at all. She used all her power to make the storm somewhat stable. She had an inkling that if she lost control, the system would stop her. And she was right. Her decision was correct.
"Sisi!" Val Karni, the boy who battled them in Eastsea City, shouted from afar and teleported next to her opponent. He couldn't even properly crouch down, before that beast… Wu Siduo vanished. Teleported out of this place. The boy panicked. He probably worried about her injuries in real life.
Val Karni turned towards Tang Wulin, who sighed. "We'll say it's a draw. It's not like any of us can actually move or do anything."
Tang Wulin glanced at her, confirming. Gu Yue nodded, managing to put on her poker face again.
Val Karni nodded and disappeared. Gu Yue noticed a rare look on Wulin. Frustration.
… … …
Tang Wulin didn't feel like he was close to winning at all. In fact, the entire battle, Karni was in control of it from start to finish. He wondered what would've happened should they have done an actual 2v2 and not two 1v1s.
From the rest of his classmates, he likely didn't make the strongest impression. That prize would go to Wu Siduo and Gu Yue. Other than that, all of them were Shrek students. They understood the importance of the abilities' nature. Val Karni's for example, specialised in stunning people and suppressing them with utmost control, not letting a different person do much. Wulin had to admit that compared to Karni, he didn't have any right calling himself a Control System Soul Master.
But on the other hand Wulin was aware of his own abilities as well. He only used the Golden Dragon Body to tank Val Karni's attacks. He knew the questions his classmates would have about his Golden Dragon Claw: What was that? What even was his martial soul? He was only a Soul Grandmaster? A plant type appeared at the end? Where did the strength come from?
His tactics as well. Most of them understood he tricked Yang Nianxia. The competition was nearing its end at that point.
Val Karni completely suppressed him. It really didn't feel good to taste your own medicine against yourself. Yet because of that, he should at least develop a level of mystique.
It was something Siduo and Gu Yue didn't do. They both showcased almost everything.
He wondered about Val Karni and Wu Siduo. What were their sparring matches like. Despite the power Wu Siduo possessed, he could easily imagine Val Karni winning against her.
And he was correct. If we'd consider Karni and Siduo alone, in terms of their private bouts, Siduo would not be confident in winning against Karni, simply because he'd be able to instantly disable her attempts at fusions and attacks. In fact, even Gu Yue would have trouble, though the two would likely be left at a stalemate due to the nature of both of their abilities.
… … …
Karni looked at Siduo's capsule and noticed her paleness. Meanwhile, he only had a little headache right now. He was about to be shooed away by the teacher, but Karni was faster and put his palms on her, circulating his Bloodline. Siduo's complexion visibly became better, her inner circulation stabilising. It made the parts in her body that were still at odds with each other relax around one another. He sighed in relief.
Other capsules soon opened. Wen Bao, Xu Xiaoyan and Liu Liu as well as Tang Wulin and Gu Yue exited.
The class was awfully quiet about everything. They were in contemplation. Shen Yi clapped her hands. "The difference between you five is clear, so there was no need to continue any longer. Tang Wulin and Gu Yue. You two are on the same team, so choose who will be the class president and the vice-president."
Gu Yue immediately took a step back—a clear sign of her opinion. Tang Wulin was to be the president, and he accepted it, exchanging a pleasant smile with Gu Yue.
Shen Yi nodded and looked towards the other three. "Normally, we only take into consideration who's left standing at the end. Although you three showed remarkable power, it isn't enough. You all survived, so you have two choices: insist on your candidacy for vice-president, or step back. Let me remind you that there's a reselection for class representatives once every term, and strength will always be the decider."
"I'll give up," Xu Xiaoyan instantly said. She had a clear understanding of her abilities. To further drive in her resignation, she walked into the crowd to join the spectators, finding her position at Xie Xie's side, who's long been outside of the capsules. Luo Guixing was looking at her weirdly the whole time.
Liu Liu and Wen Bao said the same thing. While Wen Bao would have some grounds to stand on as a Food Type Soul Master—a different type of ground than the rest—she had no wish to do so. Liu Liu on the other hand had an extremely versatile Martial Soul without many weaknesses at the moment, and even took out Luo Guixing, except she lacked overall strength.
Shen Yi regarded them calmly. "So you all choose the second option. Since the three of you lasted until the end and chose to give up on being the vice-presidents, you will be rewarded with three thousand contribution points to distribute among you three. As for filling the remaining vice-president seat… Val Karni, Wu Siduo, would any of you like to take the position?"
Siduo, still a bit dizzy, pushed Karni in the centre, then grinned in a way that made Karni's heart skip a beat. He looked at Shen Yi. "I'll do it."
Shen Yi smiled. "Good. Then everything is settled. The class president is Tang Wulin, and the two vice-presidents are Gu Yue and Val Karni."
"We'll hold competitions for the remaining two representative positions accordingly. The Blacksmiths representative is already settled, with Tang Wulin being both class president and the blacksmith representative. The same goes for Mecha Designers, where Val Karni took the position along with being the vice-president. This leaves the Mecha Manufacturers, and Mechanics. Now, would all Manufacturers and Mechanics rank two and above come sign up to compete."
Wu Siduo happily went to register for the competition, her dizziness gone, replaced with a fire in her eyes. She signed up for both. Meanwhile, of Tang Wulin's group, only Xie Xie signed up. Gu Yue was a designer and so was Xu Xiaoyan.
Li Tai signed up too, along with Liu Liu and Wen Bao. Li Tai and Liu Liu both went to the Manufacturer's competition, while Wen Bao entered the Mechanic competition. Yu Tian gave up long ago, as he wasn't even a true third rank Blacksmith, let alone a fourth-ranked one.
Karni wished Wu Siduo good luck, activating his third Soul Ring and bonking her on the head one last time. It helped her focus. She gave him a thumbs up. He really has mastered the Sound element to a great degree. All for the sake of not causing another tragedy like the one with Grandma Ying and her son.
Speaking of, this year, he'd be late on giving her new flowers on her grave. He'd also have a problem dealing with the people still after him in Star Luo City. The police chief. That not-so-small problem would likely delay the flowers by a few years.
He walked up to Tang Wulin. "Hey, pres. It'll be nice working with you. Looking forward to a rematch sometime. One which we can actually finish."
Tang Wulin smiled wryly. "You bastard. You say that as if I wasn't the one that was taking a beating from start to finish. I'm just lucky I can take a beating well. It didn't feel so earned."
Karni blinked a bit. "You are aware what Defence Type Soul Masters do right?"
Tang Wulin blinked back, then laughed. "I suppose you're right. It's a big part of my abilities."
They were disturbed by someone else. "Junior brother, you really know how to act lowkey!" It was Yang Nianxia.
While those two conversed, the teacher also made an announcement. "Anyone who isn't signing up for the profession competitions can leave now. Class is over. Meet back here for class tomorrow."
… … ...
Karni took a stroll around Shrek to regain his energy, he found a lone bench under a tree, accompanied by a coffee table. There were a few of those types around the park.
Just before the bell rang for lunchtime, he was approached by a familiar shadow. It was Wu Siduo.
He glanced at her. "Already over?"
Siduo grinned. "It took me a while to find you. Guess who got both of the positions."
Karni raised his head. "You're both the Mecha Manufacturer's and Mechanic's representative?"
"Yep." She made a peace sign.
With that, the representatives were known. Only four of them were in the class council. Surprisingly, there were also only four in the original story.
Tang Wulin: Blacksmith and President.
Gu Yue: Vice-President.
Val Karni: Designer and Vice-President.
Wu Siduo: Manufacturer and Mechanic.