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"It's just a metaphor." Tang San's gaze drifted, only returning with a sincere apology when Gu Yuena glared at him. He cleared his throat and added, "Let's get back to watching the match."
At this moment, on the large screen, the Shrek Team and the White Tiger Sect Team had joined forces to eliminate the remaining teams, setting the stage for their final showdown. It had only been an hour since the competition began.
The island's diameter exceeded fifteen kilometers, encompassing a variety of landscapes. Logically, the ten teams, once scattered, shouldn't have encountered each other so quickly.
However, Tang San, Bibi Dong, and the other organizers had anticipated this and set up a system where every five minutes, the flying soul guide cameras hovering above the island would draw closer to the center. The competitors were required to stay within the designated shrinking area, with elimination as the consequence for straying beyond the time limit.
In essence, it functioned like a "battle royale" game's shrinking safe zone.
While they could have implemented effects like electric shocks or poison gas to enforce the boundaries, the organizers chose not to add unnecessary complications to the tournament.
As the boundaries shrank, the likelihood of team encounters increased, intensifying their clashes.
In the end, the only two remaining teams were the formidable White Tiger Sect Team and the Shrek Team, known for its "rough-and-tumble" training style.
"Dai, how about a one-on-one?" Oscar challenged Dai Mubai, suggesting a solo duel.
"Alright, let's do it!" Dai Mubai laughed heartily, his White Tiger Martial Spirit transforming his golden hair to white as he pounced towards Oscar.
Rip!
Oscar's shirt tore as his Eight Spider Lances burst forth from his back, their dark, razor-sharp tips catching Dai Mubai off guard. Quickly, Dai activated his first soul skill, White Tiger Protective Barrier, and his third, White Tiger Vajra Transformation, adding a protective layer of energy while doubling his attack, defense, and strength.
In terms of sheer power, Dai Mubai wasn't fazed by the bulkier-looking Oscar. However, Oscar's Eight Spider Lances were venomous—even a minor touch could affect his body.
Thus, in close combat, Dai Mubai had to keep up his guard, preventing the venomous lances from piercing his skin.
Boom!
In close quarters, Dai Mubai lashed out, swiping his claw toward Oscar's chest.
Oscar's Eight Spider Lances flexed, propelling him back and away, maneuvering nimbly around Dai Mubai.
Using the thick foliage as cover, Dai Mubai glanced around, tense and alert.
In terms of agility, Oscar, with the support of his Eight Spider Lances, far surpassed him.
"White Tiger Meteor Shower!"
Intent on a swift victory, Dai Mubai raised both claws high, summoning countless beams of light that condensed into white orbs. These fell like meteors, crashing down.
In an instant, the area within a hundred meters of Dai Mubai was devastated, the vegetation obliterated, leaving behind craters, and exposing Oscar.
The clash's intensity forced the other members of Shrek and the White Tiger Sect to steer clear of the two's battleground.
"Dai, do you really need to go all out?" Oscar broke into a cold sweat, eyeing the craters surrounding him. In his hand appeared a dark, glossy sausage as thick as a baby's arm and over two meters long, resembling a rather obscene-looking "lance."
This was the effect of his second soul skill, transforming the sausage into a club-like weapon.
"I can't afford to underestimate you," Dai Mubai said, his pupils shrinking at the sight of Oscar's weapon, his stance tightening as he prepared to dodge.
After all, Oscar's Martial Spirit in this form indicated he was "ready to strike."
Whether it was Oscar's known third soul skill or his unseen fourth, Dai Mubai was determined to avoid even a speck of whatever might splash from it—that would be too embarrassing.
Especially now, with soul guide cameras capturing every moment… The last tournament was humiliating enough. If it happened again, his shameful moment would likely be forever engraved on the "Continent's Hall of Shame."
"I've got my Explosive Water Sausage!"
With a bawdy chant, Oscar's sausage-club swelled by another third, the tip expanding to the size of a fist, and with it, a powerful jet of water shot out, so fast that even Dai Mubai nearly couldn't react in time.
As the stream of liquid arced through the air, it left a pungent stench that forced Dai Mubai to pinch his nose. Despite his efforts, a bit of the smell seeped into his lungs, and then—
"Urgh!"
Dai Mubai dropped to one knee, gagging violently.
"This guy is still as repulsive as ever," someone remarked.
"No, he's even worse than he was five years ago!"
"Back then, he just shot goo. Now he's spraying... urine? This is beyond disgusting!"
"…"
The expressions on the faces of Bibi Dong, Xue Qinghe, Dai Lego, and Xue Beng were a mix of discomfort, revulsion, and utter disbelief. Oscar's soul skill was pushing their tolerance to its limits!
Even among the spectators, some of whom led rather "open" lifestyles, Oscar's act earned nothing but disdain.
If it were just crass humor, that might have been tolerable—but this was actually poisonous!
This was beyond comprehension.
"Although I knew about his soul skill effects before, seeing it firsthand leaves me with only two words: 'unnaturally obscene,' with an extra emphasis," Gu Yuena commented. Had this behavior occurred among the soul beasts of the Star Dou Forest, she wouldn't have thought much of it—after all, soul beasts lacked ethics or decorum.
But humans were different. Compared to others, Oscar's soul skill was like that of a "wild" soul beast rampaging with zero understanding of social norms.
In fact, such a display would be considered disgraceful even among the soul beasts and would likely provoke an attack from any soul beasts with even a hint of intelligence.
"Perhaps this skill allows him to expel the accumulated toxins from his martial spirit," Tang San remarked thoughtfully. With the Eight Spider Lances, Oscar could evolve by absorbing poisons, so he didn't need to worry about the toxins accumulating in his martial spirit. But since the spirit rings are bound to the martial spirit, not the Eight Spider Lances, there would inevitably be some effects.
Thus, he needed a way to expel the toxins built up inside.
This fourth soul skill was clearly designed for that purpose.
However—
Tang San doubted Yu Xiaogang had even considered this. He'd likely focused more on the skill's offensive capabilities.
The water jet was fast, capable of striking and slicing through opponents. Additionally, it carried poison and a nauseating smell. Dai Mubai's intense retching and his struggle to even maintain his martial spirit form were proof of its effectiveness.
The residual liquid also evaporated quickly, creating a miasma-like effect that offered a second, area-wide assault on his enemies.
But on top of that, using this soul skill allowed Oscar to regularly expel uncontrollable toxins from his martial spirit.
It was an accidental stroke of luck.
"Does this count as bionics?" Tang San mused, considering the martial spirit's mimicry of the body's excretory functions. "Could it be replicating part of the human urinary system?"
Oscar, at this moment, was a perfect example of this concept…
(End of Chapter)