"Data simulation is starting now, and after analyzing your data, you'll appear in a virtual space where you can get used to it,"
Gu Tao said and was the first to enter the Virtual Arena, an immense open land that could theoretically simulate any desired location upon mutual agreement, whether it's space or the depth of a rainforest.
It wasn't long before Xin Chen also appeared, standing still and looking with interest at his virtual body. He then bounced over to Gu Tao's side, "Junior Brother, Junior Brother, this is so fun! Can I also experience life in New York?"
Gu Tao thought for a moment, "Maybe... I'll give it a try."
After setting up the scene, their surroundings abruptly changed. A city sprouted from the barren wilderness, and they were standing in the most famous Times Square, with the cacophony of sounds and the aroma of grilled hot dogs permeating the air.
"Looks like it works... Hey!"
When he turned around, he was startled to find Xin Chen queuing at an outside window of a bakery, and by the time he went to call him back, the guy was already happily eating a chocolate cake.
"Junior Brother! This tastes just the same! How amazing."
"It's all virtual, although your brain will feel full, you're actually not getting any real nutrition."
"So, it means I won't gain weight?"
"Mhm."
"Then let's fight later," Xin Chen pointed into the distance, "I'm going to get some food!"
Seeing this shameless style, Gu Tao really had no choice but to watch helplessly as Xin Chen did whatever he wanted in the virtual space, sampling this and that, accepting all tastes indiscriminately.
"Had enough?"
Xin Chen, sitting on a bench by the road and patting his belly, burped contentedly as Gu Tao came over, looking down at him with a somewhat helpless tone.
"Enough, enough, I'm stuffed. It feels so real. But now that I'm full, what if I want to sleep?"
"I remind you, time flows at the same rate. Don't waste too much time."
"Alright..." Xin Chen sighed, "Let's get started."
"Here?"
"Yes, right here. I have a few conditions, first, we can't destroy the city, second, we can't harm innocent bystanders, and lastly, we mustn't use weapons that are too powerful."
"Okay! Anything else? You tell me."
"Mengxiong, my Mengxiong," Xin Chen raised his hand, "I remember you studied Mengxiong in detail, you have to give me a weapon that suits me."
"Alright!"
"Nothing else, let's just start."
Gu Tao brought up the analysis data for Mengxiong, and a weapon suddenly appeared on Xin Chen's back. He reached back to touch his Mengxiong and smiled satisfactorily, "Feels exactly the same, high-tech is really amazing."
This time, Gu Tao didn't respond. He just put on his exoskeleton again, the Arachnid Armor that looked incredibly cool to the extreme, the matte black shimmering with a high-end feel under the sunlight.
As Gu Tao suited up, the passersby in the virtual Times Square swarmed around like real people, curious to watch. Meanwhile, Xin Chen looked around and slowly stretched out, giving a soft snap of his fingers.
Mengxiong unsheathed at the signal. Once Mengxiong was drawn, Xin Chen's entire demeanor changed, from a bumbling joker to a drawn sharp blade. Gu Tao's left hand now wielded a High-Frequency Cutter, and his right a Particle Shield.
"Satania, lock on him."
As soon as Gu Tao issued the command, a frame appeared in his vision. The frame locked on Xin Chen, but in the moment Gu Tao was about to launch an attack, Xin Chen vanished.
When an alarm rang in his ear, the rapid reaction module guided Gu Tao to swiftly turn around and raise his shield. In that split second, Mengxiong was already pressing against Gu Tao's Particle Shield, and the shockwave from the high-speed impact knocked over the bystanders. Those simulated people finally reacted, beginning to scream and scatter.
"Nice moves, Junior Brother."
Hearing this languid voice while locked in struggle with Mengxiong, Gu Tao's body shuddered, and he swung his left arm instinctively, the accelerators on his back emitting purplish-blue flames. After a heavy shield bash, Mengxiong was repelled, but his arm blade met something tough.
Gu Tao turned his head to find Xin Chen holding Mengxiong against his arm blade, still wearing that lazy smile.
Without time to react, Gu Tao immediately retracted the blade, then his right-hand shield went straight for Xin Chen. But just as the two were about to collide, Xin Chen vanished once more, silently and without a trace.
"Initiate scan."
The scanners on the armor switched on, and after a sweep of energy scanning, the system immediately located Xin Chen. After Gu Tao locked on to him again, a burst of white light exploded beneath his feet. The strong impact propelled him high up, and with the aid of gravity and the boosters on his back, he broke the sound barrier almost instantly.
The sudden boom shattered all nearby glass, the screams grew louder, but Gu Tao couldn't be bothered with them, and charged straight at Xin Chen.
Xin Chen wasn't just waiting to be caught. He pointed a finger, and Mengxiong once again flew out, stabbing straight at Gu Tao. It appeared to be a foolish attack, and Gu Tao thought so too. Descending at high speed, he slightly adjusted his angle to avoid Mengxiong. But as he passed by Mengxiong, a sense of dread surged from his heart, making his skin crawl. On instinct, his armor accelerated, shifting his landing to the side.