[Chuuni Expansion]
According to the mechanics developed by the Yandere Corporation, this was the Awakener's (players') ultimate move. It's the manifestation of the inner soul that resembles the user's identity or character. A person might even guess what kind of life an Awakener had just by seeing the inner dimension of one's corresponding Chuuni Expansion.
If there's a limit to the [Chuuni Expansion], it's the imagination of the Awakener, the amount of Chuuni Qi he possessed, and the resolve for its deployment. Moreover, even though it was not extremely influenced by the [Main Title], its structures were still affected by it.
For example, Princess Luna Valentine's Chuuni Expansion: Infinite Crimson embodied the existence of chains and blood grim reapers, whose aim was to cut the target's existence trapped within the conjured dimension. After all, her [Title] was [I am the Blessed of Crimson, the Executioner of Blood!].
With that being said, as the surroundings were coiled by the whip-like blade known as [urumi], locking Ryder and Lihan in a limited space, the latter deployed his ultimate move with the intention to end this pesky man who just appeared out of nowhere.
"Chuuni Expansion! WORLD OF CONSUMING MIST!"
Whoosh!
Ryder's surroundings gradually changed; everything seemed to become mist, unreal, and non-existent. Then, thousands of illusory mist daggers were conjured up from the cracks of space, aiming to decimate his entire body and soul.
Lihan didn't intend to leave any trace!
"You will die by my hands, Mr. Stripper. I am the Elusive Cloud Fleeing from the Sun, Lihan of the Venerable–"
However, if there was one mistake that Lihan had not considered, it's the effect of the Blade of Hearts, Blade Arts Second Technique: Coiling Love Slash!
Knowing this, Ryder jumped, dodging the illusory daggers that could physically cut. These mist daggers that were summoned from below the ground erupted like a raging volcano.
Rumble…!
Contrary to Ryder's expectation about the incoming attack, which he sensed based on the flowing Qi in the surroundings, Lihan was struck by his own lethal daggers.
Slash!
Spurt!
One of his legs was torn apart.
This also resulted in the disruption of his Chuuni Expansion, dispelling its maintenance. But then, the already expelled Qi utilized in its activation was something that couldn't be easily recovered.
"Argh!"
This time, unlike when his hand was suddenly cut off, the excruciating pain surged over his body, causing his Chuuni Expansion to finally dissipate to nothingness before it even served its purpose to exterminate a bug to his eyes.
"Painful, isn't it?" Half-naked while holding a common, fragile katana resting on his shoulder, Ryder slowly approached the bleeding man.
"Y–you! Who are you?!" Lihan said, gnashing his teeth.
"Is that always the words of a man at a disadvantage? It's hilariously cliché." Ryder scoffed.
"Wh–what the hell do you mean by that?!" Lihan tried to control his blood flow, slowing his seemingly inevitable death.
Ryder remained silent, recalling his self-proclaimed daughter's words that allowed him to at least retain his composure despite fighting something several levels higher than him.
"You have to remember Lihan's specialty – Illusory Arts. It's best suited for defensive and offensive. But why do you think that man had managed to fool and run from the Venerable Sky Clan?"
"I don't answer to trash like you who murders children and elderly in cold blood."
Slash!
One of Lihan's arms, which he re-attached earlier through Qi Control was cut.
"Argh!" His screams reverberated throughout the outskirts of the Lizardmen Territory.
"Hah… Hahaha!" With his breathing ragged, Lihan cackled, prompting Ryder to tilt his head.
"Do you think the Venerable Sky Clan will not hunt you down? Nobody bastard."
"Ah. I see." Ryder smirked, which surprised Lihan on death's door due to extreme blood loss.
The latter's expression was asking, "Isn't he afraid or doesn't he know the indication about being hunted by the Venerable Sky Clan?"
"They can hunt me as long as they have a reason to do so." Ryder paused, his katana then aimed closer at this neck. "And you know very well that what you have will be their reason, right?"
At that moment, Lihan's eyes widened.
"Y–You! You were really sent by those evil bastards!"
"No. But you don't have to know."
Slash!
Even with a Qi-filled body, if it's depleted, then even a common katana would suffice.
However…
Lihan's body which was supposed to be dead… dissipated like a mist.
It was a fake!
Stab!
It was then that something penetrated Ryder's heart from behind.
"Wh–what…?"
Spurt!
A mouthful of blood was then released from his mouth; his gaze then tried to reach behind.
Seeing this, Lihan, still in critical condition, spoke coldly,
"Motherfucker. What does a weak bastard like you even know? Die."
Stab!
Another piercing stab for the fatal blow.
Thud!
Ryder's body then lay on the ground, lifeless in almost an instant.
***
"Fuck! That bug really dealt a blow on me!" Lihan muttered, his face and body filled with splattered blood.
"It doesn't matter… I still have this! J-just a few more and my hard work will be rewarded! Oh heavens!" He smiled like a maniac, his gaze landed on the clouds above.
In his grasp was a shimmering crystalline black object and a misty white egg of 'something.'
"Thank you for your generosity."
Baffled, the familiar voice echoed behind him.
However, before he could turn around, his vision already flipped.
What Lihan witnessed in his last moments before his head rolled to the ground was the same man, half-naked. If there's a difference though, it's that this man was invigorated anew and what was in his grasp was a katana that would be coveted by many.
Looking at the real Lihan's dead body, Ryder, who survived thanks to the last instance of the [Resurrection Bracelet] provided by Gyuri, grimaced in terror.
"Damn it! I used the [Moonfell Crescent] and even lost."
Ryder wondered what kind of punishment he would receive from the silly Starlight. He couldn't imagine it.
Torture? Or something else?
"There's no use thinking about it. It'll come anyway." Letting out a sigh, he collected everything that Lihan owned from his spatial storage that lost its function.
Based on the Cosmic Nomenclatures, when an Awakener was killed, several random items would be dropped. However, it was only applicable to players, which meant that if NPC was killed, every owned item would be up for loot.
"I'm glad it's the same here."
Reaching for the treasures unknown, Ryder's attention was particularly caught by the 'egg' and 'dark crystal object.'
Reading its information, Ryder's eyes squinted.
"What the fuck are those bastards from the Venerable Sky Clan up to…?"