Volume Two, The Devil's Game, Chapter 45: Granting the Warden Three Moves

Time passed in the blink of an eye. The surging currents from all directions once again enveloped the core. Before it could fully coalesce into a human shape, the Guardian let out a roar, and a ring of waves rippled outward.

The waves soon vanished, and the Guardian landed steadily on the ground. Nothing else occurred.

"No need to shout so loudly. I’ve been watching; I know you’ve revived." Lu Yi held a branch, glanced up at the Guardian casually, and then went back to scratching aimlessly at the ground.

"You dare to remain here!" The Guardian glared at Lu Yi, fuming. No sooner had the words left his lips than he manifested a three-meter-wide water blade and sent it flying toward Lu Yi. It was clear the Guardian could no longer suppress his urge to kill him.

Lu Yi lowered his body to dodge the blade, then stood up and brushed the dust off his clothes, casting a nonchalant look at the Guardian. "No need to be so excited. I’m not going to run."

The Guardian hid his hands behind his back, looked left and right to forcefully contain his rage, and then said stiffly, "Oh? And what is that supposed to mean?"

Lu Yi smiled faintly. "Actually, I feel that killing you time and time again is a bit unsportsmanlike."

At this point, the smile on Lu Yi’s face faded, replaced by a touch of seriousness. "Now that you have surely strengthened yourself once more, I think it is time for a fair and square duel."

"I am a Husky: He says that as if to imply that if the Guardian doesn't die a few times and get a bit stronger, he isn't worth the streamer’s full attention."

"Sweetheart Yiyi: Exactly, I think that’s exactly what the streamer means."

"Camel Gold: The streamer seems a bit arrogant; the Guardian is still furious, after all."

"Heh." The Guardian sneered. "So, I’m supposed to thank you for killing me?"

"Oh, no need for thanks," Lu Yi waved a hand. "I just wanted to provide a fair environment so we don't end up disappointed."

"You’re really pushing your luck," the Guardian scoffed.

Suddenly, his expression turned incredibly ferocious. He pulled an ink-black water orb from behind his back. "Who wants a fair fight with you? Die!"

Massive amounts of water surged rapidly into the black orb. The Guardian shoved the orb toward the ground and roared, "Swamp Realm: Hundred-Mile Flood!"

A colossal wave appeared with the force to swallow the heavens, submerging Lu Yi in less than a second.

"Haha, didn't expect that, did you? A little surprise for you." The Guardian laughed heartily. "At such close range, hit by this move, you must have been washed away without a trace."

Watching the towering waves before him, the Guardian looked up and sighed, "My vengeance is finally complete."

After laughing to the sky for a moment, the Guardian suddenly raised his right hand to cover his face. "No, I am a hunter. It is always the prey that gets ambushed by me; it is inevitable that the prey dies at my hands."

"Sweetheart Yiyi: What’s going on? Was the streamer taken out instantly?"

"Black Phosphorus Sauce: No way, the streamer seemed very confident."

"A Fish: Being confident doesn't mean there’s no danger. Didn't you see the streamer couldn't even react?"

"Heartwarming Man: Stay calm, everyone. The livestream is still running, so the streamer must still be alive."

"I ask you, why didn't I realize you had so much drama in you?" A voice, very casual yet slightly helpless, emerged from the water.

"What?" The Guardian was stunned, and the audience in the livestream was equally shocked.

The surging waves were parted by an unseen force. Lu Yi was still standing in the same spot, the ground remained the same, and there wasn't even a single drop of water within two meters of him.

"Sweetheart Yiyi: Wow, he’s actually unscathed again."

"Black Phosphorus Sauce: Incredible! He took the Guardian’s ultimate move again!"

"Heartwarming Man: Even though I thought the streamer might not be dead, I never imagined he wouldn't be affected at all. It’s unimaginable."

"Phoenix: Unbelievable. Theoretically, the streamer’s defensive items shouldn't be usable yet. He’s been in our view this whole time; how did he manage to tank an ultimate move like that?"

Lu Yi crossed his arms and tilted his head slightly to look at the Guardian. "While I disdain this kind of behavior, if you can’t even hurt your opponent with a sneak attack, your performance is so poor that I don't even have the desire to criticize you."

"I am a Husky: Damn, that’s a lethal blow to his ego!"

The Guardian’s eyes widened, and he pointed an angry finger at Lu Yi. "You! You!"

"What about me?" Lu Yi interrupted him directly. "You’ve been killed by me three times already; just settle down and don't hold such high expectations for yourself."

Lu Yi held up three fingers. "Also, in the interest of fairness, I’ve decided to stand here and let you take three moves. That last one counts as the first."

Hearing Lu Yi emphasize the word 'three' heavily, the Guardian knew he was being humiliated. But with the facts laid bare, the Guardian had no choice but to prove himself with strength; he couldn't just stand there and trade insults.

"Fine, fine." The Guardian nodded, brimming with fury. "I shall come and experience your 'high-level' moves."

As they spoke, the effects of the Guardian’s skill slowly faded. The surging waves vanished quietly, revealing the muddy ground.

The Guardian raised his right hand, and a large mass of water gathered in his palm, which quickly turned transparent and invisible.

Boom! With a deafening roar, two pillars of mud several meters high erupted around Lu Yi, yet he didn't move an inch. "Second move."

"Sweetheart Yiyi: The streamer is truly a badass this time."

"Black Phosphorus Sauce: That's right, he’s legitimately a badass now, not just faking it. He’s really standing there without moving to face the Guardian’s attacks head-on."

"So that's how it is." The Guardian muttered to himself with a dark expression. "It’s a stationary defensive item. I was just too careless and didn't pay attention. If I had observed more closely, I should have spotted it."

The Guardian’s eyes flickered. "This kind of stationary defensive item must have limits on energy or usage—which is exactly what this brat meant by 'three moves'."

As he whispered this, he suddenly let out a cold laugh. "No wonder he’s so generous; he wants me to use up my high-power skills so he can ambush me when I show signs of fatigue."

Lu Yi raised an eyebrow. "Why the hesitation? Are you afraid to attack even while I’m standing right here?"

"Heh." The Guardian chuckled. "I’m just wondering what you’ll do after three moves."

Lu Yi was slightly stunned, then realized he was being underestimated by the Guardian again. He frowned. "I’ll attack, naturally. Did you think I would just stand here and let you hit me forever?"

"Is that so?" The Guardian smiled noncommittally.

He flicked his finger casually, and a water orb flew out. When it reached within two meters of Lu Yi, it suddenly encountered an invisible resistance and dropped quickly to the ground.

Seeing this, the Guardian scoffed, thinking to himself, "Trying to waste my effort with defenses? Dream on!"