Chapter 118: The Ultimate Wind

"Lin Yang, you are in charge of the main assault this time." Xie Liu directed Lin Yang. Lin Yang’s ability was spatial teleportation; after equipment enhancements, his teleportation interval had been reduced to under 0.5 seconds, and his range increased to over a hundred meters. If handled with care, Lin Yang could hold his own against Oda Nobunaga for an extended period.

Lin Yang knew this was the only way. While Xie Liu’s physical fitness was impressive, facing Oda Nobunaga’s superpowers was like playing with a broadsword in front of Guan Yu—a death wish. His own specialty was long-range sniping; once an opportunity arose, he could deliver a lethal blow.

As for Ye Ling...

Determination was one thing, but reality was quite another.

"Let’s go. Good luck." Xie Liu held out his fist to Lin Yang. They bumped fists, silently wishing each other well.

Yet, no one noticed that when their fists met, Lin Yang’s expression went momentarily blank. Xie Liu gave a faint smile and turned to leave.

Lin Yang flipped his hand to reveal a marble-sized iron sphere. "Is this a kinetic bomb?" He recognized it; it was something Gong Hou had scavenged from the previous farm, but Xie Liu had taken it. After several fierce battles, no one had remembered the little device.

"I am the bait, you are the hook," Xie Liu’s words from before he left echoed in Lin Yang’s ears. Lin Yang suddenly understood Xie Liu’s plan and couldn't help but offer a bitter smile. "You actually managed to come up with a tactical plan."

The competition had been going on for over a dozen hours. By now, both the participants and the spectators were exhausted. After the quarter-final battles, the audience's enthusiasm began to wane. People started slipping away—some to rest, others to find food. Before long, the once-packed stands were nearly empty. Even Vladimir was no exception; he was busy devouring a bowl of steaming hot ramen.

"Slurp." Vladimir swallowed his noodles, brandishing his chopsticks as he said, "Xie Liu’s tactic is actually quite simple. He’ll definitely use Lin Yang as the vanguard—the bait—while he acts as the hook from the shadows, utilizing his level-seven sniping. To be honest, while simple, this tactic is effective. If necessary, he might even take out Lin Yang along with the target. Knowing Xie Liu’s personality, he would do it for the sake of victory. So, our strategy is simple: signal Oda Nobunaga not to worry about Lin Yang and just focus on defense. Once Xie Liu reveals the level-seven bullet, we’ll warn Oda Nobunaga to go all out on defense. If Xie Liu’s attack misses, there will be nothing left to threaten him. Plus, the audience will get to see a level-ten powerhouse block a 'Doomsday Bullet' with his bare hands. It’ll be a great morale booster. It’s killing two birds with one stone."

Falani snorted and turned away. "You people are all rotten to the core."

Vladimir didn't argue. At that moment, the holographic screen suddenly flickered, and the camera cut to Lin Yang. "It’s starting. The battle has begun."

Although many spectators had already left, a significant number remained.

Lin Yang wove through the buildings and, after a few leaps, landed on the building opposite Oda Nobunaga’s. The two stood far apart, looking at each other. Despite the distance, Oda Nobunaga’s cold laugh was carried to Lin Yang’s ears by the wind.

"I admit, I didn't expect you to make it this far, but do you really think that makes you a powerhouse?" Oda Nobunaga stood casually on the rooftop. In contrast, Lin Yang was tense, as if facing a formidable enemy.

"Apologize to Ye Ling in front of everyone, and we’ll leave. Otherwise..." Lin Yang said coldly, trusting that Oda Nobunaga could hear him.

Oda Nobunaga let out a roar of laughter, cutting Lin Yang off. "Otherwise what?"

"Otherwise, we’ll beat you until you do." A red light blade extended from his hand, its cold glow menacing. Oda Nobunaga laughed as if he had heard the most ridiculous joke. "You’re delusional. I can tell you this: I am never wrong, because I am strong."

"And you are weak. You have no right to argue right from wrong with me."

Oda Nobunaga’s arrogance was bone-deep, rooted in his absolute faith in his own abilities. His power made him feel untouchable.

"You’ve said enough." Oda Nobunaga drew his sword, held it vertically before him, and said coldly, "Oda Nobunaga, blade drawn!"

Though Lin Yang had talked big, he dared not lose focus. The moment Oda Nobunaga drew his blade, Lin Yang leaped into the air. His micro-gravity boots negated his weight, and with the built-in thrusters of his combat suit, he soared into the sky.

The moment Lin Yang left the rooftop, Oda Nobunaga swung his sword casually. A wind blade cut through the building in the blink of an eye, slicing diagonally. Lin Yang vanished into thin air, reappearing far away, narrowly dodging the slash.

The building Lin Yang had been standing on was not as fortunate. A few seconds later, the sound of grinding stone echoed as the building was sliced clean through the middle and began to slide apart.

The upper half of the severed building collapsed, smashing into nearby structures in a cloud of dust. Lin Yang hovered high in the sky, his expression calm as he watched. It was only natural for Oda Nobunaga to possess such power; Lin Yang couldn't afford a single distraction, or he would end up just like that building.

The propulsion unit on his back ignited, and Lin Yang zipped through the air, charging toward Oda Nobunaga. But the terrifying enemy simply watched as Lin Yang dove down like a falling star. Oda Nobunaga raised his hand and slashed at the sky; a hurricane roared to life. Lin Yang felt like a tiny boat in a stormy sea, as if he would capsize at any second.

Beyond the hurricane blocking his path, countless wind blades shot out from around Oda Nobunaga, tracing different trajectories toward Lin Yang. He could only rely on his agility and constant spatial teleportation to avoid the barrage of blades.

Lin Yang was pinned down hundreds of meters away by Oda Nobunaga. No matter how hard he tried, he could not break through the web of intersecting wind blades.

But this was not Oda Nobunaga’s full strength, for he knew one opponent had yet to reveal himself—the one he was truly wary of.

According to reports from outside, the Doom Squad’s "Dead Eye" had indeed obtained a level-seven bullet. Though he hadn't seen its power, Oda Nobunaga didn't dare underestimate it; no matter how strong his superpowers were, his physical body was not at a level where it could withstand such a projectile.

A mental prompt signaled that Dead Eye was aiming from afar. Oda Nobunaga immediately turned his head and swung his blade. As the wind blades flew out, they struck a spark in the air. Oda Nobunaga felt two hurricanes pass him by; the ground where they swept was pulverized, exposing the concrete and steel beneath.

"Is this a level-seven bullet?" Oda Nobunaga looked back at the struggling Lin Yang. The bullet had been split in two by his wind blade, passing by him on either side. Although the power was significant, Oda Nobunaga was somewhat disappointed.

"That was only a level-five bullet," the voice in his head reminded him. Oda Nobunaga raised an eyebrow. If a level-five bullet had that much power, then the level-seven one was indeed worth anticipating.

"We’ve located Dead Eye. Aren't you going to take him out?" the voice prompted. Oda Nobunaga shook his head. He wanted to see the power of the level-seven bullet; he didn't want to crush this ant until Xie Liu had used his trump card.

"An ant carrying a bomb—until he throws it, I don't even have the urge to crush him," Oda Nobunaga said coldly. By now, Lin Yang had passed through the first layer of the wind shield, a pistol shimmering with purple light appearing in his hand.

"A plasma gun." Oda Nobunaga recognized the weapon; it was gear Lin Yang had scavenged from an airdrop. After flipping through the air, Lin Yang fired continuously, sending a barrage of plasma rounds at Oda Nobunaga.

Oda Nobunaga flipped his left hand, and a tornado rose at his feet, shredding the nearby walls. The swirling wind, filled with crushed stone and steel, acted as his shield. When the plasma rounds hit the debris-filled tornado, they melted the rocks and metal into liquid, which was then swept away by the wind. In an instant, the tornado shielding Oda Nobunaga changed color, looking like a rotating pillar of fire.

"Go!" Oda Nobunaga flicked his finger, and the burning wind lunged toward the descending Lin Yang. Just as Lin Yang was about to be engulfed, a blue curtain of water swept in from afar, instantly dousing the burning tornado. The flames vanished in a heartbeat. Lin Yang let out a shout, his red light blade vibrating as he shattered the remnants of the wind. His short hair whipped in the turbulence, and his slender frame broke through the barrier, closing in on Oda Nobunaga!

On a distant building, Ye Ling remained in a thrusting posture, her energy-focusing sword still glowing. The blue petals on the hilt shone with a dazzling light; she had activated the water attribute of her blade, condensing moisture from the air to extinguish Oda Nobunaga’s flames.

As Lin Yang broke through, Oda Nobunaga was surprised but not panicked. He prepared to swing his blade, but suddenly felt something wrong and slammed his left hand into the empty space beside him.

"Boom!" A deafening sound erupted, and a gale exploded from his palm. A powerful shockwave rippled out in an arc, bypassing Oda Nobunaga and flying toward his back, carrying with it the dust kicked up from the ground. Xie Liu had fired another level-five bullet from afar; Oda Nobunaga intercepted it head-on with the wind in his palm, remaining unscathed.

Before the dust settled, Oda Nobunaga saw the ground beneath his feet disappear—the shockwave had shattered it, leaving only the small patch he stood on intact. Before he could shift his gaze, the dust was torn open by a red light. Lin Yang emerged, his blade slashing down violently.

For the first time, surprise appeared in Oda Nobunaga’s eyes. Lin Yang’s speed was undeniable. Oda Nobunaga inverted his blade and swung upward, colliding with Lin Yang’s sword.

"Very good, but not enough." Oda Nobunaga gritted his teeth and sneered. As he swung, Lin Yang felt a hurricane blast him. At the moment of impact, he was blown away by an unseen force, his body spiraling out of control.

Lin Yang felt like a kite with a broken string, unable to stabilize himself in the gale. He made a split-second decision to teleport behind Oda Nobunaga, sword raised to strike, but halfway through, the blade vanished. He had to dodge another wind blade, reappearing awkwardly a dozen meters away. Oda Nobunaga was surrounded by a storm of stray wind blades, making him look like a hedgehog; there was no way to get close.

Lin Yang landed unsteadily, a chill running through his heart. He jumped, teleporting twice to put a hundred meters of distance between them. The moment he moved, a manic surge of wind erupted from Oda Nobunaga, like scattered light blades, shredding all nearby architecture into dust.

Lin Yang knew he had missed his chance for a close-quarters attack. He didn't linger, turning to flee. He activated the spatial shield on his left hand to block a few incoming blades, then pulled out his plasma gun and fired a dozen shots. Oda Nobunaga swatted them away with his sword, a pair of invisible wings unfurling from his back before he soared into the sky.

Wind spread out from his feet, and the moment he took flight, a tempest was unleashed upon the city.

Everything unanchored was blown away—shattered glass, rusted nails—flying through the air like bullets, hurtling chaotically in every direction.

Xie Liu hugged his sniper rifle and dove off the roof. The moment he landed in the corridor, he flattened himself against the floor. Debris shot through the broken windows above, hitting the walls with the force of bullets.

This was Oda Nobunaga’s wind. It was on an entirely different level from the Captain of the Gale Squad. There was nowhere to hide; his wind reached every corner.

The greatest pressure was on Lin Yang, who was fighting Oda Nobunaga head-on. He faced the brunt of the storm. Oda Nobunaga looked like a god or a demon, with air rotating violently behind him. When the air was ejected, it whipped toward the dodging Lin Yang like a lash.

"I thought that since you challenged me with such determination, you would at least give me a surprise. But you have truly disappointed me." Oda Nobunaga watched Lin Yang frantically dodging. He seemed to have lost interest. "I heard you came for revenge?"

"But revenge requires strength." Oda Nobunaga raised his blade. "Revenge without strength is nothing but a joke. Can determination change everything? Don't be ridiculous—this isn't a fairy tale."

After another failed dodge, Lin Yang was struck by a wind-lash. In a panic, he activated his spatial shield to block the blow, but the force sent him flying, nearly crashing into the light barrier.

"You want revenge, don't you?" Oda Nobunaga drifted through the air, his blade pointed at Lin Yang. "However, I prefer to give you despair."

"Remember: I am Oda Nobunaga. I am the God of Wind. I am the pinnacle of the wind!"

With that, he swung his blade!

Without warning, five massive wind blades rose behind him, towering and seemingly supporting the sky. They tore through the building complex ahead, shattering every obstacle in their path. Accompanied by a deafening roar, they crushed everything in their wake.

Xie Liu had just climbed up from the corridor when he saw the massive blades hurtling toward his building. He bolted, running to the end of the hall, and leaped out, smashing through the glass. He plummeted into the air, his mobility belt ejecting a steel wire that barely hooked onto a crumbling building in the distance. Before he could swing away, the wind blades struck the building behind him. The world shattered at that moment.

Xie Liu could barely feel his body, caught in the wind as he tumbled through the air. If not for the tension of his mobility belt, he would have been blown right past the light barrier.

The building he had just been in was reduced to fragments in an instant. Dozens of floors were pulverized in less than a second, filled with flying stones and steel beams.

Xie Liu didn't know where he was. He kept spinning, unable to distinguish up from down, seeing only the sky and ground rotating. Through the chaos, he caught a glimpse of two massive wind blades passing on either side, lucky enough to be caught in the narrow, sixty-meter gap between them.

The mobility belt retracted. Xie Liu felt himself falling. If he didn't find a new anchor point immediately, he would either be shredded by the wind or smashed into a pulp.

In desperation, he spotted a half-standing building ahead. Without thinking, he fired his belt. Seconds later, he felt the tug, spun twice in the air, and landed on the rooftop of the half-ruined structure. He stumbled, falling and rolling across the ground, dizzy and disoriented.

At that moment, the wind suddenly stilled.

Xie Liu lay on the ground, gasping for air. Having just returned from the gates of hell, he was still shaken. Oda Nobunaga’s strike was truly terrifying. After calming down slightly, he sat up and reached for his sniper rifle—he hadn't lost it during the crisis.

He didn't know where Lin Yang or Ye Ling were, but his intuition told him they weren't dead yet. He stood up shakily and walked to the edge of the ruin, then froze.

The city was gone. In its place was a sea of rubble, with only a few scattered skyscrapers remaining, themselves teetering on the brink of collapse.

One strike, and the entire city had vanished. This was Oda Nobunaga. This was a level-ten powerhouse.

Xie Liu swallowed hard.

"Is this... the ultimate wind?"