Swallowed Star

by Alexander Buchanez

  "Tomorrow" said Luo Feng.

  It's hard to say an exact time, since there's only one battle room. It might be in use by other students, so you have to check the computer system first before you can arrange for an exact time.

  "Alright" William rubbed his nose, laughed, and then turned and left.

  **

  Jiang-Nan pagoda.

  After hearing of this, senior Shi Jiang, who went to the Nine Grand Floors to train, immediately rushed back to Jiang-Nan pagoda. No matter what, Shi Jiang and Zhao Ruo were like Luo Feng, all from China's Jiang-Nan headquarter city! Not only that, but they're older than him and entered this training camp earlier than he did.

  Naturally, they would help Luo Feng.

  "Luo Feng" Zhao Ruo was a bit angry, "Why would you bet with him? Do you think you're a genius fighter with amazing power who can't lose to anyone in the same age group as you? Is that why you're confident?"

  "You're just being cocky!"

  Zhao Ruo said angrily, "Many people who just entered the training camp are tricked into doing these 'staked matches' with the seniors. 80 to 90 percent of them lose...... you can enter this training camp because you're a genius of geniuses. So which one of us here isn't a genius of geniuses? And they have been learning in this training camp for a long time"

  "Alright, Zhao Ruo" Shi Jiang spoke on the side.

  "Senior Zhao Ruo" Luo Feng laughed as he poured his tea, "Don't be angry. Oh yea, you said that William has a battle ability amplifier of 'intermediate' right?"

  "Yea" Zhao Ruo froze.

  "Looks like Luo Feng is prepared" Shi Jiang looked at Luo Feng with astonishment.

  While battling to the death in the virtual space, the two people have the exact same body fitness levels. So at this time, you'll have to see how they handle their strength, speed, technique, etc.

  The battle ability amplifier equals 'fist strength level' multiplied by 'tower of trials level'.

  A battle ability amplifier of 1----2 is beginner. Many of the students who just entered the training camp are in that range.

  Battle ability amplifier of 2----4 is intermediate. In the elite training camp, many people are able to step into the intermediate level after 1.5 years of training. That person named 'William' is precisely intermediate.

  Battle ability amplifier of 4----8 is advanced. These count as passing students in the elite training camp.

  Battle ability amplifier of 8----16 is superior. This is the marker of an 'excellent student'. Because the range of 8----16 is quite large, the gap between people who are all at the superior level could be quite large.

  Battle ability amplifer of above 16 is extraordinary! Also called the 'super level', even the world's strongest fighter 'Hong' and 'Thunder God' would be fighting over taking a person like this as their disciple. All the countries and organizations of the world would be willing to pay enormous sums to invite these so called 'Legendary' figures.

  "Hehe, a bit" Luo Feng laughed.

  "If you're confident, then it's all good" Shi Jiang punched Luo Feng in the chest and encouraged, "Let that William know that us Chinese can't be taken advantage of that easily"

  "Okay. Seniors, I need to go train now. There's no helping it, now that 5 billion is on the line, I'm under lots of pressure" said Luo Feng purposefully.

  "Pressure my ass" said Zhao Ruo with a hmph, " '1 billion is just too little' and '5 billion. Not playing if it's any lower'. Hehe, that tone was boss". Luo Feng laughed bitterly at Zhao Ruo's words. How is this Zhao Ruo like a girl at all, she's way too bold.

  Luo Feng immediately said: "Seniors, you guys do what you need to do"

  After saying that......

  Luo Feng immediately returned to his living quarters. On the day of the 30th, other than to eat, Luo Feng stayed in his underground training room and underwent his speed training! He started at noon and trained all the way until around 7 PM. Only until then could he use the 2.8x force brought by the��Nine Stage Thunder Blade��'s third stage in his legs as much as he pleased.

  With the third stage of the��Nine Stage Thunder Blade��, Luo Feng's speed, without the aid of his spiritual force, rivals an 'advanced level warlord'!

  ......

  8 PM.

  After washing up, Luo Feng, who was wearing a bathrobe, was sitting in front of his notebook.

  "That William guy has a battle ability amplifier of intermediate, which is 2--4! What about me? My fist strength level should be 2.8". Even though he didn't test it in the training camp, this so called fist strength level is basically how high your power can go based off your original strength.

  He can explode 2.8x the force, so his fist strength level is 2.8!

  As for the tower of trials level, according to what I heard from the many discussions my fellow students were having in the training camp, 100 raging bulls should count as the first floor's B grade. Since I passed, my tower of trials level is 1.6!

  "My tower of trials level definitely, isn't just 1.6, but just 2.8 x 1.6 already makes my battle ability amplifier surpass 4"

  "He's trying to pick on my inexperience?"

  "Hmph, even though I haven't been in the wilderness for long, I've already killed more monsters than many fighters would ever kill in their entire life" Luo Feng opened his email.

  This notebook, which the training camp provided, was connected to the training camp's network.

  In the email was a message.

  "Letter of challenge?"

  This 'William's Letter of Challenge' was sent after he applied to the training camp's computer system.

  "Accept!" Luo Feng made his decision.

  It's not enough to just reply to this email; you also have to prepare 5 billion Chinese dollars and send it to the special account of the 'Challenge System'! Only after William and Luo Feng both deposit their money into this special account can this match be organized.

  At that time, only Luo Feng and William will have permission to enter the battle room!

  Both payments automatically enter the winner's account.

  "Just 5 billion isn't it?" Luo Feng took out 5 billion from his Swiss nameless account and directly deposited it into the training camp's special account.

  "In the past, I wouldn't dare to move this amount of money without thinking twice. However, now that I entered the training camp..... which organization isn't willing to pay an astronomical price for me?" Luo Feng isn't worried that Vulture and Scorpion's suspicions will raise after the money is transferred to his normal account.

  There's no way that they would be suspicious.

  It's normal for students in the training camp to have over 10 billion in their accounts!

  "BEEP!"

  An email arrived.

  Luo Feng opened it.

  "Such high efficiency. It already determined the date? March 31st, 11:15 AM?"

  **

  In another pagoda.

  A few white men and women were gathered together.

  "He already transferred the money over. The date is tomorrow at 11:15 AM" said William Edison. A tall, skinny blonde youth beside him couldn't help but to say: "William, you're too careless. This is 5 billion Chinese dollars...... I think there's something dangerous is going on this time"

  "Candace, what're you worrying about?" William's gaze was cold, "I'll definitely win this time"

  "You have a higher probability of winning" the blonde youth named Candace nodded, "If this Luo Feng's strength greatly surpasses the average rookie that enters the elite training camp, he would've entered much earlier; he wouldn't have waited until now. This shows that he isn't much stronger than the average rookie"

  "However, he dared to propose a bet of 5 billion" Candace frowned, his eyebrows were like two sharp blades, "I think you should still be careful"

  "Candace, you're the #1 successor of the Paulinus family, you don't have to care so much about a measly 5 billion bet. Also, it's just Chinese dollars, not euros" laughed a brunette girl on the side.

  .....


  William��Edison, from the EU, has challenged the rookie Luo Feng from China!

  The wager is 5 billion Chinese dollars!

  This news spread through the entire training camp like a hurricane. A wager of 5 billion, and against a rookie! These two points caused many students to come to the Nine Grand Floors on the 31st.

  March 31, 11:10 AM.

  Nine Grand Floors, ninth floor.

  Around 45 students were gathered here. There were people from the EU, America, China, Russia, etc.... basically, people from all six countries have arrived. Even some rookies that just joined this year rushed over here too. Some of the rookies in that group were picked on before.

  "5 billion Chinese dollars, isn't that just around 40 billion Rubles? What a wager"

  "I wonder if William or that rookie will win"

  The large nosed white youths mumbled on the side. From their language and looks, one could tell that they were from Russia. In today's world, one earth dollar equals 3.5 Chinese dollars, which equals 30 Rubies.

  "William��Edison, Luo Feng, enter the battle room!"

  An electronic sound reverberated in the lobby of the ninth floor.

  Luo Feng and William exchanged looks and headed towards the training room.

  "William, beat that kid" yelled Candace��Paulinus.

  "Luo Feng, you better beat him to death. If you win, your senior will cook for you personally" Zhao Ruo was also yelling. Many students were supporting each side, since this battle was a battle of senior vs rookie, and also the first EU vs China exchange. In this training camp, the students were extremely competitive.

  KA!

  The door to the battle room opened. Luo Feng and William both entered.

  Luo Feng scanned the room. This battle room had virtually the exact same layout as the training room; there were two sofas and two dark blue helmets here too.

  "Luo Feng, thanks for the free 5 billion" William slightly smiled as he lay on the sofa.

  "I hope you won't cry later" Luo Feng also lay on the sofa.

  Whoosh!

  Both of them put on their dark blue helmets at virtually the same time.

  Chapter 120: Battle in the Gymnasium

  There was only one building in the infinite silver land--a stage!

  Whoosh! Whoosh!

  A yellow skinned youth and a white skinned youth appeared out of thin air on the stage; they were precisely Luo Feng and William.

  "Please select your weapon and battle uniform set" a huge sound reverberated around the entire land. At the same time, a gigantic amount of weapons and armor appeared in front of Luo Feng, just like the time at the tower of trials. Luo Feng skillfully selected the ghost blade, hexagonal shield, and a battle uniform set that fit his size.

  The two of them swiftly equipped themselves.

  "Oh?" Luo Feng's gaze landed upon a pillar on the stage. Words started to appear on the pillar--

  "Name: William��Edison

  Gender: Male

  Identity: Elite training camp official student

  Battle ability amplifier: Intermediate"

  After reading that, Luo Feng turned and looked to the pillar to his side. The introduction on the pillar was exactly the same, other than the name and the battle ability amplifier, which was 'beginner'.

  "Please select your battle location" a virtual voice rang again.

  In front of Luo Feng and William appeared eight different locations.

  "You choose" smiled William, "So you won't make any excuses when you lose"

  "Then..... the gymnasium" Luo Feng casually picked a battle location.

  "Gymnasium?" William let out a surprised face and carefully looked at the Chinese youth in front of him. Is he really confident or just cocky?

  RUMBLE~~~

  The sky and earth shook. Luo Feng and William's surroundings started changing. Instantly, Luo Feng and William appeared in the middle of a gigantic gymnasium. The gymnasium was also completely empty; there were no obstacles. Around the gymnasium were enough stands for tens of thousands of spectators to watch the match.

  Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

  A blinding light brightened up the entire gymnasium. The entire gymnasium held only two people: Luo Feng and William.

  "Challenge, begin!" the electronic sound echoed around in the gymnasium.

  William had a long sword in one hand and a round shield in the other as he confidently looked at Luo Feng, "Luo Feng, I gave you a chance to pick a location that would give you the advantage. However, you picked a gymnasium with no obstacles at all! I'll let you know the true difference between a veteran and a rookie in this training camp!"

  "Come" Luo Feng slightly squinted.

  This shall be his first opponent in the training camp.

  The sides of William's mouth slightly curved. His body ferociously and instantly passed through a distance of around 50 meters. Like a ray of light, his long sword created ripples in the air as it thrusted directly towards Luo Feng's forehead. At the same time, Luo Feng backed off and swung his blade as fast as lightning!

  "CHI!" The long sword in William's hand slightly shook as it collided with Luo Feng's ghost blade.

  It then went along Luo Feng's blade and shot towards Luo Feng's neck with a horizontal strike!

  Whoosh!

  Luo Feng retreated explosively while moving his hexagonal shield to block it.

  "HUA!" The long sword instantly drew across a delicate arc. It actually followed the movement of the hexagonal shield in Luo Feng's left hand as the blade drew towards Luo Feng's right hand.

  Retreat!

  Luo Feng basically instantly backed off to a distance of 100 meters away as he directly jumped onto the stands.

  "What, scared?" William laughed loudly as he, with his round shield in one hand and long sword in the other, slowly walked towards Luo Feng, "Luo Feng, you might think you're extremely powerful compared to a regular fighter, but no veteran in this training camp is as simple as you think they are"

  "This time, just think of this 5 billion as your tuition"

  Luo Feng lowered his head and looked at his right hand. The armguard on his right hand's wrist had a white mark on it. However, there was a wound on his arm and blood already started coming out. Thankfully, the wound wasn't deep.

  "His blade isn't fast, but I was completely controlled during that short engagement? As if his attacks were naturally formed, there were no openings. One attack followed the other, all of them offensive" a few balls of sweat couldn't help but to seep out of Luo Feng's forehead as he squinted, "I can only use speed to control him!"

  William was still calm, as if a gentleman in a banquet.

  "It's not good enough to just have have a swift blade. You have to reach the point where it moves like a cloud and flows like water; use all sorts of attacks from all sorts of positions to form your offense!" William smiled, "After entering the training camp, as long as I remained within the camp grounds, I practiced my blade for over 5 hours! I only rested after my arm hurts like crazy"

  "You still need years before you can defeat me!" William stepped on the ground.

  Whoosh!

  He directly flew towards the stands.

  "HU!" Luo Feng's eyes were shining as his ghost blade's speed shot up to the extreme. Multiple forces merged into the ghost blade. Hu~~ As if a hypnotizing cold light that's carrying an electric current, the unrivaled momentum and heart stopping speed directly shot towards William's head!

  Swift!

  This attack can be described in one word--Swift!

  "RUMBLE~~"

  CLANG CLANG CLANG CLANG.....

  A series of sounds rang as the willow branch-like long sword in William's hands clashed with Luo Feng's ghost blade. Right after that, William's body flew back. CHI! A gigantic, shocking crack directly appeared on the stands ahead. Smashed, shattered rubble flew around in all directions, some even smashing onto the plastic chairs.

  "What a swift blade. However, your blade technique is r
eally just average" William laughed loudly as he jumped back onto the stands.

  As he jumped onto the stands, the plastic chairs flew away one by one, as if William was a wild hurricane.

  "I admit that your blade technique is superior to mine. However..... you're too slow!" Luo Feng completely exploded his speed when William appeared in front of him! In terms of speed, Luo Feng is definitely around 50% faster than William! This isn't even on the same level anymore.

  Clearly, in terms of exploding his strength, William is quite lacking compared to Luo Feng.

  "Whoosh!"

  "Whoosh!"

  These two humans who were both moving at over 100 m/s have completely turned into two mirages, especially one of the black shadows, whose speed was clearly faster than his opponent's. Every time they clashed, the air exploded and formed currents visible to the naked eye.

  One attack, another attack! And another!

  Luo Feng was relying on his speed; whenever he had a chance, he'll attack. If he didn't have any chances, he'll dodge, and then attack!

  Luo Feng himself has realized that he is quite far off in terms of actual blade technique compared to William.

  "FUCK"

  William angrily yelled: "you..... You, if you have skills, then fight against me from the front!" William was so enraged that he even yelled out english. Luo Feng's current battle style was quite sinister, since he was just relying on his quick speed and blade to punish people! He wasn't fighting from the front at all.

  "From the front?"

  "Alright"

  "I'll grant your wish" as Luo Feng's voice echoed around the gymnasium, Luo Feng's attack was aimed at William's left side.

  Suddenly--

  Luo Feng stepped three times. These ghost-like steps actually dodged William's sharp blade. William himself was extremely surprised: "Impossible". He only felt a shadow float past him. William now knows he's in trouble, since he already lost sight of Luo Feng.

  PUCHI!

  The blade's light flashed across William's neck and his head flew up.

  "PU!" fresh blood sprayed towards the sky.

  William's body fell powerlessly, his blood scattered across the already destroyed plastic chairs.

  "Challenge, Luo Feng wins!" the electronic sound reverberated within the interior of the gymnasium. Everything in the gymnasium became blurry and then disappeared.