MTLNOVEL Chapter 7: Chapter 7: Tom and Bugs Bunny
The night passed in the blink of an eye, soft and warm for the three children. But morning arrived with a peculiar noise that echoed through the cave.
Bring Bring**
A blue and white alarm clock vibrated with all its might, desperately trying to fulfill its duty. Chen and Pao jolted awake, eyes wide with fear as they scanned the cave for an intruder. Yet, the truth was far more bizarre than they imagined.
Bring Bring** — a second ring.Bring Bring** — and a third.
Yet, Huànshēng gave the hard-working little clock no acknowledgment. Annoyed by his ignorance, the clock turned bright red, trembling with fury. Chen and Pao watched it warily, keeping their distance from the strange contraption.
Meanwhile, Huànshēng mumbled, "Five more minutes... please."
The clock had never faced such humiliation. It prided itself on waking the heavy sleeper, Jerry, without fail. But this boy had ignored it entirely. Refusing to endure any more disgrace, the clock charged at Huànshēng, intending to strike him awake.
But just as it lunged, Huànshēng, with reflexive ease, summoned a hammer out of thin air and smashed the clock to pieces. Gears and springs scattered across the cave floor. Satisfied that nothing was amiss, Huànshēng yawned and lay back down to continue his nap.
Chen and Pao sat speechless, their eyes fixed on the scattered remains of the once-determined clock.
'What in the world just happened?' they wondered, their minds struggling to process the absurdity they'd just witnessed.
An hour later, Chen and Pao returned to the cave after freshening up, only to find Huànshēng still half-asleep, sprawled lazily by the riverbank.
"Oye, Pao," Chen whispered."Yeah?" Pao replied."Don't you think there's something seriously wrong with Huànshēng?"Pao shrugged. "Other than those weird things he keeps summoning, he's the same lazy brat as before."
Chen frowned, unsettled by the answer. Back in the village, he and Huànshēng never got along. They were rivals, always butting heads. But seeing him now, Chen's perception was changing. A kid wandering through the wilderness, acting carefree and lazy as if they were still in the safety of their homes... It didn't sit right with him.
Sure, Huànshēng had incredible powers, but his laid-back attitude was beyond reason. Meanwhile, Pao—the laziest kid in the village—had been alert and proactive throughout their journey. It felt like their roles had completely reversed.
Chen sighed. His image of Huànshēng was crumbling, and it wasn't for the better.
By the river, Huànshēng finally forced himself awake, rubbing his eyes as he approached the water to wash his face. He was still grumbling about his failed attempt to wake up early."I just wanted to be on time for once... Stupid clock."
He summoned his Book of Wonders once more, eager to test another power. This time, he wanted to try possession.
The book's pages flipped rapidly, revealing a list of characters:
Tom
Jerry
Felix
Mickey Mouse
Casper...
The list seemed endless, filled with the names of characters he once thought were nothing more than cartoons. A grin spread across Huànshēng's face as he chose Tom. Instantly, his character info updated.
Name: HuànshēngAge: 6Spirit: Book of WondersTitles: Loser (20%), Troublemaker (2%), Runaway (78%)Skill: Possession (Tom)
Nine Lives of the Cat – Allows the user to survive nine fatal blows. (Rechargeable)
Master of All but Appreciated by None – Grants mastery over any technique, but no one will acknowledge the user's skill.
Huànshēng's grin widened."Tom's seriously overpowered!"
The thrill of his new powers was exhilarating. But it wasn't just about the abilities. It was about meeting Tom—the Tom. Growing up, Huànshēng had always adored cartoons. Discovering they were real, and now being able to summon them, was nothing short of a dream come true.
After packing up, he headed back to the cave, where Chen and Pao waited with a... unique breakfast.
Sheng stared at the four charcoal-black fish lying on the stone before him. They looked like they'd survived a volcanic eruption. Pao sheepishly looked at Chen, who buried his face in his hands in embarrassment.
A sigh escaped Huànshēng as he summoned his Book of Wonders once again. With a wave of his hand, a familiar figure appeared—a blue cat with piercing green eyes, standing upright with a confident grin.
Both Chen and Pao's jaws dropped in shock, while Huànshēng's eyes sparkled with admiration."Tom..." he whispered, his childhood hero brought to life.
Tom glanced around, immediately understanding the situation. With a flick of his paw, a frying pan appeared, followed by fresh fish—cleaned, seasoned, and cooked to golden perfection. The aroma filled the cave, making their mouths water.
Three plates were served, each one more appetizing than the last. Tom crossed his arms and grinned smugly, proud of his culinary prowess.
While Chen and Pao devoured the food, Huànshēng simply watched Tom, eyes gleaming with wonder. He had always believed cartoons were nothing more than fiction. Seeing his childhood hero in the flesh was more satisfying than any meal.
Noticing Huànshēng's dazed look, Tom walked over and offered him a plate. Huànshēng's heart swelled with gratitude, and he took a bite, savoring the delicious taste.
As the afternoon sun began to dip below the trees, Huànshēng reluctantly unsummoned Tom. They had to get moving. Their next target was the Bamboo of Healing Spring—a spirit beast known for its restorative powers.
Unlike the Space Devouring Swallow, which constantly changed locations, the Bamboo of Healing Spring was stationary. It was the perfect target for Pao's first spirit ring.
With only half a kilometer between them and their goal, the trio set off, their spirits high after a hearty meal.
Unaware of the challenges awaiting them, they marched forward, their adventure far from over.
They walked around for a while until they reached the specified location, and just as they expected, another soul beast guarded the bamboo.
Spirits like the Bamboo of Healing Spring belonged to the healer category. Just like in a game, healers were highly valued here. Though its healing effects weren't the best, it was still considered one of the most reliable due to its sturdiness.
Roar!
A deafening cry erupted from the beast resting near the bamboo—a giant boar with thick brown fur and two massive tusks.
The three of them froze, unsure of what to do. That boar wasn't just any beast—it was a thousand-year-old soul beast. And according to the Book of Wonders, it had a rather troublesome ability.
[Soul Beast Info]
Name: Mountain BoarStrength: 1,000 yearsDescription: A beast of brute strength and minimal intellect. Even among thousand-year beasts, it is considered fearsome, especially due to its ability to exchange intelligence for raw power.
[Soul Beast Info]
Name: Bamboo of Healing SpringStrength: 380 yearsDescription: One of the best healing spirits in the forest, known for its resilience. However, a little-known fact among soul masters is that it will perish instantly if struck at its root.
For ordinary soul masters, this would have been a nightmare. But Sheng wasn't an ordinary soul master.
A sly grin appeared on his face as he read the information. "A little bit of knowledge changes everything," he murmured.
He summoned his book and selected Possession: Bugs Bunny. Then, with a flick of his wrist, he summoned a Diglett.
Both Chen and Pao just stared, trying to figure out what Sheng was up to this time.
"What are you just sitting there for?" Sheng called over his shoulder. "Get ready to strike the root when I give the signal!"
Pao snapped to attention. This was his first soul ring—he had to contribute.
Meanwhile, on the Boar's Side—
The Mountain Boar was a beast feared even among its kind. Every day, it crushed weaker creatures and fought stronger opponents to assert dominance. And, of course, it enjoyed feasting on its favorite bamboo.
Today was just another ordinary day.
Or so it thought.
A small human with black hair and dark eyes approached, wearing a police uniform, jotting down imaginary notes in his notepad.
His stride was firm. His aura radiated authority.
The boar, despite its low intelligence, felt a strange chill run down its spine. Had it... done something wrong?
[Bugs Bunny's First Skill: Unbelievably Believable Disguise]
"Sir, you have parked yourself in a no-parking zone," Sheng announced, motioning toward a wooden sign next to the boar.
The boar blinked. It had never seen that sign before. But... it was right there.
"You'll be fined 5,000 gold coins," Sheng continued, tearing a page from his notebook and handing it over.
The boar squinted at the paper. PARKING A BOAR IN A NO-PARKING ZONE – FINE: 5,000 GOLD COINS.
The boar panicked. It didn't have 5,000 gold coins! It let out a pitiful grunt, pleading for a reduced fine.
Sheng sighed dramatically, shaking his head. "Rules are rules, but... fine. Move over there," he pointed a few meters away. "Your case will be heard in court later."
The boar, ears drooping, sulked as it reluctantly shuffled away from the bamboo.
[Bugs Bunny's Second Skill: Believe It or Not]
Chen and Pao watched, utterly baffled.
"Did... did that really just work?" Chen whispered.
"I don't know whether to be impressed or terrified," Pao muttered.
But just as the boar stepped away, it suddenly stopped. Something wasn't right.
It turned back, eyes narrowing.
Wait a minute.
It had been FOOLED!
Roar!
Rage filled its veins. It reared up, about to charge at Sheng—
But it was too late.
The ground beneath its feet trembled. With a loud CRACK, the soil collapsed, and the boar plummeted into a deep hole at least 20 meters underground.
Chen and Pao stood there in stunned silence.
Sheng dusted his hands off and turned back to them with a smug grin.
"Your turn, Pao. The root is right there."
Pao gulped.
This guy... was terrifying in the strangest ways.