MTLNOVEL CHAPTER 247
Chapter 247: The Unlikely Proposal
Lu Ming, his mind now clear and focused, found Flame Heart Yanxin's proposition somewhat impractical.
In the Origin State, his temperament had shifted. He was no longer as easily angered as he had been in the Explosive or Desperate States.
He looked at Flame Heart Yanxin, his voice calm and measured. "I actually believe that you, as a being, aren't inherently evil. If you promise to withdraw the Dream Virus you've unleashed, I can consider coexisting peacefully with you."
Lu Ming's sincerity was evident, and Flame Heart Yanxin recognized it.
But it only served to deepen his sense of helplessness.
"Can you... represent everyone?" he asked, his voice tinged with a hint of sadness.
"Can you represent the Aeonians?"
"And most importantly," he continued, his gaze piercing into Lu Ming's, "can you represent me?"
Lu Ming opened his mouth, but no words came out. After a long moment, he finally admitted, "No."
Flame Heart Yanxin shrugged. "Then there's no need for further discussion."
"Besides..."
With a sudden burst of speed, Flame Heart Yanxin lunged towards Lu Ming.
A strange smile twisted his face, an expression that defied easy interpretation. Was it the mad glee of a berserker, or the serene acceptance of a long-awaited release?
"It's been a long time since I've encountered someone as interesting as you!"
In the Origin State, Lu Ming's physique remained the same as in his Desperate State.
However, his body was now more compact, his strength more concentrated. His speed and reflexes were even sharper than before.
Yet, Flame Heart Yanxin's explosive power still caught Lu Ming off guard. He had never encountered an opponent with such blinding speed, someone who could rival his own even in the Origin State.
It was like a hurricane unleashed upon him.
In the blink of an eye, Flame Heart Yanxin was upon him.
He threw a punch, a simple jab that connected with Lu Ming's face.
Bang!
The impact was devastating. Lu Ming's Flame Shield shattered, and his head snapped back from the sheer force of the blow.
Flame Heart Yanxin, however, was also affected by the shield's recoil.
He expertly used the counterforce to twist his body, delivering a powerful elbow strike to Lu Ming's chest.
This strike carried not only Flame Heart Yanxin's own power but also the rebounding energy from his initial punch.
Crack!
Lu Ming's Divine Flame Shield exploded, and his entire body was sent flying, crashing into the laboratory's sturdy wall.
"Combat skill!" Lu Ming realized, his eyes widening in surprise. "This is pure combat skill!"
He struggled to his feet, his gaze locked on Flame Heart Yanxin.
Flame Heart Yanxin nodded, a confident smile on his face. "Yes, it's pure combat skill."
"After all," he explained, "we Dream Clan don't rely on Origin Power. We have no need for fancy Origin Power Skills."
Lu Ming was momentarily stunned, then nodded in understanding.
"That makes sense."
It was the natural consequence of their unique existence.
"But your body..." Lu Ming began, his voice trailing off. "If you don't rely on Origin Power, how can you possess physical strength comparable to mine?"
Flame Heart Yanxin tapped his chest. "You're talking about this? This is the foundation of the Dream Clan's strength, the power of dreams made manifest."
"With the power of Dream Realization, I can attain any level of physical strength I desire. I can become anything I wish. In fact, if I wanted you dead right now, you would simply cease to exist."
Lu Ming was momentarily stunned.
Was his invincibility an illusion?
Before he could speak, Flame Heart Yanxin continued. "Of course, it's not that exaggerated. There are limits to the power of Dream Realization. You can only achieve what you've stored within."
"Directly affecting an enemy, like weakening their strength or killing them, consumes a lot of Dream Realization power. It's not cost-effective."
"The most efficient approach is to strengthen oneself, enhance one's own abilities, or add more attributes."
Lu Ming nodded in understanding.
Flame Heart Yanxin grinned, his eyes gleaming with anticipation. "Now, our warm-up is over. Let's get to the real fun!"
Without giving Lu Ming a chance to react, Flame Heart Yanxin darted forward, his movements a blur.
He employed a footwork technique, weaving left and right, closing the distance between them in an instant.
Jab, right hook, knee strike, elbow strike.
Lu Ming blocked, parried, dodged, and countered with an elbow strike of his own. His Unarmed Combat skill, honed to the maximum level, allowed him to hold his own in this pure physical confrontation.
"However," the Crimson Queen observed from her vantage point, "there's a clear gap in experience."
Watching Flame Heart Yanxin's relentless assault, the Crimson Queen's thoughts drifted back thousands of years.
Flame Heart Yanxin, the last emperor of the Flame Clan, a quasi-divine-level expert, was both the architect of the clan's downfall and its potential savior.
His story was complex, his actions both noble and destructive.
But one thing was undeniable.
"Lord Flame Heart Yanxin was undoubtedly a top-tier combat genius of the Flame Clan," the Crimson Queen mused, her voice a soft whisper in the empty laboratory.
During his reign, the Flame Clan faced numerous internal and external threats. He established the First Research Institute to develop powers that could rival the divine, but few knew that Flame Heart Yanxin himself was one of the experimental subjects.
Number: 135
Codename: Force
He had dedicated himself to mastering combat skills, creating an ultimate technique that required no Origin Power, relying solely on physical strength to match the effects of Origin Power Skills.
No one, except Flame Heart Yanxin himself, knew of this project's existence.
And no one had ever witnessed the true power of "Force."
Lu Ming was the first.
Bang.
Flame Heart Yanxin's hook landed on Lu Ming's face once more.
But this time, the impact was different.
Instead of shattering, Flame Heart Yanxin's fist pierced through the Divine Fire Shield, striking Lu Ming's flesh directly.
The shield had failed.
A powerful force surged into Lu Ming's cheek, exploding like a grenade.
The blast tore away a chunk of flesh, exposing the raw muscle beneath.
"Explosive Fist! How can it be an Explosive Fist?!" Lu Ming exclaimed, his voice filled with disbelief. "And my Divine Fire Shield..."
Flame Heart Yanxin grinned, his eyes gleaming with triumph. "Yes, it's the Explosive Fist, your specialty..."
"As for your Divine Fire Shield... I believe you already know that since I don't use Origin Power, defenses based on Origin Power are useless against me."
Lu Ming's gaze hardened. "A characteristic of the Dream Clan?"
Flame Heart Yanxin shook his head. "No, no, no. This isn't a trait of the Dream Clan. It's simply a technique."
"A technique unique to me."
He paused, savoring the moment.
"I call it... Force!"
End of Chapter 247