Chapter 409: The Subtle Relationship Between the Perennial Repeat Student and the Visual Kei Bassist
Cheng Tian's high synchronization rate with the Stand World allowed him to indirectly enjoy the physical enhancements brought by increased strength and agility, making traversing rooftops as easy as walking on flat ground.
While on his way, Cheng Tian coincidentally ran into the Bloodsucking Wyvern, which was in the middle of a delivery.
Strictly speaking, individuals summoned by the Beast King's Lair were not traditional summoned beasts but rather extensions of the caster themselves, akin to specific clones. Thus, the Bloodsucking Wyvern also carried the main consciousness of Nero Cat.
Upon seeing Cheng Tian, the Bloodsucking Wyvern swooped down and landed beside him.
"Do you need it delivered to the lab?"
"No, just give it to me."
At Nero Cat's signal, Cheng Tian placed his hand on the Bloodsucking Wyvern's abdomen, sinking into it as if plunging his hand into a slime-like creature.
"Detected special bloodline material: 'Blood of Iori'—
Material collecting—
Collection complete. Your 'Genetic Collection Vault' storage limit +1, and you acquire 3% of the Blood of Iori material.
Side Quest 'Inheritance of Superpowered Bloodline' progress: 1/10."
This amount of material collection was within Cheng Tian's expectations, or rather, it was already quite a surplus.
After all, it was just a hurried suck; actually being able to extract such a large amount from Iori without him being severely injured was already quite impressive.
Even the NESTS organization only dared to abduct Kyo Kusanagi after his decisive battle with Orochi, taking advantage of his severe injuries and unconscious state, then experimenting on him in various ways. But obtaining enough fresh blood while he was conscious and maintaining high combat capability was a considerable challenge.
This was true for Kyo Kusanagi, and even more so for Iori Yagami. In fact, an unconscious Iori Yagami was arguably more dangerous, as who knew when the Orochi blood within him would awaken… Only Nero Cat could manage this; it would be very difficult for anyone else.
"Cough, cough, cough~"
Iori Yagami, veins bulging on his forehead, coughed violently a few times. Before him, the hateful black monstrous cat was completely engulfed in purple flames, its body moving in extremely slow, limb movements, like a video recording played back dozens of times slower.
Though the flames were burning fiercely, they exuded an indescribably chilling sensation.
Iori Yagami was enduring physical discomfort, suppressing the Orochi blood that had just begun to show slight signs of going berserk.
Completely embracing the Orochi blood and immersing himself in that controlled state would certainly be easier, but Iori Yagami's dignity would not allow him to become Orochi's puppet, even if it brought significant power growth. This was not what Iori sought.
However, it was also due to this slight berserk state that what was originally a very ordinary "108 Shiki: Ankokukou" actually activated a bit of the Yata no Kagami's power, gaining the additional effect of "drastically slowing down the time of the hit target."
It didn't reach the near-time-stopping power of "Yasakazuki," but it did successfully immobilize Nero Cat… or did it?
One could only say it was controlled, but not entirely.
Nero Cat, possessing the Beast King's Lair, had no such thing as a main body or clone; each could be an individual or a clone.
Sure enough, the Bloodsucking Wyvern, which had delivered Iori's blood to Cheng elsewhere, transformed into Nero Cat's appearance after a series of writhing and shapeshifting.
"I was careless. I didn't expect it to actually be a rare time-element spell. But thankfully, it's only stagnation and not complete interference; it shouldn't be anywhere near the level of Blue Magic."
Nero Cat wiped non-existent sweat from his forehead, sighing with emotion.
"Looks like it was a fierce fight?"
Cheng Tian, placing Nero Cat on his shoulder, asked as he continued to hop and skip along his way.
"He is indeed a rather special opponent… But difficulty makes for a worthwhile challenge, wouldn't you agree, meow?"
"Absolutely right~ Once you use too many cheats, the game itself completely loses its fun."
Cheng, agreeing with this, lightly bumped his large fist against the cat's small paw.
Cheng Tian's Dominator Radar was always active. While traveling, he could detect a considerable number of humanoid individuals with special powers within his perception range. However, Cheng Tian could only distinguish between ordinary people and ability users at most, unable to determine their specific combat strength.
However, based on the direction and the speed of approach, Cheng Tian could roughly guess that Kyo Kusanagi should be among them.
Sure enough, Kyo Kusanagi, who was said to be a perennial repeat student—though in reality, the high school principal was reluctant to lose the promotional point of "The King of Fighters champion is a student of our school," so he adamantly refused to let him graduate—entered Cheng Tian's field of vision, sprinting wildly along the way.
However, the problem remained the same as before.
Since the opponent possessed a fragment of the Sun God Gem, why hadn't a mutual desire for plunder arisen?
…Could it be that the Sun God Fragment had no corrosive effect on Kyo Kusanagi?
Cheng Tian's finger lightly tapped the gem inlay on the sunfire mask's forehead. Kyo Kusanagi, who had already clearly sensed Iori's power fluctuations, suddenly slammed on his brakes, leaving two dark, scorched marks on the ground, and looked around.
Cheng, without any concealment, directly descended from the sky, landing lightly in front of Kyo Kusanagi.
The iconic Stand World immediately allowed Kyo Kusanagi to recognize Cheng Tian's identity, but soon, his gaze focused on the sunfire mask Cheng Tian was wearing.
"I didn't expect you to also be able to wield such scorching power, like the sun~"
The incomparably jovial perennial repeat student immediately showed his gloves, bearing his family crest. Only a select few knew what they were truly talking about.
It really wasn't corroded, it seems~
Is his personal will exceptionally strong? Or did the Kusanagi Sword do something?
"I want them, I need them very much. Name your price."
Cheng Tian chose to be direct.
Since the opponent had not been corroded by the Sun God Fragment, it meant that he didn't have that soul-deep desire for collection, so there should be room for negotiation.
"You want this? You can have it—"
Kyo Kusanagi gestured at Cheng Tian with his glove, then paused, clashing his fists together, and red flames burst forth from his body.
"But first, you have to defeat me!"
"No!"
But just as Kyo Kusanagi declared battle, a figure suddenly darted out from a side alley.
A powerful claw attack, carrying the purple flames that had returned to their scorching, evil nature, directly aimed a claw at Cheng Tian's crown!
"Useless!"
Stand World met it with a direct punch.
A burst of storm erupted from the center where the fist and sharp claw collided, sweeping outwards, and then they rebounded from each other.
"The only one who can defeat Kusanagi is me!"
Iori Yagami, whose condition was not very good but whose ferocity was even more pronounced, roared at Cheng Tian.
Cheng Tian, Kyo Kusanagi, and Iori Yagami stood in a three-way standoff in the middle of the main road, simultaneously appearing on the live broadcast screen. A large number of viewers began to re-enter the "Olililili Team" live channel.