Chapter 165: Ultimate Physical Attack
There was no other way—she could only take the risk and try.
After several attempts, Xu Zhi had roughly figured out how to convert her extraordinary energy. The problem was that every time she reached the critical point, the restless aura of the [Cup] and the dull pain in her head would interrupt her.
Now, however, she finally understood the process. As long as she wasn’t interrupted, she was confident she could construct the required type of extraordinary energy in one go—like running water through a filter, transforming her innate energy into a different form before releasing it.
She needed a medium. Xu Zhi couldn’t yet restructure her entire energy system in a short time, but if it was only about releasing the energy itself, that wasn’t an issue.
So she used the saber in her hand as the medium. She would coat its blade with energy and slice open the barrier.
As for the moment she switched to the [Lamp] attribute and immediately drew attention—she had prepared for that, though it was a dangerous move.
In a low voice, she told the black cat, “I’ve figured something out. In a bit, I’ll deliberately expose myself. You need to make sure that monster’s first strike misses me—buy me some time.”
If she went full speed, she could reach the crack’s exit instantly, but cutting through “Rewind” would take a few seconds. With the black cat deflecting the first blow, she’d have just enough time to break an opening.
The rest of the attacks she’d simply have to tank—but by then, she should already be outside.
Her body was strong enough now that one hit wouldn’t kill her outright.
The black cat’s fur bristled at her words.
“Deflect its strike? Do you think that’s easy!?”
Its energy was nearly depleted! In the dead of night, beings like it—especially those not of the [Cup] attribute—found it almost impossible to recover energy.
Xu Zhi ignored its complaints and said sternly, “No matter what, you must do it. Otherwise, neither of us are getting out.”
There she goes threatening it again! The cat wanted to claw her face off, but if it actually injured her, she might not be able to take it with her. So it could only grit its teeth and hiss, “One strike. That’s all I can manage.”
It had already been sealed in its original form, killed once after transforming, and now was little more than a weakened “ghost.” Its strength was a fraction of what it used to be—and now Xu Zhi was pushing it this hard!
“Ready?” Xu Zhi asked, already taking out a refined [Lamp]-attribute core.
“Three, two, one!”
The instant the countdown ended, she switched the light of her lantern. Her thoughts cleared in an instant—the dull pain in her head fading noticeably. And just a short distance away, the colossal creature she dared not even look at instantly sensed her presence!
Almost the moment she leapt forward, the ground where she’d just been standing caved in with a thunderous bang—as if struck by an invisible hammer.
The speed was terrifyingly fast. Cold sweat broke out on Xu Zhi’s back. Thankfully, now that she wasn’t trying to hide her presence, covering a hundred meters took her barely a second. In the next moment, she was already at the crack’s entrance—the place where the “Rewind” seal was located. As she raised her saber to strike, a massive depression suddenly appeared in the ground right beside her.
An invisible crushing pressure skimmed past just a centimeter from her side. Every hair on Xu Zhi’s body stood on end. From that hollow in the air, she could feel a surge of overwhelming extraordinary energy.
That must’ve been thanks to the black cat—otherwise, that strike would’ve hit her dead-on. After that one effort, the cat collapsed on her shoulder, completely unconscious.
Thankfully, Xu Zhi had managed to tear open a breach in the “Rewind.” She only needed to take one more step to get out!
But before even a second could pass, a third attack came crashing down from above!
The moment she sensed it, her pupils contracted sharply. She had no time to react—her body moved on pure instinct, leaning toward the crack’s opening.
That way, even if she passed out, she would fall outward.
Her instincts saved her. The instant the “hammer” hit, her mind went blank—a flash of white light filled her vision as her consciousness shattered apart.
Luckily, she had already adjusted her posture. Before the claw behind her could grab her, her limp body fell outward through the crack.
The Little Aberrant creature guarding the rift extended its roots and branches, catching her and pulling her out—then sealed the rift again.
Her mind remained blank for about ten seconds. When Xu Zhi’s pupils trembled back into focus, she nearly groaned aloud from the pain—but no sound came out. Not because she was suppressing it, but because her internal organs had been pulverized by that invisible hammer—her throat included. Until her body healed, she literally couldn’t make a sound.
Her body was in agony, and her head wasn’t any better. It felt as if her brain had been mashed to pulp; she couldn’t even think straight. Her eyes twitched uncontrollably, the world shaking like a flickering computer screen, forcing her to shut them tight.
After a long while, the vertigo and pain didn’t fade, but at least her eyes stopped twitching like crazy. Finally, she regained a bit of her ability to think.
Her injuries were severe, but not fatal. With her current regeneration, even shattered organs were already rapidly knitting back together. Without any debuffs holding her down, she’d be healed within minutes.
Once her thoughts cleared, the first thing Xu Zhi did was store the black cat’s bones in her inventory. The cat, slumped lifelessly on her shoulder like a dead animal, was placed onto the little aberrant’s branches before Xu Zhi closed her eyes again.
The creature guarding the rift didn’t just have “Rewind” — it also possessed this terrifying pure physical attack. Even with her current physical strength, taking a single blow had left her in this state. Probably only the Little Aberrant’s body could barely withstand such power.
But something about that combination bothered her. If “Rewind” could truly reset an opponent’s state, wouldn’t the damage they took also rewind away?
Unless… the damage caused by that monster itself wasn’t affected by “Rewind.” If so, that was absurdly overpowered.
Xu Zhi let her mind drift, thoughts scattering, resting for a long while. Once her body had mostly healed, she finally sat up against the tree trunk and took out her handheld console.
Her head still throbbed violently, but—was it her imagination?—the pain seemed to ease slightly the moment she picked up the game device.
Her lantern still burned beside her, the light of [Lamp] enveloping her. Perhaps… it was the light that was helping her recover.
