Dimensional Codex System: I'm really not a cultist!

Chapter 359: Chapter 358: Own Strength

Chapter 359: Chapter 358: Own Strength

“As expected, I knew it was this kind of cliché.”

Looking at the pure white space devoid of anything, Fang Zheng couldn’t help but want to complain. After all, isn’t that how it’s always depicted in movies, television, animation, games, and novels? Whenever it’s time to guide the protagonist, they create an other space where the protagonist encounters failure, realizes their own shortcomings, has a breakthrough, and then upgrades. So…

“Indeed.”

Fang Zheng reached out to swipe his hand through the air and unsurprisingly found that he could no longer take out his Dimensional Codex, nor could he use the swordsmanship skills from the Soulstone. Right now, Fang Zheng was essentially stripped of all abilities from the systems, left with only his own strength.

And it was at this time that a voice sounded.

“Is it you? The one to accept my guidance?”

With this figure’s arrival, Fang Zheng saw a silhouette appear before him, a pure, pitch-black shadow devoid of facial features or any decorations, with only simple lines outlining the clothing the figure wore. Judging by the attire, he seemed to be nobility, but his age was indiscernible, and at his waist was only a decorative sword.

“You’ve come at just the right time.”

The figure did not seem inclined to waste words with Fang Zheng and drew the longsword from his waist.

“I just had a nap, and now you have one hour to battle with me. Remember, you only have this one chance. My time is limited; I have no interest in idle chatter with boring people. You can use all the power you have to fight me in these two hours. As for weapons, you just need to think about it to retrieve your weapons, but these weapons are fictional; they have no special power, and my longsword is the same. Let’s begin.”

This guy was quite straightforward.

Since the other party didn’t seem to mean to give him a long-winded lecture or guidance, Fang Zheng naturally wouldn’t say anything more. He closed his eyes and thought for a moment, then quickly in Fang Zheng’s hands appeared a Vampire Greatsword and a dagger. He gripped the dagger in his left hand in a reverse grip and held the Vampire Greatsword tightly in his right, staring down his target.

All of my power… huh? Well, let’s give it a try then!

Thinking this, Fang Zheng’s figure flashed, and a number of Magic Auras instantly spread out from him as the center. A series of Protection Magic quickly armed him, transforming his flesh and blood body into an unassailable fortress. Then, with a wave of his right hand, several Fireballs materialized out of thin air and roared toward the opponent.

Facing all this, the silhouette did not show a trace of panic (after all, without a face, even if he were anxious, Fang Zheng wouldn’t be able to tell). The figure’s hand tightly gripped the longsword and made a cleaving motion, and in the next moment, the Fireballs that had flown near him instantly erupted, the rolling fire expanding noisily and engulfing the figure.

Now is the time!

Fang Zheng certainly didn’t expect a Fireball Technique to defeat the opponent; at the same time as the Fireballs exploded, he also unleashed his full strength. The Time Domain unfolded in that instant, and Fang Zheng dashed into the flames. The power of time around him began to slow, to solidify, as if to end everything within its reach completely.

Simultaneously, Fang Zheng didn’t hesitate to unleash the maximum Dragon Might he was capable of at his current stage. Even if it wouldn’t harm the opponent, Fang Zheng was confident that with the Power of Time and Dragon Might, he could at least control the opponent, even if only for a second. As long as his attacks were effective, that would be enough.

But just then, in front of Fang Zheng, a flash of silver light suddenly emerged. The turbulent flames parted down the middle as if Moses were parting the sea, and a sharp blade silently swung toward Fang Zheng.

This strike was so slow, as if watching a slow-motion scene in a movie. So slow that Fang Zheng could easily dodge it without the need for the Time Domain.

But he couldn’t dodge it at all.

When the sword appeared before Fang Zheng, he felt as if invisible hands had seized him tightly, rendering him completely unable to move his feet. As the strike swung down slowly, the magic protection on Fang Zheng, along with his Power of Time, shattered instantly like fragile glass, and his unleashed Dragon Might didn’t seem to have any effect at all, as if it didn’t exist.

What kind of power is this?!

Perceiving this formidable strength, Fang Zheng was taken aback. He had fought against Legendary Rank beings before, but none had given him this kind of feeling!

I must move!

Just as the sword was about to strike Fang Zheng, he suddenly felt his body tremble violently as if a current had surged through him, activating his previously paralyzed body. Almost instinctively, Fang Zheng rolled away at the last moment, dodging the sword. Then he quickly stood up, once more facing the figure before him.

What was that sword just now? His Future Sight had not given any warning at all!

In normal times, if Fang Zheng found himself unable to win, he would call for Black Katie or activate the Soulstone. However, here he was completely unable to use the power of the Dimensional Codex, and naturally, he couldn’t summon Black Katie or activate the Soulstone. But Fang Zheng didn’t waver or panic, as this was within his expectations. It could even be said that before this, Fang Zheng had guessed that his inability to break through his power bottleneck might be because he relied too much on the system.

Now for Fang Zheng, it was just his suspicion becoming reality.

Continue!

The thought flashed through Fang Zheng’s mind, and the next moment, lightning-like light circled around him, turning into blades that shot towards the figure in front, while Fang Zheng tightly gripped the Vampire Greatsword in his hand. With a burst of speed, he once again approached the figure, lifting his greatsword and striking down with force. And just like before, facing Fang Zheng’s attack, the figure still calmly raised their longsword and pierced forth.

The sword was still slow, but just like before, the moment the figure thrust their sword, Fang Zheng again felt that intense, immobilizing pressure. His power crumbled as if it were tofu in front of his opponent, leaving Fang Zheng watching helplessly as the longsword steadily aimed at his chest…

No!

At that moment, Fang Zheng once again felt that current-like power surge from within his body. He instinctively extended his left hand, gripping the dagger in reverse, to meet the thrust of the opposing sword!

“Clang!”

Unexpectedly to Fang Zheng, this subconscious parry sent the longsword flying away, bringing him immense relief. He quickly stepped back, creating distance from his foe while carefully watching the enemy. Following that, Fang Zheng didn’t hesitate to attack again.

But the more he fought, the more puzzled Fang Zheng became. He realized that, in front of the figure, his power—whether it was magic, the Power of Time, or Dragon Might—seemed to not exist at all. No matter what, he could not reach the figure. Instead, it was only his Black Soul Swordsmanship that could exchange a few blows with the figure’s sword technique, and that was all. For some reason, Fang Zheng felt that his power was as thin as paper in front of the figure. So much so, that he felt like he was not attacking a person but trying to smash a thick fortress with his bare hands.

In the end, Fang Zheng chose to surrender.

“I can’t do it.”

He panted as he lowered the weapon in his hand and looked helplessly at the figure before him.

“I have used all the power I possess, as you can see, and this is the result… Please give me your conclusion.”

“Hehe…”

Contrary to Fang Zheng’s expectations, the figure did not chide or mock him; instead, they chuckled softly, then looked at Fang Zheng.

“Do you find it strange that your attacks have no effect on me?”

“Of course, I do find it very strange.”

“It’s simple.”

For some reason, the figure lifted their longsword and began to explain in detail to Fang Zheng.

“This is the Sword of Will—simply put, only attacks that embody your will have any effect against this sword. All other attacks will have no impact…”

At this point, the figure paused for a moment. Although they had no features, Fang Zheng could still feel a pair of eyes full of curiosity and questions looking at him.

“…And the reason your attacks have no effect is because… you’ve never actually thought about defeating me. You were just thinking about how to survive my attacks… Because deep down, you don’t possess a firm, victorious will.”

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