The air hummed with tension as Zhang and I faced off, suspended midair.
I couldn't pick up any fear or doubt in his demeanor, which only fueled my curiosity about his abilities.
After all, I'd showcased some godlike feats, like attacking North Korea bases and turning those warships into mere toys. So, I figured he must have a pretty good grasp of how powerful I was by now.
His calm demeanor hinted that he could probably pull off similar feats, if not cause even more destruction.
"Let's test your power," I mused, a sly grin playing on my lips. My mind raced, contemplating how I could coax him into revealing the extent of his abilities without exposing my trump cards.
Opting for a more strategic approach, I decided against unleashing a black hole right away. Where was the fun in that?
Moreover, I was dead set on concealing the full range of my abilities from Cerebrum.
I mean, who knows, they might be enjoying this show through some satellite or a fancy long-distance camera they've got stashed somewhere.
And let's not forget the possibility of some gifted individual with a talent for recording scenes—because in this world, that's not entirely out of the question.
'Here I go,'
Just as I prepared to launch my first attack, an unexpected twist threw me off balance. A sudden wave of weakness swept over me, a subtle yet alarming change in the atmosphere.
Suddenly, I felt like the air was turning against me, poisoned by the Green Goblin. It was a sneaky move, but I was quicker. I pumped myself with energy and flew higher into the sky, escaping the invisible toxic trap .
Luckily, my stats were high enough to shrug off the effects. Must be a weak poison that focused on being undetected. I remember reading about the Green Goblin's skills—he's got these special sweat glands that can release all sorts of toxins.
'I bet his wife had to endure his smelly armpits 24/7,' I chuckled to myself.
However, my momentary break was cut short.
*SWOOOOSH!
*SWOOOOSH!
*SWOOOOSH!
"Enough with the jokes. How about we get serious? Or else, I might accidentally wipe all of you out in one shot," a sadistic grin spread across my face, and in an instant, my aura shifted.
A skill I had acquired, Mirage, allowed me to create optical projections.
Surrounded by a shroud of black aura, I manipulated the very essence of my being. The once serene sky transformed into a ominous red hue as if nature itself acknowledged my killing intent. The atmosphere crackled with an unsettling energy, mirroring the dark power that radiated from me.
"It's an illusion. Break it," Helena commanded.
Without hesitation, a woman among them raised her arms, and a glowing golden light emanated from her hands.
The light expanded until it bathed the entire battlefield. It had no physical effects whatsoever. Its sole purpose was to neutralize illusions.
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But it was futile because Mirage wasn't just an illusion; it was an actual projection, and I was the damn projector.
When the light dissipated, shock washed over everyone as they realized nothing had changed despite their effort.
"HAHAHAHA," I burst into laughter at their futile attempt. "Do you really think this is just an illusion?" I asked, a twisted smile playing on my lips.
"Are you saying this is all real?" Helena shouted in annoyance. She seemed on the edge, but for some reason, she held back on attacking me. I knew her skill; she could use her barrier to fly. It puzzled me why she was still holding back.
"Oh, absolutely," I replied with heavy sarcasm, my grin widening. "Because, you know, black auras and red skies are the new normal. Maybe you're a bit too old to understand our generation's preferences."
"You..." she gritted her teeth.
My taunting was getting on her nerves, but one person remained calm and silent—Zhang. He hovered in the sky, unbothered by anything. In fact, he was almost too calm.
It was clear he had a plan in his mind.
Aside from him, the Asura guy also didn't make any move at all. But, in his case, I already had an idea of what he was planning to do after reading his status.
It was a very strong attack, but not enough to kill me. I was more curious about how he was planning to land a hit, though.
"Come," I gestured for them to attack me.