Within countless refracted images, Ji Jue saw one figure after another rotating and transforming. Eventually, the transformation stopped abruptly, and separated by mirror-like illusionary light, another gloomy face appeared before Ji Jue.

Tangled hair, unshaven beard, eyes full of bloodshot streaks.

Pale skin, as if it hadn't seen sunlight for a long time.

Upon noticing his opponent's youth, his expression instantly showed undisguised contempt. But then, when Ji Jue's name floated up from the projection, his expression froze on his face.

At the same time, Ji Jue saw his name too.

White Sail Workshop—[Helmut Neumann]

Ranked ninth, points: 272.

After the initial shock, a trace of uncontrollable ecstasy appeared from Helmut's astonishment.

Staring at him deadlocked, in disbelief.

Unfortunately, there was only enough time for a brief glance. In less than a second, the apparition vanished without a trace.

"Ji Jue..."

Helmut was already impatient with excitement. If he could seize the top spot in one fell swoop, the points gained would definitely propel him into the top three!

He questioned himself intently, ever since stepping onto Embers Road, he never thought himself inferior to anyone.

Even during the crushing defeat by that stone-like monster at the bell tower, it was merely due to his own negligence. The reason he eagerly signed up for this exam was to prove he was not inferior to that guy.

If he could beat Ji Jue, wouldn't it indirectly prove he was superior to Andel?!

Despite such thoughts, his vigilance grew deeper.

Resolved to go all out without any slack!

Then, with another ringing, he saw it.

Outside his workshop, emerging gradually from the wild black rain, a mirror illusion.

The strange armored giant was entirely crimson, as if bathed in fierce flame, the steel beast face lifted, and the blood-red eyes locked onto his existence.

Killing intent monstrous.

...

Meanwhile, outside Ji Jue's workshop, Helmut's figure from before also appeared in his observation.

However, the expression differed from the previous shock and hostility; now, that face's expression turned as calm as dead water, without any fluctuations, with a shimmering light around his body, elusive and eerie.

With just a glance around, he set his gaze on Ji Jue inside the workshop.

Immediately, a luxuriously decorated mirror appeared out of thin air in his hand, silently rotating, reflecting numerous glittering illusionary lights.

Boom!

A loud burst erupted out of thin air from afar.

The turret originally intended to drive off mutants in the jungle turned its direction, completed the lock, instantly triggered, bullets pierced the torrential rain, whistling towards them.

Though the details were unclear, testing the waters seemed worthwhile.

Then, Ji Jue was stunned.

After the gunshot, Helmut's head exploded on the spot.

Blood splattered.

In the black rain, the headless corpse fell skyward.

Dead?

Originally thinking they would battle fiercely for three hundred rounds before finally securing victory in one blow sounded more plausible; but to behead him with a single casual shot was unexpected!

"What the hell?"

In the workshop's breeze, Ji Jue couldn't help but straighten up, staring at the mercury screen in front of him.

Suddenly, he felt a chill...

The Core Furnace operation room's sealing standard was the strictest: absolute dust and static removal, internal and external isolation. Where the hell would it be leaking wind!

At that moment, his collar abruptly flipped and extended, hardened, enveloping him like a huge shield. The dead silent armor beside him started suddenly, fiercely charging towards the source of the wind sound.

Bam!

In the void, no sooner had a strange outline flashed, thick liquid dripped onto the ground, leaving ink stains.

The ink stains seemed to wriggle like living creatures, aggregating, then a sound reminiscent of a silent swamp spreading, ink color diffusing, and countless tentacles like octopuses extended from them, covering the sky, stretching towards him!

Such a massive bizarre monster appeared suddenly, right in the core of Ji Jue's workshop!

But now, without even needing Ji Jue to react, countless mercury burst out like torrential rain from all directions, crisscrossing, binding it like ropes. Immediately, the ropes transformed into innumerable blades, penetrating both inside and out!

A foul stench spread, blood sprayed.

Mutilated limbs fell to the ground, piling up like mountains.

But Ji Jue's expression remained indifferent, without any fluctuation.

The workshop's interior was his sensing range, and the countless mercury was an extension of his limbs. From the momentary piercing and tearing just now, he could clearly feel: no dissipating spiritual essence, no blood or soul existed.

At most, it was only an illusion!

Fake!

But the illusion could even erode reality now...

Mirror system's blessing?

Ji Jue's mind raced, waving his hand, innumerable mercury blades rose like a storm, repeatedly tearing apart the violent illusion. Among the repeatedly shattered illusion, a singular black dot appeared out of thin air.

The black dot rapidly expanded, enlarging, transforming into a familiar black garment, which then unfolded into a spatial rift!

Through the too-narrow rift, Helmut's body ignored the rift's crushing and contraction, forcibly squeezed out.

Landing on the ground, flesh was blurred!

Regardless of the countless sweeping and chopping mercury blades, he suddenly raised his hand, pointing at Ji Jue.

In an instant, his body was pierced by silver mercury, yet in his other hand, the eerie mirror violently shook, and from its previously pitch-black surface, Ji Jue's face finally reflected!

At that moment, dead silence descended.

The entire workshop's operations seemed to halt abruptly.

Dizzy and faint, Ji Jue felt suffocated, his face itched. When he raised his hand to touch his face, he found his face had vanished!

On Helmut's face, Ji Jue's features gradually appeared.

Such bizarre.

Moreover, with the facial shift, it seemed he had lost all sense of the workshop. The workshop's control shifted gradually into the opponent's hands with the face change!

Amidst the dead silence, he couldn't help but want to gasp.

Shocked.

Such a bizarre intrusion method indeed existed...

Unfortunately, he didn't even have a mouth now.

If he didn't react soon, the entire workshop would be taken!

During this brief yet crucial three seconds, Ji Jue did nothing but took two steps forward, raised his head, attempting to reflect more clearly in the mirror while letting the opponent steal his identity and face.

Until amidst the mercury's locking and piercing, Helmut slowly raised his head, revealing the new face.

Instantly, the workshop roared.

Everything fell under the opponent's control!

If instead of the craftsman's image, Helmut himself was here, Ji Jue would certainly have seen his mocking and ferocious smile, right?

Likewise, he wouldn't miss the genuine horror and despair emerging from his heart!

Frankly, Ji Jue also sympathized with the opponent's plight.

Simultaneously, he grew more curious.

How come in this world, besides himself, there'd be someone so...

—Reckless?

Boom!

At that moment, a muffled sound roared inside the frozen body!

As if a voluntarily swallowed bomb consumed the seal, then...

Exploded abruptly!

.

.

"Victory!!"

In another independent simulation, inside the heavily guarded workshop, Helmut, after calculating the time repeatedly, couldn't hold back his ecstatic laughter, looking to the sky.

Estimating his own mirror image's progress, he couldn't suppress the impulse of his mouth corners lifting.

This round's victory was firmly in his grasp!

No other possibilities left.

Perhaps in other scenarios or against other opponents, he might have had concerns, but in this exam, amongst all participants, even the stone monster in the bell tower, none could possibly surpass him!

No, he should say, realizing the inherent mechanism of this simulation attack and defense itself, victory was already within reach!

After multiple experiments during the previous attack and defense, he confirmed—during the mirror image's simulated offensive, the intruder could ignore any disguise and hiding, locking onto the target's position instantly!

Thus, no thickness of defense or running speed could escape it.

As long as the workshop's host still breathes, even running to the ends of the earth wouldn't lose this sense and lock!

Because of this, he invested all his points and efforts, creating this set that, no matter facing whom, could determine victory in a single instant!

His masterpiece—blessed by the Mirror system, [Shadow of Nothingness], evolved illusion responding to Observer's consciousness. The moment it's perceived, it could act directly on the opponent's consciousness, disregarding distance, starting to interfere with reality, forming an inescapable nightmare.

Meanwhile, as Shadow of Nothingness buys time and distracts, the [Shadow Transformation Clothing] blessed by Gate of Eternity converts its own mirror image into shadow state, passing through narrow spatial gaps, reaching the opponent.

Ultimately, when the opponent's face reflects in [Mirror of Seizure], the battle ends!

At that moment, the craftsman hiding in the workshop loses unique spiritual verification and other traits, no longer able to mobilize workshop's aid, hindered by Shadow of Nothingness, can't even counterattack in time.

No matter how struggle, everything would fall into his hands.

Now, the other side's fight should be settled, right?

His task is to defend wholeheartedly, safeguarding this victory result, avoiding mutual destruction scenario.

For that, he'd already maximized his workshop's defenses, setting countless traps and defenses around.

Even the strongest opponent, enough to keep them at bay till dawn.

Awaiting the intruder, dizzy and exhausted amidst illusions and counterattacks, he'd strike calmly, annihilating the opponent.

By then, the intruder wouldn't even reach the workshop's gate, right?

Beat the opponent, win! Capture the workshop, win!

Win! Win! Win! Win! Win!

Helmut controlled the impulse to laugh, maintaining calm, forcibly pressed down the mouth corners' lift.

No, stay calm, Helmut! Calm! Not over yet!

At least, remain vigilant.

At this moment, right before the high suspended mountain peak workshop, amidst numerous traps and illusion fog, the intruding Power Armor seemed dazed.

Standing still.

No movements.

Just holding the chin, looking at the scene ahead.

Carefully thinking, seriously analyzing.

Raised the hand, roughly estimating the distance to the workshop.

Finally, from the metal backpack several times bigger, rummaging and pulling out numerous parts.

Mercury flowed to reshape, harden, and under Helmut's horrified gaze, assembled into a... White Tiger Twelve-Pack Rocket Launcher!

"?!" Helmut stared dumbfounded.

For a moment, unable to react.

So, right before Helmut's projection, Assault Ox dragged the heavy launcher onto its back, assuming a squatting aiming position.

Though unclear of the specific situation...

In short, let's greet with two rounds of Mutant Fuel Element rockets first!

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