Chapter 3: Chapter 3: An Unexpected Delight
Seeing its path blocked by an iron door unconnected to anything, the remaining Voidranger roared, furiously slashing at the door with the blades on its arms. Yet, it couldn't leave the slightest scratch, nor could it budge the iron door even a fraction. It was as if the door was welded fast to the very space around it.
Witnessing this scene, March 7th was so astonished she forgot to continue providing cover for Dan Heng and Xing.
"Fu Zhu, is that magic? I just saw you throw a small piece of something, how did it suddenly turn into an iron door? And this door clearly isn't connected to the walls, why can't the Voidranger even push it down?"
Fu Zhu merely offered a cool smile in response.
"It's not magic, just a little trick of material conversion."
As for why the Voidranger couldn't push the door down, Fu Zhu didn't know how to explain it to March 7th.
He couldn't possibly tell her that this iron door possessed Minecraft characteristics – that aside from pistons, no other item or creature could move it even an inch, only destroy it at best, could he?
It concerned his little secret. Even though March 7th and Dan Heng seemed like good people, he couldn't casually reveal it.
However, it seemed the unique 'Space Anchoring' property of MC blocks was incredibly potent in this world!
If nothing else, it was outstanding purely for defensive purposes!
"Material conversion... sounds so mystical..."
March 7th seemed to only half-understand. But then she realized now wasn't the time to dwell on it. She raised her hand again, drawing her bowstring and aiming at the Voidranger blocked by the iron door.
"Let's just hurry up and finish it off!"
"Wait."
Fu Zhu reached out and pressed down on March 7th's drawing hand, earning a puzzled look from her.
"Let me test something."
Fu Zhu had noticed earlier that killing the Voidranger using his trait hadn't triggered the 'Monster Hunter' achievement from MC. Perhaps it required him to land the killing blow himself.
Fu Zhu walked up to the Voidranger, Godfall Sword in hand. He then aimed at the gap between the wall and the iron door and swung his sword. The sword qi passed directly through the iron door and swept across the Voidranger's body.
The sudden attack forced the Voidranger back a few steps. Its already single-track mind couldn't process it – Fu Zhu had clearly struck the air, so why was it injured?
Seeing the sweeping attack was effective, Fu Zhu continued to swing his sword at the gap, one strike after another, rhythmically.
March 7th stood there, stunned, watching the Voidranger occasionally cry out in pain and retreat, only to edge forward again.
Meanwhile, Fu Zhu looked like a kendo practitioner practicing his swings, continuously striking the empty air.
In less than half a minute, the Voidranger finally succumbed, collapsing to the ground, completely lifeless.
[Achievement Unlocked: Monster Hunter]
[Achievement Points Obtained: 1]
The moment it fell, several small orbs glowing with a faint green light emerged from its body and merged into Fu Zhu.
Do monsters in this world drop experience too?
This was an unexpected delight. With experience points, Fu Zhu could later enchant his equipment and weapons, boosting his own strength.
Beyond that, Fu Zhu noticed a new buff icon had appeared in his status bar.
[Power of Destruction I: 00:59]
Seeing this buff, Fu Zhu raised an eyebrow and mentally queried the system.
[This world possesses multiple different Paths. Killing creatures possessing the power of a Path grants buffs based on the amount of experience absorbed. The effect, duration, and type of buff vary. For example, the Path of Destruction provides a strength bonus.]
[Path powers can also be obtained through other means.]
After reading the explanation, Fu Zhu's heart leaped with joy. Did this mean that as long as he killed fast enough in the future, his own strength would continuously increase?
Furthermore, since a Path granting a strength bonus existed, did that mean there were also Paths offering resistance boosts?
If he could obtain Resistance Up V, he would be truly invincible!
"F-Fu Zhu? Are you okay?"
Just as Fu Zhu was lost in his fantasies about the future, March 7th's slightly fearful voice came from the side. He turned his head towards her, confused.
"What's wrong? I feel great right now."
"Ahaha, it's good that you're okay."
March 7th gave a couple of awkward laughs. Ever since Fu Zhu had killed the Voidranger using that unknown method, he had suddenly frozen on the spot, then abruptly grinned while standing there. It gave her a slightly weird feeling, hence the question.
Fu Zhu gave March 7th a strange look, feeling like she was thinking something quite rude, but now wasn't the time to ask.
"Let's go, time to support Dan Heng and Xing."
Just as the two were about to head over, Dan Heng and Xing walked back towards them. Behind them lay the corpses of three Voidrangers.
"No need, we've already finished them off, bro."
Xing shouldered her baseball bat, grinning cheekily at Fu Zhu.
"Pretty capable."
Fu Zhu was somewhat surprised as well. He had initially thought Xing would be the delicate type, but she was unexpectedly efficient in a fight. It seemed her identity was definitely not simple.
"Alright, since the Voidrangers here are dealt with, let's hurry."
The four set off again. This time, they successfully boarded the central elevator without any more Voidrangers blocking their path.
Riding the elevator all the way up to the Master Control Zone, Fu Zhu and Xing finally saw other living people besides March 7th and Dan Heng.
In this area, which hadn't yet been invaded by the Anti-Matter Legion, numerous members of the Security Department were patrolling. There were also people who knew March 7th and Dan Heng, raising a hand in greeting when they passed.
Just as the four walked into the command room, a figure in bright red quickly strode towards them.
"Dan Heng, little March, welcome back."
Seeing it was Himeko, March 7th immediately cheered and leaped towards her.
"Big Sis Himeko!"
Himeko smiled warmly, opening her arms to embrace the flying March 7th, gently rubbing her head.
"Good work, little March. And you too, Dan Heng."
Dan Heng, however, was rather calm, shaking his head. "It was nothing. We had Fu Zhu and Xing's help along the way, so it went smoothly."
"Oh?"
Hearing Dan Heng mention outsiders, Himeko turned her gaze towards Fu Zhu and Xing, who were standing side-by-side. But the next second, her elegant eyebrows furrowed together.
According to the information she had received in the command room, the Stellaron Hunters had implanted the sealed Stellaron from the space station into one person's body. Why was there an extra person now?
Could it be they split the Stellaron in half?
Despite the many questions swirling in her mind, Himeko still smiled and greeted the pair.
"My name is Himeko, Navigator of the Astral Express. Thank you both very much for looking after Dan Heng and little March along the way."
Fu Zhu nodded slightly and introduced himself as well. "Fu Zhu. And she... is Xing."
Hearing Fu Zhu's introduction of her, Xing pouted slightly in dissatisfaction.
"Bro, am I really that embarrassing to introduce, your own little sister!"