Chapter 97 - Even an Emanator Must Bow Before MC Mechanics!

Fu Zhu took a step back and flung the contents of the water bucket directly next to the lava. In an instant, a purplish-black obsidian block materialized right where Phantylia's head was.

The moment the obsidian formed, Phantylia vaguely heard the sound of the fake head she had created bursting, followed by endless darkness.

Fu Zhu, naturally, also heard the sound, like a watermelon splitting open, and couldn't help but click his tongue.

He hadn't expected the obsidian suffocation trap, often used to prank friends in MC, would actually be capable of crushing someone's head in this world.

In such a situation, an ordinary person probably wouldn't survive. Even a Xianzhou native with extremely strong self-healing abilities would likely be in dire straits. However, his opponent was Phantylia, a Suiyang.

Fu Zhu didn't believe for a second that this blow could kill her. If Phantylia could be dealt with so easily, then her title as a Lord of Annihilation would be a disgrace to all Emanators.

"Hehehe... What fine methods, Fu Zhu."

Phantylia's voice rang out again. Her headless body twitched back to life, though missing a head, it looked somewhat unsettling.

"However, if you think you can kill me with just this..."

Before Phantylia could finish her sentence, Fu Zhu decisively pulled a lever beside him. The bookshelves placed on either side of Phantylia were suddenly pushed by pistons, slamming into Phantylia's body from both sides. Instantly, an unsettling squelching sound was heard.

Even Fu Zhu, upon hearing this sound, couldn't help but frown and instinctively turn his body sideways, intending to avoid any溅出的肉泥 (jiàn chū de ròuní - splashing flesh and gore).

However, to Fu Zhu's surprise, when the body Phantylia had fabricated was crushed by the bookshelves, no flesh and gore flew out. Instead, the surrounding area filled with specks of starlight.

It seemed this body she had created was not ordinary flesh and blood.

Though somewhat surprised, upon noticing this, Fu Zhu immediately reached into his inventory and spread cobwebs in front of him.

While it was highly unlikely to stop Phantylia from advancing, it was worth a try, especially since it cost him nothing. These were all torture implements Phantylia had prepared for herself; it would be a waste not to use them, right?

After setting up the cobwebs, Fu Zhu pulled the lever again, preparing to assess Phantylia's condition.

With a click, the bookshelves slid open to the sides. Where the form of "Tingyun" had been, there was now only a ball of fire.

"You... damn you!"

Phantylia's voice, filled with gritted teeth, emanated from her true form. Even though she was currently a sphere, Fu Zhu could still discern the immense fury directed at him from her tone.

Seeing Phantylia still able to speak with such resentment after taking two of his little combos, Fu Zhu couldn't help but shake his head and sigh.

"As expected, not so easy to kill."

Then, he directly laid down a set of rails leading towards Phantylia, placed a minecart on them, and gave it a kick towards Phantylia's position.

Phantylia, seeing Fu Zhu actually attempt to use a mere minecart against her, couldn't help but sneer.

"Little brat, you don't seriously think a minecart can touch my true form, do you? Hmph, it seems you're out of tricks."

Phantylia scoffed, preparing to pass right through the minecart with her true form and directly enter Fu Zhu's body to possess him.

She decided not to be as merciful as when she possessed Tingyun. She would keep Fu Zhu's consciousness intact, making him watch with his own eyes how she used his body to torment his precious comrades!

However, just as Phantylia fearlessly charged towards the minecart, intending to pass right through it, the moment she made contact with the minecart, her soul, which she thought should not be bound by physical restraints, was inexplicably locked firmly in the center of the minecart.

No matter what abilities she tried to use, the surrounding space seemed to be anchored to her. Even an Emanator as powerful as herself couldn't budge it an inch!

At this point, Phantylia began to panic. Fu Zhu's successive display of bizarre abilities made her start to feel a sense of dread towards this man whose strength she couldn't fathom.

"What did you do? Why can this minecart restrain me, a Suiyang!"

Fu Zhu couldn't help but chuckle, arms crossed.

"Suiyang? While I don't quite understand your species, even Endermites born from spatial rifts can be trapped by minecarts, let alone you."

Fu Zhu, while taking out the Unnamed Sword [Kugutsu] enchanted with Smite V from his inventory and equipping it, reached for a button hidden on the other wall.

"Phantylia, it's time for your tribulation!"

The moment Fu Zhu pressed the button, hundreds of lightning bolts descended from the dark clouds, striking down with unerring accuracy.

In an instant, Phantylia felt her true form being relentlessly scourged by hundreds of lightning bolts. The pain that pierced deep into her soul made her whimper involuntarily.

Phantylia whimpered as she glanced above her. The previously intact roof had somehow opened up, and directly above her, a brown lightning rod, with twenty Cloud Knight standard-issue long lances attached to it, was being rapidly pushed and pulled by pistons.

And the lightning bolts that caused her excruciating pain were striking that lightning rod. She recognized those as the twenty lances Fu Zhu had her procure earlier!

This fellow had seen through her identity long ago! And he had actually instructed her to procure the very weapons to be used against herself!

Though filled with rage towards Fu Zhu, Phantylia didn't understand. Why was it that the lightning clearly struck the lightning rod, yet she, positioned a meter below it, was still taking damage from the lightning?!

Fu Zhu seemed to have guessed Phantylia's confusion and spoke with a smile, arms still crossed.

"Phantylia, I bet you're wondering why the lightning isn't striking you directly, yet you're still taking damage, right?"

Phantylia remained silent, only letting out occasional whimpers of pain.

"Eh~ I just won't tell you. Pisses you off, doesn't it?"

Fu Zhu had no intention of kindly explaining these unique MC mechanics to an enemy.

In MC, lightning could damage entities at its point of impact as well as those within three blocks directly below it. This was why Fu Zhu had used the minecart to confine Phantylia beneath the lightning rod.

This way, Phantylia would be forced to take the full brunt of the lightning damage! Moreover, she didn't possess the invincibility frames that creatures in MC had.

While Fu Zhu was triggering the lightning to attack Phantylia, outside the deserted island.

Jing Yuan, who had already led a contingent of elite Cloud Knights to surround Phantylia on the sea, couldn't help but click his tongue as he witnessed the dense barrage of lightning descending like a torrent.

"Little friend Fu Zhu can actually summon such a vast amount of lightning at will... Truly terrifying."

Although Jing Yuan himself could achieve a similar feat, it would require a significant expenditure of his power. Yet, with Fu Zhu's move, he didn't sense any use of Path power. Instead, it seemed like some kind of technology.

But if it was technology, where on earth did he find an energy source capable of providing such terrifying power?

Yanqing, standing beside Jing Yuan, also witnessed this scene. Beads of cold sweat trickled down his forehead, and he couldn't help but swallow hard.

He imagined that if it were him, he probably wouldn't last a second before being reduced to焦土 (jiāotǔ - scorched earth) in this thunderstorm.

Was Teacher Fu Zhu truly a swordsman? This felt more like a sorcerer!

Jing Yuan was the first to snap back to reality. Gripping his formation-blade, he sternly addressed Yanqing and the other officers behind him.

"You all guard this position! Do not let Phantylia escape this sea region under any circumstances!"

"Yes!"

Jing Yuan was about to move when Yanqing quickly stepped up, but Jing Yuan stopped him.

"Yanqing, the upcoming battle is not suitable for you. You remain here."

"But General, Yanqing also wants to contribute!"

Seeing Yanqing's stubbornness, Jing Yuan chuckled and shook his head.

Next, he would be facing an Emanator. Even if Yanqing was a talented swordsman, he would be of no help.

If even he and Fu Zhu were defeated by Phantylia, then no one on the Luofu could stop her.

His deployment of the Cloud Knights here was merely a hope that if he were defeated, they could buy some time for the people of the Luofu to escape.

"Yanqing, obey orders. Guard this place. You are not to make any unauthorized moves!"

Yanqing, helpless, could only cup his fists in compliance.

"Yes, General."

Jing Yuan nodded, then flew towards the deserted island. Fu Zhu was still over there, waiting for his support.

At the same time, on another side, Welt, March 7th, and Xing were flying towards the deserted island in a starskiff constructed by Welt. They too witnessed the ferocious thunderstorm over the island.

Xing couldn't help but click her tongue and remark.

"Who's undergoing tribulation over there? Don't tell me my old bro is about to ascend to immortality?"