"Tianyu Tulong Wu!"
The giant dragon roared, its might pressing down, like a sharp sword piercing deep into the Blood God's eyes.
"Roar!"
The Blood God let out a painful roar, its tentacles twitching as if electrocuted, its health bar plummeting like a rocket.
"Go!"
Asuna and the others cheered excitedly.
"Hah!"
Ling Feng and Kirito intensified their efforts, attempting to pierce through the Blood God's head.
"Damn ants!!!"
Accompanied by the Blood God's enraged roar, a force erupted from within it, surging like a tide, howling like a gale!
Asuna, Yuuta, and most other players were immediately blown away by this force.
Ling Feng and Kirito, caught in the epicenter, endured several times the energy impact.
Kirito and Ling Feng were like lone boats, tossed about in the sea.
"Damn it! I can't hold on!"
Just as the Blood God's health was about to be depleted, the two were sent flying back by the energy surge.
The dragon's form also dissipated.
*Thump!*
Ling Feng and Kirito crashed to the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust.
Their health bars dropped dramatically at a visible rate.
"Beep beep beep!"
Red warning sounds blared in their ears.
"Roar! All of you die!"
The Blood God, one tentacle covering its left eye, flailed its other tentacles in a frenzy.
Black sharp stones also fell like a torrential downpour.
Many players, unable to even escape, were smashed into pieces by the falling tentacles and stones.
The fallen players' data became nourishment, continuously healing the Blood God's wounds.
In an instant, the Blood God, which Ling Feng and Kirito had painstakingly reduced to half its health, recovered a sliver.
"Damn it... can't get up."
Kirito tried to force himself to stand, but his entire body ached and was weak, collapsing to the ground.
Ling Feng, though he had the strength to get up, felt as if his feet were made of lead. He stumbled with every step, and finally knelt down.
Ling Feng picked up Fen Ji and Wu Feng, propping himself up to rise.
At this moment, the blades of Fen Ji and Wu Feng suddenly cracked, leaving only the hilts in Ling Feng's hands.
"How can this be?!"
The sudden turn of events sent Ling Feng's heart plummeting to the abyss.
With no weapons, what could he do?
Watching the players being slaughtered wantonly, Ling Feng felt powerless.
Ling Feng closed his eyes in despair.
"Could it be... still not enough?"
Just then, a system prompt chimed before Ling Feng.
"What is this?"
Ling Feng doubtfully tapped the icon.
The next moment, an octahedron crystal fell into Ling Feng's hand.
"This!"
Looking at the object in his hand, Ling Feng seemed to grasp something, his hands trembling.
This was a recording crystal, its purpose self-evident, as was the sender.
Ling Feng tremblingly clicked on the recording crystal.
The crystal flickered with light.
"Hi, Ling Feng."
"By the time you receive this recording, I should already be dead."
"Well, to be honest, I've long foreseen this day."
"Leaving this recording is my way of thanking you for your care."
"Without you, I wouldn't have lived so long, nor witnessed so many people and events."
"Sometimes I wonder if you would be sad if I died, Ling Feng. Now I should know the answer."
"Ling Feng, actually, I heard your conversation with Kirito and the others. I don't know what troubles you have."
"But... I still like you. Since a year ago, when you saved me with your sword, I've already fallen for you."
"If my death causes you guilt, please live well, e"
"This is! The power of humans!"
The two swords merged, and a beam of sword light shot into the sky, striking downwards.
"No!"
With a heart-wrenching scream from the Blood God, the golden light completely dispersed all darkness.
Countless light particles scattered throughout the room, illuminating the entire boss chamber.
"So comfortable."
Asuna watched this spectacle, feeling a strange sense of relief as the light particles integrated into her body.
"Ling Feng! Are you okay?"
Kirito ran to Ling Feng's side and asked.
Ling Feng turned his head at the sound, a faint smile on his lips. He glanced at Fen Ji and Wu Feng in his hands, which had now also dissipated into light particles.
"It's over! Everything is over!"
Ling Feng exclaimed as he heard the system's kill notification.
"They're back, the data of the players killed by that monster has returned."
Kayaba Akihiko announced.
"Where's Sagiri?"
Upon hearing this, Ling Feng rushed to Kayaba Akihiko, grabbing his shoulder and asking anxiously.
"Calm down."
Ling Feng realized he had lost his composure and immediately let go.
Seeing Ling Feng's state, Kayaba Akihiko hesitated, looking at the system panel before him.
After a moment of silence, Kayaba Akihiko spoke.
"Ling Feng, there's some bad news. Sagiri's player data did not return, nor did the data of the players who died in front of her."
Ling Feng was struck by lightning.
Just as Kayaba Akihiko expected Ling Feng to lose control, Ling Feng let out a sigh and forced a bitter smile.
"Never mind, I understand."
Kayaba Akihiko was surprised by Ling Feng's reaction, not expecting him to respond with such composure.
"Alright, I'll log you all out now."
Kayaba Akihiko's fingers moved, forcibly logging out all players and activating the data deletion function.
In the empty boss chamber, Kayaba Akihiko smiled faintly.
"Ling Feng and Kirito?"
"You've given me quite a surprise."
"As expected, human consciousness, when sufficiently powerful, can transcend the system."