Battle of the Stage
[Audience Expectation Value +3]
[Current Expectation Value: 23%]
As the two lines of characters floated up, the originally noisy audience seats restored their tranquility once again. Pairs of mocking scarlet pupils gazed at the Stage, seemingly looking forward to what would happen next very much.
On Stage, the two "Protagonists" were gradually approaching.
Since Chen Ling bypassed The Fourth Wall and forcefully used God-Descending onto the Stage, "Chen Ling", who was still immersed in his performance, was completely unaware of this. A Great Crimson Theatrical Robe was still dancing under the spotlight...
"I'm free... I'm finally free!"
"I said it before, I will eventually possess everything! I will trample everyone! Everyone beneath my feet!!"
"I can trample any Calamity territory or Human Domain to pieces. I can cover the sky with one hand! As long as I want to, I can do anything in this world... I am the best protagonist of this Stage!"
"While that Old Fella is still in the Forbidden Sea, why not... go wash the Ancient Vault of the Drama Path in blood first? Then sequentially exterminate all the remaining Human Domains, making them all submit to me!"
"Path of the Actor, I will make you pay the price!"
"Chen Ling"'s unbridled mocking laughter echoed On Stage.
And Chen Ling, whose half body was still shrouded in shadow, slowly approached him, his eyes as cold as frost.
His fists gradually clenched tightly!
Whoosh—!!
Under the blinding spotlight, an iron fist whistled as it tore through the air, smashing heavily into the wildly laughing "Chen Ling"'s face with the force of a thunderbolt!
Bang!!
The Great Crimson Theatrical Robe instantly flew backwards!
...
At the same time,
The "human" figure at the edge of the Forbidden Sea had just taken a step, preparing to shift away again, when it was heavily punched as if by someone, crashing heavily into the earth!
The Great Red Paper Umbrella flew out of its hand, tumbling and landing on the sand and rocks at the side...
In the shattered sand and rock pit, the "human" figure's face was incredibly hideous. Its fists also abruptly clenched tightly, and a World-Destroying Tier Aura like a furiously burning pillar of fire crushed all surrounding matter into fragments!
The furious sea surged like thunder, billowing from afar.
...
The Stage.
"Chen Ling", draped in the Great Crimson Theatrical Robe, struggled to crawl up from the floor...
Under that punch, a large chunk of the corner of his eye had already been caved in, like a deformed and ugly monster. Wisps of black blood flowed from the wound, dripping onto the old floor.
"No... this is impossible!!" He glared at that dazzling and blinding figure under the spotlight, his eyes full of disbelief.
"How could you possibly pass through The Fourth Wall... You're clearly just an Audience!! I'm still On Stage, how could you possibly pass through that wall!!!"
Chen Ling didn't answer. He silently walked in front of "Chen Ling". The spotlight shone from overhead, shrouding his shadow over the Great Crimson Theatrical Robe...
Although "Chen Ling" didn't know how this guy came up, it was absolutely impossible for him to be passively beaten no matter what. Gritting his teeth fiercely, his figure rapidly stood up from the floor, similarly throwing a punch at Chen Ling's face!
On this Stage, neither of them could use any skills, nor did they have any Rank, and even Spiritual Power ceased to exist...
Here, actors are just actors, and Audiences are just Audiences.
The whistling fist wind brushed past Chen Ling's face. He agilely half-stepped back, calmly dodging this punch, then exerting force from his waist, sinking his shoulders and dropping his elbows, a powerful uppercut sank into "Chen Ling"'s abdomen like lightning!
Bang—!!
The Great Crimson Theatrical Robe let out a muffled groan, immediately staggering back several steps, curling up and leaning against the wall at the edge of the Stage. Black fresh blood continually seeped from the corner of his mouth...
His face was pale as paper.
Chen Ling, like an expressionless demon, calmly walked towards him.
On Stage, there was indeed no Spiritual Power or skills whatsoever, but there was one thing that wouldn't change due to any occasion... That was talent.
Chen Ling being able to attract the favor of the Path of the Soldier proved that he possessed unparalleled talent in combat. Coupled with his previous life-and-death battles and the half-year of combat training with First Senior Brother, his combat ability was sufficient to crush "Chen Ling"!
This Stage had already become a fighting ring between the two "Protagonists"... And Chen Ling, was the king of this fighting ring.
"Damn it!!!"
Being heavily struck by Chen Ling twice in a row, "Chen Ling"'s eyes were already bloodshot.
He roared furiously, charging out again enduring the pain. Successive attacks swept at Chen Ling's face, but were all calmly dodged by the latter...
As a flaw was inadvertently revealed, Chen Ling backhanded an elbow strike into his jaw, knocking his entire person's feet briefly off the ground, then his palm locked onto his neck, smashing him heavily onto the ground with force!
Thud—!!
A muffled loud bang echoed on the Stage.
Under the brilliant spotlight, Chen Ling lifted "Chen Ling"'s Theatrical Robe collar with one hand, his eyes slightly narrowed, and finally spoke the first sentence after stepping onto the Stage:
"With just you, you also want to wash the Ancient Vault of the Drama Path in blood?"
Before "Chen Ling" could answer, his right fist was raised high again, whistling as it swung at "Chen Ling"'s face!
Bang—!
Black fresh blood splattered on the Stage.
"With just you, you also want to replace me?"
Bang—!
Two successive punches smashed down. "Chen Ling"'s face had already been completely twisted and deformed. The original skin gradually faded away, revealing the blurred black shadow face beneath the skin...
At this time, "Chen Ling" also realized that he was fundamentally not the other party's opponent. Those scarlet pupils were full of indignation and anger!
But under Chen Ling's iron fists, this was meaningless.
As the third heavy punch smashed down, "Chen Ling" was about to completely shatter, and the next sentence echoing by his ears directly destroyed his psychological defenses even more:
"Do you want to see... right now, who is the real protagonist of this Stage?"
"Chen Ling" froze. As if he remembered something, those blurred blood-colored pupils looked towards the surroundings...
Off Stage, pairs of Audience's pupils full of mockery and ridicule were watching this great battle under the spotlight. And the vast majority of the Audiences looking at him carried a trace of boredom and disappointment.
Two lines of characters simultaneously floated up from the Stage:
[Audience Expectation Value -1]
[Audience Expectation Value +1]
[Current Expectation Value: 24%]
The "-1" prompt came from "Chen Ling" draped in the Great Crimson Theatrical Robe; while the "+1" prompt came from Chen Ling riding on top of him.
The Audiences had already expressed their views between the two "Protagonists"... And this new protagonist draped in the Great Crimson Theatrical Robe was clearly inferior to that original Director Chen.
"Chen Ling" draped in the Great Crimson Theatrical Robe lay on the old floor, staring blankly at this scene. A long-accumulated flame spewed from his chest, and he roared furiously at Chen Ling:
"Why... Why?!!"
"Equally standing on this Stage, equally putting everything into performing!! Why does everyone acknowledge you more! That damn unlucky bastard, that Old Fella pretending to be tender, and these Audiences..."
"Why can you be the Chen Ling that everyone hopes for!! Why can I only live in your shadow?!"