Chapter 25: Fusion
After combining ten Bronze-level fragments, an image of an older Black man with short, white hair materialized before Yang Xu.
He raised an eyebrow, muttering hesitantly, "Morgan Freeman?! This can't be God, can it? This is incredible!"
Setting aside his fanciful thoughts, he reviewed the newly acquired character:
Character: Sloan
- Rank: Bronze
- Source: Assassin's League - Wanted Order
- Skills: Extraordinary Gunmanship, Bullet Time
- (Rapid muzzle movement after firing can alter bullet trajectory.)
- (At a heart rate of 400 bpm, he can deflect bullets with a knife, leap across buildings, and—incorrectly—blow up Japanese soldiers from 800 miles away.)
- Introduction: You might not believe it, but it was a loom that asked me to kill you!
Yang Xu immediately initiated the system's fusion function, using the "Holy Lord" as the material.
A grotesque, terrifying dragon statue materialized. It was dark yellow with lifelike, metallic scales and twelve neatly arranged octagonal grooves on its surface. The statue vibrated, buzzing, and emitting golden light before dissolving into shimmering particles.
As the light particles swirled, Yang Xu mused, "Should I sing a little? In Yu-Gi-Oh!, they always…"
Before he could finish, the particles surged into his body, merging with his cells, organs, and bones. His consciousness absorbed the energy, initiating a complete transformation.
A subtle, unnatural vibration spread from the room to the entire house. When it subsided, a hulking humanoid figure in beach shorts, with powerful muscles and symmetrical dragon horns, stood where Yang Xu had been. He stared blankly at his hands.
The familiar surroundings felt strangely different. After several deep breaths, he grabbed a mirror.
The reflection showed a figure over two meters tall, with thirty-centimeter horns sprouting from his forehead, black hair to his shoulders, and a pair of crimson, animalistic eyes.
"No scales, no elongated face, no claws, no tail!" he noted. "Judging by the size alone, it's pure demonic power. Is this my 'Holy Lord' fusion form?!" He mused, "If I hadn't been the primary component in the fusion, I'd have been completely assimilated."
Feeling the power coursing through him, Yang Xu clenched his fists, a surge of confidence flooding him. "With this demonic body, I could take on the Hulk head-on!"
His boast was short-lived. The colossal form rapidly deflated, shrinking back to his normal human size within seconds. Weakness and fatigue washed over him. He collapsed onto the bed, groaning, "What the hell just happened?! That should be my true form, but it lasted less than three minutes! Worse than Ultraman…"
Exhaustion claimed him, and he fell into a deep sleep.
Two days later, Yang Xu awoke with a jolt, leaping from the bed. "I'm back!" he declared, performing a set of calisthenics. He felt a constant, subtle restraint, a slow flow of energy within his body.
"My human form is now the seal, containing the 'Holy Lord's' power," he realized. "If I can't use the true form, can I…"
His eyes flashed crimson, transforming into beast-like pupils. Shadows in the room surged, solidifying into fully armed, gray-skinned ninjas clad in black.
"The Shadow Troops!" he exclaimed. These were veteran warriors, unflinching and obedient.
He used them for hours, commanding them to clean, perform acrobatics, and even give him a back massage before finally dismissing them. Exhausted, he sighed, "I can command them for hours, but I can't maintain my true form for more than three minutes. This seal is clearly malfunctioning. I can't imagine what the 'Holy Lord' went through."
He opened his system panel, checking his inventory:
- Big Ejecta (Bronze): One day, everyone will be able to control Big Ejecta.
- Infinite Desert Eagle (Bronze): Its existence is unmatched.
- Windproof Lighter (Bronze): The dream of every smoker.
- Luxury Car Key (Bronze): Makes people believe you have a car (illusion).
- Lightning Five Whip Fist Manual (Bronze): (Connect, Transform, Release)
- Shame Lollipop (Bronze): Eating it induces shame.
- The Last Cigarette (Bronze): Refreshes upon use.
- Gatling Gun with Blue Flames (Bronze): The blue flames are purely decorative.
- The Wuling Magic Car (Bronze): Seats seven (or more?).
- Cloak of Justice (Bronze): Remains on your shoulders unless discarded.