He didn't know why, but a surge of blood rushed into Doomsday Assault's chest. He barely hesitated before leaping up and onto the wall of the nearby house.

At this moment, he didn't realize that the drug he had injected before logging in was beginning to wear off...

When those suppressed feelings of fear and emotional fluctuations gradually resurfaced, it would inevitably take the person involved some time to experience that sense of contrast. And it was at this very point that, influenced by his emotions, he had made a somewhat rash decision.

"Could you act any more fake?" Doomsday Assault shouted as he jumped over the wall. "If you're going to play dead, at least make it convincing... let a bullet graze you... bleed a little before you pretend!"

As he spoke, Brother Jue's figure came into Doomsday Assault's view. Before his feet even touched the ground, he had already raised his gun, aimed, and prepared to fire.

On the other side, Feng Bujue was also prepared. He hadn't even finished his "fake fall" when he took out [Moving like Thunder] from his bag, ready to respond based on the enemy's next move.

As a result, Doomsday Assault chose to chase into the courtyard and continue firing... In Brother Jue's opinion, this was the best possible development.

Pa—

Chi—

The bullets were fast, but Feng Bujue was faster.

Even though his skills were limited, the item's effect wasn't diminished. Thanks to the Thunder Orb's special effect, Feng Bujue successfully closed the distance to Doomsday Assault... at the moment the latter's footing was unstable.

"Time to send you on your way..." Brother Jue pulled out his kitchen knife, ready to strike.

But...

"Hmph..." Doomsday Assault didn't show the slightest hint of panic. He simply snorted coldly and put on an expression that said, "I knew this was coming."

His composure was naturally for a reason...

Two seconds ago, the moment Doomsday Assault leaped over the courtyard wall, he had speculated that Brother Jue would use similar tactics to ambush him. Therefore, he had activated a scouting skill that could be called divine...

[Name: My Skateboard Shoes]

[Skill Card Attributes: Active Skill, Permanently Learned]

[Skill Category: Scouting]

[Effect: When activated, the next melee damage you receive will be reduced by 90%, and all special effects attached to that attack will not be triggered; at the moment the attack ends, you will automatically move behind the attacker and gain double attack speed for four seconds (cooldown time: thirty minutes; lasts for five seconds after activation; if no damage is taken within five seconds, the skill will still enter cooldown and consume stamina)]

[Cost: Stamina Value 1200]

[Learning Requirements: Scouting Specialization S, Fighting Specialization D]

[Remarks: Under the moonlight, I see my shadow, sometimes far, sometimes near, feeling a force driving my steps. With skateboard shoes, I'm not afraid of the dark. One step, two steps, one step, two steps, one step at a time, like claws, like the devil's steps, rub~ rub, rub~ rub!]

Doomsday Assault was, after all, a member of Corpse Blade Team One. His strength was undoubtedly greater than that of Water-Demon Assault, the marksman from Team Two.

Just comparing their specializations... Water-Demon Assault had S-level marksmanship, but his other specializations were generally weaker. Doomsday Assault was different; although his shooting specialization was only A-level (a typical non-professional player at max level could usually train one or two main specializations to A), he also had an S-level scouting specialization.

Speaking of the "Scouting" specialization... it wasn't very impressive in the early stages of the game, but in the mid and late stages... the survival, stealth, burst damage, and other advantages that this specialization could provide were all tactical abilities that could often turn the tide of battle.

At that moment, when Feng Bujue's [Blade of Sure Defeat] was about to strike, Doomsday Assault knew... that his counterattack technique (a term from fighting games, referring to a move that doesn't directly deal damage but automatically counterattacks when struck within a certain time) was about to be triggered.

Next, Doomsday Assault only needed to endure the opponent's insignificant attack (because of the 90% damage reduction), then wait for the skill's effect to send him behind Brother Jue. Then, he could use his enhanced speed (200% attack speed)... to blow Brother Jue's brains out with a single shot.

Logically speaking... that's how it should be...

The problem was... Feng Bujue knew all about Doomsday Assault's [My Skateboard Shoes]. Whether through the data he had observed earlier or through the competition footage... he knew that Doomsday Assault had this skill.

With Brother Jue's calculations... how could he let the other party get his way?

"Hmph... Mad Detective Feng..." When the kitchen knife struck Doomsday Assault's neck, he still thought it was no big deal. Based on his previous experience... a melee attack that reduced damage by 90% and didn't have any special effects felt... at most like being lightly tapped with a karate chop. Not to mention a kitchen knife, he had even taken a beheading sword, and it definitely wouldn't break his defense. "So far, you've never been killed in a formal competition, have you? Heh... I'll be the one to end your undefeated record today!"

Doomsday Assault sneered, already celebrating his feat in his mind. He was just waiting for the slight pain in his neck to pass and then for the moment of automatic teleportation.

But... that moment would never come.

Pfft—hiss hiss hiss—

The next second, a dull blade entered flesh, followed by the sound of blood spurting.

After being stabbed, most of Doomsday Assault's neck was severed, and his head could only dangle from the remaining tendons. His vocal cords and trachea were severely damaged, and his eyes bulged out of their sockets in shock.

Because Doomsday Assault was cut before his feet landed, the force of that knife pushed him back slightly, causing him to hit the wall with his side before falling to the ground.

"This development... is a little different from what you imagined, isn't it?" Feng Bujue looked down at his dying opponent with a smile and said, "I think... even now, you probably haven't noticed that all active skills have been weakened..."

As he said this, Doomsday Assault tried to reach into his bag, but Feng Bujue ruthlessly kicked the other party's hand away.

"From what I've observed... in this scenario, the actual effect of skills is probably less than one-tenth of what they originally were. That is to say, the duration of your counterattack technique has long since ended." Feng Bujue said, while forcefully stomping down, breaking Doomsday Assault's other arm. "Even if it hadn't ended, the weakened skill would likely have prevented you from withstanding my knife."

At this point, Doomsday Assault was desperate, and he belatedly realized... that he was experiencing the intense pain and fear that he hadn't felt in a long time.

"Also... the reason I didn't let your bullets graze me isn't because I didn't want to or couldn't 'perform' more convincingly, it's just..." Feng Bujue moved his foot away from his opponent's arm and continued, "In this scenario... 'bleeding' is a very dangerous thing. You should avoid it as much as possible."

Just as he finished speaking, suddenly... from the darkness around them, there was a faint rustling sound.

"You see..." Brother Jue heard the creepy sound, but he smiled. "...Your blood... has attracted some 'unclean things.'"