Chapter 200: Chapter200-One-Shotting the Player Projection

John swiftly finished reading the description, and his heart jolted in shock.

"He’s actually a player. Could this guy’s true identity be someone from another universe again?"

"Not only that, he cleared the second level of the Greater Holy Grail Space at some unknown point in time."

"He even left behind a projection here and established a clear record."

"And on the Holy Grail Rankings, he reached as high as 888th place."

John’s understanding of the Holy Grail Space was no longer as shallow as it had been at the beginning. Ever since he learned that multiple Holy Grail holders existed in this place, he had gained a basic understanding of the player populations from other universes.

Based on his current analysis, the players of the Apocalypse World they were in should belong to the latest batch of players.

Perhaps it was because their timelines were different. Even if time flowed at the same speed in those other universes as it did on Earth, the players there were simply at a much higher level.

In other words...

John’s gaze landed on the illusory figure of the player standing opposite him.

"This guy is a player from another universe."

John frowned slightly. His eyes flickered as countless thoughts raced through his mind.

He was wondering how he was supposed to interact with the projection of the player before him. More importantly, he had no idea whether it was possible to meet the real player through this projection.

If he could meet this player, perhaps he would be able to learn more about the other universes.

Just then, a notification rang beside his ear.

[Are you prepared to challenge the current Player Projection?]

[After selecting Yes, the countdown to the challenge will begin.]

Hearing the notification, John drew in a deep breath.

His instincts told him that the player before him was extremely powerful.

Although he could not see the other party’s level or various skills, anyone capable of leaving a projection behind in this place could not possibly be weak.

John would never underestimate any opponent.

And yet, for some inexplicable reason, he felt that even if he accepted this challenge, the other party would not pose much of a threat to him.

With that thought in mind, he immediately said, "All right. Begin the challenge!"

[This challenge has begun!]

The moment the notification sounded, the previously motionless Player Projection suddenly began to move. In the next instant, a trace of vitality appeared within its eyes.

Immediately afterward, a wave of scorching energy erupted from the Player Projection’s body.

The energy wave rapidly spread outward, revealing an enormous city.

The city seemed to cover an area of at least thirty square meters. Although it was merely a miniature city, it still occupied an enormous amount of space within the Holy Grail Space.

The city was an illusion, split clearly into two distinct colors: one half red, and the other yellow.

The moment John saw the projected city appear, his eyes narrowed slightly.

"What is this? Some kind of special equipment? It certainly looks unusual."

As that thought crossed his mind, his gaze shifted.

Whoosh!

John’s figure flashed, and in the next instant, he appeared directly in front of the Player Projection.

When the Player Projection saw that John had actually passed straight through the projected city and appeared before it, it suddenly let out a roar.

Following its roar, several gateways in the city rapidly slammed shut, trapping John within.

Red and yellow light flowed through the surroundings, silently imposing an enormous binding force upon John’s body.

John casually raised his hand and unleashed a terrifying blast of dragonflame. However, the moment it came into contact with the city gates, it was rapidly absorbed. Even the glow of the skill was completely devoured without leaving a single trace behind.

Seeing this, John’s eyes lit up.

"This thing can actually absorb skills. As expected of someone capable of leaving a ranked projection behind on the second level of the Holy Grail Space."

With that thought, John immediately extended his hand once more.

The long-unused Deathlight and dragonflame simultaneously ignited within his palm.

After advancing to the Divine Mage class, he no longer needed to rely on equipment to easily prepare and execute a fusion of two skills.

This was also a new method of skill usage that John had gained after advancing to the divine class.

According to the NPCs, this method of using skills was known as Casting at Will!

As the two skills fused together, a terrifying fluctuation instantly surged outward.

Sensing the enormous energy wave, the Player Projection’s expression changed drastically.

It suddenly kicked off the ground with one leg. In the next instant, another city appeared within the void behind it.

Inside this second city were countless living beings, seemingly walking about and living their daily lives.

At the moment the second city appeared behind the Player Projection, the projection’s own shadow abruptly vanished.

When it reappeared, it was already hovering above the second projected city.

The Player Projection controlled the second city and pointed forward with one hand.

In the next instant, the entire city erupted with black and white radiance before violently crashing down toward John.

Everything happened in the blink of an eye.

By the time John appeared to react, the second city was already descending upon him with terrifying sonic booms.

Rumble!

The two sides collided violently.

However, at that very moment, the Player Projection’s expression changed sharply.

That was because it saw that the instant the city under its control collided with John, John’s figure dissolved into nothingness.

That meant the John it had just struck was not his true body at all.

It was merely a clone!

The real John had already hidden himself somewhere unknown.

"Is this all you’re capable of?"

A cold, mocking voice suddenly rang out behind the Player Projection.

The moment it heard that voice, the Player Projection felt goosebumps rise across its entire body.

It immediately forced itself into motion, attempting to merge into the projected city and redirect it.

Unfortunately, it was already too late.

The Death Dragonflame that John had been preparing for so long was hurled directly from his hand.

"Hmph. Trying to escape? Where do you think you’re going?"

In the next instant, terrifying Deathlight accompanied by dragonflame exploded in the very center of the second city.

The horrifying magical power almost endlessly destroyed every single building within the city.

Fortunately, John was already a Divine Mage. Otherwise, relying solely on the original effects of those skills might not have produced such immense destructive power.

"Trying to run? Unfortunately for you, both of your cities have already been locked within the area of effect of my skill. Now that my flames cover the entirety of both cities, where else can you possibly flee?"

John’s body rose higher into the air as he looked down upon the two cities below, both of which were now engulfed in raging Death Dragonflame.

For a time, the entire Holy Grail Space seemed to be filled with the aura of death and scorching flames.

As one explosion after another rang out, the buildings within both cities began collapsing in succession.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Amid the collapsing structures, the other party’s figure was finally exposed once again.

The Player Projection’s expression was incomparably ugly.

It had never imagined that its opponent this time would be so overwhelmingly powerful. Even after revealing one of its trump cards, it was still completely incapable of suppressing John.

The very moment the player’s projection appeared, the terrifying Death Dragonflame engulfed its entire body!

[-256,267!]

Its HP instantly dropped to zero.