Chapter 2306: Irreversible Past
The appearance of the black crescents followed no pattern. When they first emerged, they might be as thin as a crack, but in the blink of an eye, they could expand into a sphere. Moreover, they were not solid entities but irregular fissures formed between two spaces. Thus, if one suddenly appeared beside a person, the chance of dodging it was extremely low.
Two more players vanished into the black spatial gaps on the spot. Whether it was these spatial gaps or the chaotic spatial forces, neither was something these players could handle. Seeing that it was difficult to get out, the missing-eared player immediately turned around. "Follow him!"
He was referring to Xu Huo.
No one would knowingly charge into a dead end. Xu Huo had entered the city center multiple times, so there must be something to gain. Since he could find a safe route, following him would not only ensure their own safety but might also allow them to pick up some benefits!
These players thought well enough, but when they tried to turn back to find Xu Huo, they discovered he had already walked a great distance.
"Follow him! Don't let him get away!" the missing-eared player shouted again.
The remaining players immediately turned around.
Although the areas the Water Cube passed through experienced a period of "calm" after the spatial chaos, this did not mean the path was entirely without danger. The Water Cube's path was more like forcibly punching a tunnel through a swamp-like space. The surrounding spatial barriers, forcibly pushed aside, along with Space Ray Blades or other forms of high-intensity spatial power, would converge back. However, this process created a relatively stable route.
Xu Huo was fast, but he still couldn't outpace the speed at which the spatial passage recovered. After dodging another space entity that crashed into him like an iceberg, the path ahead was essentially blocked again. Not only that, but a time power he hadn't encountered before suddenly appeared.
Sensing the rapid approach of the time power, he immediately withdrew from this area while simultaneously manipulating the time power within the space to the maximum extent, hoping they would interfere with each other... Despite this, the time power still permeated the entire space. It was only slightly affected when encountering space entities close to the ground, but there was basically no change.
Although time-space items and instruments have incompatible characteristics, in reality, spatial and temporal powers rarely show any mutual influence under relatively stable conditions. For example, when an Evolver manipulates spatial power to attack and defend, the time power in the space has little effect. Conversely, when an Evolver draws time power from another space, the moment the time power breaks through the spatial barrier, the Evolver themselves feel little change. It's as if the time power simply squeezed through the existing gaps in space.
Only in such extreme chaos, where time and space powers are highly concentrated, can one see that they indeed influence each other. However, this influence doesn't seem to stem from any inherent connection between them, but rather from the fact that different powers, when strong enough, affect other objects. For instance, an Evolver's evolution can affect time-space powers, and a Mental Evolver can use spiritual power to influence reality.
The time power in the city center wasn't the solid, flowing water form that the Water Cube produced, so even when affected by spatial power, it didn't expand its range.
Xu Huo successfully avoided it.
Due to his pause and retreat, the players behind him caught up. But their luck was poor. The time power didn't appear alone. After the first wave descended, a second and third followed without pause.
Those who couldn't even avoid spatial power had no hope of dodging time power. The players who had surrounded Xu Huo were halved in an instant.
Watching their equipped items fall to the ground, the remaining few players' forehead veins bulged as they shouted at Xu Huo, "Get us out of here!"
Xu Huo had no time to talk to them. The passage created by the Water Cube ahead had completely closed. There might be some tiny gaps inside, but it wasn't worth the risk. So he prepared to turn back.
The other players could only follow behind him. However, the spatial power changed too quickly. Two people failed to keep up and were blocked by an emerging spatial barrier!
"Save us!" the two shouted at the missing-eared player and the others.
But those people didn't even look back at them.
"If we can't live, neither can you!" one of the players pulled out all the space items, instruments, and jamming devices he carried. Unfortunately, under the influence of the time-space powers, almost all of them had entered a dormant state. So, he drew his melee weapon and frantically hacked at the spatial barrier.
The surrounding spatial power was indeed affected, but the range was extremely limited. Even the small crack he just opened was immediately covered by other spatial forces, rendering his efforts almost useless.
"Save me! Save me..." The player's voice was swallowed by the encroaching space entity.
By this time, Xu Huo had nearly reached the edge of the city center. But inexplicably, a spatial passage suddenly appeared before him. He only realized it was a spatial passage after stepping into it, but it was too late to turn back. In a single stride, he had been transported elsewhere.
What met his eyes was a dimly lit room. All four corners of the room were sealed shut. Only a circular hole in the ceiling allowed light to stream down, hitting an object suspended in the center of the room.
It was a few square objects the size of a finger, possessing the unique luster of metal but appearing to be flowing.
This scene closely matched the description of the original Water Cube in the city center given by the city government players. He instinctively looked around, but in the next second, one of the cubes struck him with a speed he couldn't resist!
There was no sensation of hitting a hard object. It was as if some force surged from his chest to his limbs in an instant.
A not-so-violent force washed over his body, causing a brief cessation of his thoughts. When he regained clarity, a hand suddenly pressed down on his shoulder.
His instinct was to throw the person grabbing him away, but when he moved, he suddenly realized that the physical strength gained from evolution had vanished.
Turning to look behind him, a greasy face leaned in. "Second Young Master Xu, hurry up and place your bet! We're all waiting!"
Xu Huo was at a gambling table.
Judging by the environment, this was not a legal casino permitted in some regions, but an illegal venue. It was packed with all sorts of people caught up in the thrill of gambling. Everyone had flushed faces and thick necks. Many of them were staring at Xu Huo, curious and excited, urging him on with their eyes.
"Second Young Master Xu, a hand for a hand. But your hand is precious. How about five of my hands for one of yours? Deal or not?"