Chapter 235

"You're right, but [Rep-Man] didn't just change the victory conditions; he also changed the outcome. I heard he gave The Society a huge sum of silver, so that as long as we all join forces to defeat him, we can all advance together!"

For many present, this seemed to be news. The candidates from the Blazing Flame Academy were immediately stunned. "What? For real? Why would anyone do something so stupid?"

"But if it's true, then everyone's only choice is to unite and defeat Rep-Man, right?"

Devika cut in. In an instant, the candidates from the Blazing Flame Academy seemed a bit intimidated, taking a step back, speechless.

"I can't prove the news I heard is true—after all, I'm from the Secret History Academy! However, I can guarantee that I'm definitely not deceiving everyone for my own gain."

After saying this, the Mysterious Little Girl raised her hand and snapped her fingers.

At first, no one understood what she meant, but immediately after, a figure manifested from behind her.

…It was a blond, beautiful young man wearing a gold and red robe, just as strikingly gorgeous as she was.

"This is my Pneuma—Elagabalus."

Devika said brightly.

"To cooperate and defeat Rep-Man, no one can keep secrets. So, let's start with me, so we can all get to know each other's details, okay?"

Volume Six: Rep-Man · Lunar Expedition: 215: Qi Xing's Show

Vike really didn't understand how this was being accomplished.

It was truly too strange—

She originally thought this kind of persuasion could never succeed; even trying seemed absurd.

Yet Devika had managed to do just that, using only her words to forcefully persuade the remaining five people.

Persuading everyone to unite, work together, and fight Qi Xing.

Persuading each of them to reveal the true names, origins, and abilities of themselves and their Pneumas.

After all, they were facing the invincible [Rep-Man].

The level difference between the two sides was beyond reason. Even if these contestants were the confident and outstanding disciples of the Hermes Society, they were still just "disciples"—a group of students who hadn't even entered the Inner Circle.

No one would be arrogant enough to think that their few measly spells would have any effect on [Rep-Man].

Not to mention cultivation outside of magic.

For instance, the candidates from the Blazing Flame Academy did have courses in combat arts, but… honestly, no sane person would be stupid enough to actually try to challenge [Rep-Man] bare-handed, right?

This was no longer a mortal mage trying to challenge a Heroic Spirit with their fists; after all, maybe some mortals really could fight a Heroic Spirit with their fists. Sometimes, by relying on miracles, willpower, passion, or cheating, they could actually win.

This was the equivalent of a mortal trying to challenge a space battleship with their fists. If someone could truly do that, they certainly wouldn't be a mortal anymore.

So if these seven students wanted to defeat [Rep-Man], they could only rely on their Pneumas!

"This is my Pneuma—Elagabalus."

Devika first introduced him to everyone with pride.

A handsome and beautiful "Emperor" youth wearing a Syrian-style gold-trimmed robe, with features so soft and charming they were almost eerie, leisurely waved at them.

The disciples of the Hermes Society had all received professional history education; they knew who this person was even without her saying it.

The ancient Roman Emperor Elagabalus, who reigned from 218–222 AD. He was only 15 when he took the throne and was the first emperor since the founding of the Roman Empire to come from the East—Syria.

But he was more widely known as one of history's top "lecherous emperors." He played very dirty.

How dirty?

First of all, Elagabalus was a beautiful youth no less than Devika. Moreover, he was very fond of beauty and was famous for his absurd and ██ private life. Not only did he have a large number of constantly changing ██, but he was also bisexual.

This bisexuality wasn't like many Greeks, using his ███ to poke everyone—not that kind of way.

…But rather personally playing the role of the goddess Venus in plays and █████ in public during the performance.

He also wore women's clothing on the streets, along with ordinary ██, and with male ██, he was obsessed with playing the passive ███, hoping to be addressed with female titles.

He even brought his favorite star ███ into the palace, referred to himself as the "Empress," and publicly kissed this star █████ at the Roman Floralia, causing a huge uproar.

He even tried to make this muscular star man the emperor… of course, that was stopped no matter what. But this shows just how sexually inverted this beautiful youth Elagabalus was.

"My Pneuma is,"

The burly mage from the Blazing Flame Academy sighed, began his explanation, and summoned his Pneuma.

"The strongest Knight of the Round Table, Lancelot."

An armored knight stepped out from the flames, his longsword trailing on the ground, radiating murderous intent.

He formed an extremely sharp contrast with the previous androgynous, gorgeous, and eerie beautiful youth emperor.

Lancelot's story is pretty much a household name, right?

He was the strongest knight under King Arthur, yet he had an affair with King Arthur's queen, Guinevere, which indirectly led to the shattering of the Round Table and the collapse of the kingdom.

Although many have tried to whitewash him, claiming he didn't actually commit adultery with his monarch's wife and that it was just a spiritual affair—unfortunately, in the most classic version of the "Le Morte d'Arthur" manuscript, Lancelot and Guinevere were already caught in the act by other Knights of the Round Table while naked in the same bedroom.

When a man and a woman are naked in the same bedroom, it's probably a bit far-fetched to say the relationship had nothing to do with the physical. Everyone can have their own opinion.

Subsequently, the candidates from the Astrology Academy, the Holy Grail Academy, and the Alchemy Academy also summoned their Pneumas one after another.

These Pneumas were a bit less varied in comparison.

The Holy Grail Academy, which researches life breath and the soul, summoned the oldest female Pharaoh of Egypt, Hatshepsut.

Although she was a female Pharaoh, she claimed the true image of her soul, the "Sheut," was male, so she always wore men's clothing and even stuck a fake beard on her chin. All the carvings of her that remain to this day were deliberately carved in a male image.

To emphasize and prove she was a man, she even "married" her own daughter!—It sounds nonsensical at first, but it seems logically understandable, and anyway, this marriage couldn't have actually resulted in anything… right?

The Pneuma summoned by the Astrology Academy was the legendary 18th-century French spy, Charles de Beaumont, also known as the "Chevalier d'Eon."

This person, though biologically male, could wear women's clothing and disguise himself as a lady-in-waiting to infiltrate various royal courts, performing espionage duties with his lovely beauty. In his old age, he published a memoir, also claiming he had been a woman since birth.

Unfortunately, due to fading beauty and extreme poverty, he lived his later years in London in destitution and subject to cold mockery, dying in 1810 at the age of 81. After death, the examining doctor found that his anatomical sex was indeed male.

As for the final Alchemy Academy, their candidate's Pneuma was actually the page of the Japanese Warring States period general Oda Nobunaga—Mori Ranmaru!

"You from the Alchemy Academy, your Pneuma's Spirit Rank is way too low."

The tough guy from the Blazing Flame Academy couldn't even stand to watch and couldn't help but complain.

"Even we candidates might be able to beat a Pneuma like this."

However, the Alchemy Academy candidate only gave a dead-fish stare: "I threw even my food money into the alchemy furnace this month. Do you think I could get a higher-grade catalyst to summon a high Spirit Rank Pneuma?"

How tragic, how tragic. Although the Hermes Society itself doesn't charge tuition, many student disciples' in-depth research requires a significant amount of money to maintain. It's also an indisputable fact that The Society cannot pay for everything for its disciples.

Without money, one can't even get enough experimental materials.

Finally, adding the ancient British Queen Boudica summoned by Vike, and Achilles summoned by the Original Essence Academy—whose balls were blown off by [Rep-Man] last night—there were a total of seven Pneumas.

It should be obvious without saying that each Pneuma had its own sexual aspect it represented, carrying different "sexual attributes" and symbolism!

But looking at them, a thought occurred to many candidates simultaneously—

—Can these seven ragtag soldiers really win against [Rep-Man]?

By now, even if they had no confidence, they could only go for it.

After discussing each other's Pneumas, several candidates looked at Devika, who was standing by the fountain, as if waiting for her to make the final decision.

It felt as though, without realizing it, everyone had already taken Devika as their leader and was waiting for her to decide.

"Haha, I don't think it's that pessimistic."

Devika said with a laugh in that bright, clear voice.

"Although it looks like a motley crew at first glance, the class composition of our seven Pneumas is actually quite complete."

"Achilles, Boudica, and Lancelot can all act as the vanguard to engage [Rep-Man] in close combat."

"Elagabalus and Hatshepsut are both ancient demigod emperors with divinity. As long as they're given time to charge up and prepare, they'll surely be able to damage [Rep-Man]."

"As for the lower Spirit Rank Chevalier d'Eon and Mori Ranmaru, they'll act as skirmishers on the side, looking for opportunities to deal as much damage as possible to [Rep-Man] and hinder his movements!"

Such an arrangement was simple, but there were no major flaws. Seeing everyone else nodding, even Vike, the aloof loner, had to admit that Devika at least possessed considerable leadership.

…That being said, Vike couldn't help but feel that this scene seemed too easy. She felt as if Devika had persuaded the others with just a few casual words, without any difficulty at all.

Now she only worried that if [Rep-Man] could wipe them all out in one move, then talking about flaws would be meaningless.

Three hours later, after completing preliminary coordination training in the clearing, they marched toward the church occupied by [Rep-Man] with high spirits.

"It's just after noon now; it's a good time for a fight."

Devika told everyone.

"If we make a mistake and the battle goes poorly, we can retreat in time when we see the signs of defeat. Even if we lose, [Rep-Man] can't chase us outside in broad daylight to fight us; we'll still have another chance!"

…That being said,

When they pushed open the church doors, they were met with an oppressive anomaly:

The space had been deliberately elongated and cleared out.

Crimson light, like blood mixed with shadows, poured onto the floor.

In the deepest part of the church, on that massive throne, the [Strongest Man on Earth] sat wearing a black military greatcoat, eyes half-closed, one hand propping up his chin.

"Interesting."

He looked at the group of challengers with interest.

"I was originally planning that if no one showed up by dark, I'd come out and hunt you down myself—after all, that's what makes it a [Battle Roy-Pa]."

"I didn't expect you to unite so quickly. Seven teams joining forces to challenge me is very rational… almost too rational."

Qi Xing originally thought that at least someone would have to come up and feed first before this bunch of arrogant magic test-takers would honestly unite and cooperate. He didn't expect them to join forces and attack by noon on the first day. Very smart.

So smart it was almost fake.

Was there some deeper reason Qi Xing didn't know about?

He didn't know.

But Qi Xing had never cared about such small matters.

"Come. I, [Rep-Man], am a man of my word."

He slowly stood up from the throne, his movement seeming casual, yet like a great mountain rising from the earth.

"You may make your move."

With just this stand, the air in the church seemed to be compressed and distorted. Among the seven Pneumas, two actually retreated involuntarily, as terrified as a pack of rabbits facing a lion.

Qi Xing, of course, did not use the [silver coin].

Not only did he not use the [silver coin], Qi Xing even suppressed his own Martial Immortal power to an energy-saving mode.

However, even so, that terrifying aura still swept through the hall like a tide, making the seven Pneumas present tense up all over, even producing a pain that forced them to fight against their instincts.

Achilles subconsciously covered his crotch, his face pale, his lower body still retaining the trembling pain of being blown apart by [Rep-Man].

Lancelot drew his sword, but his tempered martial arts were even a bit stiff at this moment, sweat sliding down the side of his neck;

Boudica's face would naturally turn pale when facing [Rep-Man].

And that originally most dissolute beautiful youth emperor—Elagabalus—was now staring blankly at Qi Xing's body, unable to even maintain his playful expression.

Both he and Mori Ranmaru were men who originally liked being █ by men. Looking at [Rep-Man] now, facing the peerless masculine power flowing from the strongest man on earth, their eyes even went straight.

The other Pneumas also all had stiff expressions. Although they weren't at the point of being unable to move, the suffocating pressure in the air was like invisible iron chains, tightly binding their courage and movements.

Anyone could understand—the man before them, even without showing his true power, could declare with just a single stance:

He was a male far stronger than them.

"Ugh… Ooh!"

Amidst the silence, the first to break the deadlock was, as expected, the Knight of the Lake, the furious Knight Lancelot.

He gritted his teeth and roared, raising the fairy-forged magic sword and charging forward with high morale, showing off his martial arts first!

The fairy-forged divine sword instantly crossed the twenty-meter distance to the Demon King, blooming with a brilliant green light. The knight's figure was like a meteor cutting through the air, a furious strike falling straight toward the Demon King's head at a speed invisible to the naked eye!

"Heh."

Qi Xing grinned.

He neither drew the Holy Spear,

Nor would he possibly use the Sasa Blade,