Transcendent Gene
Chapter 221: Simulated Riftworld [7]

Chapter 221: Simulated Riftworld [7]

RUMBLE!

The sight was amazing to see whether it was from the perspective of those causing it or from outside. Even Tieran who watched through the camera feeds following each student was shocked.

"Can they do this?"

Naturally, the possibility existed. If it didn’t, nothing would have happened.

However, it was happening.

The entire simulated world rumbled. Gio and Shiro jumped back without waiting to see the effects of their actions and continued running towards the peak.

And behind them, there was havoc.

It started with cracking sounds that were so loud that it made one think the entire world was falling apart.

As the cracks spread through the mountain, disrupting its stability and tearing it apart, the snow gathered on the surface was sent tumbling down its slope.

The avalanche was already bad enough. When it hit the monsters they’d been fighting, it was small enough only to get their legs stuck in the snow. However, by the time it reached the middle of the pack, it was a roaring tsunami at least ten meters high.

From the avalanche alone, the race was broken, leaving only a few contenders who could still truly aim for the peak. The force of the massive wall of snow that slammed into each and every creature below either buried them or threw them far away, only to approach them and slam into them again.

It was inescapable, and it was only a byproduct.

The mountain stopped cracking.

RUMBLE!

The rumbling returned.

As Gio looked back, he managed to glimpse the scene that looked like an optical illusion. The ground itself was sliding away from him. A huge chunk of the mountainside broke off and slid down the slope, taking along with it anything that was present on top.

It gained speed, barreling down the peak until it reached the flat area where Gio and Shiro spawned.

BOOOOOOOM!

The sound of the rock shattering could be heard from a kilometer away easily.

The other students who had reached points near the peak were forced to watch in horror as a scene that would spell certain death played out before them.

Naturally, none of them were willing to keep climbing higher after that.

’Good.’

Gio only saw a little bit of it. Most of what he understood about what he caused was done through his ears.

’That solves the problem of our pursuers. Conveniently enough, it also hides the evidence.’

He had used Hekat’s power, a "Sequence" that was unregistered in any records. It had to remain a secret until he found a way to justify it in the eyes of the law.

’It won’t show up if they scan my Gene Housing. Even if they tear me open, they won’t be able to see it unless they’re connected to the concept of "Change" the rune represents.’

In other words, its discovery before he was prepared would be more than just a small hassle.

He hid it first with bursts of virtual energy so it would not be visible on any camera feed. Now that the mountainside was destroyed, the evidence that he used another power was gone as well.

Unless someone else had the miraculous ability to turn back time and stand next to him when he used the ability, they would not be able to find it even if they suspected that something was wrong.

’Putting that aside...’

Together, he and Shiro approached the front of the pack. The final five monsters they had to defeat were no longer in front of them, but around them instead.

’We’re nearing the top. We don’t have much time to fight if they decide to hold us back.’

There was at most a kilometer remaining. At their highest speeds, they’d reach the peak in another minute.

’This isn’t the time for a full-on battle.’

He glanced over at Shiro.

"You thinking what I’m thinking?" The other boy said.

"I am, but who’s taking it?"

"Rock, paper, scissors?"

"Or, we could just race for it."

Shiro grinned.

"I like that idea. Loser holds them back...starting now!"

Bang!

A burst of energy flew from Shiro’s feet and shot him forward. Gio shook his head as he did the same.

His back was decorated by a pair of wings and his posture changed until he was almost parallel to the mountain.

Whoooosh!

He forced those wings to flap powerfully and shoot him forward. His speed was soon increased by blasts of energy that came from his feet and back as well.

A shield of energy around his body changed the way the air flowed around him, allowing him to fly without being held back by the atmosphere.

When Gio wanted to put all of his energy into speed, he could do far more than Shiro ever expected from him.

Xiu!

It was the sound of a flyby. Shiro watched with his mouth agape as a blur of blue energy shot past him like he was standing completely still. He sped up even more, trying to replicate Gio’s strategy to create wings, however, he still couldn’t close the distance between them.

In fact, he could even see it widening.

’Crazy,’ he thought to himself with a smile.

He was hardly able to work the wings he made. He formed their shape and they flapped, accelerating him, but that was the end of it. He couldn’t wield them with nearly enough mastery for them to be more useful than any other method.

’I guess that’s my loss.’

He accepted it easily. He was never the type of person to care about winning or losing. He liked competing because it was fun. He liked growing stronger because it was fun.

Someone like Gio was more talented than him and had a far better understanding of his energy and how to use it. That was the exact kind of person he liked to surround himself with.

Because as long as he stayed by them, he would always find ways to improve that he could’ve never thought of on his own.

Bang!

Firmly, he planted his feet and jumped into the air.

[Inferno Rain]

He spread his arms, summoning a rain of golden comets that showered down on the four monsters below. His presence in the air was already a provocation to the fifth.

As Gio rushed ahead, Shiro only had one job.

He didn’t have to win.

Since this was a simulated world, it was fine even if he died.

All he had to do was make sure that nothing could reach the peak before Gio.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Gio heard it all from behind, but he didn’t turn back even once.

He rushed, believing in Shiro’s abilities. He knew that if he was the one in that position, nothing would get past him. Shiro was someone who could stand equal to him right now, so what reason was there to doubt him?

He rushed. He couldn’t feel the wind through the barrier. His eyes were wide open as the inclined slope of the mountain slowly flattened out until finally, his parallel stance became perpendicular.

The clouds were miles below and in the distance, the only thing that existed was the sun in the sky.

The absolute peak of the mountain where only its King could reside.

He had reached it.