Chapter 27 An Astonishing Battle, Part 1

From the retro amusement park to the entertainment halls of the new era, they needed to take another flying car. The six of them fit perfectly into one vehicle, and as for the fare, Lekai didn’t have to worry about it at all.

Along the way, Rambo truly immersed himself in the role of tour guide, introducing the surrounding sights with vivid storytelling. Lekai and Li Yan laughed merrily, their admiration for him palpable, which made Rambo feel as if he were floating on air, his previously stifled mood dissipating somewhat.

He kept stealing glances at the little girl, so exquisitely dressed, speculating endlessly about her family background. How could such a refined child not belong to some prominent house? She was so delicate now—surely she would grow into a stunning beauty capable of captivating an entire nation. He resolved that when they returned, he would demand his father arrange a betrothal. If that wild boy snatched her away, how humiliating would that be? Let him keep acting cool for now—he’d make sure the boy embarrassed himself in front of the beauty soon enough.

“This is the New Era Game Hall, which integrates all the Empire’s games. Inside you’ll find every type of thrill imaginable, guaranteed to leave you satisfied. However, this place is generally patronized by Imperial citizens and nobles. They can’t stand the sight of lowly second-class citizens, so Lekai, you must be careful. If anyone provokes you, don’t try to fight back—just tell your big brother, and I’ll take care of you.”

Rambo pointed to the massive building complex that was looming closer, his tone earnest, his expression sincere—like a caring elder brother genuinely worried for his younger sibling. He even cast a triumphant glance at the little girl, striving to appear gallant and refined. Unfortunately for him, she remained wholly uninterested, which wounded Rambo deeply.

“With so many games, where should we start?” Lekai was genuinely perplexed.

“Let’s play Soul Warrior! You can experience virtual reality combat—a perfect fit for a violent person like you.” Rambo’s tone was tinged with jealousy. That wild boy already exuded a natural ruggedness, and now, dressed as a cowboy with a battered blade at his waist, he resembled a frontier ranger straight out of an old drama. That air of ancient hardship was even more striking than his own.

“Virtual reality combat?” Lekai’s eyes lit up. “Alright, let’s do it.” Such games could only be found in this era’s amusement parks. On Azure Star, the technology was still decades away, but in the Warwolf Empire, it was commonplace.

Rambo chuckled inwardly, already picturing Lekai making a fool of himself.

“You men are all the same—always fighting and brawling. How boring. I’m not playing,” Li Yan pouted, dissatisfied. In truth, she really couldn't play. Despite being virtual, the game still required real ability—whatever skill one possessed in reality could be unleashed in the game. As a young girl, Li Yan naturally lacked such abilities.

Thus, those who played this game in reality all had some combat skills, or at the very least were enthusiasts. This was precisely why Rambo had chosen it for Lekai.

The three bodyguards shot their young master worried glances, feeling a headache coming on. They wanted to warn Lekai, but under Rambo’s intimidating gaze, they shrank back and followed in silence.

The “Soul Warrior” game hall covered thousands of square meters, with eight floors dedicated to the game, and more games above. There were hundreds of private rooms, thousands of devices, enough for thousands to battle simultaneously. The people of the Warwolf Empire had a penchant for martial arts, making this one of the most popular games—queues were common. By the time Lekai and the others arrived, the registration hall was already packed.

Most of those present were Imperial citizens, with only a handful of local natives—what they called second-class citizens. It was easy to distinguish locals from Imperials; even if you ignored skin tone and clothing, their demeanor gave them away. The locals seemed to carry an innate sense of inferiority, habitually lingering in corners, reluctant to meet the eyes of the Empire’s citizens.

Rambo strode confidently at the front, his spirits high, radiating pride and self-assurance. Thumping his chest, he said, “Don’t worry, Lekai. I’m well-connected here. If anyone bullies you, just let me know.” With that, he shoved aside someone blocking his path. “Are you blind? How dare you stand in my way? Are you tired of living?”

The person he shoved was obviously a local—tall and powerfully built, exuding an intimidating aura. At Rambo’s push, the man flared up, spinning around and cursing, “To hell with you! Who dares push me?”

Rambo glared right back, undaunted. “So what if I did? You lowly mongrel, do you dare hit me?”

“I… I’m sorry, it was my mistake. Please, go ahead.”

The burly man’s eyes contracted, his hostility vanishing, replaced by a fawning expression. He even stooped a little, as if facing his own parents. The abrupt transformation was both bizarre and absurd, yet no one in the hall found it strange. This was evidently the norm—a testament to the locals’ abject status.

“Don’t look so surprised, Lekai. Here, this is perfectly normal—the strong rule. These lowly mongrels have no backbone. You’ll get used to it after seeing it enough. Oh… forgive me, I forgot you’re also a local. How careless of me. But of course, I didn’t mean you. Don’t take it to heart.”

Even Li Yan found Rambo’s feigned concern insufferable and was about to interject, but Lekai spoke first, his tone calm and indifferent. “I don’t mind. The law of the jungle is only natural. When the day comes that I’m strong enough to defeat you all, I’ll let you experience what it feels like to be a second-class citizen. Rambo, you may look forward to it.”

The words were delivered without any emotional inflection, as casually as if he were discussing what time to go to bed, making it sound not only possible but inevitable. Everyone, including the little girl, was momentarily stunned, staring at Lekai in surprise. The burly man, too, gave Lekai a long, searching look.

“Lekai, watch what you say! Do you know where you are? This place is filled with Imperial citizens—you’ll provoke them,” Li Yan said anxiously, grabbing Lekai’s arm.

Lekai glanced at her, sensing her concern, and warmth flickered in his heart. He whispered, “Don’t worry, nothing will happen. The sight of sheep besieging a lion only exists in fairy tales.”

“Who are you calling sheep, and who’s the lion? To spout such nonsense here—clearly you need a lesson in humility.” With a sneer, the surrounding crowd grew restless, forming a ring that boxed them in. The speaker was a young Imperial citizen, about twenty, with a sinister expression.

His long golden hair gave him a wild, unrestrained look, like a vulture lurking on the edge of the wasteland, waiting for its moment to strike.