Chapter 41: The ‘Bullet’ That Broke All Rules

Chapter 41: The ‘Bullet’ That Broke All Rules

Facing the overwhelming might of Cromwell, the always-composed Caroline finally unleashed the true extent of her power.

Even Tendou, who thought he knew her inside and out, couldn’t help but feel a little shaken.

After all, in the original version of this scene, Caroline had already noticed the oddities surrounding Cromwell long before the fight began.

She’d even deduced that the strange mist filling the parking lot was none other than the handiwork of Instructor Tachibana.

So while she had certainly shown impressive strength back then, it was nothing compared to what she was displaying now.

In truth, if Tendou hadn’t chosen to “fake his death,” sending Caroline spiraling into a frenzy of rage and despair, the usual cool-headed Caroline would have quickly pieced everything together—and then, as always, chosen the safe route.

The smart, rational route.

The route of self-preservation.

But that wasn’t the Caroline before him now.

Tendou found himself growing curious—just how far could the current Caroline go?

From the looks of it, her strength as “Children of the Stars No.4” might actually surpass Chen Xing, who ranked two spots higher as No.2.

At the same time, Cromwell, having sensed the overwhelming pressure from both Caroline and Chen Xing, finally decided to get serious.

And once he did, the tide of battle shifted completely.

The two girls, who could still barely keep up with him before, were now being driven into an utter rout.

Caroline’s Power Surge Overload. Chen Xing’s Karmic Flames.

Both were powerful—far beyond what their “Star Energy Levels” should normally allow.

But against a genuine second-order Starbearer, that power simply wasn’t enough.

Especially after Cromwell had already been burned once by Tendou’s “cheap shot.”

He wasn’t about to underestimate anyone again—least of all another so-called “Children of the Stars.”

Now that caution had become his main theme, there was no question who held the upper hand.

In terms of energy output, combat experience, and Star Core development, Cromwell was leagues ahead.

Unless—of course—some unforeseen variable were to appear.

Like, say… a certain forgotten protagonist.

. . .

Real World – Crustyroll.

As the audience watched Caroline and Chen Xing give it their all—only to be utterly dominated—they couldn’t help but realize just how vast the gap was between them and Cromwell.

And, by extension, between them and Tendou.

After all, this very same Coral Knight, the one currently crushing both girls, had been obliterated by Tendou earlier—almost effortlessly.

“Seems like even if they go all out, they still couldn’t win against a second-order Starbearer.”

“Tendou: Huh? This guy’s supposed to be tough? Felt like I could’ve accidentally one-shotted him.”

“Caroline: Oh no… this is a high-rank match!”

Just as the two girls’ defeat seemed inevitable, the screen suddenly cut—to Chen Kong.

The sudden switch made the viewers sit up straight.

It was time for the main character’s highlight moment.

There he was—crouched behind an abandoned car at the edge of the battlefield, peeking out carefully at the ongoing fight.

Having already activated his first Star Core: Void Mark, Chen Kong was completely erased from Cromwell’s perception—like he didn’t even exist.

“One shot,” he whispered to himself. “I only have one chance.”

Sweat poured down his forehead. His right hand trembled as he steadied his weapon, staring at Cromwell’s coral armor and dual gauntlets—one shaped like a fist, the other like a gun.

Every fiber of his being was taut with tension.

The audience, however, didn’t mock him for it.

Tendou was the natural-born genius—the kind of man who wasn’t just expected to win, but to do it beautifully. Gracefully. Spectacularly.

That was what people wanted from him.

Chen Kong, on the other hand, was his polar opposite—the born underdog. For him, the bar was much, much lower.

No one expected victory from him.

They just hoped he wouldn’t lose too badly.

Because being weak was never the sin.

Giving up was.

So regardless of whether Chen Kong succeeded or failed here, the mere fact that he chose to act—that he refused to stand by and watch—was enough to make him worthy of being called the true protagonist of this story.

After all, not everyone was named Masamune Tendou.

And not everyone had the courage to charge straight into despair.

. . .

Back in the parking lot, the situation had turned dire.

Caroline was sent flying by a brutal punch from Cromwell, crashing into the ground with an uncertain fate.

Chen Xing, meanwhile, had been caught by the Knight’s flexible coral blade—her demonic sword clattering to the ground as she struggled, unable to move.

Seeing both of his teammates down, Chen Kong knew that he couldn’t wait any longer.

This was it.

All or nothing.

. . .

“Kh—cough… cough, cough…”

Entangled in Cromwell’s three-meter-long coral whip-blade, Chen Xing gasped desperately for air, her fingers clawing at the blade wrapped around her neck.

But the strength difference was absolute.

No matter how she struggled, she couldn’t break free.

Her vision blurred. Her thoughts slowed. The world began to dim.

She could feel her consciousness slipping away, inch by inch—and she could do nothing to stop it.

Cromwell looked down at her, eyes flickering with faint hesitation behind his coral mask.

By his own standards, the “test” should’ve ended here.

But according to Tendou and Tachibana’s instructions, he was supposed to push her further—until she completely blacked out.

Only then, they said, would she truly understand how weak she was in front of him.

And yet, something felt… off.

Cromwell frowned beneath his mask.

A nagging thought scratched at the back of his mind.

He’d forgotten something.

Something important.

But no matter how he tried, he couldn’t remember what it is.

As if some invisible force had clouded his thoughts—blurring his instincts, dulling his awareness.

The unease built within him, crawling under his skin.

Then—

A noise.

Behind him.

Cromwell’s battle instincts flared. He spun around sharply—and froze.

Chen Kong was standing just three meters away.

‘When had he—?!’

The boy’s breathing was steady. His eyes sharp. In his hands, a sleek, black firearm gleamed with dangerous light.

The barrel was already aimed at the Coral Knight’s heart.

“You—”

BANG! BANG! BANG!

Three sharp gunshots shattered the silence.

The black gun kicked against Chen Kong’s palm, each bullet streaking through the air with a spiraling shockwave.

They weren’t normal rounds.

They howled through the air like tiny comets, cutting toward Cromwell’s visor at terrifying speed.

Years of honed combat instinct kicked in instantly.

Cromwell’s right arm shot up—the gauntlet reshaping itself into a small, compact shield.

He brought it up just in time to block the ambush.

CRACK!

The first bullet struck, bursting against the shield’s surface— and in that moment, Cromwell’s eyes widened.

His shield—the same one that could withstand a direct hit from a second-order Starbearer—was fracturing.

Star energy pulsed wildly across its surface, destabilized by the bullet’s strange properties.

A network of cracks spidered outward in an instant.

Then—

BOOM!

The second bullet struck the exact same spot as the first.

The audience watching could almost feel the tremor through the screen.

A faint, glowing fissure ran through the coral barrier—and Cromwell realized, far too late, that this was no ordinary weapon.

The second bullet punched clean through the fractured shield—and slammed straight into Cromwell’s helmet.

A metallic clang rang out, followed by a flash of light.

It didn’t pierce through entirely, but it did leave a deep, ugly dent right across the visor.

And worse—fine cracks began crawling along the helmet’s coral plating like spreading frost.

Then came the third bullet.

It traced the same perfect line as the first two, each shot correcting the last, guided by the faint shimmer of the Void Mark still glowing in Chen Kong’s palm.

BANG!

Three bullets—three consecutive heartbeats.

The last round tore through the air with surgical precision, heading straight for Cromwell’s exposed face.

Even so, the Knight’s reflexes were monstrous.

He caught the abnormal energy of the first shot almost instantly, and at the last possible moment, twisted his head aside.

The bullet grazed past the weakened helmet, bursting it open—and scored a narrow line across his cheek.

A sliver of blood welled up, trickling down the coral-like armor.

Three bullets.

One wound.

Chen Kong stared, frozen.

That was it?

All the planning, all the patience, all the courage to step out of hiding—and in the end, all he managed was a scratch.

His face paled.

Before him, Cromwell loomed like a living fortress—two meters tall, his entire body covered in jagged coral thorns, the air around him heavy with toxic mist.

Chen Kong’s fingers trembled around his weapon.

He knew it.

It was over.

No more chances.

No more retries.

Step. Step. Step.

Cromwell dropped Chen Xing’s unconscious body to the ground.

Each footfall echoed through the ruined parking lot as he strode toward Chen Kong—slow, deliberate, unstoppable.

When he finally stopped, his shadow swallowed Chen Kong whole.

He raised his hand.

Chen Kong’s mind went blank.

Every nerve screamed danger.

He squeezed his eyes shut.

‘This is it,’ he thought.

‘It’s going to hurt…’

But the pain never came.

Instead—

Tap

A light pat on the shoulder.

Followed by a calm, almost amused voice.

“Not bad,” Cromwell said.

“Didn’t think you’d actually manage to wound me. You lot really are something else.”

Chen Kong blinked, eyes flying open.

The towering knight stood before him, calm and collected, a faint smile in his tone.

“Those bullets of yours,” he continued, touching the crack on his helmet, “they’re not normal. I could feel it—the way they carried some kind of unique Star Origin resonance.”

“A regular bullet couldn’t have pierced my Coral Armor like that, let alone drawn blood.”

“So… care to tell me where you got them? I’m genuinely curious.”

Chen Kong just stared at him, completely lost.

His brain had stalled.

After several long seconds, all he could manage was—

“Huh?”

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