Once the Ice Age Memory was in his hand, Pierce didn't hesitate to insert it directly into a Memory interface on his body.
"ICE AGE!"
As the Memory integrated into Pierce's body, a violent surge of energy erupted. Centered on the Weather Dopant, ice crystals, flames, lightning, and hurricanes manifested simultaneously.
Pierce stood at the eye of the storm, a master of the elements who could summon clouds with a turn of his hand and rain with a flip of his palm.
"It seems that absorbing that Gaia Memory has brought you a bountiful harvest," Genm remarked.
Pierce laughed heartily, his tone carrying a hidden edge: "Now that I've defeated my opponent, the game should be over. However, we are still within the Game Area. I wonder if the restrictions of the game rules still apply?"
"According to you, the Game Area is the venue for the game. Since the game is finished, strictly speaking, am I no longer 'in-game' and thus no longer bound by the rules?"
Genm gave a nonchalant chuckle: "If I told you that you are indeed unrestrained within the Game Area now... would you be thinking of making a move against me?"
A sharp glint flashed in Pierce's eyes before he let out a seemingly friendly laugh: "I've just obtained a new Memory and my power has increased tremendously. I simply wanted to find an opponent to test the limits of my current strength."
Genm looked at the eager Pierce and said, "It just so happens I still need a bit more time. I'll grant your wish and play with you for a while."
Pierce was slightly confused. Needs a bit more time? Time for what?
But Genm was already in front of him, unleashing energy slashes without a word. Pierce clapped his hands together, merging thunder and storm to meet Genm's attack.
"You certainly have some skill. Your development of the Gaia Memory's power is quite impressive," Genm praised, though his tone was that of a judge evaluating a contestant.
Pierce felt a surge of annoyance. He had always been the one standing above others; when had he ever been patronized like this?
Though he wanted nothing more than to grind Genm under his heel, he maintained a calm exterior: "Thank you for the compliment. Next, I'll be going all out. You'd best be careful."
Genm waved a hand dismissively: "Use whatever tricks you have. Consider it a special favor for you."
Seeing Genm's complete lack of regard for him, Pierce clenched his fists, a wave of malice rising in his heart. He pushed the Weather Memory to its absolute limit, mixing various meteorological energies—lightning, hurricanes, frost, and fire—into a massive tornado that roared toward Genm.
"You're asking for death!" Pierce snorted inwardly, watching Genm stand his ground to take the full-force attack head-on.
This combined elemental strike was something even Pierce himself would have to dodge. Even if the man's armor was stronger than his own, taking such a hit directly should be impossible without sustaining damage.
Genm was quickly swallowed by the tornado, his figure vanishing amidst the raging conflict of thunder and flame.
"This is the price of arrogance. I'll see if you can still act so high and mighty in a moment," Pierce thought with satisfaction.
However, a moment later, Pierce watched in horror as Genm literally tore the tornado of lightning and frost apart with his bare hands and walked out.
"How is this possible?!" Pierce's eyes were full of disbelief.
It wasn't that he couldn't accept Genm neutralizing his attack—after all, Genm was mysterious and could create pocket dimensions like the Game Area. It was possible he was stronger than a Weather Memory user. But to crush his full-power strike so effortlessly was something Pierce found incredibly difficult to swallow.
One had to understand that any one of the weather attacks Pierce released was enough to cause large-scale climate changes outside. The enhanced lightning and freezing air were natural disasters capable of ravaging an entire city district. Yet, this convergence of disasters couldn't even scratch Genm.
"You must be using the power of this space—the Game Area! Didn't you say the game was over and the rules no longer applied?!" Pierce shouted, bordering on hysterical.
"Indeed, the game rules are no longer in effect now that the game has ended," Genm laughed with a wicked sense of humor. "The reason your attack was useless is because, as the Game Administrator, I have no health bar!"
"Therefore, no matter how powerful your attack is, it cannot cause me any substantial damage!"
Pierce's voice was thick with incredulity: "You... how is that possible? How can game settings be applied to reality?!"
Genm spread his arms: "Why wouldn't it be possible? The Bugster Virus is an existence capable of turning games into reality. Didn't you just experience the game rules for yourself? Only in the real world can one create the most thrilling and interesting games."
Hearing this, Pierce immediately abandoned any thought of defeating Genm. Whether Genm was telling the truth or not, the fact remained that his strongest attack had been effortlessly dismantled. Attacking further was futile.
Just as Pierce was about to concede, the environment of the Game Area suddenly shifted.
"But even for a game, having 'no health bar' is obviously unreasonable. You're clearly using a cheat code!"
Li Hua, Elena, and Gwen entered the Game Area, calling out to question Genm.
Genm's gaze swept over the three of them. His tone was unsurprised: "So it's the Brave, the Sniper, and the Lazer. You didn't take long to get here. But I'm not cheating; this is clearly part of the game mechanics—the rules set by the Game Administrator."
You call yourself the Administrator, so basically you're saying 'I say so because I say so,' right? Gwen grumbled in her head.
"Genm, we won't let you escape this time." Li Hua pulled out the Drago Knight Hunter Z Gashat and transformed into his Level 30 form.
"You can already control the power of Level 30 so freely? It seems you've made quite a bit of progress," Genm remarked casually as he watched Li Hua transform solo.
"While playing with you is fun, I still need you to help me test some combat data I've collected." Genm snapped his fingers, and a humanoid Bugster appeared beside him. Genm activated a Gashat and inserted it into the interface on the Bugster's head.
As the Gashat lit up, the previously stiff and lifeless Bugster seemed to suddenly gain a soul. Its simple body grew armor and weapons.
"Now then, the real game begins," Genm said to Li Hua, Elena, and Gwen.
(End of Chapter)