Chapter 965 "Challenge, Begin!"

"Zhang Meng, are you sure this is the challenge we are going to face?" Bai Xue pointed at the scattered mechanical monsters in front of her, looking a little frustrated. "I thought you were talking about 'solving puzzles', but it turns out you were talking about fighting monsters? Do you think I'm a good fighter?"

"Of course we have to kill monsters, Bai Xue." Zhang Meng raised a wicked smile, "However, these monsters are just the beginning, and the difficulty will get higher and higher. What we have to do is not just to kill monsters, but... challenge the entire system!"

"You said challenge the system? Are you crazy?" Bai Xue's eyes widened. "It's a miracle that I can defeat a monster. You want me to challenge the entire system? You are talking nonsense!"

"Hehe, Bai Xue, you really underestimated me." Zhang Meng stood in front of Bai Xue triumphantly, "Look at those monsters. Although they look scary, they are just part of the 'test'. Once you pass it, the next test will begin!"

Bai Xue took a deep breath and prayed silently in her heart: "Why do I feel like I've fallen into a big pit?" However, she didn't have time to think about it. The monster in front of her had already started to move, and its mechanical joints made a harsh sound, as if it was ready to rush towards them at any time.

"Are you ready?" Zhang Meng winked at Bai Xue.

Bai Xue gritted her teeth and said, "Why wouldn't I be prepared? I'll fight as hard as I can!"

Zhang Meng stood still with a confident look on his face: "Okay! In that case, let's get started!"

Before he could finish his words, the first mechanical monster pounced towards him. Zhang Meng immediately dodged and deftly took out a small metal ball from his waist with one hand.

"What is this? What are you going to do?" Bai Xue widened her eyes. Zhang Meng's actions made her a little confused.

"This?" Zhang Meng raised the small ball in his hand. "This is my 'secret weapon', specially designed to deal with these mechanical monsters. Take a look at it."

Just as Zhang Meng finished his words, the small ball suddenly vibrated violently, then quickly expanded, turning into a huge spherical machine, rushing towards the first monster with a sharp electric current.

"What the hell is this? You said it's a weapon?" Bai Xue was dumbfounded. "Why does it look like a large electronic toy to me?"

"Don't be fooled by its ordinary appearance," Zhang Meng explained proudly, "it is my 'divine weapon' that can release strong electric currents and easily deal with these mechanical guys!"

"Wow, this is really powerful." Bai Xue rolled her eyes, "I don't believe this thing can beat these monsters!"

"You'll know when you see it!" Zhang Meng smiled triumphantly, "Be careful, they're starting to fight back!"

As Zhang Meng finished speaking, several mechanical monsters began to attack them, with red lasers flashing all over their bodies, as if they wanted to tear Bai Xue and Zhang Meng into pieces.

"Where do these challenges come from?" Snow White shouted as she dodged. "Can you tell me how these monsters came about? What does this have to do with 'time and space confusion'?"

While using the "divine weapon" to repel the monsters, Zhang Meng replied without looking back: "Bai Xue, let me tell you, these monsters are not random. They are part of the 'system'. You must pass these tests before you can enter the next stage."

"System?" Bai Xue was even more confused. "What are you talking about? Are these monsters summoned by the 'system'?"

"That's right! But, Bai Xue, this 'system' is not an ordinary system. It has self-awareness." Zhang Meng said as he nimbly dodged a laser beam. "Don't be fooled by the fact that these monsters look like machines. They are more than just shells. Their cores are driven by the system's program."

Bai Xue was stunned: "In other words, these monsters are not real 'monsters', but 'virtual'?"

"Yes!" Zhang Meng nodded. "So, you have figured it out, right? If we don't deal with these 'virtual' monsters, we won't be able to move on to the next stage."

"Virtual monsters?" An expression of sudden enlightenment appeared on Bai Xue's face. "So that's how it is! But why do we feel like this is a real battle?"

"Because this 'system' can make everything virtual become as real as reality." Zhang Meng's eyes flashed with cunning, "This is also the key to the challenge. You must adapt to this world where virtuality and reality intersect in order to finally break through."

Bai Xue gritted her teeth, feeling dizzy: "I don't quite understand what you said, but it seems that right now, all I can do is to kill these monsters with you!"

"Oh, Bai Xue, don't forget that we still need to cooperate." Zhang Meng suddenly stretched out his hand. "Look, although my 'divine weapon' is powerful, I still need your assistance. I am a 'one-man show' person, and I need your fighting power as well!"

"I..." Bai Xue was stunned. "You want me to cooperate with you? Aren't you really afraid that I will hold you back?"

Zhang Meng smiled nonchalantly: "Don't worry, I never thought you were a drag. On the contrary, I quite like to see you find order from chaos!"

"Find order in chaos?" Bai Xue was speechless. "You are encouraging me to win in chaos!"

"Haha, it's so interesting!" Zhang Meng laughed, "But the real challenge really starts from here!"

Before he finished speaking, with a flash of lightning, the surrounding mechanical monsters began to accelerate their attacks. Zhang Meng and Bai Xue responded quickly. The two of them cooperated well and knocked down several monsters in an instant.

"How is it? Not exciting enough?" Zhang Meng turned around and asked, "Want some more difficult ones?"

Bai Xue took a breath and said, "I want to see what 'surprise' comes next!"

Zhang Meng's expression suddenly became serious: "Don't relax, it won't be so easy next time."

As he spoke, he suddenly took out a small communicator from behind and pressed a button.

"What is this?" Bai Xue asked curiously.

"Are you ready?" Zhang Meng smiled mischievously, "The next test is 'decryption'! We need to solve a difficult problem in the system before we can move forward!"

"Decryption?" Bai Xue was a little confused. "Are you giving me a difficult question?"

"No, you don't understand," Zhang Meng said confidently, "The trick to solving this puzzle is not to rely on brute force, but to understand the logic behind the system."

"Okay, I'll see how you crack it." Bai Xue shook her head and adjusted her mindset. "But if you make me wait too long, I can't guarantee that I won't blow up the system!"

"Haha, don't worry, you won't have to wait too long." Zhang Meng widened his eyes and looked at the screen in front of him.

On the screen, a string of complex symbols gradually emerged, interweaving into a pattern.

"Oh? This looks really complicated." Bai Xue narrowed her eyes. "Are you going to find a pattern here?"

"Yes, this is the core of the puzzle. Deciphering the meaning of these symbols is the key to our victory!" Zhang Meng took a deep breath and began to analyze quickly.

"You are so confident that I can hardly believe it." Bai Xue couldn't help but tease, "If you can crack it, I will admire you from now on!"

"Haha, just wait and see!" Zhang Meng raised his lips and looked determined. "I have solved many difficult problems, and this time is no exception!"

Bai Xue smiled and said, "Then I'll wait for your performance, Zhang Meng!"

Just as they were about to start solving the puzzle, the mechanical monster appeared again and quickly surrounded them.

"It's over, another wave of monsters is coming!" Bai Xue frowned, "These monsters seem to be getting stronger and stronger, can we stop them?"

Zhang Meng was not in a hurry: "Don't worry, these are just 'appetizers', what we want is the final 'challenge'!"