Chapter 67: Have You Ever Experienced Despair? Twice, No Less! [Please Reward]-Holographic Pirate Era(Luo Qin)

Ripples radiated outward from Tang Shen’s body, surging madly in all directions. Grass fragments whirled, foliage shattered, and the entire Isshin Dojo groaned and creaked beneath the force. Every small animal in the forest, caught in this overwhelming wave, rolled its eyes and collapsed into unconsciousness. On the island, every villager—whether awake or already lying down to rest—was enveloped in an instant and fainted as well.

The ripple kept spreading, flowing down the island toward the sea, gradually dissipating into the air. On the ocean’s surface, a white-bellied layer of stunned fish floated lifelessly.

On the whole island, only three people remained awake.

At the same time, Tang Shen sensed a strange new energy welling up inside him. Instinctively, he willed himself to appear beneath Kuina.

In the next instant, it was as if Tang Shen’s body transcended space itself, suddenly materializing beneath Kuina and catching her delicate form in his arms.

Bang!

Crack, crack!

Kuina’s body was heavier than expected. The impact snapped several of his ribs—he couldn’t say how many, only that it was more than one. A sharp rock beneath him, driven by the sudden force, pierced into his back.

“Damn this fate, damn this butterfly effect.” Tang Shen drew in a cold breath. Just as he’d anticipated, it was far from simple.

A person’s destined fate isn’t so easily borne—this was not merely about Kuina’s life, but everything her future might hold. Tang Shen endured it, withstood the weight of the destiny that should have been Kuina’s. Now, her future would be different.

Because he had rewritten it for her, extended her life, and shouldered the burden of her fate, offering her a new beginning.

In the unseen order of things, there are set paths. Tang Shen’s very existence was already a variable.

To kill a man is easy; it ends his future. But to shoulder the weight of a life that was never meant to continue—such a price is something else entirely.

At that moment, a tall figure appeared ahead.

Koushirou, not even bothering to put on his jacket, stood with eyes wide in utter astonishment, staring at Tang Shen pinned beneath Kuina.

Gone was any composure befitting a master; he was thoroughly flustered, his face a mask of shock. “That just now... was that Conqueror’s Haki? It can’t be mistaken—did this boy awaken it? He actually possesses the quality of a king? That’s a trait found in only one among a million.”

Instinctively, Koushirou spread his Observation Haki. As expected, aside from himself, Tang Shen, and—wait, why is Kuina still conscious?—everyone else in the dojo had fainted!

In the forest there was utter silence. Over Shimotsuki Village, throughout the range of his senses, the same: all unconscious.

This...

This was truly Conqueror’s Haki!

Only such a power could produce this result, especially with such a sudden outburst—it fit perfectly.

But what happened? Why did it erupt all at once? He had only just been resting when his head buzzed, and by the time he rushed outside, he saw this scene.

Kuina rose, climbing up. Realizing she had just fallen into a warm embrace, she exclaimed in surprise, “Master, why are you here?”

Tang Shen forced a bitter smile. He felt utterly drained, and worse, several ribs were broken and a rock was embedded in his back.

Yet this clueless disciple could still ask why he was here.

He had a thousand curses on the tip of his tongue!

He opened his status interface and saw that his 300 points of health had dropped to only 20. Instantly, his heart filled with dread.

The weight of another’s fate is not something just anyone can withstand.

If he hadn’t constantly improved his constitution to 30 points, expanding his health pool to 300, that single moment would have killed him—and in the end, Kuina would still have died.

Noticing his health had dropped yet another point, Tang Shen struggled to speak: “Silly girl, help me up—maybe there’s still hope for me.”

“Ah?!” Kuina hurriedly bent down to help him. As her hand touched his back, she cried out in alarm, “Master, you’re bleeding!”

Tang Shen rolled his eyes weakly. “Then stop the bleeding, quickly—your master is dying.”

“No! I don’t want that!” At last, anxiety filled Kuina’s voice. “Master, I won’t let you die!”

Standing to the side, Koushirou nearly rolled his eyes to the heavens at this exchange. How could he have such a foolishly adorable daughter?

But when he saw the bloodstained stone on the ground and where Kuina had fallen, he fell silent.

Without a word, he quickly moved to help Tang Shen staunch the bleeding, guiding Kuina as she bandaged him.

As Kuina tended to his wounds, Tang Shen heard the system’s notification.

Ding~ Congratulations, player Monkey D. Roger, for successfully altering the fate of your disciple, Kuina.

Ding~ Because you have changed the fate of a special supporting character, the main storyline has undergone a minor deviation. Achievement points +10.

Tang Shen paused, then breathed a sigh of relief. For the first time, the system’s voice felt comforting—at last, the change was accomplished, and his heart could rest.

But it wasn’t over.

Because, absurdly, the system announcement sounded again. Tang Shen’s eyes widened in disbelief.

He had always been so low-key.

Hadn’t there been an announcement already today? Why another one? Did the system intend to make him so conspicuous? Though, truthfully, it felt rather nice.

System Announcement: Player Monkey D. Roger has caused a minor alteration in the game’s storyline. Server-wide update time extended from one to three days as a special reward!

...

Even at this late hour, there were still players online.

With the update scheduled for tomorrow, some diligent players had stayed on until midnight. Of course, there were also the more desperate ones—forced by peculiar circumstances, such as being compelled to do hard labor by characters within the pirate world.

As the system’s mechanical voice echoed once more in their minds, players gazed blankly at the night sky, unable to describe their feelings.

Have you ever tasted despair?

They had—and twice in one day.

Two server-wide announcements in a single day—why not just ascend to the heavens?

The first, for reaching level ten, had already shaken all the players and sent the outside world into a frenzy.

No one expected, just before the update, another bombshell would drop.