Chapter 5

"ROAR!!!"

The giant floating flesh sphere in the air wouldn't let Nathan and his companion escape so easily. Despite being covered in countless eyes, the monster somehow released a terrifying howl from an unknown part of its body.

Without giving the two a moment to breathe, another beam of azure light shot towards them. Nathan, holding Keqing in his arms, immediately rolled away. 

The light struck their previous position, creating a massive crater just like when it had hit the stone wall earlier.

"What should we do?" Nathan pondered while catching his breath, trying to figure out how to fight this monster. 

If they were to engage in direct combat, they would need to dodge those deadly beams. In this situation, speed was absolutely crucial.

"Keqing, stay back!" Nathan gripped Keqing's sword, trying to get the girl to retreat to safety.

"Nate, you're not planning to face this monster alone, are you?" Keqing grabbed his arm, looking at him with worry.

"Don't worry, leave everything to me!" He patted her delicate hand, giving her a reassuring look. 

The Yunlai Sword technique alone wouldn't be enough if they needed to increase their speed. 

After all, this floating flesh sphere was covered in countless eyes. 

The beams from these Abyssal Eyes could attack from all 360 degrees without any blind spots. To avoid these light attacks, they needed something even faster.

Nathan still had one last trump card – the golden talent he had randomly obtained before starting this life simulation: The Eight Inner Gates technique... a forbidden art that was terrifying even in the Naruto manga.

By unlocking the chakra gates that restrict the body, one could temporarily gain immense power. However, the greater the power, the greater the risk. Each gate opened would multiply the burden on the body exponentially. When all eight gates were opened, it was known as the Eight Gates Formation – a technique that removed all limitations on one's power, pushing it to the absolute limit.

Though it could instantly grant power ten times greater than the Five Kage, it would result in death as one's life force burned away completely. In the original Naruto manga, Might Guy had nearly changed the ending with this technique.

However, unlike the Naruto world, Teyvat had no concept of chakra energy. Nathan himself didn't know what would happen if he unlocked the eight gates here. But facing this sanity-draining monster, he had no time for hesitation.

"Eight Inner Gates: First Gate – Gate of Opening, OPEN!"

Thanks to the simulator's teachings after obtaining this talent, Nathan could instantly master its use. With a deep roar, he forced open the first of the eight gates.

"So... powerful!"

After opening the gates, what emerged wasn't chakra like in Naruto, but rather an indescribable physical energy. This power coursed through his entire body, making every hair stand on end.

"But... it's not enough!!!"

Nathan clenched his fists. Opening the first gate had already given him a qualitative leap in power, but it wasn't enough to face this terrifying monster generated by the simulator.

"Second Gate – Gate of Healing, OPEN!!!"

"Third Gate – Gate of Life, OPEN!!!"

After consecutively opening two more gates, Nathan's skin began to turn red. 

This was the final safe zone of the Eight Gates technique. Green energy materialized around his body, with verdant flames shooting skyward.

"Nate..." Keqing, who had retreated to the back, stared at her childhood friend in disbelief. Such power! Such presence!

"My body... feels so heavy!" Barely seconds after opening the Gate of Life, Nathan already felt intense pressure.

"I need to end this quickly!"

Nathan locked onto the distant flesh sphere monster and vanished from his spot. Everything happened so fast that Keqing only caught a glimpse of the green trail he left behind.

"ROAR ROAR ROAR!!!"

Nathan's movement enraged the monster, which continued to emit terrifying howls. Countless beams shot out from its numerous eyes, like a storm of light trying to encompass him.

"Too slow..." 

Unfortunately for the monster, Nathan's speed surpassed these beams. After five consecutive flashes of movement, he appeared right in front of the monster.

"Die!" Nathan raised Keqing's sword high and thrust it towards the monster's disgusting body.

"CLANG!!!"

In that split second, the sound of clashing metal rang out. 

Instead of the sword piercing the monster's body as expected, Keqing's blade seemed to hit something as hard as meteorite iron and instantly broke into two pieces.

"What?"

While Nathan was still shocked by the monster's hardness, holding the broken sword hilt, the floating body suddenly crashed into him.

"Nate!!!!" Keqing's voice rang out like a blood-curdling cry.

Nathan felt excruciating pain in his abdomen, as if he'd been hit by a large truck. 

He was sent flying at extreme speed until he finally stopped after hitting the stone wall.

"This thing... is too overpowered!!!"

Even though this was just a life simulation, all five of Nathan's senses were real. 

Pain tore through his chest and back, and before he could process it, he coughed up a mouthful of blood.

"Nate... are you alright?" Keqing rushed to his side the moment he fell. 

The petite and adorable girl had become a tearful mess. 

She blamed all this misfortune on her own recklessness. ( My keqing don't cry please )

Seeing Nathan receive such fatal wounds for her sake made her heart feel like it was being torn apart.

"Don't worry... I can still continue!!!"

Fighting through the pain, Nathan struggled to stand up. 

It was clear now that just opening the safe zones of the Eight Gates wasn't enough to compete with this monster.

"Enough, that's enough, Nate..." Seeing that he wanted to continue, Keqing quickly embraced him to stop him.

"System, if I die here, will I be unable to return to reality?"

[No, the simulation will end upon your death!]

With this question and answer, Nathan felt relieved.

"Keqing, just watch... everyone should have the courage to face their fears!"

Leaving the girl's embrace, Nathan forced himself to stand up. Although this was just a life simulation, and although he had only spent a short time with Keqing, the girl's deep self-blame and hesitation still moved him.

Since this life was just an illusion, let Nathan have his moment to shine at the very end. After all, there were no second chances in reality.

"Come on, youth is about burning bright!"

Shouting at the distant monster, the green energy around Nathan's body had transformed into blue steam created by his evaporating sweat.