[Explorer Assessment, Rest Hall]
On the holographic screen, Chen Kong used one hand to stop the claw of the Grey-Lined Earth Lizard. Pale, ethereal Starlight energy flowed across his arm, causing his normally slender limb to erupt with strength comparable to a quasi-Calamity-level Star Beast.
This scene stunned everyone in the rest hall. Even Mi Yao, who had been playing his handheld game console, looked up, a hint of surprise flashing in his amber eyes.
"As expected..."
Caroline's voice broke the silence.
In the 'Intelligent Mechanical Data Analysis Network' that only she could see, she had already analyzed the reason behind Chen Kong's feat based on his current Starlight energy fluctuations, characteristics, and partial mutation traits.
[Star Source: The Dream Weaver]
[Currently Copied Ability: Quicksand Ant Queen Star Core (Partial) + Unknown Enhancement].
She turned to Tendo beside her, her tone seeking confirmation.
"...Tendo, this must be the essence of the Dream Weaver's 'limitless imagination' that you once mentioned, right?"
Hearing this, Tendo uncharacteristically showed a puzzled expression.
"Did I tell you that?"
"Yes."
"Yes."
Caroline nodded earnestly, and a recording file suddenly popped up on her terminal.
It was Tendo's casual complaint from when he was younger.
'The Dream Weaver's replication isn't copying exactly; it's turning a "thought" into "reality." It's a pity few people understand that.'
Tendo: "..."
He smiled helplessly.
"Forget it, whether I said it or not isn't important."
Tendo looked up at Chen Kong on the screen, a slight curve forming at the corner of his mouth.
"The Dream Weaver's so-called 'replication' is essentially the materialization of 'fantasy.'"
"For example, Chen Kong sees the power of the Ant Queen Star Core, and he 'wishes to possess that power.' The Dream Weaver then helps him turn that 'thought' into reality."
"But most people are constrained by reality."
Tendo paused, then said meaningfully, "...Because they can only imagine things that are based on reality, things that are 'visible' and 'tangible.' They 'cannot conceive' and 'cannot see' things outside their own cognition."
"Such as 'making their strength surpass the Calamity level,' 'making their Starlight energy take any form,' or even the shape of others' Starlight skills or weapons."
"Since there are no real-world references, they feel it's 'impossible.' And when the Dream Weaver perceives this 'self-doubt,' it naturally cannot achieve true breakthrough."
Hearing this, Caroline suddenly asked, "Since the Dream Weaver possesses such limitless potential, why did you give it up for Vector Control back then?"
This question puzzled not only Caroline but also some of the Dimensional viewers.
While the current Vector Control had been developed to an extremely exaggerated extent by Tendo, many Dimensional viewers still felt, when he first faced the choice, that the Dream Weaver undoubtedly offered more possibilities than Vector Control, which had a 'relatively fixed effect,' and was therefore more suitable for an all-rounder like Tendo.
In response to the question, Tendo merely smiled and said dismissively, "Because for me, the things I want to achieve simply don't need the Dream Weaver Star Source to realize them."
"It's meaningless to me."
"..."
Tendo's answer was both within and outside Caroline's expectation.
It was a standard Tendo-style response. The Dream Weaver 'helps people realize fantasies,' and Tendo himself is 'someone who can help others realize fantasies.'
Therefore, the Dream Weaver Star Source was somewhat redundant to him.
Without dwelling on the topic, Tendo turned his head back to Chen Kong on the screen and smiled, "Caroline, do you know the Dream Weaver's biggest weakness?"
Without any hesitation, Caroline immediately provided the answer.
"It is that the fantasies, when too realistic, make the user unable to distinguish between illusion and reality. They might even 'imagine' their own body to be capable of enduring anything, ultimately leading to bodily collapse."
"Yes."
Tendo watched Chen Kong, who was evenly matched with the Grey-Lined Earth Lizard on the screen, and said, "Sometimes, thinking too much and acting too convincingly... isn't a good thing."
As he spoke, Tendo suddenly turned to look at Huan Qianying next to Ye Shenlin, a meaningful smile curving his lips.
It was as if his words were not only a commentary on Chen Kong but also on Huan Qianying.
Huan Qianying's Star Source, 'Persona,' could simulate anyone's personality and abilities, bearing a striking resemblance to the Dream Weaver.
The only difference lay in what they simulated.
[Explorer Assessment, Deep within the Cave]
Not long after Tendo finished speaking, the scene shifted to Chen Kong.
Pale, ethereal Starlight energy flowed in his palm, even slightly twisting the air.
Feeling the surging, powerful force within him, Chen Kong felt a sense of control over everything for the first time.
If it had been before, he definitely wouldn't have been a match for the Grey-Lined Earth Lizard, but now, he had the strength to contend with, and even suppress, this monster.
This feeling was profound and addictive.
Although Chen Kong was well aware that this power was only temporarily gained by replicating the Calamity-level Ant Queen.
However, this power was so immense that it allowed him to reverse many situations he hadn't even dared to imagine before.
Bang!
The Grey-Lined Earth Lizard roared in anger, swinging its other claw, trailing magma, at Chen Kong!
But Chen Kong merely sidestepped, and his Starlight-condensed fist smashed hard into its jaw.
With a loud boom, the Grey-Lined Earth Lizard's massive body was actually knocked back two steps. Its claws dug two deep pits into the ground, scattering碎石!
Without hesitation, Chen Kong immediately rushed forward and threw another punch.
This time, he aimed for the Grey-Lined Earth Lizard's brow, which was its weakness!
Crack!
The sound of bones shattering was clearly audible. A section of the Grey-Lined Earth Lizard's brow caved in.
Black blood mixed with magma flowed from its mouth. It curled up on the ground in pain, clearly seriously injured.
Looking at the wounded Grey-Lined Earth Lizard, Chen Kong regulated his breathing and the restless Starlight energy inside him, preparing to press his advantage.
After all, he hadn't forgotten what his true mission and goal were.
He had to find a way to pass this assessment and evade capture by the Raccoon Administrator pursuer.
Not defeat the Grey-Lined Earth Lizard in front of him.
But just as he started to move, a heartbreaking pain suddenly shot through his arm.
He looked down and saw that the skin on his arm had begun to crack. Tiny wounds were seeping blood droplets, and the pale Starlight energy had become unstable, flickering on and off.
What was going on?
Seeing this, Chen Kong's heart sank abruptly. He tried to condense Starlight energy again, but the power inside him was like an out-of-control flood, frantically surging against his meridians. Every flow brought with it a searing pain.