Chapter 4: Heroic Blood

Emma discovered Mels at the very moment the massive metal mech had already detected Mels and his companions’ arrival. The mechs—confident no human would dare challenge them—were unaware that Mels and his group were fighting precisely to save Emma.

As if mocking human ineptitude, the mech that had seized Emma in its cold iron grip suddenly released her, turned, and strode toward Mels and the others, apparently intending to join its companion before confronting Mels—the one who dared defy them.

This was exactly what Mels had hoped for. The mech abandoning Emma meant they still had time—and a chance—to turn the tide. Though he fully grasped the unprecedented danger of facing three mechs simultaneously, he felt no fear so long as they could execute their plan to rescue Emma and Shakba.

The warriors now confronting the mechs were Mels, Sol, and Rek—though Sol and Rek remained at a distance—while Akafir had vanished entirely. This was, in fact, a tactical arrangement Mels had devised during his earlier reconnaissance: using himself as bait to draw the mechs’ attention, allowing Akafir to flank the enemy and rescue Shakba and Emma.

Though Emma had not been seen earlier, Mels firmly believed the mechs’ appearance was solely to capture her—making her rescue his top priority. Events largely confirmed his assumption. Roughly two hours before Mels and the others arrived, the massive metal mechs had descended from the sky and, without warning, obliterated the upper floors of Shakba’s residence with exotic metal weaponry.

Though uncertain about the unfolding crisis, Emma stepped forward to confront the attackers, attempting to shield the elderly Shakba. Tragically, the moment she appeared, the mechs immediately addressed her as “X613” and ordered her to accompany them.

Shakba, seasoned and perceptive, instantly recognized the enemy’s objective: to seize Emma. Seizing the brief window while the mechs were preoccupied fending off the town guards rushing in, he urgently ushered Emma into the basement, seeking escape.

Yet the mechs possessed penetrating vision. After eliminating the first wave of human soldiers, they swiftly demolished the entire residence—pinpointing the concealed basement with chilling accuracy. As a result, Shakba sustained severe injuries, and Emma suffered numerous wounds.

Fortunately, the relentless influx of human soldiers bought Shakba and Emma precious time. It was precisely this delay that enabled Mels and his allies to arrive in time—successfully diverting the mechs’ attention and buying yet another critical window to rescue Emma.

Now, standing alone with his sword against three metal mechs, Mels keenly sensed the overwhelming peril—but remained utterly fearless. Perhaps provoked by Mels’s defiant aura, the mech that had captured Emma advanced toward him and abruptly gestured to its two comrades behind it. Instantly, the other two mechs withdrew.

Recognizing the intent, Mels understood the opponent sought single combat—and braced himself for the imminent assault. Yet he did not anticipate the mech halting mid-stride and speaking in a mechanized voice: “Judging by your earlier shout, you know X613. Though I don’t know what transpired, thank you for rescuing my comrade. However… anyone aware of our existence must die—even a savior! You now face two choices: take your own life, or die by my hand!”

“Hmph!” Hearing those words, Mels offered no reply—only a contemptuous snort.

“Insolent!” One of the mech’s companions, positioned behind it, suddenly roared—outraged by Mels’s arrogance.

“Frank—silence!” The mech not only rebuked its subordinate but did so loudly and authoritatively. When Mels caught the subordinate’s cowed expression, he knew the speaker held high rank.

Unaware of Mels’s inference, the mech paused in silence—then, amid a faint mechanical hum, fell utterly still. Within seconds, the armored plate on its chest slowly parted, revealing a man roughly Mels’s height, clad in a golden jumpsuit and wearing a brown glass helmet that obscured his face.

The man removed his helmet with both hands, unveiling flowing blond hair and crystalline blue eyes fixed intently on Mels. Yet beneath his striking features radiated an aura of icy arrogance. Just as Mels stared in astonishment, the stranger spoke: “I always assumed experimental subjects were savage and witless—but seeing you, I find you unlike any I’ve encountered. That is precisely why I reveal myself to you.

Allow me to introduce myself. I am Dakar von Criotte, Commander of the Third Experimental War Zone of the Free Federation. Moreover, the X613 you rescued is my most prized new-model synthetic combatant. Her presence here stems from her unauthorized use of a combat mech to desert the Federation. I have come today—to personally retrieve my defector!”

The self-proclaimed War Zone Commander Dakar laid bare the truth to Mels without reservation.

Though inwardly stunned, Mels instantly grasped that Dakar divulged these secrets only because he viewed Mels as already condemned. From this, Mels inferred the coming assault would be devastating.

Even so, Mels remained unflinching. After brief reflection, he relaxed his stance and asked Dakar: “I have several questions. Since you claim to be a War Zone Commander—what nation do you represent? What is the Free Federation? Where is it located? Why have you come here?”

Hearing the questions, Dakar smiled faintly, then replied meaningfully: “Are you trying to extract intelligence? Heh… no need. What I may tell you, I will. What I may not—I won’t utter a word. Though I’m certain you’ll never see tomorrow’s sun, I still won’t betray the Federation’s highest secrets. Well—courtesy ends now. Next, choose: fight me—or end your life.”

Mels hadn’t expected Dakar to be so formidable a character. In just a few sentences, he’d displayed staggering arrogance—and boxed Mels into silence. Suicide was unthinkable; his original aim—beyond stalling—had been to glean intelligence about this mysterious organization.

Now, seeing Dakar preparing to act, Mels could only steel himself for battle.

Facing Dakar—who stood weaponless and unassuming—Mels broke into a cold sweat. An unprecedented tension emanated from Dakar himself, enveloping Mels completely. As if awaiting Mels’s decision, Dakar merely watched him with a faint, inscrutable smile.

After three minutes of silent staring, Dakar finally spoke again: “I understand your choice. Before we begin, let me tell you this: within a thousand-meter radius, even an ant crawling past—we’d detect it. So abandon all illusions. Frank—blast out the rat hiding behind us!”

At Dakar’s sharp command, another mech pivoted and fired a crimson beam at a shattered wall roughly a hundred meters away. A colossal explosion followed—dust billowing violently. Through the haze, Mels watched in horror as Akafir shot forth, clutching his bleeding right hand.

The sight left Mels deeply shaken.

Though he couldn’t fathom how Dakar had pinpointed Akafir’s location, one fact was undeniable: every move they made lay exposed. Mels knew the situation was deteriorating rapidly. Victory hinged on defeating Dakar—yet he harbored not a shred of confidence. Dakar hadn’t attacked—not yet—seemingly savoring Mels’s mounting panic. But when Dakar gradually noticed Mels, though tense, showed no sign of surrender, he hesitated no longer. Employing an unknown martial art, he suddenly “floated” down from the mech—seven meters above ground.

In conventional martial arts, speed determined victory. Yet this was the first time Mels had ever witnessed movement via “floating.” Though he’d anticipated an unusual attack style, reality surpassed even his wildest expectations.

“Come—I’ll show you the true fundamentals of so-called ‘martial arts’!” Dakar stood steadily on the ground, casually assumed a stance, and declared.

The more relaxed Dakar appeared, the greater the pressure Mels felt—his mind torn between offense and defense.

After a pause, Mels bit his lip, resolved his course, and thought: *If he’s truly that strong, I’ll die anyway. Better strike first—see just how powerful he really is!*

With that, he shed his final hesitation. His body surged forward with his sword—closing the distance in under three seconds using an extraordinarily swift technique. Then, his longsword swept horizontally in the simplest, most effective, and most common cut—aimed squarely at Dakar’s left arm.

As Mels launched his attack, he conserved roughly seventy percent of his strength—ready to adapt to any countermove. He’d envisioned over a hundred possible responses. Yet none prepared him for what actually unfolded.

“Ah!” Just as Mels expected Dakar to elegantly evade the basic strike, Dakar cried out—staggering backward and collapsing. A bloody gash now split his arm—inflicted by Mels’s blade.

Had Mels not suspected superior martial prowess and thus conserved Qi energy, or had Dakar’s clothing lacked strong defensive properties, Dakar’s arm might well have been severed outright.

Staring at Dakar’s pained, wailing face as he clutched his wounded arm, Mels could scarcely believe this was the same arrogant foe he’d faced moments before! Now he finally understood why he’d sensed no Qi energy emanating from Dakar since his arrival—because Dakar possessed none at all!

“You… you monster! I’m the Federation’s free combat champion! How could I be defeated by a lowly experimental subject like you?! I’ll kill you—I’ll kill you!” Dakar’s face twisted in rage, his glare venomous.

Yet those words revealed the truth to Mels: Dakar was nothing more than a pampered noble’s heir—puffed up with self-importance, devoid of real skill or substance.

Gazing at Dakar, Mels felt genuine pity—for this useless, ignorant wretch. Yet standing on opposing sides, Mels would hesitate not at all. He knew: to rescue Emma—surrounded by mechs—Dakar was the perfect hostage.

Mind and body united, Mels acted without delay. Dakar stood barely three meters away—while the other mechs loomed over a hundred meters distant. Any beam weapon fire risked hitting Dakar first.

So Mels stepped forward confidently and said, “If you’re still a man—stand up. Release Emma, and I guarantee your life remains unharmed!”

“I… I…” Though utterly unwilling, Dakar fell speechless—gazing at the blood-dripping sword in Mels’s hand.

To accelerate Dakar’s decision, Mels coldly raised his sword—its tip aimed directly at Dakar’s throat.

Staring at the crimson blade, Dakar’s expression contorted as if being strangled. When Mels advanced the point slightly further, the once-boastful commander instantly crumbled—whimpering like a rabid dog: “Don’t kill me—don’t kill me! Take anything you want!” He scrambled backward, pleading desperately.

“Worthless trash—shaming the Federation!” Just as Dakar begged for mercy while retreating, a frigid voice rang out from the sky!

“Danger!” This time, Mels distinctly felt an unimaginable force descending from above. Though he’d desperately wanted to seize Dakar as hostage before impact, the force arrived too swiftly—leaving him only to regret not acting sooner!

A violet-crimson light plummeted from the heavens. More terrifying than its raw power was its precision. As Mels leapt back repeatedly, the beam struck the exact spot he’d occupied moments before. Instantly, the earth roared—as if enraged—shaking violently. At close range, Mels struggled to maintain his footing. Meanwhile, Dakar—crawling on the ground—was hurled high into the air by the blast, landing heavily near the feet of his own mech.

As the tremors subsided, Mels saw Dakar now lay over a hundred meters away. He cursed inwardly—the previous three-meter gap had been insufficient; now, a hundred meters might as well be the edge of the world. All he could do now was remain hyper-vigilant—prepared at any instant to confront the newly arrived enemy!

“Terrible—Mels stands no chance against that man!” Xiu Lante, watching from afar, had tracked the battle closely. Sensing the newcomer’s arrival, even the famed Knight Captain broke into a cold sweat.

Above Mels now hovered a man around fifty, dressed identically to Dakar—yet helmetless. Unlike Dakar, this man inspired pure dread in Mels—a bottomless, overwhelming power, far exceeding even what he’d felt confronting Xiu Lante—as if facing a mountain peak piercing the clouds.

“Di… Divak Commander—what brings you here?” Dakar, nearly knocked unconscious, stammered upon seeing the newcomer. His expression betrayed the man’s towering status.

“Hmph! If the Deputy Commander hadn’t feared you’d bungle everything—why would I be here?! Now—get lost!” Divak sneered coldly, then roared at Dakar without restraint.

“But… but I must retrieve X6…” Dakar’s plea was cut short.

“I told you—get lost. Can’t you understand?” Divak’s tone dripped with lethal intent. Even Dakar—foolish as he was—wouldn’t dare argue with an enraged Divak. Casting a helpless glance toward Emma, Dakar immediately boarded his mech. With a deafening roar, the three mechs vanished into the azure sky.

With the situation transformed, Mels knew Divak’s attention would soon shift to him. He intensified his focus—preparing to face this new, formidable adversary.

Just as anticipated, once confirming Dakar’s departure, Divak turned toward Mels. Mels suddenly noticed something strange in Divak’s gaze—not hostility, but the look of an artist beholding a masterpiece—a treasure stirring deep emotion.

They stood facing each other in this uncanny silence for a long while. Finally, after a prolonged pause, Divak sighed softly and said, “I know you won’t willingly surrender X613. Though I’d prefer not to engage you so soon—it’s become unavoidable. Come—unleash your utmost strength… or accept defeat!”

Hearing Divak’s words, Mels felt a peculiar sensation—as if Divak were a master instructing a student, not confronting an enemy. After brief reflection, Mels replied, “I know I cannot match you. But if you attempt to forcibly take Emma—I will fight to the death!”

“Sigh… You truly don’t comprehend. In fact, taking her away would benefit you all. Let me clarify: X613—no, the one you call Emma—is the Federation’s most advanced bio-weapon experimental subject currently produced. Put simply, she is not a child born of parents—but a person engineered through technology beyond your understanding. Her sole purpose is combat. Thus, whether operating mechanical war equipment or engaging in hand-to-hand combat, she possesses extraordinary adaptive capability.”

“However, a few months ago, she suddenly fled the Federation. To uncover what happened to her—and to prevent her from continuing to harm innocents—we must bring her back! Do you understand? I assure you she won’t be harmed—after all, she is an exceptionally valuable experimental subject!” Divak declared.

Hearing Divak’s explanation, Mels felt as though he were listening to a myth. Though deeply skeptical, given the enigmatic man’s past odd behavior and Divak’s current solemn expression, Mels believed most of what Divak had said was true.

Perhaps weighing his options, Mels hesitated briefly—then abruptly declared, “Even if what you say is true, you cannot take Emma away! Since you created her as a human being, you must grant her human rights. She deserves everything inherent to humanity—and the freedom to choose her own path! If you claim she possesses overwhelming aggressive instincts, let me tell you this—at least during her time with us, she has been gentle and kind, not a remorseless demon!”

Upon hearing Mels’ words, Divak lowered his head and sighed softly before replying, “Mels, the chasm between our perspectives is too vast. I have nothing more to say. If you intend to protect her, then fight me.”

Startled by Divak’s words, Mels immediately exclaimed, “How do you know my name? Who exactly are you?” His question caused Divak’s expression to shift dramatically—leaving him momentarily speechless.

Though Divak remained silent, Mels’ doubts intensified. He sensed this mysterious elder must be profoundly connected to him. Yet he also understood that if the other party refused to reveal the truth, no amount of questioning would extract even a single word. Of course, Mels knew rescuing Emma mattered far more than solving the mystery in his heart.

Strangely, whether facing Dakar or Divak, Emma stood utterly still—neither speaking nor showing any sign of wanting to leave. Even when Bagina waved to her from afar, she didn’t react at all. Emma appeared to wait helplessly—to see whether Mels would defeat the enemy, or whether the mysterious men would carry her away.

Emma’s abnormal behavior, coupled with Akafir’s injury, completely derailed Mels’ plan to buy time and rescue her first. Now, he had no choice but to accept Divak’s challenge—and eliminate these nuisances once and for all using his own strength.

Like Xiu Lante, Mels fully grasped that the power contained within Divak far exceeded his current capabilities. Thus, before battle commenced, he unleashed his full Qi energy, preparing to confront the enemy at peak capacity. After over two years of rigorous training under the Seven Immortals of Myriad Changes—and gradually mastering the True Nameless Divine Style—Mels had ascended to an entirely new realm. As he projected his Qi outward, the spirits in the air first sensed waves of unease, followed by a colossal Qi vortex that nearly vacuumed the air from the battlefield’s center—forming a visible artificial whirlpool before everyone’s eyes.

In an instant, Mels’ hesitation vanished. Slowly, he crossed his fists before his chest and roared, “Ha!” Instantly, a violent whirlwind erupted upward from around him, surging outward in all directions. Within the storm of his Qi, pale silver light—like pristine snowflakes—drifted gently, then gradually coalesced back around his body, solidifying into shimmering silvery-white armor. Mels stood before them all like a sacred knight blessed by the gods, enveloped in holy radiance.

“I truly never imagined someone your age could cultivate combat aura armor to this degree. Hah… Had you entered battle in this state from the outset, even my surprise attack might not have succeeded in rescuing that useless Dakar from your grasp!” Divak sincerely praised upon witnessing Mels’ combat aura. Yet his gaze held only admiration—no trace of panic or fear.

Hearing Divak’s words, Mels remained silent. In his eyes, only Divak’s formidable physique remained. He knew—even now—he was still no match for his opponent!

Without hesitation, Mels closed his eyes again. Instantly, the Qi vortex encircling his entire body dissolved—and the already-formed Qi armor began cracking, as if he were surrendering, abandoning the soul-shaking intimidation he’d previously exuded.

Seeing Mels’ seemingly submissive display, a flash of excitement lit Divak’s eyes. He murmured softly to himself, “I never expected you to wield a higher-tier combat aura. I’m even more eager to fight you now!”

Sure enough, before Divak’s words had fully faded, the dispersing Qi fragments surrounding Mels did not vanish—but instead began reassembling, once again enveloping his body!

Within less than a minute, Mels suddenly snapped his eyes open and bellowed, “Haa! True Nameless Divine Style—Supreme Innate Combat Aura—Dual-Layer Blazing Demon Armor!” At that very instant, the scattered combat aura fragments ignited like burning parchment—erupting into roaring flames.

At the epicenter, Mels vanished completely beneath the inferno—his form obliterated. Meanwhile, Divak, standing nearby, simultaneously sensed the aura emanating from the heart of the blaze—not merely a powerful presence, but something akin to a slumbering giant preparing to unveil its true might!

By now, Mels had completed all preparations—unleashing the ultimate technique he’d previously deployed only against Xiu Lante. Though he could further amplify his power, Mels knew employing unfamiliar, unwieldy strength now might render him incapable of contending with Divak in the coming battle—so he chose restraint.

Conversely, after observing Mels’ fully prepared stance, Divak chuckled in satisfaction and said, “Truly unimaginable—that among human test subjects, one could possess such immense energy! Initially, I thought our battle would be rather dull—but now it seems this fight will remain etched in my memory for life!”

“I only hope my performance doesn’t disappoint you.” Perhaps the surge of overwhelming power reignited Mels’ confidence. Speaking with icy arrogance, he made no immediate move to attack Divak—as if granting his opponent time to prepare.

Observing Mels’ reaction and sensing his desire for fair combat, Divak smiled faintly and replied, “Then please allow me some time to prepare. I assure you my performance certainly won’t disappoint you!”

“Go ahead.” Mels’ terse two-word reply embodied both unshakable conviction and ironclad resolve.

Watching the escalating killing intent on the battlefield—and seeing Mels actually grant his opponent ample preparation time—Sol couldn’t help but curse anxiously, “Is the boss out of his mind?! Why give that bastard time to prepare? Wouldn’t it be smarter to just charge in and kill him?”

“Sol, stop talking nonsense. You don’t understand a warrior’s code! If I were the boss, I’d grant the opponent time to prepare too. No matter who the enemy is—only victory achieved honorably counts as true victory! Sneaky tactics are your mages’ specialty—ambushing from the shadows!” Rek retorted disdainfully.

Rek’s remark enraged Sol. Like a combative rooster, he jabbed a finger toward Rek’s head and snapped, “What’s wrong with mages? We use wisdom to defeat enemies—unlike you, who rely solely on brute force! You big, stupid ox!”

“Hah… Sol, while mages’ combat principles aren’t inherently flawed, they’re not universally applicable. Take this moment, for instance—even if Mels launched a surprise attack against that elder first, he’d gain at most a fleeting advantage. Should the enemy regain dominance later, Mels would suffer irreversible psychological and physical defeat. It’s remarkable that Mels, at such a young age, grasps this principle.” Just as Sol and Rek argued, Xiu Lante—leaning on Bagina—approached the two youths and spoke.

“So that’s how it is.” Sol nodded upon hearing Xiu Lante’s words—then pressed further: “Uncle, judging from what you’ve said, is this opponent exceptionally powerful? Does the boss actually stand a chance against him?”

Hearing Sol’s question, Xiu Lante paused briefly before replying, “Judging from the aura he emits—and that long-range attack earlier—it’s already difficult for me to gauge his exact strength. If my assessment is correct, Mels’ chances of defeating him are slim. So all of you must prepare for battle. If things escalate, we’ll attack together—we must save both Mels and Emma. However… right now, I’m worried…” Xiu Lante trailed off.

Seeing Xiu Lante’s grave expression, everyone urgently pressed him—demanding to know his concern.

But Xiu Lante merely offered a faint smile and said, “It’s nothing. In any case, all of you must closely monitor battlefield developments—and stand ready to assist Mels at any moment. Right now, I’m missing my left hand and haven’t yet adjusted to my body’s altered balance, so my movement speed may be significantly slower than usual. Should real danger arise, I’ll have to rely on you!” With that, Xiu Lante clapped Rek’s shoulder.

Just as everyone conversed, a low shout echoed across the dueling arena—and a power even greater than Mels’ combat aura soared skyward. Glancing over, they saw Divak’s hair bristling upright, immense energy swirling around his body within a one-meter radius. Though it didn’t condense into armor like Mels’ technique, it bore striking resemblance.

Witnessing his opponent’s superior combat prowess, Mels—who had been preoccupied with thoughts of victory or defeat—suddenly released all such concerns. A torrent of battle-hungry blood surged through him, boiling over completely at that moment.

Fueled by rising combat fervor, Mels refused to forfeit the initiative. He raised his right fist, drew it sharply behind him, stomped forward fiercely with his left foot—and roared, “Ha! Mountain-Shattering Fist!”

A move known to nearly every martial artist across the continent now unleashed earth-shattering force from Mels’ fist. The ferocious power surged forth like a silver dragon, hurtling furiously toward its target.

Facing Mels’ assault, Divak yielded not an inch. He swiftly retracted both hands to his waist—then thrust them forward with lightning speed. Channeling his entire body’s Qi and relying on open palms, he erected a Qi shield before his body to intercept Mels’ fist-energy.

When two forces collide head-on, the brave prevail. From the outset, both adopted a relentless, no-retreat style—seemingly determined to test each other’s true Qi strength in their very first exchange!

The two Qi forces clashed directly—a contest of raw power versus raw power—immediately blasting a massive crater into the hardened ground. The thunderous impact resonated like two primordial beasts locked in mortal combat, while countless shards of stone and dust exploded outward at unimaginable velocity.

To shield themselves and those nearby from the shockwave, Rek and Bagina hastily channeled Qi to erect a barrier before Sol and Xiu Lante—preventing everyone from being struck by flying debris.

Yet just as they began activating their Qi, Xiu Lante suddenly gripped their wrists and commanded, “Don’t use your Qi! Their energies are currently locked in struggle—if you intervene, you’ll disrupt this equilibrium and draw the full force toward us!”

Thanks to Xiu Lante’s timely warning, Rek and Bagina narrowly avoided catastrophic consequences. Still, razor-sharp dust and debris shot toward them like blades and arrows—showing no mercy. In this critical moment, Sol displayed exceptional magical aptitude, casting a defensive spell in seconds—summoning an Earth Shield to safeguard everyone.

Though Xiu Lante and the others sustained no injuries in the initial clash, Mels and Divak on the battlefield fared less well. Confronting each other’s overwhelming power, both endured unimaginable strain with their bare bodies. After maintaining the stalemate for a short while, a massive explosion erupted.

Both were forced backward several steps almost simultaneously—Divak retreated three steps; Mels, four! To outsiders, their strengths appeared evenly matched—but Mels knew his Qi was at least twenty percent weaker than Divak’s. Though he’d initiated the attack, after the Qi collision, he retreated farther than his opponent. This seemingly minor disparity was, in truth, an insurmountable chasm!

Perhaps realizing direct confrontation was no longer viable—or perhaps Mels had planned this all along—upon recognizing his disadvantage, he showed no sign of discouragement. Instead, he charged forward, intending to overcome the supremely skilled Divak through superior technique.

At this moment, Divak seemed to engage Mels in a game of cat and mouse. As Mels advanced with agile footwork, elusive maneuvers, and overwhelming Qi, Divak not only refrained from reversing the disadvantage—but countered with fluid, evasive movements equally nimble.

If warriors typically employ evasion to exhaust opponents and exploit openings, Divak’s current evasiveness could only be interpreted as deliberately feeding Mels opportunities.

Though baffled as to why Divak kept easing up at every turn, Mels refused to squander this golden opportunity. He relentlessly employed fists, feet, and body as weapons—launching attack after attack against Divak.

Facing Mels’ onslaught, Divak merely parried each strike—showing no intention of launching a counteroffensive. He appeared determined to witness Mels’ true potential. Driven by immense Qi, every fist clash and kick produced deafening noise and staggering impact.

Yet after the battle continued for some time, Divak began subtly shaking his head. Minutes later, he finally couldn’t resist saying, “Mels, your Qi cultivation is indeed remarkably profound—but your martial techniques are truly…” Before he could finish, he suddenly noticed Mels’ figure had vanished! Damn—it’s a trap! As the warning flashed through Divak’s mind, Mels’ silhouette had already materialized behind him like lightning.

“Blazing Demon Combat—Lieshan Slash! Heaven-Shattering Strike!” Mels—having feigned weakness and patiently waited for Divak to lower his guard—had seized the perfect moment. An ultra-powerful technique, amplified by his profound Qi, erupted from his hands—blasting straight toward Divak’s back!