CHAPTER 274 A HALF-HUMAN

The superior power and more skillful spiritual martial arts of the timber spirit manipulator easily

dominated Rocky. Only the assistance of the Dark Heaven Insect Queen prevented Rocky's total

defeat from his opponent.

The intense battle and the effects of the Centipede-snake's venom had almost completely exhausted

the Dark Heaven Insect Queen. Rocky was almost at the same state after the intense battle with the

timber spirit manipulator.

"This timber spirit manipulator is truly powerful. His spiritual race, naturally born with the power of

thunder, makes him a truly formidable foe. Each attack required an enormous amount of power to

match!" Rocky said to himself as he analyzed the powerful opponent before him. If the power of the

Holy Dragon Bead had not been sealed, then Rocky would probably have a chance to salvage the

encounter. However, this was not the reality of the situation.

Uriah and Rubygon had both almost reached their limits as they fought the Jumbo Horned Beetle. This

made the situation even worse for Rocky.

If the fight continued the same way, Rocky knew that they would all be doomed. The only choice, it

seemed, was to come up with a maneuver that would take the opposing spirit manipulator by surprise.

Otherwise, absolute defeat would be the only fate that waited for them.

"Death is upon you now!" the Timber spirit manipulator exclaimed as he skillfully executed another

martial arts maneuver. His spiritual power of Thunder nature took the shape of a ferocious shadow wolf

that charged at Rocky as soon as it completely materialized.

The attack was impossible to meet head on, this Rocky knew full well. He moved away from the

approaching attack at the last minute to avoid getting blind-sided by any follow-up attack. Rocky turned

after avoiding the attack at the last minute towards the timber spirit manipulator. His opponent let out a

maniacal laugh and then disappeared into thin air.

The timber spirit manipulator immediately materialized beside him and exclaimed, "Thunder Chains!"

before Rocky could do anything.

A link of chains that crackled with electrical energy, materialized and bound Rocky! Rocky felt like he

was struck by a jolt of electricity! He was paralyzed and was unable to move!

The shock brought by the energy of the chain severely limited Rocky's movement and his opponent

took advantage of this. He slammed his palm directly at Rocky's chest. The force sent Rocky

backwards. He fell to the ground in a heap and spat out blood.

"Ha-ha..." The Thunder Chains prevented Rocky from making a counterattack. The timber spirit

manipulator walked towards Rocky and attacked him with a Thunder Bursts Strike as Rocky stood up.

This sent Rocky flying backwards once more and falling to the ground. Rocky looked crestfallen and

dispirited.

Rocky took control of himself and used the momentum of his fall to get himself into a standing position.

He glared at the timber spirit manipulator with a challenging look. This material belongs to .

"Damn! You have a will of steel!" the Timber spirit manipulator said as his face grew ominous.

"And you're pathetic," Rocky replied, as he wiped off the blood from the corner of his mouth.

These words mocked the timber spirit manipulator and he seethed with anger. His eyes grew wild with

unbridled enmity. He charged at Rocky as he activated his power to its full. He looked determined to kill

Rocky with his next attack.

The battle took an ugly turn and Rocky had to think of an effective counterattack before it was too late.

Rocky was convinced that an overly powerful opponent should have a flaw somewhere that waited to

be exploited.

The spiked scorpion tail of the Dark Heaven Insect Queen flung forward and it blocked the timber spirit

manipulator's advance. This bought Rocky enough time to execute his counterattack.

Whistled signals crossed the distance between Rocky and Uriah and Rubygon. They stopped their fight

with the horned beetle; they knew full well what the signal meant. Without warning, they ran towards

Rocky at full speed.

The Jumbo Horned Beetle followed Uriah and Rubygon at the fastest speed that it could muster; it

never wanted to be deprived of its opponents. Its blood lust overcame its senses. The timber spirit

manipulator never noticed that the horned beetle changed position because his vision was blocked by

the spiked tail of the insect queen. He never noticed that the Jumbo Horned Beetle now rushed

towards Rocky.

"Rubygon!" Rocky hollered at Rubygon at the exact moment as he watched the horned beetle's

approach. Rubygon immediately shifted trajectory with such skill and agility and met the horned beetle

head on.

Enraged by Rubygon's challenge, the Jumbo Horned Beetle rushed towards Rubygon at full speed. Its

instincts screamed at it, urged it forward. Rubygon alone was barely a match for it. An opportunity to

slaughter an easy enemy was something a Jumbo Horned Beetle did not let pass. When the horned

beetle reached striking distance, he drew forth all his power and redoubled his charge at Rubygon. At

the perfect moment, Rubygon once again shifted trajectory. The barreling horned beetle missed

Rubygon by mere inches, and harmlessly passed it by.

But Rubygon's true purpose was just about to be revealed. When the horned beetle drew forth his

remaining power to increase the power of his attack on Rubygon, this also doubled his momentum.

This momentum when added to his attack would have caused a devastating injury that none but the

most powerful beasts could survive. Unfortunately, the attack missed Rubygon and all that was left was

the uncontrollable momentum that continuously moved the horned beetle forward, unable to stop itself.

Until it collided with a large, bluish creature much bigger than it was.

Whooom! The impact of the collision sent an aftershock that rippled away from the point of contact. The

horned beetle collected its senses and realized that it had collided with the Dark Heaven Insect Queen

that stared down at him with blood-crazed eyes. The exoskeleton of the Dark Heaven Insect Queen

was built like a heavy tank. The impact from the Jumbo Horned Beetle merely bounced off harmlessly

from its steel-hard shell.

Before the horned beetle could act, the Dark Heaven Insect Queen swung its spiked scorpion tail at the

side of the horned beetle's abdomen with the speed of the wind. The direct hit impaled the horned

beetle and it screamed in agony. It hopelessly tried to break free as it flailed its arms helplessly. But the

spiked scorpion tail was lodged too deep into its abdomen and every movement merely made it weaker

and weaker until its lifeless carcass moved no more.

The timber spirit manipulator realized what has happened when the insect queen's tail moved away

from blocking his vision and into the abdomen of the horned beetle. The death of the horned beetle

shocked the timber spirit manipulator. He found it hard to believe. His horned beetle was a third grade

spirit-manipulated beast of the three-star level. It should not have died that easily. No, not that fast.

What he failed to realize was that his opponent was one truly sly individual. When Rubygon

successfully threw the horned beetle off balance and towards the unstoppable course to the Dark

Heaven Insect Queen, Rocky smeared the insect queen's tail with Centipede-snake's venom.

Therefore, what struck the horned beetle was a combination of the Centipede-snake's venom and the

insect queen's own poison. Both of which simultaneously paralyzed and weakened the horned beetle

as it died helplessly unable to free itself from its deadly impalement. Ultimately, the horned beetle was

just another victim of Rocky's accurate and swift planning.

Rocky glanced at the timber spirit manipulator with emotionless eyes. What met his gaze was a man

overflowing with rage and bitterness.

"You bastard! I will make you suffer for that!" the Timber spirit manipulator growled. His face turned

crimson; the veins on his neck and forehead bulged as it throbbed; liquid rage pumped throughout his

entire being. The Thunder Light radiated forth from his body and made him look like a living torch of

electrical energy as he rushed towards Rocky at full speed throwing down all his defenses. His mind

was filled with a singular obsessive objective to kill Rocky.

"Spirit Possession!" Rocky called forth. He waited for this opportunity that seemed to him would never

come at all. Rocky released all of his spiritual energy and turned himself into a living shadow. At the

same time, a shadow beast appeared and fused with his entire being.

When the timber spirit manipulator reached Rocky's location, a Fire Light filled the entire area. The

timber spirit manipulator stopped and stared at the magnificent Fire Light that slowly faded away before

him. When the Fire Light completely faded away, a humanoid form stood before him.