Chapter 95 - 8 vs 1

None of the warriors present could believe what had just occurred. The chamber, moments ago a battlefield of chaos and destruction, fell into an eerie silence. Even Lord Varek, standing tall and unyielding, appeared momentarily stunned. His hand rose slowly to his face, brushing against the single drop of blood trickling from his nose. He examined it briefly, his expression unreadable, before wiping it away with a single, decisive motion. His jaw tightened, and his crimson-streaked eyes narrowed as he straightened to his full, imposing height. The tension in the air thickened, suffocating and oppressive.

Without warning, Lord Varek shifted his stance. His body tensed, and his Ki surged violently around him, creating visible distortions in the air. Clearly, he intended to strike again, his fury undeterred by the unexpected turn of events. His injury was an anomaly, an insult he would not allow to go unanswered.

But before he could act, a sudden commotion drew everyone’s attention. Emerging from the debris-strewn corridors behind him were three familiar figures: Park Zhen, Abbess Xinhui, and Adam. Their hurried arrival came too late to prevent the confrontation, but their expressions spoke volumes.

Park Zhen’s face was grim, his sharp eyes darting toward Emir, who still clutched the glowing cube tightly in his trembling hands. Adam’s glasses glinted faintly as he took in the scene, his normally composed demeanor cracking into one of visible concern.

They had all seen the earlier burst of energy from a distance, a beacon that told them precisely where Lord Varek would go. Knowing that the whole plan would crumble if they let him get there first, they had pushed themselves to the limit to catch up, but Lord Varek’s speed had far surpassed theirs, more so now that Adam’s speed boost was over.

Their worst fears had taken root—Emir and Nikolai, defenseless against someone as powerful as the final boss of the scenario, would have no chance. Yet, as they arrived, the sight that greeted them was nothing short of surreal: everyone was momentarily frozen, and Lord Varek, invincible and untouchable, now visibly bleeding.

“Eh?!”

The trio exclaimed in unison, their voices tinged with confusion. For a moment, they hesitated, their minds struggling to piece together what could have caused such an outcome. But there was no time to analyze the situation. Their priority was clear: Lord Varek was still a threat.

Without a word, the three surged forward in unison, their movements coordinated and precise. Park Zhen led the charge, his body a blur of motion as his Ki flared around him. Abbess Xinhui followed closely, her corrupted Ki forming a faint, sinister aura around her extended claws. Adam, bringing up the rear, activated [Spectral Mist Step], his body momentarily dissolving into vapor as he moved into position.

Lord Varek’s scowl deepened as he sensed their approach.

“Fools.”

He muttered under his breath, clicking his tongue in irritation. In a swift, practiced motion, he extended his arm, summoning his cursed spear once more. The massive weapon materialized in his grasp, its dark steel glinting ominously in the dim light. The runes etched along its shaft pulsed with malice, and the dragon-shaped blade seemed to snarl as it awaited blood.

The clash was inevitable. Lord Varek raised his spear, ready to meet their attacks head-on. But before he could strike, Nikolai’s voice cut through the air like a knife.

“Stop!”

He shouted, his voice cracking with desperation.

It happened again. Lord Varek’s body froze, his muscles locking in place as if invisible chains had wrapped around him. His furious Ki wavered, the energy around him dissipating once more. His expression contorted into one of confusion and rage, but he could do nothing as the trio closed in.

Park Zhen was the first to strike. With a sharp, precise motion, he thrust his palm forward, his Ki condensing into an explosive wave of force that slammed into Lord Varek’s chest. The impact reverberated through the room, creating a deafening shockwave that cracked the ground beneath their feet and sent debris flying in all directions.

Abbess followed immediately, her claws glowing with the sickly hue of her corrupted Ki. She moved with fluid grace, slicing through the air with lethal precision. Her attacks landed true, carving two deep, jagged gashes across Lord Varek’s torso. The corrupted energy clung to the wounds, seeping into his form and amplifying the pain.

Finally, Adam closed the distance, his arm already transformed into a jagged, insect-like lance using [Parasitic Mutation]. With a fierce cry, he drove the weapon forward, the grotesque limb piercing through Lord Varek’s shoulder with brutal efficiency. The force of the strike sent a spray of blood into the air, staining the battlefield with vivid crimson.

The combined assault sent Lord Varek staggering backward, his once-unyielding form visibly shaken. For the first time, the seemingly invincible warlord had been overwhelmed.

The trio of attackers retreated briefly, their breaths heavy as they regrouped. Their efforts had landed devastating blows on Lord Varek, but the overwhelming presence of their enemy still loomed like an unyielding storm. Varek stood amidst the chaos, his hand gripping the deep wound in his shoulder left by Adam’s transformed arm. His face twisted in pain, but what stood out was the fury in his eyes—a rage so intense it felt as though it would consume the entire battlefield.

Without warning, the two Shikigamis that had been floating ominously around him began to glow. Their ethereal light intensified, pulsating with an almost hypnotic rhythm as waves of energy flowed into Lord Varek. Before the eyes of his stunned opponents, his injuries began to heal rapidly, the deep cuts closing as though they had never existed.

Yet, the Lord’s attention wasn’t on his attackers. His crimson gaze swept across the battlefield with purpose, searching for something—or someone. It didn’t take long before his eyes locked onto Nikolai. His lips curled into a snarl, his expression darkening as realization dawned.

“You...”

Lord Varek growled, his voice low but laced with venom.

“This sensation... It’s the same as that time!”

His words rose into a thunderous roar.

“I will never be a slave again!”

His Ki erupted around him like a violent maelstrom, swirling with such ferocity that the air itself seemed to shatter under the pressure. The ground cracked beneath his feet as the torrent of energy surged outward, forming a vortex that battered everything in its path.

Park Zhen’s sharp voice cut through the chaos.

“Stop him!”

He shouted, his tone laced with urgency. He knew all too well what an unrestrained Ki explosion from someone of Lord Varek’s power could mean—a cataclysmic event that would leave no one standing.

Without hesitation, Park Zhen, Abbess, Adam, and Li sprang into action. Jianfeng, who had been helping Shen recover, glanced back briefly before retreating with his injured son, leaving the others to face the storm. The four fighters charged toward Varek, their combined strength their only hope to stop the inevitable. But the closer they got, the more the raging Ki pushed them back like an unrelenting gale. The sheer force was nearly impenetrable, and their progress slowed with each step.

From the rear, Nikolai desperately shouted.

“Stop!”

Hoping to repeat the miraculous effect of his voice. But this time, the deafening roar of Lord Varek’s Ki drowned out his words. Panic began to claw at Nikolai’s mind. His skill wasn’t working, and the situation seemed completely hopeless.

But the long-haired guy was no stranger to impossible situations. His life had been a series of desperate gambles, and if there was one thing he excelled at, it was improvisation. His sharp eyes darted to his utility belt, and an idea sparked. Materializing the ‘Language Speaker’, a device originally intended for translating languages for newcomers, he held it firmly in his hands. It was a tool meant for simple communication—but now, it would serve as a makeshift megaphone.

Positioning the device in front of his mouth, Nikolai took a deep breath and shouted with all the force he could muster.

“Kneel!”

The device amplified his voice, projecting it far louder than it had any right to be. The sound reverberated throughout the ruins, bouncing off the crumbling walls and echoing with almost supernatural clarity. The sheer force of the command tore through the roaring Ki, reaching Lord Varek with undeniable power.

The effect was immediate. The violent vortex of Ki dissipated in an instant, the air falling eerily still. Varek’s body jerked as though struck by an invisible force, and his knees buckled. With a growl of frustration and disbelief, one of his legs collapsed, his knee slamming into the cracked ground.

“No!”

He roared, his voice filled with rage and humiliation as he struggled against the command.

The opening was all the others needed. Park Zhen moved with blinding speed, appearing before Lord Varek in an instant. He drove his knee upward with tremendous force, the impact landing squarely against Varek’s abdomen. The blow sent a concussive ripple through the air, forcing Varek’s body to jolt backward violently. The ground beneath them cracked from the sheer force of the strike, but Park Zhen didn’t stop there. Using the momentum, he spun mid-air and delivered a precise Ki-filled kick to Varek’s chest, the strike echoing like a thunderclap as it pushed him further off balance.

Abbess followed immediately, her corrupted Ki flaring around her like a sinister halo. Instead of slashing directly, she darted to Varek’s side and delivered a rapid barrage of clawed strikes aimed at his joints. Each swipe landed with brutal precision, targeting the connective points in his body and tearing through it with ease. Her attacks left blackened, seeping scars across his limbs, the corrupted energy surging into his body and causing him to momentarily falter.

Li was next, his ‘Atomica Armor’ glowing ominously as he charged in from the opposite side. With a roar, he raised both fists high before bringing them down in a double hammer strike aimed directly at Lord Varek’s back. The sheer force of the attack created a small crater beneath Varek as he stumbled forward, his body forced into a vulnerable position. Li didn’t hesitate, following up with a devastating uppercut that sent a spray of sparks into the air, the strike connecting cleanly with Varek’s jaw.

Adam, seizing the final opening, sprinted forward as his arm morphed grotesquely into a serrated, spear-like appendage using [Parasitic Mutation]. Unlike before, he leapt high into the air, twisting his body mid-flight to generate extra force. With a shout, he drove the lance downward, piercing cleanly through Varek’s shoulder once more and pinning him to the ground. The impact sent cracks spidering across the chamber floor, the weight of the blow reverberating through the battlefield as Lord Varek’s body was momentarily forced into submission.

Nikolai seized the moment, his suit enhancing his speed as he bolted toward Emir. Reaching the boy, he scooped him up and shielded him from the debris and rubble thrown up by the attacks. The kid clung tightly to the glowing cube, his focus unwavering despite the chaos around him.

Amid the flurry of blows, Lord Varek regained his footing, roaring in defiance as his Ki surged again. The force of his resurgence was so powerful that it sent Park Zhen, Abbess, Adam, and Li stumbling back. The Lord stood amidst the destruction, his body covered in fresh wounds. Yet, as before, the two Shikigamis surrounding him began to glow, pouring energy into him and rapidly healing his injuries.

Park Zhen’s expression darkened as he realized the dire nature of the situation.

“It’s a cycle, as long as those things are connected to him, we can’t truly injure him.”

He said grimly. But before anyone could act, something unexpected happened. One of the Shikigamis began to flicker, its glow dimming. The ethereal paper trembled before its surface started to blacken and disintegrate, curling inward like burnt parchment. Lord Varek’s eyes snapped to it, his expression twisting into one of disbelief.

“Impossible!”

He snarled. Adam’s eyes flickered as his [Cursed Vision] activated, displaying a system notification in glowing text before him:

['Shikigami of the Subordinate' has been destroyed!] [Linked character: Sung Ja-In has been defeated!]

The notification the boy read froze him in place for a brief moment, the words on the glowing system screen sinking in. His eyes widened in disbelief before a genuine smile, rare and full of relief, spread across his face. For the first time in what felt like forever, hope surged within him. The first group had succeeded.

Without wasting another second, Adam shouted the news to the rest of the team.

“Don. Sung Ja-In has been defeated!”

His voice carried across the battlefield, cutting through the chaos like a beacon of light.

The reactions were immediate. Park Zhen exhaled sharply, a small but satisfied smile tugging at the corners of his lips.

“Good.”

He muttered under his breath, his shoulders relaxing slightly for the first time in hours. Abbess’s face remained mostly stoic, but the faintest hint of a smirk betrayed her otherwise calm demeanor.

Li, however, was far less composed. He burst into hearty laughter, his voice booming as he mocked their enemy.

“So much for the so-called invincible Don! Hahaha!”

His amusement was palpable, almost infectious. Even Nikolai couldn’t hold back a triumphant

“Yes!”

His grin wide as he pumped a fist in celebration. The momentary victory lit a spark in the group that had seemed all but extinguished.

Yet amidst the wave of relief, there was one person whose reaction stood out: Jianfeng. Standing apart from the battle alongside Shen, who was still struggling to recover, Jianfeng’s expression hardened, his mind racing. The words Adam had shouted didn’t make sense. Sung Ja-In defeated? How?

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

His thoughts spiraled. He and the others had faced Bai Huolong together, throwing everything they had into that battle, and they had barely managed to prevail. Now, he was hearing that a group of their allies had managed to take down another Don, someone equally powerful, if not more so? It defied logic.

Jianfeng’s thoughts swirled chaotically as he tried to reconcile what he had just heard. He knew nothing of what had transpired in the battle against Sung Ja-In—the strategies, the sacrifices, or the risks—but the outcome left him shaken to his very core. Had they truly become so powerful in such a short time? These outsiders, most of them not even half a century old, were standing resolutely against the might of Lord Varek. And yet, he, with over five hundred years of experience and endless battles etched into his soul, had surrendered so easily.

He clenched his fists, his nails digging into his palms as the realization struck him with brutal clarity. He had abandoned his spirit, relinquishing his will to fight under the weight of despair. For days, he had wallowed in the belief that resistance was futile, that trying any further would only lead to more suffering and death, just like his son who had abandoned him.

After centuries of enduring the endless cycle of conflict, he had convinced himself that there was no hope, no point in continuing the struggle.

But now, watching these young fighters stand unyielding against an enemy that dwarfed their strength, he felt something stir within him—a mixture of shame, awe, and envy. They had faced insurmountable odds and refused to back down. Even when the situation seemed hopeless, they had found a way to push forward, fight for each other, and the chance to defy the inevitable. Their courage and determination made his own resignation feel hollow, like a bitter excuse to justify his surrender.

What had happened to him? Where was the warrior who had stood firm through centuries of battle, who had faced horrors beyond imagination and refused to yield? Had those centuries drained him so completely that he could no longer see the value in fighting? Or was it that, deep down, he had allowed fear to take root and grow unchecked? The questions tore at him, leaving him raw and exposed.

Lost in thought, Jianfeng barely registered the sound of footsteps approaching until Nikolai’s presence broke through his haze. The younger man’s voice snapped him back to reality, and his head jerked toward him in surprise.

Nikolai stood beside him, carrying Emir carefully in his arms, his expression a mixture of focus and faint amusement. Jianfeng’s eyes locked onto him, startled not only by his presence but by the strange clarity in Nikolai’s gaze, as if the con artist could see straight through the turmoil in his mind.

“Relax.”

He said casually, his tone light but his gaze sharp. He was carrying Emir, who still clutched the glowing cube tightly, and set the boy down carefully before turning his attention back to Jianfeng and Shen. Reaching into his pocket, Nikolai produced a small, jade-colored pill and leaned down to place it gently in Shen’s mouth.

“Let’s see if this helps.”

He murmured, watching intently as Shen began to swallow reflexively. While waiting, Nikolai straightened and turned to Jianfeng.

“You know…”

He started, his voice was soft but deliberate.

“They told me about what you went through at the Jade Palace. How hard you fought just to survive, only to be overwhelmed again right after the shock of having your own son betray the resistance. It’s no wonder you felt like giving up.”

Jianfeng’s eyes narrowed slightly, but he said nothing. He simply listened, his silence encouraging Nikolai to continue.

“I mean, from your perspective, it must’ve seemed like everything was lost.”

The long-haired guy went on, his tone laced with calculated empathy.

“What was the point in trying, right? But here we are, facing Lord Varek himself. Everyone’s here—even you.”

Jianfeng’s gaze dropped slightly, the weight of Nikolai’s words pressing down on him. Nikolai leaned in slightly, lowering his voice as if sharing a secret.

“And look at Shen… Even he’s questioning things. You can see it in his eyes. Maybe it’s time to trust in something again. Just a thought.”

Jianfeng’s grip tightened slightly, but he didn’t respond. He simply stared at Shen, whose breathing was beginning to steady as the pill took effect. Nikolai straightened, his expression softening into a smile that was as false as it was disarming.

“Anyway, I’ll leave you to think about it. I’ve got a job to do.”

He said lightly. And with that, Nikolai turned back toward the battlefield, where the fight against Lord Varek continued to rage. Raising the ‘Language Speaker’ once more, he shouted into it with all the force he could muster.

“Stop!”

The amplified command thundered through the chamber, cutting through the clamor of the battle. Once again, Lord Varek’s body seized up, his Ki dispersing as he froze in place. The others wasted no time, launching a coordinated barrage of attacks that struck him with devastating force. The impacts were so powerful that the ground beneath Varek cracked and caved, leaving him partially buried in the rubble.

As the dust began to settle, Nikolai glanced back at Jianfeng one last time.

“I’ll trust you to do the right thing.”

He said with a smirk before turning away. As soon as his back was to Jianfeng and Shen, his expression shifted entirely. Sticking his tongue out in mock disdain, he thought to himself.

“What a load of sentimental garbage. But hey, it’s not the first time someone’s fallen for a scene like that.”

With that, he moved back into position, ready for whatever came next.

Returning to the chaotic battle against Lord Varek, the situation had shifted dramatically. Thanks to Nikolai’s intervention, the once-dominant warlord now found himself on the defensive. Every attempt to launch an attack or counterstrike was met with immediate disruption, leaving him increasingly vulnerable. Despite this, the remaining Shikigami continued to provide him with additional energy, healing his injuries, albeit at a slower rate than before.

Adam noticed this detail amidst the fray. His sharp eyes focused on the Shikigami as he maneuvered around Varek’s relentless defenses. Taking advantage of the latest offensive, the boy prepared for a calculated strike. Transforming his right arm into a sharp blade, he launched it toward the glowing figure, knowing full well that those papers were technically invulnerable, but that was only because all the damage to it was transferred to its linked character, so it was worth a shot.

However, his attack passed harmlessly through, as though he had tried to cut through air. Adam’s eyes narrowed as realization struck him: the Shikigami wasn’t a physical entity—it was pure energy.

Adapting immediately, Adam activated [Spectral Parasitic Biomass], summoning a long, spectral blade-like appendage from his back. With a swift motion, he lashed out at the Shikigami. This time, he felt resistance as his weapon connected. A faint ripple of energy spread from the impact, and though the exact effect was unclear, Adam knew he had struck true. Yet he couldn’t celebrate. Lord Varek reacted instantly, unleashing a wave of explosive Ki and a burst of strange, crackling energy that forced the boy and the others to retreat.

Lord Varek’s fury was palpable as his gaze snapped toward Nikolai. With a guttural roar, he slammed both fists into the ground. The impact sent tremors through the battlefield, but it wasn’t just a display of raw power. Something stirred beneath the rubble, an ominous energy surging to life. Before anyone could discern what he had unleashed, Nikolai raised the speaker again and shouted for him to stop.

Once more, the command struck Lord Varek, freezing him in place. The others capitalized immediately. Li and Park Zhen moved in tandem, each launching a devastating punch aimed squarely at Varek’s face. Their combined strength sent him crashing into a nearby wall, the impact shaking the ruins. Yet even this didn’t send him far; Lord Varek managed to recover mid-flight, planting his feet firmly and skidding to a halt.

Before they could press their advantage, a new threat emerged. From the ground near Nikolai, four bizarre creatures shot upward. They were grotesque hybrids of sharks and missiles, their sleek, metallic bodies glinting as they locked onto their target. It became clear what Lord Varek’s skill had accomplished—an autonomous skill designed to hunt its prey even if he himself was rendered immobile.

Nikolai’s eyes widened in horror as the missile-sharks zeroed in on him. The rest of the team was too far to intervene, and Emir, still clutching the glowing cube, was too focused to notice. Nikolai froze for a fraction of a second, his instincts screaming at him to move, but it was already too late.

However, a blur of motion streaked past Nikolai, a testament to Jianfeng’s years of unparalleled martial expertise. With an almost preternatural grace, the martial artist intercepted the incoming missiles, each step calculated and precise despite the high stakes. His eyes, sharp and focused, tracked the erratic paths of the projectiles as though time itself had slowed to grant him clarity.

The first missile came at him from the left, its trajectory aimed directly at Nikolai. Jianfeng pivoted, his left hand snapping out with lightning speed to deliver a perfectly timed palm strike to the missile’s side. The impact redirected it sharply, sending it careening into a nearby pile of debris where it erupted in a controlled explosion.

The missile flew harmlessly away from Nikolai and Emir, shielded by Jianfeng’s deliberate angle of deflection.

As the second missile screamed toward him, Jianfeng’s footwork became a blur of motion. He dropped into a low stance before springing upward with a forceful kick. His heel connected with the missile’s nose, sending it soaring skyward in a fiery arc. The missile exploded harmlessly above the battlefield, the shockwave dissipating into the open air.

The third and fourth missiles approached simultaneously, their paths weaving unpredictably as they zeroed in on their target. Jianfeng spun on one leg, his robes billowing as he used the momentum to catch the third missile with his right hand. Redirecting it with a sharp twist of his wrist, he sent it hurtling toward a distant pile of rubble. Without pausing, he dropped into a crouch and used both hands to clap against the body of the fourth missile, forcing it to veer off course and crash into the remains of a crumbling pillar. Both erupted in fiery bursts, but their force was far enough away to pose no threat.

Jianfeng landed with an elegance that belied the chaos surrounding him. His breath came in steady, measured intervals, his movements controlled despite the extraordinary effort he had just exerted. The ground beneath his feet bore the cracks of his exertion, a testament to the force behind each strike. For a moment, it seemed the immediate danger had passed.

But then, a chilling sound reached his ears—a fifth missile emerging from the ground with a deafening roar. This one had been concealed, its trajectory aimed directly at Nikolai’s exposed back. The realization hit Jianfeng like a bolt of lightning. Spinning on his heel, he turned sharply, his body already in motion to intercept the threat. But this time, even his incredible reflexes couldn’t match the missile’s speed.

The missile streaked forward, its metallic surface reflecting the wide-eyed panic etched on Nikolai’s face. Time seemed to slow as the deadly projectile closed in, its target utterly defenseless. Jianfeng’s heart raced as he pushed his body beyond its limits, his outstretched hand just inches too far to intervene.

But the explosion never came. In an instant, the missile veered sharply off course, a force intercepting it at the last possible moment. The projectile soared into the sky, where it erupted in a brilliant flash of fire and light, the shockwave spreading harmlessly into the atmosphere.

Jianfeng’s breath hitched as he processed what had just happened. His gaze snapped to the source of the intervention, and his eyes widened in disbelief. Standing a few feet away was Shen, his posture steady despite the strain evident in his expression. His hands were raised, the faint traces of Ki still shimmering around them as he lowered them slowly. The effort had clearly taken a toll, but Shen managed a weak, almost apologetic smile.

“Father…”

Shen said, his voice heavy with emotion.

“I… I know I have no right to ask you for anything, but please… go help them. I’ll stay here and protect these two.”

Jianfeng stood frozen, his body tense with hesitation as his gaze locked onto Shen. Doubt gnawed at the edges of his mind, the weight of past betrayals and unanswered questions holding him back. His son’s words echoed in his ears, but they weren’t enough to fully dispel his uncertainty.

It was Nikolai who broke the stalemate. Standing nearby, his sharp eyes scanned Shen’s face, reading every subtle nuance in his expression. Unlike Jianfeng, Nikolai had an innate knack for seeing through facades, being a con artist himself, and what he saw in Shen’s eyes was unshakable sincerity.

“He’s telling the truth.”

Nikolai said firmly, his voice cutting through the quiet.

“I trust him.”

His tone was softer now, but no less resolute. The conviction in his words carried a weight that seemed to snap Jianfeng out of his paralysis. His gaze shifted briefly to Nikolai, then back to Shen. The doubt in his eyes began to waver, replaced by a cautious resolve. He exhaled slowly, the tension in his shoulders easing as he gave a single, reluctant nod.

“Go! We’ll handle things here.”

Nikolai urged, his tone more insistent. Jianfeng’s focus lingered on Shen for another moment, his expression unreadable. Then, with a final nod of acknowledgment, he turned away.

Without another word, he launched himself into a sprint, his movements fluid and purposeful as he headed toward the heart of the battlefield where Lord Varek awaited.

The battle was far from over, but as Jianfeng sprinted back toward the heart of the conflict, his movements carried a newfound purpose. The faint flicker of his fighting spirit, long thought extinguished, now began to blaze steadily, fueled by the faith of those around him.

Shen’s actions and Nikolai’s trust had stirred something deep within him, and he knew there was no room for hesitation anymore. The chaos ahead demanded every ounce of his strength.

Lord Varek had risen to his feet once more, his imposing form looming over the battlefield like an unyielding force of nature. Taking advantage of the brief moment of distraction when Nikolai was attacked by the missiles, he launched a furious offensive against the four opponents before him.

Park Zhen, Abbess Xinhui, Adam, and Li fought with everything they had, but Lord Varek’s relentless strikes forced them to stay on the defensive. His mastery of Ki and sheer physical prowess made every exchange a desperate struggle to hold their ground.

Despite his apparent dominance, the Lord’s gaze flickered toward the distant figures of Nikolai and Emir. His expression twisted into one of irritation as he realized that the autonomous missiles he had sent earlier had failed to eliminate their target. Clicking his tongue in frustration, he readied himself to unleash an even more devastating skill. His Ki flared violently, a clear sign of the power he was about to unleash.

But before he could act, something entirely unexpected happened again. The second and final Shikigami that floated by his side began to dim. Its once radiant glow faded rapidly, and its form began to crumble as though consumed by an unseen force. Adam, watching closely, saw the system notification appear before him:

['Shikigami of the Subordinate' has been destroyed!] [Linked character: Bai Huolong has been defeated!]

The significance of the notification was not lost on Adam or the others. For the second time, a Don had been defeated—this time Bai Huolong, a formidable Jiang Shi, and one of Lord Varek’s most trusted subordinates.

What made it even more astonishing was the implication: Drake had managed to take down such a powerful opponent alone. A wave of disbelief and awe washed over the group as they processed the gravity of what had just occurred.

Lord Varek’s reaction was immediate and explosive. A guttural scream of rage tore from his throat, his voice echoing across the battlefield.

“Impossible!”

He bellowed, his red eyes blazing with fury.

“How dare mere outsiders defy my world like this?! You will not have your way with Murim again!”

Seething with anger, he reached into the folds of his attire and produced an object unlike anything they had seen before. In his hand was a small, technological vial containing a swirling black liquid that seemed almost alive. Its ominous appearance sent a chill down Adam’s spine. Varek’s lips curled into a twisted smile as he held the Shikigami in one hand and brought it toward the vial.

[Skill: Kaiju Fusion Lv9] [A high-level technique developed by the ‘Overlord Organization’ to combine the essences of multiple Kaiju monsters into a single, living entity. By harvesting and merging core genetic and spiritual components, the user forges a new Kaiju whose strength, abilities, and temperament reflect an amalgamation of the fused essences. The resulting creature often exhibits traits and powers surpassing any of the original monsters.] [Current Materials: Bai Huolong’s soul + Sung Ja-In’s soul + Essence of Dark Galactron: Rank S-] [Cursed Vision Knowledge] [Warning: Er■ror■ ... ■E■rro■r … Er■ror■ ... ■E■rro■r] [Warning: Ma■nifest■atio■n of highe■r bein■gs from■ an S-cla■ss scena■rio to lo■w-level sce■nari■os is f■orbidd■en!]

Realizing the danger, Adam’s eyes darted to the glowing text that appeared before him. The system had identified Lord Varek’s actions and displayed crucial information. The boy’s face turned pale as he read the details, understanding the catastrophic implications of what their enemy was attempting.

“Nikolai!”

Adam shouted, his voice cutting through the chaos.

“Stop him now!”

Nikolai, still holding the megaphone, acted without hesitation. Raising the device to his lips, he roared.

“Stop!”

His voice, amplified and reverberating across the battlefield, struck at Varek like an invisible force. For a moment, it seemed to work. Lord Varek’s body stiffened, his movements halting mid-action. The vial, which he had been preparing to activate, slipped from his grasp and vanished into thin air.

But even as the command took partial effect, it became clear that Varek had anticipated this. His lips twisted into a cruel sneer as he channeled the energy elsewhere. The black vial reappeared, its contents now poised to be unleashed—not here, but in the distant location where Drake fought alone.

“If outsiders are trying to disrupt my world’s rules, then an outsider force will be the one in charge of erasing you”

Lord Varek said with a cruel smile. The battlefield trembled under the weight of the escalating conflict.