Chapter 51: Did My Best, Truly Did My Best

"Crack!"

A terrifying force transmitted through the blood spear, and a crisp sound of bone fracturing rang out. Glock, who was wielding his magma-infused blood fist, instantly widened his blood-red eyes, filled with profound shock.

What kind of strength is this?!

Immediately afterward, he healed his injuries at top speed while deftly deflecting the blood spear, attempting to rely on his immortality to fight a war of attrition. As long as he didn't die, a bone fracture couldn't even be considered a minor injury.

Yet Glock had his techniques, so did Ye Mingqiu not have his own?

Polearm Mastery Level: 3!

The crimson blood spear rebounded, tearing through the air like a ferocious tiger pouncing on its prey. It savagely ripped a mouthful of scarlet blood energy from Glock's magma fist, absorbing it into the core of the blood spear and causing it to emit an increasingly brilliant radiance.

Reflected in Glock's terrified pupils was an expression full of excitement and elation beneath a fierce, green-faced, fang-baring visages.

The blood spear thrust continuously at extreme speed, its rain-like attacks landing relentlessly on Glock's body. It collided with his hasty protective blood energy, continually tearing away and seizing the power of his blood energy, leaving terrifying wounds across his body as fireworks-like crimson fragments danced throughout the bloody mist.

[Battle Intent Value: 35]

"Whoosh!"

A faint sound of air being cleaved rang out. A black-robed, S-rank Crimson Hermit appeared behind Ye Mingqiu. Gripping a crimson dagger shrouded in condensed-to-the-extreme blood energy, he traced a perfect arc under the moonlight.

At that very moment, not far away, a petite S-rank Crimson Hermit brought his hands together in a seal. Behind him, a massive and terrifying scarlet figure materialized, its crimson eyes staring fixedly at Ye Mingqiu.

[Prompt: Clovis used "Blood God's Gaze." Mental attribute check successful. It will inflict a 2-second mental stun effect on you.]

[Prompt: Your abnormal status resistance check passed. You have resisted this mental stun effect.]

Ye Mingqiu sidestepped the attack. The black-robed S-rank Crimson Hermit pressed his advantage relentlessly, reversing his grip on the dagger for a flurry of strikes. The dagger, loaded with scarlet blood energy, sliced through the armor, leaving a deep bloody gash on Ye Mingqiu before rapidly retreating.

"Ah..."

A wave of pain washed over him, accompanied by a blazing, fire-like burning sensation. This was the corrosive aftermath of a high-concentration blood energy attack, rather than an active skill effect.

Ye Mingqiu's abnormal status resistance was high enough that he merely felt pure pain, but without sufficient abnormal status resistance... the consequences would have been disastrous.

I'm injured...
It hurts... It hurts...
Yet strangely, my sensory perception seems to have grown sharper because of it...

Ye Mingqiu suddenly leaped backward.

Right after, a dark red tentacle burst forth from the spot where he had just been standing, clenching fiercely at the empty space.

If I hadn't dodged just now, there is a high probability I would have been grabbed by that dark red tentacle, which would have impacted the rest of the battle to some extent, wouldn't it?

Just as he was deep in thought, two prompt messages suddenly popped up.

[Prompt: Yin Shuo used "Sleight of Hand" on you. Agility attribute check successful.]

[Prompt: You lost a bag of salt.]

In the distant shadows, Yin Shuo, the S-rank Crimson Hermit currently maintaining his human form, looked at the salt in his hand and fell into deep contemplation.

He couldn't understand why he had managed to steal a bag of salt from that guy. Shouldn't he have stolen some equipment instead? Could there be something wrong with his ability?

When did he do this?
How on earth did I not notice it at all?

A look of shock crossed Ye Mingqiu's face, but it was immediately replaced by a smile.

Currently, his storage space was packed mostly with daily necessities taking up a huge proportion. Since the opponent could steal salt today, they could steal mineral water, dried meat, clothes hangers, a small leather whip, or candles tomorrow...

There is plenty of trash, no fear of theft!
So what if I just stand here and let you steal?

However, Ye Mingqiu's smile did not last long before Glock charged forward once again, brandishing his magma blood fists. Accompanying this charge were flying arrows of blood and dark red tentacles creeping in from all directions.

"Boom!!"

...

The water-logged excavation pit resembled a shattered mirror, reflecting twisted steel reinforcement skeletons and a moonless sky. The dead silence was crudely torn apart by the harsh screech of grinding metal.

Ye Mingqiu's figure crashed through a half-collapsed brick wall, rubble raining down into the murky puddles and kicking up massive sprays of filthy water. The dark, ink-black heavy armor covered in bloodstains emitted a cold, dull gleam in the dim light, and every movement carried the harsh, groaning sound of iron grinding against stone.

Six Level 3 Bosses, and life-specialized, extraordinarily powerful ones at that. They were stronger than fifty Level 3 Lord-tier psionic users combined.

Clearly falling into a disadvantage...
Clearly sensing the breath of death...
Yet why am I so happy?
Why am I so excited?
Why is this happening?

[Battle Intent Value: 39]

Just as Ye Mingqiu stabilized his footing, six crimson figures materialized like ghosts from the shadows of the surrounding broken walls, silently sealing him in the center of this open execution ground.

"Hmph~"

Glock wiped the blood from his face. His proud instincts urged him to taunt the enemy, but the moment he recalled how his strength had been utterly crushed earlier, and how his blood energy had been drained by the blood spear while locked by [Furious Pursuit], he prudently clamped his mouth shut.

Although six against one was a guaranteed win, if this guy decided to lock onto me and endlessly drain my blood energy with his blood spear, I probably wouldn't fare too well either... What if too much of my blood energy gets drained and I degenerate back into an ordinary Crimson Hermit? That would be the end of me.

Better shut up and skip the taunts.

The other S-rank Crimson Hermits were no fools either. They had all felt the aura Ye Mingqiu had unleashed earlier; the opponent's raw strength surpassed everyone present, and he possessed a targeted hunting ability. Nobody wanted to be hunted down by this lunatic.

The air seemed to freeze, leaving only the monotonous and ominous dripping of water from a broken overhead pipe hitting the puddles.

"Charge!"

Glock's massive frame crouched slightly, blazing blood energy erupting violently. The standing water beneath his feet instantly hissed into thick white steam as he condensed his magma blood fists once again.

I refuse to believe he opens team fights by targeting the tank!
Any normal person would chase the backline first.

That was his line of reasoning.

A dull sonic boom echoed as the magma blood fists dragged a scorching trail of light behind them, resembling a falling meteor crashing straight toward Ye Mingqiu's chest and abdomen.

"Hah!"

Ye Mingqiu let out a low roar, his left foot stomping viciously onto the remaining half of a concrete pillar as he swung the blood spear horizontally. The spearhead, trailing a bloody gale, fiercely met the incoming magma fist.

"Boom!!"

A muffled explosion tore through the air. The crystallized shaft of the blood spear collided with the magma blood fist once again, sending violent energy ripples rippling outward that caused the surrounding broken steel bars to ring and vibrate.

Ye Mingqiu slammed his foot down, shattering the concrete ground. The power within the blood spear erupted once more, its terrifying force and impact driving Glock backward. Despite his towering, monstrous physique, his feet gouged two deep trenches into the concrete, kicking up turbid muddy water high into the air.

What a monster!

Glock cursed inwardly, only to be sent flying by a direct sweep of the spear, casting a helpless look toward the other S-rank Crimson Hermits.

I did my best! I really did my best!