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Chapter 788: Counter Headshot
For the Merman Emperor, the sudden drop in all attributes, as well as the sealing of skills, equipment effects, and secret realm talents, was abrupt and shocking.
He couldn't comprehend why he was being targeted.
What was even more critical...
This suppression and weakening effect couldn't be dispelled!
At this moment.
The changes forced him to retract his attack on Ling Zhan.
Although the War God's passive skill, 'Softening,' had been disabled, the class itself placed great emphasis on combat techniques.
As a result, the Merman Emperor's mastery of combat techniques was top-notch.
Pulling back his offense quickly wasn't difficult for him.
His immediate priority was to create distance and figure out what had just happened!
But...
He was being too naïve.
Did he think Ling Zhan rushed over just to deal with that worthless sixth prince, who could only hide behind his father's protection?
No!
From the beginning, Ling Zhan's true target was the Merman Emperor!
His initial approach toward the sixth prince had only been a diversion.
Now.
As the Merman Emperor retreated, Ling Zhan's gaze turned sharp, and he instantly closed the distance!
His right hand formed a claw, moving like lightning to grab the Merman Emperor's leg.
Simultaneously, his left hand transformed into a knife-hand, chopping toward the emperor's leg!
Danger!
It had been years since the Merman Emperor had felt such a strong sense of impending crisis!
He never imagined that today, he would be cornered by a level-150 non-specialist!
However, as a long-renowned peak War God,
His combat instincts were exceptionally refined.
"Hmph!"
With a cold snort, instead of retracting his leg, he clenched both fists and punched directly toward Ling Zhan's head!
At the same time, he activated his innate talent, 'Lord of the Deep Sea'!
A terrifying aura of oceanic majesty erupted from him, and his four-dimensional attributes skyrocketed by 300%!
His 10 million attribute points rose to 30 million!
This put him three times ahead of Ling Zhan!
It should be noted that the Fairness Codex's effect didn't apply to innate talent bonuses.
This meant that the gains from the Merman Emperor's innate talent wouldn't be balanced, and Ling Zhan wouldn't receive any "absolute fairness" buffs to match the 300% increase.
Ling Zhan's restored peak attributes were his own natural stats, not derived from any innate talent boosts.
At this moment.
The Merman Emperor's fists were aimed at Ling Zhan's head.
Meanwhile, Ling Zhan's hand-knife continued its downward chop toward the emperor's leg.
Clearly.
The Merman Emperor intended to trade injury for injury.
But to outside observers, it was obvious that Ling Zhan would suffer more. The emperor's fists were aimed at his head—one punch could leave him severely injured or even dead.
Meanwhile, Ling Zhan's hand-knife was targeting the emperor's leg, which would at most result in a broken limb.
The Merman Emperor believed this would force Ling Zhan to retreat.
He had no choice—Ling Zhan's grip on his ankle felt like it was bound by chains, preventing him from escaping!
Those watching the scene couldn't help but find it strange.
A level-190 peak War God.
A level-150 non-specialist prodigy who had just broken a Mythic dungeon record.
And their battle...
Was so primitive!
No skills, no secret realm talents, no equipment effects—just hand-to-hand combat!
But then.
Something astonishing happened!
As the Merman Emperor's fists smashed toward his head, Ling Zhan didn't dodge; instead, he continued chopping toward the emperor's leg!
Was he suicidal?
The crowd was horrified!
A peak War God's punch, even without any skills, could easily turn Ling Zhan's head into a watermelon splatter!
But...
Reality often defies expectations.
Crack!
The sound of Ling Zhan's hand-knife shattering the bone in the Merman Emperor's leg echoed throughout the hall.
Anyone familiar with orthopedics or battle injuries knew that the Merman Emperor's leg had not only been severed but the bones were completely shattered.
Boom!
Simultaneously, the sound of the Merman Emperor's fist colliding with Ling Zhan's head reverberated through the hall.
But...
"Ugh..."
Ling Zhan's head didn't explode like everyone expected. Instead, the Merman Emperor let out a muffled groan...
Whoosh!
The next second, under everyone's astonished gaze, the Merman Emperor's head exploded!
Red and white brain matter splattered like fireworks.
"No!!"
The previously smug sixth prince cried out in despair as he witnessed his father's head explode.
Whoosh!
The crowd erupted into chaos!
Everyone's faces were filled with shock and disbelief.
"Holy crap! What the hell just happened?"
"A level-190 peak War God got headshot by a level-150 non-specialist?"
"I must be dreaming! Someone punch me—I'm definitely dreaming!"
"Oh my god! My entire worldview is shattered!"
Fear, shock, disbelief, rising blood pressure...
Every spectator was shaken to their core by the scene before them.
Lucia, Avril, and the others were wide-eyed, their jaws dropped wide enough to fit a duck egg, completely abandoning their ladylike demeanor.
They couldn't help it!
The scene was too shocking!
It was like watching a three-year-old child jump up and decapitate a level-100 powerhouse—utterly absurd!
Make no mistake!
The gap between a level-150 and a level-190 powerhouse was akin to that between a three-year-old and a level-100 warrior.
A level-190 powerhouse could easily kill a level-150 opponent before they even had the chance to escape.
But in this scenario...
Ling Zhan had blown the Merman Emperor's head off!
Buzz!
At this moment.
The headless Merman Emperor triggered another of his S-grade innate talents.
Life on the Line!
This talent allowed him to cheat death, restoring his health to 100% and repairing his severed leg and exploded head.
But as soon as he recovered.
The crowd noticed something strange in the Merman Emperor's expression—shock, disbelief, dread, and...
Hidden deep within his eyes...
Fear!
Yes!
They hadn't misread it!
It was fear!
The unexpected headshot had even instilled fear into this peak War God!