Chapter 224: The Power of the Demon
The Inferno and the Aftermath
Stan Darloff and Maeve, being lovers who had worked together countless times, were intimately familiar with each other's abilities. Their combined skill was the FBI's trump card.
Under the dominance of telekinesis, Maeve, who was completely wreathed in flames and shone like the sun, shot straight toward the Swamp Monster and the gray-robed figure.
Her surface temperature was so high that she tore through the rain curtain, trailing large plumes of white steam.
A devastating aura rushed forward. The gray-robed figure's expression changed. He tried to flee but was held fast by the Swamp Monster, whose thick arms were wrapped tightly around his body, welcoming the oncoming fireball.
Boom!
The flash of fire illuminated their bodies, followed by an unimaginable roar.
A pillar of fire erupted into the sky from the Swamp Forest. The fiery blast, mixed with terrifying heat, surged through the forest like a tsunami. Rain evaporated, trees turned to ash, and the ground cracked open with large fissures.
Everything within a hundred-meter radius vanished, pulverized in the firestorm.
The rest of the group was struck by the intense heat wave, and the next second, they were blown backward.
Flames spread everywhere, igniting vast stretches of trees. Fortunately, it was pouring rain, or the entire forest would have been destroyed. Large amounts of steam rose through the woods and slowly dissipated after a long time.
At the epicenter of the explosion was a crater dozens of meters wide. A completely naked Maeve lay in the center. Her specialized fireproof suit could not withstand such a powerful fiery impact and had been burned to ash.
Stan Darloff immediately rushed forward and covered her with pre-prepared clothes.
The others emerged one by one. Seeing the surrounding destruction, they could not hide their shock. Many had heard the reputation of the FBI's Ace Five but had never witnessed their power. This was their first time.
Zatanna swallowed, muttering, "What a terrifying attack."
Maeve's full-power blast was comparable to an intercontinental missile. It was rare to find this level of destructive power among metahumans.
Emily said worriedly, "I wonder how Professor Holland is? I hope he's okay."
Luke frowned, remaining silent.
The Swamp Monster had an immortal body; as long as there were trees nearby, he could resurrect endlessly. But facing an attack of this intensity, even if he survived, he would be severely injured.
Following Jack Harvey's order, everyone began searching the battlefield for signs of the Swamp Monster and the gray-robed figure. The terrain around the large crater was utterly devastated, the ground uneven and pitted, covered in large and small water puddles. The group searched several times but found no clues.
Nelson exclaimed excitedly, "They must be dead!"
Jack Harvey clenched his jaw. "It would be better if they survived."
The main goal of the Green Forest Project wasn't just to eliminate the Serpent Spirit Society, but to find evidence connecting President Joel Nash and the society. If the gray-robed figure was dead, the trail would likely go cold.
The thought gave Jack Harvey a massive headache. I should have told Maeve to hold back. Now, both of them were likely blown to bits. Where would he find the evidence?
Emily whispered, "Are they really dead?"
Luke shook his head, his gaze fixed on a nearby mound of dirt. A parched, cracked arm reached out from the mud, scorched and bleeding heavily.
Bang!
The mound suddenly burst open. From the scattered dirt, a severely burned, nearly broken monster slowly stood up. Half of its head was gone, its right arm and the entire right side of its body had vanished. Blood and mud clung together, creating a wretched sight.
"He's still alive!"
Jack Harvey's expression hardened. He quickly shouted, "Roy, grab him!"
Roy pressed his hands to the ground. Two wooden vines shot out of the earth and straight toward the gray-robed figure. The figure seemed too injured to dodge and let the vines bind his body.
The thorny vines tightened, cutting deep gashes into the scorched skin.
The gray-robed figure still didn't move, but a cracking sound emanated from within him, like shattering porcelain. At the same time, cracks began to appear across his body, dense and widespread, from head to toe.
"Watch out!"
Zatanna remembered something and shouted, "He's going to shed his skin! Quick... stop him!"
The others were confused, but seeing the girl's frantic expression, they raised their weapons and fired a few tentative shots.
The bullets struck the skin, penetrating only two centimeters before stopping strangely.
Stan Darloff struck the gray-robed figure's head with an invisible telekinetic blast. This strike seemed to open Pandora's Box. The previously still figure suddenly let out a roar of rage.
His body began to swell, breaking free of the wooden vines. He grew taller and taller. The cracked flesh peeled off in fragments, revealing new skin. The scales hardened and quickly turned black-red.
His body grew continuously, reaching a height of three meters. Two long horns emerged from his ugly head, and his tail changed as well, becoming less bulky, tapering into a long, sharp point like a spear.
An overwhelming aura of terror descended upon them. He was no longer a hybrid of human, snake, and dragon, but a true demon.
Ghast the Demon!
Legend had it that whoever opened Cletus's Red Can could command the power of the demon Ghast.
Jack Harvey swallowed hard, wanting to speak, but unable to utter a sound. The innate pressure exerted by the higher life form on lower life forms left him terrified and speechless.
"You will all die."
The gray-robed figure raised a hand and flicked it. A whip of fire shot through the air. Roy and another FBI agent were too slow to dodge and were cut in half at the waist. The whip lashed out again, striking at the nearby Nelson and Jack Harvey.
The two were paralyzed, their faces etched with absolute terror.
Bang!
The whip reached them, colliding with a telekinetic barrier. The terrifying force caused Stan Darloff's face to change dramatically. He yelled,
"Run! I can't stop him!"
The gray-robed figure smirked. He opened his left hand, and a black vortex appeared in his palm. Stan Darloff instantly collapsed to his knees, clutching his chest, his face pale and contorted, like a victim of a heart attack.
The Heart-Eater Curse!
Zatanna and August exchanged a look, simultaneously chanting spells. A wave of light shot toward the gray-robed figure but was casually swatted away.
"Weak magic. Pathetic."
The gray-robed figure raised a claw, and a flame ignited on his fingertip.
"You enjoy playing with fire, don't you? Then I'll play along."
"Hellfire, Explode!"
The ground in front of him tore open, and deep red magma erupted. The gray-robed figure plunged his hand into the magma and swung it with force.
Boom!
Innumerable streams of magma surged out, wave after wave, growing higher and higher, transforming into a giant tidal wave dozens of meters tall.
In that moment, everyone froze, then scrambled to run. But the magma was too fast. In short order, the two agents bringing up the rear, Wilma and Becky, were swallowed by the molten rock.
Nelson also fell victim, screaming as he disappeared into the lava. Stan Darloff, carrying his girlfriend Maeve, and Jack Harvey launched themselves into the air, fleeing at full speed into the distance.
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