Volume One: The Nature of the Devil Does Not Change
Arc: The Great Gang War
Scarlet King clasped his hands against his chest and looked at Ikalates with faint arrogance, a subtle smile resting on his lips.
"Alright. Let's head to the sect so I can treat my injuries… and discuss a few plans."
Suddenly, the air grew heavy.
The cups on the tables trembled, and the noise from the lower floor came to an abrupt halt.
While they were still on the first floor, about to move toward the stairs, the sound of heavy footsteps echoed above. Many men were climbing to the second floor—the very same men who had chased Scarlet King earlier.
The first to appear had red hair, with a hammer strapped to his back.
Scarlet King needed only a single glance to understand.
He turned slightly and looked at Ikalates, acting as if he didn't recognize them. The red-haired man scanned the area with a sharp gaze, then stopped when his eyes landed on Scarlet King.
The figure felt strangely familiar.
The red-haired man stepped forward with light yet rapid movements. The footsteps behind him halted. A heavy hand dropped onto Scarlet King's shoulder, and the cold edge of sharp metal pressed against his neck.
"Identify yourself!"
Ikalates moved instantly.
His fist shot upward, striking toward the red-haired man's face. The man staggered back slightly but blocked the attack with ease, taking no damage at all. A demonic smile spread across his face as he pulled out the spiked hammer attached to chains.
"Oh? Trying to hit me?" he said mockingly. "Looks like you're involved with Gu Yue… which means you deserve to die with him."
Scarlet King stood up from his chair and stared at the men coldly. A surging wave of aura burst outward toward the red-haired man.
At the same moment, the red-haired man and his companions released their auras as well. Scarlet King's aura was suppressed, and the tavern began to shake violently, as if on the verge of collapse.
Wood cracked.
The ground trembled.
Cups shattered.
Those nearby were thrown backward.
A crushing pressure settled on everyone's chests—all caused by the violent collision of auras.
In a flash, the red-haired man lunged forward, his fist blasting toward Ikalates. But it was intercepted by another punch—a dominant, overwhelming strike from Scarlet King.
A tremendous shockwave exploded outward, shattering the tavern completely and blasting everyone outside.
The area filled with dust, splintered wood, and unconscious bodies thrown aside by the impact.
Scarlet King and Ikalates retreated to opposite sides of the ruined tavern, while the pursuers also stepped back, the ground beneath their feet carved apart by the force of the collision.
Amid the torrential rain, Scarlet King grabbed Ikalates by the shoulder and spoke calmly:
"We need to escape. If we stay, we'll die."
"Vaporization."
Mist began to gather around them—but suddenly, a spiked chain-ball shot in from the side.
They dodged instantly, barely avoiding the strike, stepping out of the teleportation range just in time.
Heavy rain soaked their clothes, water glistening on the fabric. At that moment, the red-haired man stood atop the wreckage of the destroyed tavern, surrounded by many powerful men.
"Where do you think you're running?" he shouted. "I'll deal with Gu Yue myself. The rest of you—kill the man in black."
The men charged toward Ikalates, who immediately fled toward the forest at terrifying speed.
As for the red-haired man, he launched a crushing punch toward Scarlet King's chest. Scarlet King raised his fist and blocked it, but the impact sent him flying backward, smashing him into a massive tree.
The tree cracked apart and collapsed onto his body.
Scarlet King lifted it with one hand and hurled it toward the red-haired man at frightening speed. The man raised his hand and split the trunk cleanly in half with a single strike.
In that instant, Scarlet King retreated and fled into the forest. The thrown tree had only been a distraction.
He leapt between towering trees at blistering speed, with the red-haired man pursuing just as relentlessly.
Closer.
Closer.
Closer—
until he was almost caught.
Suddenly, the red-haired man was struck by a massive kick and sent flying, crashing through multiple trees and destroying them.
It was Ikalates.
Scarlet King grabbed him and shouted:
"Vaporization!"
Mist formed around them—but once again, the remaining members of the Dragon Gang interrupted the transfer.
Forced to abandon teleportation, Scarlet King and Ikalates sprinted through the forest at full speed. Rain poured down relentlessly, their clothes clinging tightly to their bodies as they ran between trunks and roots.
When enough distance had been created, Scarlet King grabbed Ikalates again.
"Vaporization."
But the same spiked chain-ball appeared once more, slamming into Scarlet King's shoulder. The impact ripped it apart, tearing flesh violently and yanking him out of the teleportation range.
Scarlet King clutched his shoulder tightly, forcing the bleeding to slow. At that moment, the chain-ball returned from behind, rushing toward him again.
Scarlet King turned—but Ikalates intercepted the attack.
The spikes tore through Ikalates' arm savagely, blood and distorted flesh scattering everywhere—his chaotic nature preventing immediate collapse.
The chain-ball attacks continued. Sometimes Scarlet King intercepted them. Sometimes Ikalates did.
Each protected the other.
Both were now badly wounded—Scarlet King's abdomen was torn open, and Ikalates' legs were severely damaged.
The rain grew heavier, more violent, until the forest became a wall of darkness, visibility reduced to nothing.
Their breathing grew ragged with exhaustion.
Then—the attacks stopped.
In that brief opening, Scarlet King grabbed Ikalates and shot upward into the sky, shouting with all his remaining strength:
"Vaporization!"
Mist surged around them—and finally dispersed.
This time, they reappeared at the very same location as the destroyed tavern.
Scarlet King spoke while clutching his bleeding shoulder and abdomen:
"Come on… let's go to the sect.
They won't expect us to return here."