[Ding! Slaying numerous alien races, bloodstone +330, bloodstone +85, bloodstone +90, bloodstone +235...]
System notifications continued to sound in Raine's mind.
"Surround that human! He's not normal!"
A strong Formal-level 3 Shadowclaw Beast leader noticed Raine's efficient slaughtering style, emitting an enraged roar.
Immediately, over a dozen Shadowclaw Beasts and Boulder Beetles abandoned their original targets and closed in from all directions.
In the distance, a few low-tier Heartwitch Succubi opened their eyes and shot out chaotic or slowing mental rays.
This was another form of the Heartwitch Succubus' eye power, primarily used for interference rather than control.
However, Raine's Bewitching Eye provided him with good mental resistance, so these mental disturbances had minimal effect on him.
He moved like a ghost across the battlefield, nimbly dodging most of the attacks.
Ironstrike became an incredibly lethal weapon, accurately striking through the weak points of the alien races' defenses.
Joints, eye sockets, necks, gaps in armor!
Severed limbs and broken arms flew through the air, accompanied by agonizing screams.
In an instant, almost half of the alien races that had surrounded him fell, the ground covered in thick blood and shredded flesh.
This ruthless and efficient killing method left the soldiers of the Fourth Squad nearby both horrified and invigorated.
"Follow me! Tear through the gap!"
Raine roared, no longer satisfied with scattered kills.
He identified a weak point in the alien races' formation and charged straight toward it!
The all-around improvement from his promotion to Formal-level, combined with the combat instincts honed in life-and-death battles, allowed his speed to surpass others of the same rank, even rivaling some weaker Formal-level alien races.
He became an unstoppable killing machine, his strikes heavy and precise, shattering any Shadowclaw Beasts blocking his way and splitting the thick armor of Boulder Beetles!
First, Kyle, Gore, Pros, and Matthew's small group followed Raine without hesitation.
Then, several other Formal-level squad leaders and Elite-level team leader Herbert quickly followed, charging through the gap Raine had torn open.
The gap was rapidly widened and successfully connected with the defenders on the side peak, who were fiercely holding their ground!
In the sky above, Black Falcon also joined the battle in time, intercepting an Expert-level gargoyle trying to launch a wide-area attack on the ground troops.
Raine, however, was completely immersed in the rhythm of killing and harvesting bloodstone.
He moved along the newly opened passage, hunting down the small alien races' leaders trying to seal the gap.
Under Ironstrike's blade, the sturdy bodies of the alien races seemed fragile, their claws and heads flying, their chests crushed…
The bloody scene played out repeatedly, even causing some weaker Shadowclaw Beasts to hesitate, too frightened to approach.
"Damn! This human is crazier than the Abyssal Beasts!"
"Our mental attacks have no effect on him! He must be hiding something!"
"A Formal-level 3 Shadowclaw Beast leader couldn't last more than half a minute against him!"
Some Shadowclaw Beasts at the back communicated in fear.
Just as Raine was chasing down a fleeing Formal-level Shadowclaw Beast leader...
Whoosh!
Whoosh! Whoosh!
Several shadows suddenly dove down from the sky!
Accompanied by sharp, seductive, and chaotic shrieks that disturbed the mind!
It was Heartwitch Succubi!
And there were five of them!
They had clearly noticed this human threat standing out on the battlefield and decided to team up to eliminate him!
They flew incredibly fast, like purple lightning, closing in in the blink of an eye!
The leading Succubus' claws shimmered with a ghostly light, aiming straight for Raine's neck!
It was too fast!
Raine had just finished slaying a Shadowclaw Beast in front of him, his old strength exhausted and his new strength not yet replenished.
"Raine! Get out of the way!"
Kyle and the others, desperately watching, couldn't believe what they were seeing.
Not only were they entangled with alien races, but even without the current obstacles, it would have been hard to catch up to the speed of the Heartwitch Succubi!
"Damn Succubus, die!"
An arrow with a blue glow shot toward the Heartwitch Succubus at high speed.
However, the Heartwitch Succubus merely flapped her membranous wings, instantly swatting the arrow away!
This all happened in the blink of an eye.
Upon witnessing this, Matthew and the others' faces went pale with despair.
At the critical moment, Raine remained completely still!
Stoneform Skin!
A dim gray-white stone-like sheen instantly covered the area from his neck to his shoulder!
Screech!
The Succubus's sharp claws raked across Raine's neck!
Instead of the expected blood and flesh flying everywhere, all that could be heard was a series of harsh scraping sounds and sparks!
The claws only managed to tear through the outer layer of his leather armor and the surface of his stone skin, leaving a few white streaks!
The tremendous impact caused Raine to stagger a step forward.
Though no real damage was done, a faint pain still throbbed in his neck, reminding him where the attack landed!
"Raine!"
"What just happened?!"
"This… It's fine, thank goodness!"
The people watching Raine were all shocked.
What was happening was clearly beyond their expectations!
The Succubus hadn't anticipated the target to be so tough.
When she saw the grayish-white sheen on Raine's neck, a flash of astonishment crossed her eyes!
"This... is... the gargoyle's ability?"
Now!
Raine's left hand shot out instantly, taking advantage of the Succubus's moment of distraction to grab her wrist before she could withdraw it!
At the same time, his right hand, holding Ironstrike, struck from a sharp angle, piercing into the Succubus's chest and abdomen with deadly force!
Thud!
The blade tore through her body!
Dark purple blood sprayed out!
The Succubus let out a shrill scream.
Her other claw furiously scratched at Raine's arm and chest.
But with the local stone skin defense, only shallow marks were left.
The other four Succubi, witnessing this, shrieked in fury, rushing from different directions, their claws aiming for Raine's vital points.
Raine's eyes were cold, and he had no intention of lingering.
Three of the Succubi were Formal-level, with the last one at Trainee Level 9.
Although he had Stoneform Skin, he couldn't completely block every attack from them.
He twisted the blade inside the Succubus's body, then kicked hard at her abdomen.
Using the force, he rapidly retreated.
The heavily wounded Succubus screamed as she fell, struggling for a few moments before falling silent.
[Slaying Formal-level Heartwitch Succubus, bloodstone +450!]
The system notification rang out.
Unexpectedly, another message followed immediately!
[Ding! Same-source bloodstone discovered, can be used to upgrade Bewitching Eye. Would you like to use it?]
Raine's expression shifted slightly, but he quickly regained his composure.
"Use!"
[Ding! Absorbing same-source bloodstone, Bewitching Eye experience increased...]
[Bewitching Eye (Basic) → Bewitching Eye (Intermediate)!]
[Effect enhanced: Success rate and duration of mental interference increased, can now lightly affect multiple targets with weak mental resistance, mental energy consumption decreased.]
It was upgraded!
Raine felt a surge of joy in his heart.
But there was no time to dwell on it, as the other four Succubi were already attacking!
He swiftly dodged the two wing blades in the nick of time.
The third Succubus's claws raked across his raised left arm, but the stone skin blocked most of the force, leaving only a few scratches.
The fourth Succubus's mental shriek was easily countered by his upgraded Bewitching Eye, causing only a brief moment of dizziness.
"This damned human awakened our race's petrification talent?"
"What a disgrace, kill him!"
An Expert-level gargoyle's enraged roar echoed from the sky.
If it weren't for being tied up with the enemy, they would have personally tortured and killed this human insect!
Instantly, more Shadowclaw Beasts, Boulder Beetles, and even a few gargoyles originally attacking the side peak turned their attention to Raine!