[You have slain a Master-rank Tempest Blackhawk. Bloodstone +9240!]
[Current total Bloodstone: 44,586!]
"Now!"
Raine's thoughts raced as he made his decision without hesitation.
"System! Use Bloodstones to enhance the Obsidian Golem Body!"
[Ding! Consuming 5,000 Bloodstones. Obsidian Golem Body upgrading…]
[Two-star Obsidian Golem Body: 73%… 85%… 99%…]
With a tense expression, Raine dodged the relentless assaults of the alien prodigies.
The Blackglow Obsidian Golem Body was an art advanced through the bloodcores of alien races, which was why Bloodstones could be used to assist its progression.
However, this kind of advancement always stalled at the limit before a star breakthrough!
For example, when breaking through to the two-star Obsidian Golem Body, he had required intense external stimulation.
If nothing unexpected occurred, advancing to three stars would require similar conditions.
BOOM—!!
An abnormally vast surge of power erupted from Raine's body!
The dark-gold patterns on his skin bulged like relief carvings, flowing continuously. His skin itself took on a metallic, dark-gold sheen—every movement compressing the air into explosive booms!
Two-star Obsidian Golem Body—peak state!
His physical strength, defense, and recovery all skyrocketed across the board!
"This feeling…"
Raine clenched his fist, sensing the torrent of power within him.
At this moment, his raw physical strength alone already rivaled that of a Grandmaster!
But it still wasn't enough!
"As expected… breaking through to three stars requires violent external stimulation—but where am I supposed to find that now—"
"An opening!"
The Twin-Headed Lion, which had been lying in wait, suddenly burst with murderous intent!
Frost and flame gathered madly in its twin maws!
Seizing the instant Raine fell into a brief daze, its mountain-sized body lunged straight at his back!
Its gaping jaws spewed terrifying ice and fire, intent on tearing this insignificant human apart completely!
"Die, human!"
The Twin-Headed Lion roared inwardly.
It could already see Raine frozen solid, then blown into fragments by flames.
It could see itself receiving rewards from Crimson City, earning the favor of Thunderclan prodigies!
Yet at the very instant its jaws were about to tear Raine apart—
That seemingly defenseless back suddenly moved.
Raine's left arm twisted at an impossible angle, snapping backward in a simple, unadorned punch.
The blow was lightning-fast, yet as heavy as a collapsing mountain!
BANG—!!!
The fist struck precisely beneath the jaw of one of the lion's heads!
CRACK!
A bone-shattering sound echoed.
The flame breath cut off abruptly.
That lion head was smashed upward violently, its neck twisting at an unnatural angle.
"ROOOAR—!!!"
Agonizing pain forced a horrific howl from the beast. Its forward momentum was forcibly halted, and its massive body staggered ahead from inertia.
The remaining frost head was filled with utter terror.
How was this possible?!
He had endured so many attacks—how could his reaction still be this fast?!
And his strength… how could it still be this terrifying?!
This was absolutely not something an ordinary Master could possess.
This human… was an ancient ferocious beast wearing human skin!
"Retreat!"
Fear instantly drowned the Twin-Headed Lion.
Without the slightest hesitation, it twisted its body and withdrew toward the depths of the forest.
…
Under Bruce's relentless bombardment, the unicorn's light barrier finally shattered!
The White Unicorn let out a mournful cry.
A bolt of lightning struck it, scorching its snow-white fur black as it stumbled backward.
Bruce remained expressionless as he raised his hand, condensing a lightning spear aimed at the unconscious Arlis.
"This ends now."
He coldly hurled the lightning spear.
Raine's eyes split with fury!
"STOP—!!"
He burst forth at full speed, charging desperately toward Arlis.
He didn't know who Arlis truly was, nor why these enemies were so determined to hunt her down.
In his eyes, she was human—a member of the patrol. That was enough.
Within his ability, he would do everything he could to protect every single person!
But he was too far away.
He wouldn't make it in time.
At that critical moment, a figure suddenly stepped in front of Arlis!
It was the Infernal Griffin!
Using its massive body as a shield, it spewed raging flames in an attempt to block the lightning spear!
SPLASH—!
The spear pierced straight through the griffin's chest, terrifying lightning exploding within its body!
The Infernal Griffin let out a low, sorrowful cry, the flame-like light in its eyes rapidly dimming.
Its massive form slowly collapsed, dissolving into specks of red light.
[Ding! Infernal Griffin has suffered fatal damage. Temporarily returning to the contract space to recuperate. It cannot be summoned for 24 hours.]
The system's notification was cold and emotionless.
Raine's heart clenched violently.
But he had no time to dwell on it—because Bruce's gaze had already turned toward him.
"Since you're so eager to die, I'll grant your wish first!"
Lightning flashed in Bruce's eyes. He loathed this insect that had ruined his plans again and again!
His figure flickered as he appeared in front of Raine, throwing a punch!
This punch was heavier than before!
Faster!
Raine fully activated the Obsidian Golem Body.
BOOM—!!!
Terrifying power crashed into him once more, the bones in his arms fracturing under the unbearable strain.
Before he could react, punch after punch slammed into every part of his body, his skeleton seemingly crushed inch by inch.
The speed was so great that he couldn't even register how much pain he was in!
He was blasted away like a cannonball again, smashing through three rocky peaks before barely coming to a stop!
Only then did the pain surge in like a tidal wave.
Half-kneeling on the ground, Raine coughed up blood in great gulps, his vision beginning to blur.
He found it hard to believe—even a peak two-star Obsidian Golem Body couldn't withstand this man's fists?
Facing such a powerful enemy, what could he possibly use to fight back?
"The struggle of an ant."
Bruce looked down at him from above.
"To have lasted this long against me is already something to be proud of. Now—carry this honor with you into death!"
He raised his right hand, palm facing upward.
Thunderclouds in the sky converged madly, countless bolts of lightning pouring into his palm and condensing into a gigantic lightning sphere over ten meters in diameter!
Within the sphere, destructive energy caused space itself to begin collapsing!
"Oblivion—Heaven's Punishment!"
Bruce indifferently pressed the sphere downward.
The lightning sphere descended slowly, locking onto Raine's location.
The aura of death engulfed everything.
Raine lifted his head, staring at the descending orb of annihilation, his eyes filled with confusion and helplessness.
He couldn't move.
Nearly all the bones in his body had been shattered, and the raging lightning had destroyed every inch of his flesh.
He could only watch as the attack fell!
"What a pity… just one step short."
He could feel it—the Obsidian Golem Body had already reached its critical threshold under that barrage of punches.
Just one final push.
But he had no strength left.
"Come on, you alien-race scum…"
Blood kept spilling from Raine's mouth, his words no longer forming complete sentences.
Then, under the astonished gazes of the surrounding prodigies, he didn't retreat—
Instead, he charged straight toward the falling lightning sphere!
"What?!"
"Is he insane?! Willing to die for a stranger?!"
"This is the human race—always throwing themselves into the fire like moths!"
The alien prodigies sneered.
The next instant, the lightning sphere completely swallowed Raine!
BOOOOOOM—!
Blinding lightning erupted as devastating energy rampaged uncontrollably.
The ground was blasted into a massive crater hundreds of meters wide, the rock layers melted into charred black slag.
At the very bottom of the crater lay Raine's figure—motionless.