The arrival of Metal Knight gave everyone hope for survival. They cheered and ran rapidly toward Metal Knight.
However, right at that moment, the slime monster that had previously been charred by high temperature suddenly swelled rapidly. The slime all over its body sprayed in all directions ferociously. Everyone hit by the splashing slime was directly pierced through.
These slimes shot as fast as bullets, and possessed highly corrosive properties and extremely high temperature. Those hit by the splashes had no survivors; they immediately collapsed to the ground without a trace of life remaining.
"Why didn't it die?!"
"Metal Knight! Help me—!"
"Quickly kill it, I don't want to die aaaaaa—!"
The surviving crowd continued running frantically. Survival instinct made them explode with unprecedented potential, exceeding their speed limits to escape toward Metal Knight.
Metal Knight's rigid face showed slight ripples. Red light flashed in his eyes, the steel plates on his back shifted with a sharp metallic grinding sound. Rows of dense small missiles emerged from his back and launched out, leaving long fire trails toward the viscous slime monster.
At the same time, sharp whistling sounds rapidly pierced the air. Beside Metal Knight, dozens of steel robots appeared and hovered at his sides. This was his Iron Knight Corps.
It should be noted that Metal Knight was fundamentally a scientist with extraordinary research and development capabilities. Even the Hero Association headquarters building's defense system was designed by him. Genos's latest mechanical body could also rise to a higher level thanks to his help. It could be said that Metal Knight's strength didn't lie in his combat ability, but in his brain.
"ROAARR—!"
The slime monster roared, faintly implying contempt. It seemed not to look down on Metal Knight at all.
Metal Knight himself felt slightly annoyed. Since when did a villain dare to ignore him like this?!
*WHOOSH!*
With just a flash of thought, without requiring hand movements, the Iron Knight Corps immediately moved. Fire sprayed from all parts of their bodies, then they crashed toward the slime monster in a life-disregarding explosion.
*BOOM!* *BOOM!* *BOOM!*
A blaze of fire soared dozens of meters high, even steel melted. A small mushroom cloud rose high, showing how tremendous the power was.
Metal Knight hovered calmly in the air, gazing flatly downward, already prepared to finish his work.
He didn't believe this monster could survive the self-explosion of so many Steel Knights. Even a Dragon-level monster would surely be severely injured.
However, immediately after that, Metal Knight's pupils contracted sharply. Under the red ray scan, behind the dust and smoke below, strong vitality still pulsed.
A black shadow grew larger, as if it was absorbing the fire and explosion energy to evolve very rapidly. Soon, it penetrated the smoke. Viscous slime tentacles resembling an octopus suddenly shot out, stabbing toward Metal Knight who was in the air.
Metal Knight's heart pounded heavily. He wanted to dodge, but it was too late. Even with reaction speed connected to electronic devices, he couldn't evade in time. His entire movement space had been locked by slime tentacles from all directions, coiling him tightly like a large package, and dragging him down ferociously.
"Seeking death!" Metal Knight was truly angry.
His entire body suddenly turned glowing red, as if wearing complete crimson armor. The slime tentacles coiling him immediately emitted a hissing sound, followed by white smoke.
These slime tentacles showed a stress reaction and contracted reflexively. However, in just an instant, the tentacles seemed to have already adapted to the high temperature, and the coiling force actually became stronger.
Metal Knight's armor that had undergone special processing began to deform due to the pressure of that terrifying force.
Metal Knight's real face inside the armor changed drastically. If he lost his metal armor, he was just an ordinary human. Never mind this slime monster whose power level was unknown, even the most ordinary monster would most likely be able to take his life. Without armor, he was just an ordinary human, nothing more.
"What's happening to Metal Knight?"
"Why? Can't even Metal Knight defeat this monster?"
"If even an S-Class hero can't manage, won't we definitely die?!"
People ran scattered in panic, the atmosphere filled with terror.
Metal Knight who previously symbolized hope for survival had now become a plaything in the enemy's hands.
"Die..." The slime monster suddenly emitted a shrill roar of anger. Dozens of long tentacles added their force, and within several breaths, it crushed Metal Knight in the middle until flattened.
*PANG!*
Right when the metal armor shattered, a human shadow fell from the air. Between life and death, he managed to exit the steel armor.
"This bastard!" Metal Knight crouched in a corner of a room, his eyes radiating anger and fear, but he also realized the terror of his opponent.
This monster apparently consumed others' energy to evolve. Now Metal Knight had lost his armor, he was even less likely to be its match. In an instant, he made a choice.
A pair of metal thrusters appeared on his back, spraying fire and carrying him flying away.
Flee!
He escaped without the slightest hesitation!
Metal Knight was very clear about his position. He was indeed a hero, but that was just a profession. If he couldn't protect himself, how could he possibly save others?
If he couldn't save himself but still forced himself to save others, that was called stupidity!
However, this scene was witnessed by the people, and their anger reached its peak.
"Metal Knight is fleeing!"
"He's abandoning us and running!"
"Bastard, he's forsaking us! What kind of hero is he?!"
"Coward! NOOOO—!"
Curses were heard incessantly. However, Metal Knight closed his ears and flew away from the battlefield without looking back.
A black-haired youth's eyes seemed ready to burst from rage. A giant slime tentacle fell from the sky, snatching his elderly mother and throwing her high up, like a broken rag doll, directly into the gaping giant mouth. Blood sprayed everywhere.
This scene froze in the black-haired youth's eyes.
Time seemed to stop rotating, and his eyes rapidly filled with blood. Above his head, a mass of fog rose, faintly showing a blood-colored flow.
A transparent broken fragment spun within the fog, then shot into the youth's head.
The next second. Blood-colored light soared to the sky.
The black-haired youth hovered in the air with an expressionless face. He moved one hand slightly horizontally.
*BOOM!*
One slime tentacle directly exploded into pieces!
"ROAARR—!" The slime monster was both shocked and angry. It emitted a shrill roar and instantly locked onto the youth's position. Dozens of tentacles moved and all shot toward the black-haired youth.
"Die." The black-haired youth uttered one word flatly.
*BOOM!* *BOOM!* *BOOM!*
Explosion sounds occurred consecutively, as if triggering a chain reaction. All the tentacles exploded into fragments.