By now, the enemy's strength had doubled from the start, leaving the two of them stunned.
They were completely suppressed; every exchange demanded absolute caution, or death would follow.
Fang Wenyu instinctively glanced at his arm—an ugly bruise sprawled across it. His stamina was nearly spent; he'd failed to redirect that last blow in time.
"What are you looking at?" The moment Fang Wenyu's focus wavered.
A whisper brushed his ear. His pupils shrank; he flung up an arm to block the left.
Boom! The water detonated as a colossal fist slammed into Fang Wenyu's forearm.
The terrifying impact tore a vacuum in the surrounding sea; a momentary void opened on the ocean floor.
The six-meter frame of the King of the Deep Sea loomed beside him, a savage grin splitting its face.
That was the tell-tale sign its punch-force had been shunted away.
Fang Wenyu looked up at the King of the Deep Sea, eyes grave; his left hand throbbed—some of the force hadn't been deflected.
Qin Wan stretched a hand toward the King of the Deep Sea, ready to act.
"Hm?" At the same moment, the King received Jiang Yan's order.
It lifted its gaze, regarding Qin Wan for the first time with open murderous intent.
Sensing the shift, Fang Wenyu's face changed. "Qin Wan—watch out!"
From the start, perhaps this monster had borne a grudge against him, keeping its eyes on him alone and ignoring Qin Wan.
Whoosh! Underwater, the King of the Deep Sea was far faster than on land; with its strength doubled, it flashed straight to Qin Wan.
Smack! A massive hand seized her and squeezed.
Ahhh!" Qin Wan screamed, every ability she had flaring across her skin to keep from being crushed alive.
The King of the Deep Sea sneered at Fang Wenyu. "Boy, this woman means a lot to you, doesn't she?"
Fang Wenyu's face darkened as he rushed forward. Qin Wan looked awful; she shouted, "Run—let me send you out now!"
Seeing this, the King clamped its other hand around her arm and pinched—shattering her concentration before she could activate her power.
Crack!
"Ah!" Her arm snapped; her face turned paper-white.
Fang Wenyu froze, teeth clenched. "What do you want?"
"Stand still and fight me blow for bloody blow." The King's grin widened.
Only grievous injury could push someone closest to despair.
"No—this will kill you!" Tears reddened Qin Wan's eyes as she screamed at Fang Wenyu.
In their current state, going head-to-head with this monster meant Fang Wenyu had zero chance.
Fang Wenyu stepped forward without hesitation, eyes locked on the King. "Let her go—come at me."
"Hahaha!" The King hurled Qin Wan onto the seabed behind it and lunged at Fang Wenyu.
"Come—let's fight!" Its fists blurred into after-images, raining punches on Fang Wenyu.
Fang Wenyu raised his own fists and struck back from where he stood.
Boom-boom-boom! The seawater around them kept exploding outward.
"Hahaha!"
With the King's laughter, bruises bloomed across Fang Wenyu's body.
Bang!
He slammed a fist into the King's torso—without leaving even a scratch.
Bang! The King's return punch landed on his skull; blood trickled down his forehead.
Exhaustion dulled his reflexes further with every exchange.
Far away, Qin Wan propped herself up in the water, her own energy nearly gone.
She stretched out her unbroken arm, trying to warp Fang Wenyu out.
"Don't!" Fang Wenyu had kept watch; seeing this, he shouted in alarm.
If he vanished, the enraged King would vent its fury on Qin Wan.
The King smirked mockingly. "Asking for a beating."
It swept a hand backward; a jet of water slammed into Qin Wan and flung her far away.
"Warp him out again and I'll chase him to the ends of the earth to kill him," the King growled, resuming its pummeling of Fang Wenyu.
Those words painted despair across Qin Wan's face.
All she could do was watch Fang Wenyu's blood drift and dissolve into the surrounding sea.
"Heh-heh-heh, that's the feeling!" Punch after punch, the King wore a look of vengeance fulfilled.
"Huff… huff…" Fang Wenyu hugged his head; repeated blows left a constant dizziness swirling in his skull.
His ability to redirect force plummeted.
Strength seeped from his limbs; pain flared everywhere; the world turned hazy.
"If you dare collapse, I'll kill that woman right now." A cold laugh snapped him back.
The threat jerked Fang Wenyu awake. "Try killing her—if you think you can!"
Hum! A ring of invisible force burst from his fist, colliding with the King's incoming punch.
Thud! The impact blasted the King a step back; surprise flashed across its face. "That power—you're reflecting my attacks?"
But Fang Wenyu had no strength left to answer.
After that punch, his knees buckled; his eyes glazed over; utter weakness welled up inside him.
Seeing this, the King's smile turned cruel. "Since you can't entertain me anymore, it ends here—she'll die in front of you."
All he could do was watch the monster stride toward Qin Wan.
'No—move—don't!!!' His soul howled; he willed his body to act, yet even staying conscious drained every ounce of strength.
Maintaining awareness alone cost him everything.
The King stood over Qin Wan. She met its gaze without fear, a bitter smile on her lips. "Just kill me already."
To her surprise, the King merely smirked. "The instant my foot lands, cancel your power. This lousy world is nothing special."
Qin Wan didn't understand its game, but sensing Fang Wenyu still breathing, relief washed over her.
From Fang Wenyu's view, the King raised a foot above Qin Wan.
"N-no…" His voice came out a threadbare whisper.
Bang! The King's heel smashed down.
Boom! A thunderous roar shook the world; he felt the Doulin Realm shatter and found himself back in reality.
Splash! Torrents of seawater poured out like rain around him.
Fang Wenyu stared blankly at the sky—the collapse of the Doulin Realm meant its owner had died.
Despair and grief crushed his heart.
Ding… ding… ding… ding… A dirge chimed inside his head.
'I'm… still… too weak.'
The melody looped, despair wrapping tighter and tighter around him.
Until, in the distance, Qin Wan struggled to her feet.
"Wenyu! Are you okay?" She ran toward him, cradling her broken arm.
"Great… she's alive…" Watching her figure approach, Fang Wenyu's lips moved. After that mosquito-soft murmur, he collapsed, unconscious.