Chapter 35: Three Against One
Crimson Tasha was not easy to deal with. If she managed to land several consecutive slashes, triggering the Blood Kiss: Wound effect, the target would suffer true bleeding damage. Although it took three minutes of bleeding to reach 9,000 points of true bleeding damage, this bleeding effect was very difficult to remove. More importantly, during the Blood Kiss effect's duration, healing and recovery items were ineffective—that was the most troublesome part.
It could be said that Crimson Tasha was a nightmare for team-type contractors. Any tank in a team setup couldn't withstand her, and healing-type contractors could only watch from the sidelines.
Crimson Tasha, the Giant Ape, and the Leader-level Fission Variant—any one of them alone could serve as the main boss of a Sixth Rank world. If this were the early to mid stages of the Sixth Rank, they would be the ultimate final boss of the world.
"Poison Claw, don't damage that."
Tasha pointed at the cloth bundle in Su Xiao's hand. She had deep crimson radial pupils, which might be why she was called Crimson Tasha.
"I know."
The Fission Variant known as Poison Claw spoke in a deep voice. Beside them, the Giant Ape with pure white fur slowly stood up.
Tasha's strength actually indicated that the Giant Ape and Poison Claw wouldn't be weak either.
A preliminary assessment showed that the Giant Ape was thick-skinned and tough, very durable; Poison Claw was a ranged fighter who could also restrict spatial abilities; and Tasha, needless to say, was the main damage dealer.
Tank, melee fighter, ranged + control—they were just missing a healing type, and it would be a full boss-fighting lineup.
What comforted Su Xiao was that Tasha's 140 points of True Charm Attribute seemed to be just a decoration, with no offensive abilities.
Before this body was parasitized by Crimson Tasha, it should have been a Blade Grandmaster leaning toward Agility and Charm. Crimson Tasha's combat style was that of a Strength and Agility-type Blade Grandmaster, so she hadn't stripped away the Charm-type abilities.
It was fortunate she hadn't stripped the Charm abilities, or it would have somewhat countered Su Xiao. If a Charm judgment succeeded, it would be a crushing judgment.
Su Xiao stretched his neck and tied the small cloth pouch around his waist. Three against one was manageable. The thirty-plus Elite Fission Variants at the end of the corridor were all half-crippled and didn't dare approach; otherwise, one Blade Aura would take one down.
Tasha, the Giant Ape, and Poison Claw were all heavily eroded by the Dead Silence Descent. Tasha and the Giant Ape's health was slowly recovering, but as a Fission Variant, Poison Claw didn't have that ability.
Just as the Giant Ape was about to charge at Su Xiao, Tasha raised her arm and said, "Don't rush in like that. You'll die."
"Huh?"
The Giant Ape's eyes showed some anger. As a fellow Perfect Soul Host, he felt Tasha was belittling him.
"You'll die. Trust me. He's a Technique-type, stronger than me."
Tasha's words made the Giant Ape's gaze turn serious. He naturally knew how formidable Technique-type enemies were. His partner Tasha was a Technique-type, and a sparring match a few years ago had nearly cost him his gender.
Three Sixth-Rank bosses stared warily at Su Xiao. From the looks of it, it wasn't Su Xiao coming to fight bosses, but rather Tasha and the other two mutants ganging up on Su Xiao, the big boss.
Since the enemy wasn't making a move, Su Xiao could afford to wait. He was covering the retreat, letting Bubu Wang and Baha pull back, not here to kill enemies. Once the ten minutes were up, the ability restricting him would disappear, and he could use Dragon Shadow Flash to escape.
Meanwhile, at the entrance to the fifth floor, Fission Variants were destroying tree branches, digging a path to reach the fifth floor and surround the intruder. As for breaking through the ground above the fifth-floor corridor, they were already smashing at it. This underground fifth floor, built with massive resources, was very sturdy. It had been designed to defend against enemies, but now it was blocking their own.
Just as the Fission Variants had dug a few meters, a figure crawled out from the branches and swung a warhammer directly at them.
"Are you blind?!"
The Mad Doctor's Fission Variant language was fluent. He glared at a Fission Variant, who quickly lowered his head.
"Hurry, the intruder has escaped to the third floor. Come with me to pursue."
The Mad Doctor had already grasped the situation through the war channel. It was time for his spy identity to come into play.
The Mad Doctor quickly rushed through the fourth floor. Among the tens of thousands of Fission Variants there, he managed to mobilize nearly 7,000 through a mix of scolding and intimidation. The rest were truly immovable.
Amid the clatter of footsteps, the Mad Doctor led over 7,000 Sub-Elite Fission Variants to the underground third floor.
Bang!
A large iron door was kicked open by the Mad Doctor. Just as he rushed into the underground third floor, a spirit floated up from below.
The Mad Doctor's heart skipped a beat. He had led over 7,000 Sub-Elite Fission Variants and run straight into the Ghost Girl, who had just taken the opportunity to retreat.
The Mad Doctor's expression remained calm, but the Ghost Girl was so startled she nearly died on the spot.
"Don't let her escape!"
The Mad Doctor was like an Oscar-winning actor, even blood vessels bulging in his eyes.
...
Underground fifth floor, corridor. Slash marks flew toward Su Xiao. As a fellow Blade Grandmaster, Su Xiao had no trouble dealing with these slashes.
Clang! Clang!
Two slashes were deflected by Su Xiao. He sidestepped, and a third slash flew past him, embedding into the branch wall behind and sending wood chips flying.
Just as Su Xiao sidestepped, a massive fist came crashing toward him. The fist was coated with a faint black energy—it was the Giant Ape.
Su Xiao couldn't use Dragon Shadow Flash now, but his perception was fully open, and he no longer needed to worry about stealth.
Blue flames rose from Su Xiao's body, and black-blue patterns appeared on his cheeks. The advantage of activating Azure Steel Shadow early was now evident—Shadow Burn was fully unleashed.
With a thunderous crash, the giant fist landed beside Su Xiao. He calmly leaped up, stepping onto the Giant Ape's arm.
"Heh."
The Giant Ape grinned ferociously, reaching out with his other massive hand to grab Su Xiao while using his ability to suppress Su Xiao's mobility.
Tasha, waiting for an opportunity nearby, knew she couldn't wait any longer. If she did, things would go terribly wrong.
A dull thud came from behind Tasha. A black bone spike over two meters long shot out, heading straight for Su Xiao's head. It was Poison Claw making his move, having also sensed the Giant Ape was in danger.
At that moment, Su Xiao was standing on the Giant Ape's right arm. The Giant Ape's left hand was reaching for him, but the incoming black bone spike was faster.
Su Xiao lightly raised his hand holding the blade, and the long knife met the flying bone spike.
Sizzle!
The edge of Dragon-Slaying Flash scraped past the incoming bone spike, altering its trajectory. It flew past Su Xiao's head, and the poison on the bone spike emitted a faint almond scent.
As the bone spike flew past, the Giant Ape's left hand reached for Su Xiao. Instead of dodging, Su Xiao bent his raised left arm.
The moment the massive hand closed in, Su Xiao charged sideways, a crystal layer forming on his left elbow.
Boom!
Su Xiao's elbow slammed into the Giant Ape's palm. The Giant Ape immediately felt half his body go numb.
The Giant Ape uncontrollably pitched forward, and Su Xiao took the opportunity to deliver a straight kick.
Boom!
Shockwaves spread out. Su Xiao's kick landed on the Giant Ape's abdomen. Despite being twelve meters tall, the Giant Ape was kicked flat by Su Xiao. He had exposed two openings to Su Xiao and hadn't been cut down only because his teammates were covering him.
'Blade Path: Azure Demon.'
A blue-green Blade Aura shot out, heading straight for the Giant Ape's head. But before Azure Demon was unleashed, Tasha had already charged in front of the Giant Ape.
Clang!
The broad-bladed long knife met Azure Demon. Tasha stumbled back two steps, and before she could steady herself, Dragon-Slashing Flash thrust toward her face.
Tasha leaned back as far as she could. She felt the remnant soul inside her grow hot, craving battle—a one-on-one duel with a blade master.
Tasha was a bit speechless. Three against one was already a struggle; one-on-one, she would just be a sacrifice to the blade.
A black bone spike shot toward Su Xiao. He changed his blade's thrust into a slash, a diagonal cut that shattered the bone spike into pieces.
'Blade Path: Time.'
'Wind Dance: Cry.'
A piercing wind howl rang in his ears. Su Xiao held Dragon-Slashing Flash horizontally in front of him as a broad-bladed long knife slashed toward him.
Clang!
Blades clashed. Another black bone spike came at a tricky angle, but once it entered the range of 'Blade Path: Time,' its speed immediately slowed.
Su Xiao delivered a side kick. Tasha, in front of him, was sent flying with a bang, crashing into the wall beside her.
Dragon-Slashing Flash made a few quick, empty slashes. The charging Giant Ape had several bloody gashes appear on his body and staggered back.
"Cough, cough."
Tasha stood up from the ground, wiping the blood from her chin. She only wanted to know one thing now: why hadn't reinforcements arrived yet?
The cruel and humiliating truth was that the three of them were struggling to fight the intruder. His speed was simply too fast.