Chapter 25: Unrivaled
Inside the underground space, numerous glass pillars over three meters tall were arranged in the front area, while the rear area was quite empty, with mottled bloodstains still visible on the stone floor.
Hao Gui and Douglas were positioned near the inner side. Clearly, Hao Gui had no intention of fighting Su Xiao, at least not one-on-one. Knowing he was at a disadvantage yet still challenging Su Xiao to a duel wasn't a sign of battle lust—it was stupidity.
"Don't die, Douglas."
Hao Gui stepped toward Ta Ba'erde. Seeing Hao Gui approach, Ta Ba'erde cast a questioning glance at Su Xiao. He was clad in heavy full-body armor, so thick it was almost round. As everyone knew, metal conducts electricity well, and Douglas's ability was lightning.
"Bai Ye, you handle Hao Gui. I've got this."
With Ta Ba'erde's combat experience, he naturally understood that Su Xiao countered Hao Gui. Weakening the enemy's forces first was the wisest choice.
"..."
Su Xiao said nothing. He tossed a gold coin, which clinked as it struck Ta Ba'erde's shoulder. Ba'erde, beneath his 'Pumpkin Helmet,' looked puzzled. This was a prearranged covert signal, meaning to find an opportunity to retreat.
Ta Ba'erde couldn't fathom why they should retreat. The two most troublesome enemies had appeared right before them—this was clearly the moment for a decisive battle.
Though deeply confused, Ta Ba'erde had no time to ponder. Ahead, Hao Gui was already charging at him.
A series of booming sounds erupted as Hao Gui and Ba'erde clashed. The glass pillars around them shattered, sending pale green solution splattering everywhere.
The reason Su Xiao chose not to settle the fight with Hao Gui and Douglas here was simple: Douglas was still locked onto by the 'Blood Mark.' There was no better opportunity to locate the Fusion Source.
Once this battle ended, Douglas would likely return to the Dark Prison. At that point, Su Xiao could use Douglas's position to determine where the Fusion Source was.
Letting them go outright would arouse suspicion. Severely wounding Douglas now was the best option.
Su Xiao's perception contracted, narrowing from a 15-meter diameter to 10 meters. This sharpened his senses, as Douglas's lightning was troublesome and could strike without warning.
As his perception tightened, countless minuscule threads appeared around him. These threads were incredibly hard to detect. If Su Xiao hadn't narrowed his perception to within 10 meters, he would have missed them entirely.
Thousands of threads crisscrossed the area, formed from lightning-attributed energy, pulled taut and straight. Their other properties were unclear, but they certainly possessed both sharpness and paralysis.
Silently, the surrounding threads began to constrict. One of them slashed in from the side, aiming straight for Su Xiao's neck.
Zzz～
The lightning thread scraped past the edge of Dragon-Slaying Flash. Due to the blade's extreme sharpness, the thread was severed cleanly and dissipated into the air.
"Noticed, have you?"
Douglas's hand clenched in a grip, and all the lightning threads materialized, converging toward his palm.
Layer upon layer, the threads coiled together, eventually forming a sword-umbrella. Its handle featured a Western-style sword guard, and the dark-blue umbrella surface was furled, with a blade tip about ten centimeters long at the end.
Douglas held the sword-umbrella level, and with a whoosh, it opened, then closed again.
Seeing this, Su Xiao narrowed his eyes. He sensed spatial fluctuations from that sword-umbrella.
Over on Ta Ba'erde and Hao Gui's side, they had already fought their way out of the underground space. Whether it was Ta Ba'erde's spiral sword or Hao Gui's heavy punches, both caused severe damage to the terrain.
With a bang, Su Xiao vanished from his spot, leaving a blur as he reappeared a few meters in front of Douglas.
"!"
Douglas's cheek twitched. He now personally understood why Hao Gui was unwilling to fight Su Xiao—his speed was absurdly fast.
Clang.
A pale-blue slash cut through the air, heading straight for Douglas's neck. He pushed off the ground, leaping backward while opening his sword-umbrella.
With a tearing sound, the slash cleaved the sword-umbrella in two. The umbrella dissipated into the air, and along with it, Douglas himself vanished.