Chapter 77: Fire
Four levels below the royal palace, blood energy and flames filled the space, devouring each other while simultaneously suppressing one another.
The walls were covered in runic formations. Due to the opposition between blood energy and flames, these formations were fully activated, preventing the surrounding walls from collapsing.
With a booming crash, the blood energy broke through the flames. The wooden wheelchair behind King Duoyin shattered, and from the splintered wood, a metal staff flew up, caught by King Duoyin as he raised his hand.
Clink.
The tip of the metal staff struck the ground. It was covered in magma-like patterns. Upon closer inspection, one could see that the surface of this metal staff was undulating, as if it were made of a fluid metal.
In reality, this was the pinnacle of Duoyin's runic arts, named "Godhunter." It had no fixed form and could freely transform according to the user's will.
Beyond that, it had another characteristic: the higher the temperature it was exposed to, the harder, sharper, and heavier it became.
Only those who wielded super-high-temperature flames could unleash the true power of "Godhunter." This item had a significant origin. The reason it was called the pinnacle of runic arts was that, to a certain extent, this weapon named "Godhunter" represented the very essence of Duoyin's runic power.
Initially, the Duoyin Empire had stolen the method of controlling crystalline power from the Lizard Clan. Afterward, they discovered that crystalline power was obtained by making sacrifices to a certain entity, which the Duoyin people called a "Deity."
Duoyin also wanted to obtain this power, but the high-ranking Duoyin officials feared one thing: if they truly accepted the power of a "Deity," and that Deity gained too many followers, divine authority might threaten royal authority. This had happened with the "Sun Worship Dynasty," which was first abandoned by its deity and then destroyed.
Therefore, Duoyin took a different path. They chose to create an artificial deity. In the eyes of those ancient mages at the time, what they called a "deity" was likely a condensation of faith power.
In reality, this was not the case. Duoyin's attempt to create a god failed, but they soon discovered that while they hadn't created a deity, they had created something else: a method to condense faith power through artifacts, and then, through corresponding imprints, resonate with this immense power.
Godhunter was the artifact that gathered this faith. The process was as follows: the people of Duoyin had faith in the runic arts, and this faith power converged into Godhunter. Godhunter then transformed this faith power, allowing different imprints to communicate with the vast power stored within Godhunter. This was the principle behind the runic arts.
At this moment, King Duoyin held Godhunter in his hand. From its name alone, one could discern the Duoyin Empire's hidden ambitions.
First, forge Godhunter into a weapon for the supreme powerhouse. If a deity-like being ever descended into this world, that deity would be hunted and slain.
Su Xiao glanced at the metal staff in King Duoyin's hand. He sensed a strong threat from this object. Even being hit by this weapon once would have severe consequences.
The Apostle's Eye floated behind Su Xiao, scanning King Duoyin's information.
[Comparing intelligence attributes... Comparison complete. Only 30.5% of the enemy's data obtained.]
Name: King Duoyin · Gladstone
Category: Immortal (Pseudo)
Health: 100%
Infernal Force (Flame): 67,500/67,500 points
Strength: 190 (True Attribute)
Agility: 192 (True Attribute)
Endurance: 187 (True Attribute)
Intelligence: 191 (True Attribute)
Charm: 159 (True Attribute)
Skill 1, Eternal Thought (Passive, Lv.75): Health +37,000 points, reduces 75% fire damage (Eighth Rank judgment).
Note: After Infernal Force activation exceeds 50%, this ability will be enhanced.
Skill 2: ???
Skill 3, Void Flame Echo: ???
Skill 4, Fire's Judgment (Passive, Lv.70): Attacks deal an additional 715 points of fire true damage, with a blood-scorching effect.
Note: After suffering the blood-scorching effect, the target takes 62 points of blood-scorch damage per second for 30 seconds (total of 1,860 points of blood-scorch damage).
Note: Requires the specific weapon "Godhunter" to activate this ability.
Skill 5: ???
Skill 6: ???
Skill 7, Combat Grandmaster (Technique-type Passive, Lv.54): King Duoyin · Gladstone is proficient in using 6 types of weapons, ???
???
Skill 9, Self-Developed Abilities: 12 types in total, originally 295. Through the tempering of combat and time, King Duoyin · Gladstone has discarded 283, consolidating the essence into supreme mastery.
Skill 10, Flame's Ashes (Ultimate Ability, Lv.42): ???
...
Seeing King Duoyin's various abilities, Su Xiao felt a sense of unease. He was facing a technique-type opponent, and one who had lived for who knows how many years. This was the most troublesome scenario.
King Duoyin had no large-scale suppression abilities, nor did he have an erosion-type ability like the Blood God, which would drain health just by being within a certain range.
All King Duoyin had were flames and a weapon. The rest was the technique he had honed through combat and the long passage of time.
Several dozen meters away, King Duoyin, who had been calm, sensed Su Xiao's aura and saw the long blade in his hand. The clothes on his body burned away, revealing his gaunt torso. The outlines of his ribs were clearly visible on his chest. Due to extreme old age, his skin was dull and lifeless, even bearing faint black spots.
Before the battle had even begun, King Duoyin's torso seemed to be scorched, turning black and charred. A magma-like glow emanated from his heart, with magma-like veins spreading outward like blood vessels.
Thump, thump, thump~
A series of heavy heartbeats echoed through the empty room. King Duoyin's pupils seemed to ignite with flames. The Godhunter in his hand transformed, taking the form of a cross sword.
The entire sword was blazing red. As it cooled, it became hard and sharp, giving the feeling that it could cut through the air itself.
This form of Godhunter was not its strongest, but it was suitable for probing. King Duoyin remained standing still, unmoving.
Su Xiao also did not move. A rash attack could allow the opponent to seize an opening. In a battle between technique-types, once an opening was seized, one would be relentlessly suppressed, possibly until death.
The empty room was so quiet that a pin drop could be heard. In the elevator off to the side, Bubu Wang's nerves were stretched taut. Although it was just spectating and providing an aura, Bubu was also tense. The pressure was overwhelming.
"Bai Ye, you are not from this world."
King Duoyin suddenly spoke. At that moment, a spark of ember drifted near Su Xiao. He immediately raised his blade to block.
Clang!
The cross sword struck the long blade. The ground beneath Su Xiao's feet cracked open in large sections. This old bastard King Duoyin was truly despicable. A contractor having their identity exposed would inevitably cause a moment of shock. That instant of lapse was enough to decide many things.
The edges of the blades scraped against each other, producing a grating sound. King Duoyin exerted force, his gaunt frame unleashing a power that belied his appearance.
King Duoyin noticed that the Godhunter in its cross sword form had failed to chip the enemy's weapon. This surprised him. Such a situation was rare.
With a screech, the blades of the two weapons scraped past each other. Su Xiao took two steps back while simultaneously slashing at King Duoyin's neck. At this distance, the long blade couldn't reach, but the blade aura it released could injure King Duoyin.
'Blade Path: Azure Demon.'
Zheng!
A blue-green blade aura shot out, cutting into the innermost wall and leaving a diagonal slash over ten meters wide. King Duoyin had vanished.
With a whoosh, Su Xiao ducked with all his strength. The cross sword swept over his head. As he sidestepped, several streaks of blood splattered from his body.
Su Xiao had dodged the sword strike, but he was still injured. On his right arm, near the bicep, three shallow bloody gashes appeared. This was likely one of King Duoyin's undetected abilities.
As soon as he landed, Su Xiao stomped the ground. A wave of air expanded outward. The oncoming King Duoyin suddenly leaped backward. Midair, he flicked the cross sword, and with a clang, it embedded itself in the ground.
King Duoyin landed on the cross guard of the sword. The next instant, crystal spikes erupted from the ground beneath him. These spikes had little killing power, but if King Duoyin dared to withstand them, he would immediately fall into a disadvantage.
King Duoyin lightly jumped, bent down, and grabbed the cross sword at his feet. As he pulled the sword out, his left hand slapped the flat of the blade with full force.
Clang~
The cross sword vibrated violently. The dust-sized particles of banishment around King Duoyin were scattered by the vibration.
King Duoyin swung his sword in the air. With a slash, a cut appeared on Su Xiao's chest. The crystal layer on his chest shattered.
A sharp pain surged in his chest. Su Xiao raised his left hand and crushed a resin test tube. The [Vitality Extract] potion inside splashed out. Upon contacting the wound on his chest, the injury healed at a visible rate.
In that instant, King Duoyin had not released a blade aura. He was 37 meters away from Su Xiao, and he simply swung his sword in an ordinary manner. Yet Su Xiao was cut.
Su Xiao could sense that this sword strike from King Duoyin was not a technique. It was just a normal swing.
He had to figure out what this ability was, or this battle would be completely unwinnable.