Chapter 69: Amu's Daily Beating
Atop the clouds, Su Xiao and the Feather God stood a hundred meters apart in a standoff. He hadn't made a move because he was locked onto; acting rashly would likely result in being suppressed by a sudden attack. Once suppressed, regaining the initiative would be extremely difficult, and he'd be beaten continuously until death.
The Feather God's reason for not acting was similar. Though a hundred meters away, that Law Destroyer's blade seemed to hang before its throat, ready to strike at any moment.
"Boss, I can handle three layers," Baha said beside Su Xiao, meaning it could withstand at most three layers of the "Annihilation Mark"; on the fourth, it would be beyond saving.
"Moo," Amu also stated its limit. It could handle four layers; on the fifth, it would depart this world.
"Woof~" Bubu Wang meant two layers; after enduring three layers of the "Annihilation Mark," it would leave this beautiful world.
After understanding the situation, Su Xiao formulated a countermeasure. The most troublesome aspect of fighting the Feather God was the "Annihilation Mark." Its mental abilities were all large-scale attacks, especially the Falling Feathers.
If one couldn't defend against the Falling Feathers, over a dozen layers of the "Annihilation Mark" would stack within one to two seconds, causing instant death.
"Moo!" Amu, now with only one arm, roared and charged straight at the Feather God. Every time a battle against a powerful enemy began, Amu was the first to rush forward. It might seem like it was always beaten to the brink of death without much help in the fight, but that wasn't the case.
It was precisely because Amu charged in first every time, forcing the enemy to attack it, that Su Xiao had the opportunity to seize the initiative and keep the enemy on the defensive.
Amu charged forward, its steps scattering the clouds beneath. Though not exceptionally fast, its charge was still quite threatening.
Amu closed in on the Feather God, gripping its Dragonheart Axe tightly. It leaped into a downward chop, the axe blade howling as it split the air, leaving a trail of ice in its wake.
As the Dragonheart Axe descended, the Feather God stood firm, showing no intention of dodging. It raised its hand and extended its index finger.
With a *hum*, Amu froze mid-air. Its entire body seemed compressed by the air, its ribs creaking within its chest, and cracks even appeared on its horns.
"Moo!" Amu's mouth and nose sprayed blood, but it finally swung the axe down.
*Boom!* A wave of air expanded. The Dragonheart Axe stopped just before the Feather God's brow, mere centimeters from its head.
The Feather God's raised hand clenched, intensifying the pressure around Amu.
*Crack!* Amu's waist twisted like a wrung cloth, its lower body spinning several times. The Feather God's eyes narrowed slightly. With a *squelch*, Amu was torn in two at the waist mid-air. To be fair, Amu was incredibly tough; even so, it glared with its bull eyes, ready to fight the Feather God for several more rounds.
The Feather God waved its hand, and Amu broke the sound barrier, flying sideways, trailing blood through the air.
A spatial fluctuation came from behind the Feather God—it was Baha. Its talons extended, aiming for the Feather God's nape.
The Feather God's aura suddenly condensed. A dark blue shockwave expanded from it as the center.
*Boom!* Baha was sent flying backward, many feathers blasted off its body, its bones feeling like they were about to shatter. Even so, it kept cursing.
Just as the Feather God repelled Baha, a blade tip that made one's hair stand on end thrust forward.
Multiple layers of mental barriers appeared around the Feather God. Dragon-Slaying Flash pierced through them with unstoppable force, eventually stopped by a barrier with vein-like structures inside.
*Clack!* Recoil vibrated through the blade, numbing Su Xiao's right arm. He couldn't miss this opportunity—it was bought with Amu and Baha's severe injuries.
A glint flashed on Dragon-Slaying Flash's edge. The mental barrier the blade tip struck began to crack, finally breaking through the defense, heading straight for the Feather God's head.
The long blade suddenly stopped. Unbeknownst to Su Xiao, a large hand covered in exoskeleton had grabbed Dragon-Slaying Flash. This hand wasn't just wrapped in exoskeleton; the outermost layer was solidified mental energy.
The blade creaked under the grip. Dark red blood seeped from the Feather God's palm. Just as it prepared to fling Su Xiao and his blade away and smash him into the ground with "Dark Fall," numbness and pain spread through its hand.
*Clang, clang, clang...* Dazzlingly fast slashes appeared. Multiple intersecting cuts emerged on the Feather God's arm and chest. As its divine blood gushed out, it seemed to have a life of its own, burrowing back into the wounds.
*Boom!* A mental shockwave expanded from the Feather God as the center—the "Mental Shock" ability.
Su Xiao's vision spun, his entire body feeling blunt pain. Amidst the swirling clouds, he was sent flying backward.
[Warning: You have received one layer of "Annihilation Mark." This effect will last for 5 minutes.]
[Hunter's Abnormal Resistance Check in progress...]
[Effect of Berg Heart (Immortal Rank Equipment) triggered. You gain 73 points of Adaptability: Ancient God Resistance.]
[Tip: The "Annihilation Mark" effect will last for 62 seconds. Every 62 seconds, one layer of the "Annihilation Mark" you bear will be reduced.]
...
Su Xiao adjusted his center of gravity and landed. The moment his feet touched the ground, he immediately leaped sideways. A loud crash came from beside his ear; an invisible attack had fallen from above, smashing a perfectly vertical, bottomless hole about five meters in diameter into the ground where he had just stood.
Su Xiao glanced at the hole beside him. Being hit by that attack was no joke. He could withstand it at most three times before losing combat capability.
*Zzt~* A scorching ray swept past Su Xiao, hitting a stone statue behind him. The statue exploded into pieces, the fragments melting into magma from the high heat mid-air.
While dodging the ray, Su Xiao vanished from his spot, charging straight at the Feather God.
A wave expanded from the Feather God. Su Xiao immediately stopped—not by choice, but because he couldn't move. The surrounding air seemed to have solidified.
A dozen meters away, an eye grew on a light orb behind the Feather God. A black-purple ray shot from the eye's pupil, heading straight for Su Xiao.
*Sizzle!* The black-purple ray was blocked by a crystal layer. Cracks rapidly spread across the crystal layer in front of Su Xiao. In his vision, the purple within the crystal layer grew more pronounced, indicating it was about to be pierced.
*Zzt!* The ray pierced the crystal layer, heading straight for Su Xiao's head. His pupils contracted. The ray pierced through his head.
The binding sensation around him disappeared. Su Xiao threw the long blade in his hand, sending it straight for the Feather God's neck. Almost simultaneously, an invisible cylindrical attack fell from above Su Xiao.
Stones flew, clouds surged. A vertical hole appeared in the ground. Su Xiao had vanished, leaving only a faint mist of blood in the air.
The Feather God flicked its finger, using its sharp tip to alter Dragon-Slaying Flash's trajectory. With a *clang* and a shower of sparks, Dragon-Slaying Flash flew past the Feather God's shoulder.
A hint of confusion appeared in the Feather God's eyes. This Law Destroyer's combat ability was far too weak. Realizing this, it felt somewhat disappointed.
*Squelch!* The long blade suddenly pierced through the Feather God's back. The disappointment in its eyes vanished.
This happened because Su Xiao had used Dragon Shadow Flash to evade the attack and appear behind the Feather God.
Su Xiao stabbed through the Feather God's back, then immediately switched to a two-handed grip, cutting upward.
Dragon-Slaying Flash, at Immortal Rank +8 and embedded with three Immortal Rank gems, broke through the Feather God's body defense. It cut from the Feather God's back up to its shoulder, finally breaking free, sending a spray of blood droplets flying.
Having severely wounded the enemy with one strike, Su Xiao wasn't done. The Feather God primarily relied on ranged attacks. Now that Su Xiao, a melee fighter, had caught it, it would at least lose a layer of skin.
"Blade Path Sword: Time."
The domain of Time expanded. The Feather God's speed plummeted. It raised one hand, and countless black feathers appeared in the sky above.
*Bam!* Su Xiao delivered a straight kick to the Feather God's lower back, sending its "Dark Falling Feathers" ability flying back.
The Feather God shot forward through the air, flying several dozen meters before suddenly stopping mid-air, resuming its standing posture. Feeling the numbness throughout its body and the multiple broken bones within, the Feather God couldn't understand—was that kick really something a human could deliver?