# 399
Chapter 399 – Fighting Above One’s Level
Clang—!
The ring of metal on metal burst from the fog. Lin Qiye didn’t hesitate; he flashed sideways, and the golden lightning that was Bell Cranel streaked past his shoulder.
His face darkened. He snatched at the air. The glass of the buildings on both sides blackened, then exploded inward.
A torrent of razor shards gathered and surged toward the airborne Bell Cranel. The fragments might not wound it, but they could slow it down—otherwise his blade could never keep pace.
Right now, Lin Qiye was essentially invincible below the Sea Realm, yet a straight duel with an overseas Sea-realm mystery was still grueling. Worse, the surrounding mental contamination was rising; he had to finish this fast or die.
Unfortunately, Bell Cranel was both lightning-quick and tough. If the fight dragged on, he would be the first to collapse…
His brain raced, coldly hunting for a breakthrough.
Suddenly, inspiration struck.
If he couldn’t win solo—call for backup!
Two bursts of sorcerous light bloomed beside him. A silver three-order Rubik’s cube appeared, hovering in his palm; tiny numbers were etched on one corner:
—003.
At the same time, thick tree roots erupted from the ground, covering the entire street in an instant and already climbing the adjacent buildings.
A colossal trunk shot skyward; dense branches and green leaves spread like a verdant cloud suspended overhead.
The purple fog’s contamination affected only humans; neither Chaotic Cube nor Ancient Tree Demon would be hindered.
The two summons froze Bell Cranel in mid-air. Before it could react, the cube in Lin Qiye’s hand spun wildly.
Space around Bell Cravel twisted, shearing, splicing, inverting… It flashed into golden lightning again, trying to escape the warped zone, only to ricochet like a headless fly.
Its speed was terrifying, but the cube’s rotation was faster. Dazzling silver light flared across the cube’s faces.
To trap Bell Cranel, Chaotic Cube was going all-out. Yet it was merely a River-realm entity; full-throttle twisting couldn’t last. Once its strength failed, Bell Cranel would break free.
Lin Qiye drew a deep breath, hefting a Straight Blade. Mortal Divine Realm unfolded, forging “miracles” along the blade.
Specks of golden light clung to the weapon, draining a third of his mental energy.
“Hope this works…” he muttered.
He shut his eyes, abandoning both sight and mental perception, chose a direction at random, and hurled the blade!
The cube’s power guttered out; silver light dimmed. The distorted space around Bell Cranel snapped still; disoriented, it shot off in a random direction.
Less than a meter away, the Straight Blade—guided as if by eyes—shrieked past its body.
The pale-blue edge sliced the four-millimeter-thin wing clean off. Losing balance, Bell Cranel spiraled erratically, its speed plummeting.
Lin Qiye’s eyes snapped open, blazing.
It worked!
The next instant, a heavy wooden net woven from thick branches slammed down from the sky, smashing the moth to the ground. Branches lashed like monstrous tentacles, whipping the pavement.
Boom—boom—boom—!!
Again and again the branches struck, hurling chips of asphalt, cracking the road, hammering it half a meter lower.
Pfft!
A final golden flash burst through the barrage, wobbling into the sky. Purple fog gushed anew from its body, rolling outward.
Deep-violet mist swirled around Azure Guardian; the blue glow nearly extinguished. Mental contamination flooded Lin Qiye’s mind, his consciousness blurring.
He felt his perceptual range shrinking, dynamic vision failing. He couldn’t gauge the exact concentration, but he knew: two more minutes and he would end up like the rest of Team 017—mindless puppets of Bell Cranel.
It had to end—now!
Golden fire reignited in his eyes. He shot toward the moth like lightning.
Bell Cranel fluttered drunkenly, finally regaining balance. With a single-wing beat it carved a bizarre arc, fleeing into the distance.
It wanted to escape!
Lin Qiye narrowed his eyes, pouring mental energy into the surrounding night. Inky darkness devoured the environment. Blade in one hand, he clawed the air with the other, yanking at the distant silhouette.
The moth’s remaining wing twisted; without lift, it plummeted.
Pfft!
Lin Qiye spat blood, his face paler than ever. Forcing a cross-realm activation of the Darkest God’s Ruins while already drained from Mortal Divine Realm left his mind hollow. Contamination surged in.
The world seemed to come alive, swaying grotesquely; his vision dimmed. He clenched his teeth, bit his tongue hard, and used the pain to claw back clarity. Then he exploded forward like an arrow.
In a single breath he closed dozens of meters.
With every step the world darkened further. When he reached Bell Cranel, only the tiny golden figure remained in his sight.
Blade up—blade down!
Steel split the air, cleaving straight into the moth. A faint gold gleam flickered along the edge, and the Straight Blade sliced the fragile body in two.