Chapter 912: Killing the Mutated Bugs
Hong Xi's attack was snuffed out by a single punch from a humanoid bug, but Jun Jiuxiao and Ye Xianchen were there to take advantage of the opening.
"[Heaven-Splitting Blade]!" Wind and storm wrapped around Jun Jiuxiao, condensing on his blade. The silvery-white blade glowed resplendently. It tore apart the heavens, cutting apart even space itself and leaving a thin line of void behind.
The mutated bug leapt into the air and kicked toward Jun Jiuxiao, who was sent flying. He smashed into the ground, his face bloody.
"[Darkbane Claws]!" Black smoke surrounded Ye Xianchen. Nightmarish claws spawned from the smoke, but generated little more than sparks against the bugs' steel-like exterior.
The mutated bug punched the ground, cratering it and dispersing the smoke.
Hong Xiao rushed back. His sword traced an arc in the air as he slashed at the bug's back, leaving nothing but a faint wound.
"[Nightmarish Strike]!" Ye Xianchen gripped her daggers tightly. As though a demon were descending on the realm, black genetic energy poured from her and manifested in the form of a fierce demonic head.
Just as she was about to slash at the bug with her daggers, the mutated bug punched forward. A strong wind swept across the battlefield, dispersing the manifestation and forcing Ye Xianchen to stumble back.
Hong Xi took her place, attacking simultaneously with Hong Xiao. The two siblings linked their genetic energy and combined them in one devastating blow that caved in the mutated bug's head and sent ichor spraying out.
However, the bug seemed to shrug off the impact. It punched forward again, but Hong Xi and Hong Xiao had learned from its antics. Both dodged smoothly, giving Jun Jiuxiao and Ye Xianchen an opening to strike.
They raised their weapons simultaneously, one bright as daylight, the other dark like midnight. Their two slashes melded into one, bisecting the mutated bug vertically.
The four hunters stared at each other in the aftermath of the battle. It was a hard-won victory, and all four hunters were wounded to varying degrees after being struck by the bug.
A wave of vitality swept over them as their wounds healed. Zhou Ying had finished dealing with her assassins. She smiled and gave Hong Xi's four-hunter party a thumbs up as she healed them all.
Hong Xi and the others smiled at her, bowing in thanks.
Zhang Lie watched the battles play out from his vantage point atop the shuttle. He was pleased with what he had seen.
Even without the direct command of Hong Xi and the others, without the sustained healing from Zhou Ying, the disciples of the Zenith Dojo managed to hold their own even against the humanoid bugs. They had certainly worked hard to develop their strength.
"I can't disappoint everyone else's hard work, now, can I?" Zhang Lie turned to the bug nest with murderous intent. The space around Zhang Lie trembled as blue genetic energy gathered and rippled around his arms.
He flicked his wrists, causing a frightening aura to descend on the world. The skies began to darken, and a fish the size of a whale materialized in the air.
Zhang Lie shouted, "You've observed what's been happening for long enough, don't you think? It's time to make your appearance!"
A howling gale swept over the battlefield. As more and more genetic energy gathered around Zhang Lie's arms, it looked as though he were at the heart of a whirlpool.
"[Fists of the Silent Sea: Fade]!" A huge wave soared into the air. As Zhang Lie punched forward, the fish slammed its huge tail on the ground and sent a torrent of water surging toward the bug nest.
Ripples of energy spread out from Zhang Lie, warping the space around him. The towering waves looked like enraged black dragons as they smashed into the bug nest in a flood. A huge rumble shook the heavens, and the entire battlefield quaked.
The bug nest exploded upon being struck by the torrent of energy, sending all sorts of bug parts flying into the air.
The air filled with ripple after ripple of genetic energy, which expanded until it covered the entire battlefield. Sea-blue genetic energy swept over the combatants like a storm, buffeting both the humanoid bugs and the disciples of the Zenith Dojo. All the combatants staggered, blown off their feet by the blue waves that shook heaven and earth.
"Is it finally coming?" Zhang Lie looked toward the ruin of the bug nest expectantly.
A figure dashed out of the explosion.
"I've been waiting! [The Boundless Blade: Expulsion]!" Zhang Lie extended his pointer finger like a sword, and water-attuned genetic energy gathered around it. As he waved his finger, sword energy erupted like a wave, accompanied by a giant shark.
The figure that had dashed out of the explosion waved a fist, broke the tide's advance, and dispelled the manifestation of the shark.
The figure was of another humanoid bug, but one even larger than the others that had been revealed to date. It was five meters tall, a veritable giant, and exuded strength from every pore. Feelers grew out of its head, like antlers or even a crown. Its black, steely skin gave off the luster of metal, and its aura caused all those around it to step back subconsciously.
"A bug king, then?"
This bug king had been spying on the battlefield from within the bug nest. Zhang Lie didn't know what it was planning.
Zhang Lie had been worried that it would suddenly launch a sneak attack, and had been keeping an eye on it throughout the heated battle.
Only after the members of Team Zenith and Hong Xi and the others had dealt with the mutated bugs and the Zenith Dojo had control of the battlefield did Zhang Lie finally expose the largest threat around.
"[Ninecarp Transformation]!" A black serpent materialized behind Zhang Lie, by now so large and so developed that it resembled the world-swallowing serpent Jormungandr. It let out a threatening hiss as its scales clicked together.
"It's well past time you joined those dead mutated bugs, don't you think?" Zhang Lie clenched his fist tightly. The serpent wrapped around his arm and hissed. "[Fists of the Silent Sea: Fade]!
Zhang Lie punched forward, and the black serpent behind him shot forth.
The bug king mirrored Zhang Lie's punch, dispelling he black serpent in an explosion of genetic energy. The energy sizzled as it touched the bug king's skin, dissolving even the black, steel-like material.
Zhang Lie's body glowed as he transformed into a russet dragonwolf. Red fur grew out of his skin, and dragon scales covered his limbs. Dragon horns emerged from his forehead, and his aura was immediately magnified.
The next moment, Zhang Lie morphed into a beam of red light. A howling gale swept past the entire battlefield as all the combatants felt the pressure he gave off.
The disciples of the Zenith Dojo craned their heads toward the sky, where this historic battle was taking place. Their eyes were filled with awe and respect as they tracked the blood-red figure's every move.
"The dojo leader will surely win!"
Zhang Lie's claws trailed sparks as they left faint wounds on the bug king's skin, who countered with a punch. Zhang Lie tilted his body and dodged; the punch boomed like thunder to his side.
Zhang Lie swiped his claws in a flurry, as though he had become a blood-colored twister. The bug king didn't dodge. Instead, it retaliated with an equally devastating flurry of punches...
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