Chapter 268: Disrupting the Assassins' Operation

The shadow assassins launched another attack, surging in like a black tide.

This time, they no longer charged blindly but split into squads, like wolves smelling blood, precisely pouncing on the team's weak points.

Xingji Xiake let out a roar, brandishing his energy sword, leading everyone in a fierce resistance.

"Xiake, watch the left side!" Guangming Shizhe shouted, a holy light repelling the assassins attempting a sneak attack.

Yet more assassins surged from the shadows, seemingly endless.

"How can these guys not be killed?!" a Blue Star Guardian panted, swinging a heavy hammer to smash an assassin into the air.

But after the assassin hit the ground, its wounds healed rapidly, and it rejoined the fight.

Xingling floated in the air, releasing waves of energy that disrupted the assassins' movements.

It is a vital support for the team; without Xingling's aid, the consequences would be unimaginable.

Even so, their situation remained difficult.

"Xingling, watch out!" Zhang Cheng watched helplessly as an assassin's blade slashed across Xingling's body.

Xingling let out a sharp cry, its light flickered once and dimmed considerably.

"Xingling's energy is unstable!" Xingyun Zhizhe's face turned pale, his tone full of worry.

"If Xingling loses its combat power, we're doomed!" a nearby Blue Star Guardian shouted in terror.

"Shut up!" Zhang Cheng snapped, knowing that staying calm was now paramount and they must not lose formation.

"Xiake, cover Xingling! Everyone else, concentrate fire and break out!"

"You think you can break out with you trash?" a gaunt man standing behind Hei Sha said disdainfully, "Boss, let me deal with them so you don't get your hands dirty."

Hei Sha let out a cold snort, saying nothing, merely watching the scene with keen interest, as if enjoying a hunting game.

The battle grew increasingly fierce, and everyone's stamina and energy were being rapidly drained.

Kelinda hid behind Zhang Cheng, watching the grim scene, her heart filled with fear and helplessness.

She clutched Zhang Cheng's hem tightly, her body trembling slightly.

At that moment, a shadow assassin broke through the line, charging straight at Kelinda. Zhang Cheng swung his sword to block, but the assassin kicked him, sending him crashing to the ground.

"Zhang Cheng!" Kelinda cried, watching the assassin's blade about to pierce Zhang Cheng's chest... a strange light suddenly flashed in Kelinda's eyes...

A strange light suddenly flashed in Kelinda's eyes.

A ring of dazzling white light centered on her erupted outward, illuminating the entire battlefield like a supernova.

The shadow assassins were caught off guard, the intense light searing their eyes shut; they clutched their faces in pain and let out wailing cries.

"What's happening?!" the gaunt man shouted, instinctively shielding his eyes. Hei Sha squinted, a hint of doubt flashing in his eyes.

This sudden turn gave everyone a chance to catch their breath.

Xingji Xiake seized the moment, slashing the assassin closing on Zhang Cheng away, then helped Zhang Cheng up, "Are you okay?"

Zhang Cheng clutched his chest, shook his head, his gaze sweeping the battlefield. "How's Xingling?" he asked anxiously, looking at the dimming Xingling floating mid‑air.

Xingling responded weakly, indicating it could still hold on.

"Guangming Shizhe, are you injured?" Zhang Cheng noted the bleeding arm, his eyes full of concern.

Guangming Shizhe gritted his teeth, quickly bandaging the wound, "Just a minor cut, nothing serious. Getting out is the priority now!"

Zhang Cheng's gaze swept over the others, seeing their exhausted yet determined faces, and a warm surge rose in his heart.

"Hold on a bit longer, everyone; we can definitely break through!"

Kelinda's bright light gradually faded, and the assassins slowly regained their sight, but the flash had dealt a significant mental blow, noticeably slowing their actions.

"Good chance!" Xingji Xiake seized it, launching another attack; his energy sword sliced the air, producing a series of whooshing sounds.

Xingyun Zhizhe calmly observed the battlefield, noting that although the assassins' attacks were fierce, they followed a certain pattern.

"Xiake, strike their left wing! Blue Star Guardian, concentrate fire on their rear! Guangming Shizhe, cover us!"

Xingyun Zhizhe calmly commanded, his voice not loud but full of authority, calming the others considerably.

Everyone followed his orders, cooperating tacitly, and gradually turned the tide.

Hei Sha watched the scene, his expression darkening.

The gaunt man leaned close to his ear and whispered something.

A cold smile curled at Hei Sha's mouth corner, "Looks like we have to get serious..."

Hei Sha gave a chilling grin, drew an oddly shaped whistle from his waist, placed it to his lips, and blew hard.

A sharp, piercing whistle cut through the night sky, carrying far.

Everyone felt a sting in their eardrums and couldn't help covering their ears.

"Bad!" Xingyun Zhizhe's face changed dramatically, "That's the whistle that summons a shadow demon!"

As soon as the words fell, the ground began to quake violently, and distant, bone‑chilling roars echoed.

The others stared in terror toward the source, seeing a massive black silhouette rushing toward them.

The black shape drew nearer, gradually revealing its true form—a gigantic creature covered in black scales, its face ferocious.

Its crimson eyes radiated blood‑thirsty light, sharp claws glinting coldly, each step causing the ground to tremble.

The gaunt man pointed at them, laughing arrogantly, "Ha ha, feel despair! This is the shadow demon our boss spent a huge price to tame; you're doomed!" Other pirates also shouted, as if already envisioning the group being torn to pieces.

Xingji Xiake gripped his energy sword tightly, his face solemn. "Everyone, be careful; this monster is hard to deal with!"

Blue Star Guardian also readied himself, his energy cannon primed. "I'll do my utmost to cover everyone!"

The shadow demon's appearance further worsened the already precarious situation. A shadow fell over everyone's hearts, yet none retreated.

At that moment, Xingyun Zhizhe suddenly spoke, "I've analyzed the assassins' attack pattern; their weak point is three inches below the left scapula! Concentrate fire there!" His voice remained calm yet carried an undeniable firmness.

The others, hearing this, immediately shifted their attack toward the spot Xingyun Zhizhe mentioned, launching a fierce assault.

Sure enough, after being hit, the assassins' movements slowed markedly, some even collapsing outright.

Just as the tide seemed about to turn, the shadow demon had already surged to the front of the group.

It gaped its blood‑filled maw, let out a deafening roar, and a massive gust of force pushed the crowd back several steps.

"I'll block it!" the Interstellar Knight, the Mysterious Elf, and Zhang Cheng shouted almost simultaneously. The three exchanged a glance, their eyes filled with resolve.

"You…" the Xingyun Zhizhe began to speak, but was cut off by Zhang Cheng.

"Trust us!" Zhang Cheng finished, and together with the Interstellar Knight and the Mysterious Elf, he rushed headlong toward the Shadow Demon, his figure appearing tiny beneath the monster's massive shadow yet unwavering...

The Interstellar Knight's energy sword sliced the air, emitting a sharp whine as it drove straight into the Shadow Demon's chest.

The Mysterious Elf moved nimbly, darting around the monster, periodically releasing energy‑filled light spheres that bombarded the creature.

Zhang Cheng brandished a custom energy gun, aimed at the monster's eyes, pulled the trigger, and fired successive high‑energy beams, attempting to disrupt its sight.

Though the Shadow Demon was massive, its movements were unusually swift.

It waved its sharp claws, easily deflecting the Interstellar Knight's energy sword, while letting out another deafening roar that shattered the Mysterious Elf's light spheres.

Zhang Cheng's energy beams struck the monster's eyes, yet inflicted no real damage and only enraged it.

"Its carapace is too thick; my energy sword can't pierce it!" the Interstellar Knight gritted his teeth.

"My light spheres have no effect on it!" the Mysterious Elf shouted anxiously.

"Looks like we have to outwit it!" Zhang Cheng said calmly, analyzing the situation.

Meanwhile, the others were also struggling against the Shadow Assassins.

The Xingyun Zhizhe continuously analyzed the assassins' attack patterns, directing everyone to execute precise strikes.

The Guangming Shizhe released healing energy, mending the wounds of injured companions.

Kelinda used her special ability to restrain several assassins, creating an opening for the others to attack.

The Blue Star Guardian's energy cannon roared continuously, blasting the assassins into fragments.

The battle grew exceptionally fierce, the maze filled with surging energy and the clang of metal.

Suddenly, the Xingling sensed an abnormal energy fluctuation; her complexion changed, and she cried out, "Watch out! There are other energy reactions in the maze!"

Just as the group was puzzled, the maze's walls began to flicker with eerie light, and the floor started to tremble slightly.

A scorching breath emanated from the maze's depths, causing the surrounding temperature to rise sharply.

"What's happening?" the Xingyun Zhizhe furrowed his brows, feeling a hint of unease.

"This energy..." Kelinda's face turned pale, as if foreseeing something terrible.

Zhang Cheng, while dodging the Shadow Demon's attacks, turned his head toward the group and said gravely, "First, we must deal with the enemy before us..." Before he could finish, a stronger heat wave surged, forcing him to halt his speech.