Chapter 128: I

The first to encounter Ma Ma Ersi was Gao Chui Quan; with the recent horror of Wudao Xin's massacre still fresh in her mind, she was exceptionally cautious.

Gao Chui Quan's Hézhě form now differed from before—her protruding back Hézi and the two Hézi greatswords above her arms had vanished, replaced by a pair of arm shields formed from Hézi on her forearms; she had abandoned all offensive Hézi, focusing solely on defense.

The appearance of Hézi depends on the ghoul's imagination, but very few ghouls can achieve this; as an SSS-ranked ghoul, Gao Chui Quan could certainly do so.

A thick arm shield one meter in diameter blocked her front, and Gao Chui Quan visibly relaxed.

Ma Ma Ersi snorted coldly and threw a straight punch at Gao Chui Quan's arm shield—this punch carried immense force, whipping up a howling wind.

Boom.

Everyone felt the ground tremble beneath their feet.

Ma Ma Ersi's fist, encased in steel, struck Gao Chui Quan's arm shield like a sledgehammer.

Instantly, spiderweb cracks spread across Gao Chui Quan's arm shield, and the iron fist sank deep into it.

Inside the Hézhě shell, Gao Chui Quan felt a crushing force slam into her—the Hézhě shell itself twisted and deformed, her legs sinking deep into the stone platform as shards of rock flew outward.

The force of that single punch had shattered her arm shield and warped the entire Hézhě shell.

If this punch had landed on a human body, it would have sprayed "juice" everywhere.

Su Xiao, who had circled behind, blinked rapidly at the sight, silently vowing: he must not be struck by Ma Ma Ersi—not under any circumstances.

Though Gao Chui Quan had been badly hit, she had barely held off Ma Ma Ersi's frontal assault—Wudao Xin had been killed in a single strike, so this was remarkable.

Dazed, Gao Chui Quan forced herself to focus, opening the Hézhě shell's massive maw and biting down hard on Ma Ma Ersi's arm.

Faint red flames surged across Ma Ma Ersi's body—he seemed displeased that his punch hadn't killed Gao Chui Quan.

"A modified Type-III warrior, with traces of hybridization. A fine creation."

Ma Ma Ersi studied Gao Chui Quan as if inspecting an object.

"But the Empire forbids Holy Warriors from consuming each other. Lose your reason, and you're no longer worthy of the title 'Holy.' So die!"

Ma Ma Ersi swung his other iron fist, aiming to crush Gao Chui Quan's head in one blow.

Gao Chui Quan was not fighting alone—she had the Priest and Ma Gui beside her.

Ma Gui had silently closed in beside Ma Ma Ersi, thrusting his Kunkui "Xiao" straight into Ma Ma Ersi's chest—the approximate location of the "Source."

The Priest's attack angle was more cunning—his sharp, cone-shaped Hézi pierced toward the seam in Ma Ma Ersi's armor at the waist.

As the two attacked Ma Ma Ersi, Su Xiao had already circled behind him, activated Mana Burn, and swung his Dragon Flash, its blade wreathed in faint blue electric arcs, aimed at Ma Ma Ersi's neck.

The armor around Ma Ma Ersi's neck had several intricate joints—its defense must be weak.

Gao Chui Quan held him frontally, Ma Gui and the Priest flanked him left and right, while Su Xiao struck from behind for the kill.

At the center of the four, Ma Ma Ersi showed no fear—he lifted one leg and stomped hard onto the stone platform, activating his skill "Shaking the Earth."

Thud!

The entire stone platform shuddered.

A shockwave erupted outward—Su Xiao, mid-swing with his blade, felt his skull ring, his vision flooded with white specks—this must be what they meant by "seeing stars."

Not just Su Xiao—all others were similarly affected, their attacks halted.

The three still in attack stances were unharmed, but Gao Chui Quan suffered terribly—she was still biting down on Ma Ma Ersi's arm.

Ma Ma Ersi's steel hand clamped around the Hézhě shell's neck and twisted violently.

Plosch.

A gush of blood splattered across Ma Ma Ersi's black armor; Gao Chui Quan's Hézhě shell's head was torn clean off—and it wasn't over. Ma Ma Ersi tossed the head aside and reached into the Hézhě shell's chest cavity.

His steel hand wriggled inside the shell for a moment, then yanked outward with all his strength.

Swish~.

Gao Chui Quan was literally pulled out of her Hézhě shell—her small body dangled by the hair in midair, while the ghoul shell thudded to the ground.

The searing pain in her scalp snapped Gao Chui Quan out of her daze; seeing the iron-clad brute before her, despair filled her eyes.

Beside her, Ma Gui and the Priest staggered like drunks, their steps unsteady. Seeing this, Gao Chui Quan's despair became absolute.

"Seems to have some research value. Leave the corpse."

Ma Ma Ersi held Gao Chui Quan before him, pinching her head between thumb and forefinger as if about to crush her skull.

The immense pressure on both cheeks forced Gao Chui Quan to struggle desperately.

Her Hézhě shell had already had its head torn off—how much less could her own body withstand?

At this moment, Gao Chui Quan was like a chick held by the neck—powerless, helpless.

Just as her head was about to be crushed, a flash of brilliant blade-light flashed into Gao Chui Quan's eyes.

Gao Chui Quan swore she had never found a blade so pleasing to look at—if she survived this, she would definitely acquire a fine blade and keep it as a treasure.

Because Su Xiao had higher intelligence, his dizziness passed more quickly.

He leapt silently behind Ma Ma Ersi, gripping the hilt of his blade with both hands and thrusting it straight into Ma Ma Ersi's nape.

There was a narrow seam at Ma Ma Ersi's nape—the Checking Zhan Long Shan's slender blade fit perfectly.

The long blade sank into the armor's interior; Su Xiao's thrust penetrated about ten centimeters before stopping—the blade felt as if it had pierced a mass of gelatin, each inch of progress excruciatingly difficult.

Ma Ma Ersi grunted, released Gao Chui Quan, and reached both hands behind his neck.

Su Xiao was terrified—Gao Chui Quan had been helpless in his grasp; if he were caught now, he'd be torn apart instantly.

Su Xiao pushed off Ma Ma Ersi's back with both feet, leaping high into the air and successfully putting distance between himself and Ma Ma Ersi.

Failing to catch Su Xiao angered Ma Ma Ersi; crimson flames surged across his body.

Ma Ma Ersi's blood-red eye sockets swept left and right, locking onto the Priest, who had just regained his footing.

The Priest barely began to retreat when Ma Ma Ersi seized his arm.

Crack.

"Ahh!"

The bones in the Priest's arm shattered instantly—but the Priest was no ordinary man; his Hézi lashed toward Ma Ma Ersi's head.

Before the Hézi could strike, Ma Ma Ersi dropped his stance, twisted his waist, and swung the Priest with full force like a club.

The Priest felt the world spin wildly, his body hurtling through the air at high speed.

Su Xiao, who had just escaped Ma Ma Ersi's attack range, widened his eyes—he realized Ma Ma Ersi had thrown the Priest at him like a weapon.

Su Xiao barely had time to dodge when the Priest crashed into him.

Thud.

Su Xiao was flung backward, slamming into the rock wall behind him—he felt as if his entire body had shattered. Though dazed, he gritted his teeth and sprang up in a fish-leap motion.

Agony shot through his spine—he'd been hit hard; a metallic-tasting fluid surged into his throat, and the impact with the rock wall nearly knocked him unconscious.

When the double vision cleared, Su Xiao saw Ma Ma Ersi had not charged—his breath eased.

Ma Ma Ersi was simply too strong. Without the numerous gaps in his armor offering access to his true body, victory was impossible.

The Priest beside him also rose, one arm hanging limp.

Ma Gui and Gao Chui Quan were slowly advancing—no one could defeat the monster alone.

"Hey!"

Su Xiao shouted loudly to draw Ma Ma Ersi's attention; the other three froze, thinking: this guy's gone mad.

Suddenly, Su Xiao produced an object in his hand, staring intently at Ma Ma Ersi.

"I'll let you go if you take this—this is our nation's 'treasure.'"

As he spoke, Su Xiao hurled the object into the air; the other three stared in confusion—this guy had been hiding another one?

Ma Ma Ersi caught the thrown object, holding it before his eyes to examine it—he did not recognize it.

"What is this strange thing?"

From Ma Ma Ersi's earlier words, it was clear he had existed for many years—he naturally wouldn't recognize the object.

No modern human would ever examine such an object up close like Ma Ma Ersi was doing.

Far away, Su Xiao held a detonator in his hand.

"It's a treasure~. Pay attention to its patterns."

With that, Su Xiao pressed the detonator in his hand.