Chapter 225: Absolute Suppression of the Third Tier! (5K)

Shadow Layer Domain.

Advancing in shadow form, Taku used the memory threads to continuously examine the memory images in the Shadow Flame Demon Wolf's mind regarding the Shadow Layer Domain during this period.

Taku's instruction to the Shadow Demon Wolf was to hunt those shadow creatures within the Shadow Layer Domain.

As for extraordinary beings who entered, the Shadow Demon Wolf would avoid them.

Of course, as for vampires and werewolves who entered, it naturally would show no mercy.

Taku had been in Saint Rand for over half a year.

The Shadow Flame Demon Wolf leader had run back twice, both times fleeing from the pursuit of the Shadow Demon Spider Lord.

During this period, other human extraordinary beings who possessed shadow-type abilities had no grievances with the Shadow Flame Demon Wolf leader.

Once these dishonorable otherworld hunters came over, that was a different story.

These otherworld hunters not only hunted 【monsters】, but also hunted humans.

In the Shadow Flame Demon Wolf leader's memory images, in some concealed shadow corners, it had seen scenes of these hunters hunting Saint Rand's extraordinary beings.

Aside from that, there were scenes of these hunters pursuing the Demon Wolf leader time and again.

And this time, the Demon Wolf encountered an expert, which was why it had sent a plea for help to Taku.

The images showed that these audacious hunters had even gone to hunt that Tier 4 lord, the "Shadow Demon Spider."

A Tier 4 Shadow Lord possessing a divine ability was not so easily bullied.

Naturally, those hunters suffered heavy casualties.

However, this scene also made Taku slightly elevate the matter of the Shadow Demon Spider Lord in his mind.

Originally, Taku had planned to attempt subjugating this Tier 4 lord when the opportunity arose.

After all, a lord-level existence was quite useful, and a Tier 4 lord at that.

Either! Submit, and come to my side.

Or! Resist, and come into my bowl.

If the other party truly resisted.

Even if Taku didn't need to consume shadow core materials, feeding them to the Shadow Flame Demon Wolf would be good too.

This could increase its probability of becoming a lord.

Taku examined the many memory images of the Shadow Flame Demon Wolf leader one by one, finishing them all.

Taku took a deep breath.

Brutality, cruelty, bloodthirst, and even a trace of mad killing intent gradually surfaced on his body.

"This group of hunters is so brazen on Ramoer Long Street."

"They didn't even inquire about the name of my Fire-Breathing Wizard 'Andrei.' Do they really think I'm easy to bully?"

Just then, ahead came an interweaving of shadow and reality.

A door of shadow faintly emerged.

Those hunters had finally used their little tricks to determine Taku's location.

Seeing this, Taku sneered twice.

Then, unhurriedly, he released the Shadow Flame Demon Wolf leader.

"Remember this: from now on, when you encounter fellows hunting you like this, kill them all, understood?"

"Whimper..."

The Shadow Flame Demon Wolf bared its fangs and let out a low whimper.

"Also, you've been with me for so long, and you're already level 38."

"It's about time I found a way to feed you up to level forty, or even advance your tier."

"Otherwise, a mere Tier 3 leader is too easy to die suddenly."

Taku shook his head and said to himself.

Shadow Flame Demon Wolf leader: "..."

Soon, the door of shadow took shape.

Led by the level 45 hunter at the front, a group of five filed in one by one.

Those four Tier 3 extraordinary beings wouldn't really pose a threat to the Tier 3 Shadow Flame Demon Wolf leader.

The real threat was the level 45 hunter leading them.

A 【Steam · Hunter】 possessing three steam cores.

This was the fundamental reason the Shadow Flame Demon Wolf had been pursued.

The group of five blocked Taku's path ahead.

The level 45, burly, rugged-faced 【Steam · Hunter】 scrutinized Taku for a moment before saying in a low voice.

"Local wizard friend, I'll give you one last piece of advice: put down the Shadow Demon Wolf, and I can still let you leave safely."

"Once a fight breaks out, even though you're a Steam · Wizard, but..."

The 【Steam · Hunter】 suddenly gripped the short blade at his waist.

Whooo whooo whooo...

A low, melodious, and urgent steam roar approached from afar, vast and mighty.

Large amounts of rising steam swirled around the level 45 Steam Hunter.

"I'm also of the Steam sequence..."

The Steam Hunter's words had barely fallen.

His expression abruptly changed, and he growled in a low voice.

"Careful."

Its whole body instantly turned into steam, rolled backward, hit the ground, and vanished.

A palm like a fan swept over.

A muffled "thud" sounded.

Accompanied by a bloody smell that spread.

A third-rank hunter's skull was directly smashed by Ta Ke's Spiritwalk Hand.

Steam hunters can dodge attacks, but these third-rank hunters lack such skill.

While the Spiritwalk Hand attacked.

The Shadowflame Demon Wolf leader instantly charged out.

Without the threat of fourth-rank steam hunters, these third-rank hunters, the Shadowflame Demon Wolf felt no fear.

In a moment, the Shadowflame Demon Wolf and the remaining three hunters fought in a melee.

The fourth-rank steam hunter's concealment ability is strong; just now it used steam-gray mist as cover, entering a disguised state.

Facing such a powerful hunter.

Ordinary third-rank mages, even fourth-rank mages, probably wouldn't dare act rashly.

After all, the hunters' concealment and ambush pose a high threat.

Even those inconspicuous "blow darts," if they hit, the contaminating, distorting, soul-paralyzing transcendent poison is enough to fell a transcendent being.

Meanwhile, Ta Ke slowly condensed his Nightmare Fire Oil Bomb.

Steam-World Origin Spirit State.

It itself grants Ta Ke the ability to perceive and harmonize with the world.

And the tower itself is drawing power from the "World."

Disguising near Ta Ke is probably overthinking.

Ta Ke, having nearly finished preparations,

He raised his hand, and a Nightmare Fire Oil Bomb lightly landed in a corner.

With a "bang," the firelight exploded.

Within a radius of ten-odd meters, firelight burst out instantly.

Yet a figure suddenly leapt out from the firelight using its jumping ability.

"How did he notice me?"

At this moment, the escaped steam hunter Kamis was greatly startled.

He is a fourth-rank steam hunter; his concealment is so strong that other fourth-rank steam transcendents struggle to detect him.

Yet this mere third-rank novice mage easily detected him.

Knowing the opponent was a steam mage, steam hunter Kamis dared not rush in; he did not jump straight at Ta Ke's face but leapt backward.

But even so, during the leap.

Ta Ke's next attack had already arrived.

On Ta Ke's right hand, the Fate Revolver merged with his hand.

The Arcane Shot technique had been preliminarily interfaced by Ta Ke with the Fate Revolver.

Arcane Shot can not only be stored long-term in the six chambers of the cylinder.

Ta Ke can also replenish Arcane Shot bullets at any time.

When firing Arcane Shot with the Fate Revolver.

It can also fully unleash the Transcendent Revolver's Execution trait and the Fate Fang's Harvest trait.

Now, the Fate Revolver's shot—Fate Shot—has base power exceeding that of a two-star spell, and against the weak, heavily wounded, or low-health enemies, it deals lethal damage.

Ta Ke raised his hand.

The attack trajectory and the steam hunter's leap path had already converged.

Precise!

At this moment, it returned to its essential function.

At the same time, Kamis suddenly felt a creepy sensation.

"Not good!"

As his face drastically changed.

"Thud!"

"Thud!"

"Thud!"

The first Fate Shot shattered Kamis's rune shield.

The following two shots exploded in Kamis's chest, blood and steam-gray mist instantly dispersing widely.

When the fourth shot fired.

The bullet passed through a blood mist and struck a blood crow.

It blasted the blood crow into a blood mist.

Meanwhile, Kamis vanished using the "Crow Swap" ability.

Crow Swap: By releasing the ability, one can exchange positions with their own raised crow.

Earlier, while concealing himself, Kamis had secretly gathered many steam crows via steam for hiding.

These steam crows can serve as his hunting birds and, in battle, help him evade enemy attacks.

As the enemy fled again, Ta Ke holstered his gun and lightly blew at the muzzle.

"Whoosh!"

Steam smoke lightly permeates.

「As expected, this guy is still handy! 」

「In this modern steam age, a steam-sequence transcendent without a steam transcendent firearm at their side isn't safe even walking the road. 」

He lightly flicks his thumb.

Accompanied by the 'click-click' of the turning cylinder, the arcane shot is quickly replenished.

At the same time, behind a large stone.

Kamis's face turned livid.

Those two shots just now not only made his transcendent state tremble uncontrollably, but also sent a violent tearing sensation through his soul.

What terrified him most was that those two shots seemed to strike his lifeblood artery.

His life surged like a flood released from a gate, racing wildly.

Those two shots were truly deadly, no exaggeration.

At the same time.

Taku, holding the Fate Revolver, was also carefully sensing the method of combining the forbidden sealed item's transcendent revolver with his arcane ability.

「The Fate Fang's own lethality isn't strong, but combined with the transcendent revolver and my arcane art, its lethality shoots straight up. 」

「Moreover…」

「With this shot, it can at least extend life by half an hour, or even up to an hour. 」

Sensing the trait of drawing upon the source of life, Taku's brows filled with joy.

「An attack that violently strikes the soul can directly draw upon the opponent's source of life. 」

「Although it doesn't yield as much as slaying a powerful transcendent…」

「But its advantage lies in being able to sustain continuous attacks, continually drawing. 」

「Of course, the precondition is being able to suppress the Fate Fang's drain on my soul. 」

「Otherwise, while attacking the enemy, I would also be harming myself. 」

「And once I can suppress the Fate Fang's drain on my soul. 」

「Then… in battle, I can continuously increase my lifespan. 」

「As expected of a sealed item, it's quite formidable. 」

Feeling his new method in detail, Taku grew ever more satisfied.

Just then.

「Whoosh! 」 A barely perceptible azure-blue blade of light burst from a pile of gravel, piercing toward Taku's back.

Offensive traps are also one of the hunter's attack methods.

At the same time.

「Gah-gah-gah... 」

「Ow-ow... 」

Vast numbers of steam crows and steam wolves.

They surged out from behind the stones.

Together they charged toward Taku to kill him.

Kamis, realizing that this third-rank steam mage before him was formidable.

Taking advantage of the outbreak of the offensive trap, he also launched an attack.

However, this poison-laden dart missed, simply passing empty through the shadow curtain area where Taku was.

Seeing his own highly concealed attack dodged by the opponent.

The already heavily wounded Kamis felt his heart sink slightly.

This third-rank steam mage's perceptive ability is the most terrifying among all spellcasters he knows.

His near-omniscient perception and control over the surrounding world simply inspires despair.

Moreover, his command over shadow and fire, their manipulation and transformation, is utterly at his whim.

From the start of the battle, he has been in a passive state.

If he had known beforehand how formidable this third-rank mage was, Kamis would absolutely not have rashly attacked him.

Feeling the assault of the steam-life community drawing nearer.

Taku clenched his right hand suddenly.

「Rumble... 」

Blazing flames surged forth.

「You didn't know I'm a fire mage, did you? 」

「You still dare to fight me in close combat? 」

Taku lightly blew on his fist, which resembled a candle flame.

「Whoosh... 」

Flames rose like a wall, centered on Taku, sweeping outward in all directions.

Those steam-condensed crows and wolves were instantly incinerated by Taku.

Seeing the vast flames sweeping toward him.

Kamis's face grew ever darker, turning livid.

「This mage's perceptive ability is astonishing, and his methods are even more unfathomable. 」

「It's extremely difficult to get close to this guy. 」

「And even if you do get close, what then? 」

Just his earlier effortless means to dodge my attack, and his earlier effortless means to enter the shadow layer—...

Getting close would also let him easily pull me apart; ironically, getting close to him would instead put me in danger.

I can set up means, and that mage can likewise set up formidable means around him.

The corner of his eye glanced over not far away.

Two of the three third-rank companions had already been killed by that magic wolf, and the sole survivor was nothing more than a plaything at the wolf's mouth.

Go!

No hesitation at all.

Knowing he had encountered a master today, Ka Mi Si immediately retreated.

Boom! His body instantly turned into steam-gray mist.

At the spot where a steam crow hid hundreds of meters away in a corner, Ka Mi Si revealed his true form.

He took a few steps and sprinted toward the nearby shadow gate.

Just then, a desperate scene appeared.

Crack—crack…

Rip…

The previously intact shadow gate was directly crushed by a suddenly appearing huge dark-gold hand.

Ka Mi Si had seen this huge dark-gold hand just before.

The hand that had first attacked him, which he dodged but whose companion took the blame for, was exactly the same as the one before him.

No… it could very well be the same hand, only the one before him is considerably larger.

And its might!

Needless to say, from a great distance, Ka Mi Si felt that astonishing rune arcane power.

Such rune arcane power was utterly beyond his reach.

Moreover, Ka Mi Si clearly remembered.

After that hand attacked before, it then vanished.

Now it suddenly appeared again.

In other words, that third-rank mage has continuously controlled that terrifying hand to counter any possible attack of mine.

"How can this guy have so many preparations in battle?"

For a moment, Ka Mi Si's heart violently trembled.

"You think running this fast means I let you leave?"

As Ka Mi Si stared dazedly, a calm and indifferent voice came from the side.

That voice made Ka Mi Si break out in a cold sweat instantly.

Just as he had guessed, even if he approached, the mage could still avoid him.

The mage possessed strong phasing, displacement, escape means, and so on.

Moreover, the mage could easily kill him in that brief moment of shock.

Yet he did not attack.

Either that, or the mage's spellcasting has a vacuum period.

Ka Mi Si himself didn't really believe that.

Then only the second possibility remains.

If the mage wanted to kill him, he could not escape at all.

"Give up resistance, and I can still give you a quick death; otherwise…"

Ta Ke's eyes narrowed slightly.

"You will know what it means to wish you were dead."

Ka Mi Si, sizing up Ta Ke, gave a dry laugh twice.

"Heh… I admit you're formidable, but… wanting me to kneel and surrender outright still depends on whether the mage lord truly has such means and strength."

He clenched his fists tightly.

The fervent, surging blood-colored source energy steam surged wildly.

Even the blood-colored source energy steam spewed directly from his wounds.

At this moment, knowing he could not flee, Ka Mi Si was truly ready to fight desperately.

As Ka Mi Si fully drove his steam core with his life essence.

Woo—woo—woo…

The despairing, solemn steam's roar swept coldly across the desolate, dark shadow layer wasteland.

The steam's death wail!

It also drew some perceptive forces of the shadow layer.

There were shadow avian creatures flying in the sky.

There were shadow small creatures, such as shadow dragonflies and shadow butterflies.

Even on some shadow trees, forces descended upon them.

Watching his desperate stance attracted some gazes.

Ta Ke remained as calm and indifferent as ever.

"Coincidentally, I also wanted to test a few more of my means."

"I'll test, you die—quite a good cooperation, I like it!"

As his words fell, Ta Ke had already struck.

The fierce battle unfolded again.

Ten or so minutes later.

With a burst of intense steam gunfire, it ended.

The battle ended as well.

At this moment,

A powerful fourth-rank steam hunter capable of a two- to three-hundred-year lifespan.

He lay on the ground like rotting wood and a burnt-out candle.

If it weren't for Ta Ke wanting to further test the Fate-pattern Revolver,

This guy had already been killed by Ta Ke ten or so times.

He felt the attentive gazes around him.

Ta Ke pressed the ground with one hand.

The Shadow Curtain fell from all sides.

It separated Ta Ke from the outside world.

After those gazes each took a moment to observe, they then left on their own.

Those of average strength naturally dared not approach.

The third-rank steam wizard before them displayed astonishing methods in those ten or so minutes.

Especially his unfathomable gun technique.

It was entirely an artistic-level performance.

As for the few sorceries interspersed, they were also handled with precise mastery.

Third rank versus fourth rank.

It was a completely one-sided rout.

Furthermore, this third-rank wizard was in a shadow state.

This was still near the La Mo Er Lighthouse.

Those powerful extraordinary beings naturally figured out who this person was.

They were even less likely to come over to disturb.

And at this moment, the battle ended, the third-rank shadow wizard lowered his curtain, and the meaning was clear.

Within the Shadow Curtain, he gazed at the fourth-rank steam hunter before him whose life was being rapidly drained by himself.

He felt the harvested life source amounting to nearly a week.

Ta Ke gave a light laugh.

"It seems I have found the correct way to open this seal that suits me."

"The final harvest is certainly refreshing, but drawing out life bit by bit, shot by shot, can also accumulate much from little."

Looking at the Fate-pattern Revolver in his hand, Ta Ke lightly rubbed it.

"That previous sixth-rank expert of the Nether Blood Clan tore apart one of my soul shades."

"This guy is just right to use for replenishment."

"Two fourth-rank soul shades and two third-rank soul shades, increasing safety further."

"But… before that, first extract this guy's steam core."

"The Miracle Hut now digests steam cores at a very fast speed."

Within the Shadow Curtain.

Ta Ke began to completely squeeze out the remaining value of this fourth-rank steam hunter.

Before, Ta Ke's methods were insufficient to perfectly extract other extraordinary beings—body, soul, extraordinary traits, and so on.

Now, compared to before, it feels much more three-dimensional.

As a wizard, if one cannot effectively utilize an enemy's corpse, that is obviously not a qualified wizard.

While Ta Ke was carrying out his own resource recycling process.

A fifth-rank shadow entered the Shadow Realm at a location not far from Ta Ke.

After looking left and right, this fifth-rank shadow silently moved toward Ta Ke's position.