Chapter 125
Chapter 125
Somewhere in the real world.
“I see!”
Ning Wushen’s gaze seemed to pierce the void and witness everything occurring within the Icebound Ruins. “Knowing the gods and demons would never let the matter rest, he chose to seek life within certain death and trade his life for the Flame Giant King’s!”
The purpose behind Zhou Ming’s actions was now obvious.
As long as his true life did not end, dying any number of times inside the game was an acceptable price. Under those conditions, killing the eighth-ranked Demon God would be an unquestionably profitable trade.
In that way, he would not change the fate of his death, but he would change his future.
“A clever plan, but god-tier experts are nowhere near as easy to handle as you imagine…”
…
Within the ruins.
Broken stones bounced and scattered under the violent shock waves.
The surging fire elements melted the snowstorm. The Heavenrend greatsword that had split the clouds resembled the Sword of Damocles hanging over the Flame Giant King’s head, firmly locked onto its target as it plunged down with savage force.
“An insect that has only just entered the War Soul tier dares dream of killing me?” Flame Giant King · Rod’s voice rolled like muffled thunder. Before Rod could recover from the giant’s contemptuous state of mind, the weapon in those massive hands had to rise and block the Heavenrend greatsword.
Everything happened too suddenly!
Based on every previous encounter, Zhouyou Shijie should have used the Divine Ember Queen’s help to flee as quickly as possible, not risk his life in a desperate battle!
The unexpected change caught Rod completely off guard.
Boom!!
The two colossal blades crashed together. The residual force swept outward in every direction, seeming to dye the sky itself crimson.
In the next instant, the Flame Giant King’s knee was forcibly bent. Rod dropped to one knee and smashed out a vast crater.
Ding!
[System Notification: You have used [Heavenrend], dealing 13,258,612 Critical Damage to Flame Giant King · Rod and inflicting Suppression for 0.75 seconds!]
With his Talent and weapon stacked together, Zhou Ming ignored 60% of Rod’s Defense. Combined with all his items, Soul Plunder, and the one-use temporary skills bestowed by four god-tier experts, which he activated without regard for their price, he finally possessed the ability to pierce Rod’s defenses.
But such damage meant little to a god-tier expert with tens or even hundreds of billions of HP. Rod’s health bar merely twitched.
“Seal [Forbidden · God of Blazing Flames]! It’s Rod’s strongest enhancement skill!” The other Demon Gods had yet to cross the void and arrive, so Qianying guided him from nearby.
“Got it!”
Zhou Ming understood immediately.
Ding!
[System Notification: You have successfully sealed Flame Giant King · Rod’s [Forbidden · God of Blazing Flames]. The skill cannot be used for 10 minutes!]
Whoosh!
At that moment, Windwalker · Balen, an expert in speed, stepped out of the void.
“Your opponent is me!”
Ye Zhibei charged forward on his flying sword.
“!!”
Balen’s expression changed drastically. “You’re truly going all out?”
Balen had thought the same as Rod: that this was only a formality and the real battle would wait until the siege of Juyan City.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Sword intent and raging wind immediately tore at each other in midair.
Qianying attacked as well, seizing the opportunity to weaken the Demon God’s combat power.
Facing the combined attacks of two top god-tier experts, Balen was battered and forced into an awkward retreat, compelled to use full strength from the very beginning.
“Hahaha…”
Breaking free from Suppression, Rod laughed in fury. “Do you truly think immunity to fire-elemental damage is enough to fight me? An ant trying to shake a tree knows nothing of its own insignificance!”
Rod took a colorful scroll from the inventory and tore it apart.
A strange force immediately divided in two and entered both Rod and Zhou Ming. Neither could resist the process.
Ding!
[System Notification: Flame Giant King · Rod has used [Life-and-Death Pact] (Rare SSS Rank) and selected you for a challenge. The pact has been successfully established!]
A Life-and-Death Pact?
Zhou Ming’s gaze sharpened. Words that could not be removed appeared on his character panel.
[Life-and-Death Pact]
Winner: Unconditionally plunders any 3 things possessed by the opponent, including items, equipment, class, Talent, abilities, and more.
Loser: Death. If the loser is an adventurer, their Level is reduced to 1.
…
Flame Giant King · Rod clearly coveted Zhou Ming’s immunity to fire-elemental damage. The giant had even used a priceless Rare SSS-Rank item in an attempt to steal it.
“You may be an adventurer capable of reviving, but I can still make sure you never recover!” Rod swung the greatsword at Zhou Ming with earth-shaking force.
Ding!
[System Notification: Flame Giant King · Rod has used [Giant of Flame]. All Attributes +60% for 5 minutes!]
Having the strongest enhancement skill sealed did not mean Rod possessed no other powerful methods.
However, the giant’s high-damage skills were tied to the fire element and could not affect Zhouyou Shijie. That truly left Rod in an uncomfortable position.
Zhou Ming’s expression turned cold. “Xiaoyou, help me!”
Upon receiving the order, Xuanniao charged fearlessly toward the greatsword and cast Misfortune Divination on Flame Giant King · Rod just before dying.
Against a god-tier expert, there was very little it could do.
-1!
Xuanniao’s figure disappeared beneath Rod’s greatsword.
Ding!
[System Notification: Your pet [Celestial Spirit Beast · Xiaoyou] has triggered the passive [Immortality]. It will revive in 20 minutes. [Flame Giant King · Rod] receives Luck -99, All Attributes -10%, and All Elemental Resistances -20% for 7 days!]
“Damn it!”
Rod could not help cursing.
Zhou Ming erupted forward with Shadowless Step and appeared beside the giant’s heel, the weapon in his hand gleaming coldly.
Heavenrend had long since become his exclusive skill and no longer needed to be forcibly bound to Defy the Heavens. There was no need to debate which skill he should strengthen next.
Ding!
[System Notification: You have used the exclusive ability [Defy the Heavens], successfully advancing [Rending Slash] (Rare S Rank) into [Heaven-Slaying Sword Qi] (Exclusive S Rank)!]
Shhk…
Sword qi howled, blasting apart the stones around Rod’s heel and nearly knocking the giant backward.
-1,023,664!
-60,000,000!
-60,000,000!
-60,000,000!
…
Under Heaven-Slaying Sword Qi, Rod’s HP finally began to fall, dropping by 2.5% in total.
The effect drained 0.5% of maximum HP per second for five seconds!
This was Rending Slash’s power after advancing into an exclusive skill!
“Insect, die!!”
Feeling the threat, Rod roared and swung the greatsword again. The enormous attack range sent dust and rubble flying.
Ding!
[System Notification: Flame Giant King · Rod has used [Severing Peak]. Next attack damage +500%, with a very high chance of inflicting Knockback. Duration: 5 seconds!]
Bang!
Zhou Ming raised his sword to block. His entire body flew backward, carving a long, deep trench across the ground.
-250,026,620!
Even a purely physical attack was terrifying. It instantly erased one-tenth of Zhou Ming’s HP in his ultimate state!
“Let’s see how long you can last!” Rod grinned viciously.
In the giant’s eyes, the man before him truly was as small as an ant, something that could be crushed beneath one foot.
“…”
Yun Wuyou watched everything in silence.
Fighting a god-tier expert head-on with War Soul-tier strength was an unprecedented accomplishment!
But even after Soul Plunder stole 10% of a god-tier expert’s Panel Attributes, Rod’s remaining power was still overwhelming.
Flames covered Zhou Ming’s body under Baptism by Fire. “Until I’ve killed you!”
Shhk…
A second Heavenrend descended.
Riiip!
At the same moment, the SSS-Rank Forbidden Spell scroll Burn the Heavens activated.
Like the wrath of a Fire God, a pillar of flame descended from the sky and crashed into Rod. Terrifying power then erupted outward, covering ten thousand meters in every direction.
-15,361,568! (Critical Damage)
-500,000,000!
…