The highest level of Vampire enhancement only reached that of a Prince, and even this enhancement was incomplete, requiring constant self-improvement to perfect the underlying gene. Once this level of genetic enhancement was achieved, the individual naturally possessed one core attribute: the perfect absorption of others' power and genes—this was the true essence of the Vampire. Although Reinhardt’s physical constitution was formidable, the Sea of West Team was merely a 'farming squad' with abysmal experience in team combat, leaving him virtually no opportunity to absorb the genes and power of true experts. Thus, this seemingly potent attribute became utterly useless, which was precisely why he had so desperately wished to defeat Zheng Zha earlier.

To be frank, the core fighters of the Central Continent Team possessed power that was nearly unmatched by other teams, both in physical quality and the extent of their Gene Lock. Perhaps only the two teams known as the Gods and the Devils could stand comparison. Consequently, once Reinhardt managed to absorb the power and genes of just a few members, his strength surged dramatically. Coupled with the absorption of Zhang Heng, who was already considered one of the top powerhouses in the Central Continent Team, his Vampire gene finally began to evolve.

“So good, is this what genetic evolution feels like? As if I have the heavens and the earth beneath my feet…” Reinhardt roared toward the sky, his pair of wings spreading arrogantly behind him, dotted with blood-red symbols that made them appear profoundly mysterious. Simultaneously, streams of dark crimson flame erupted from the man, the flickering light making him resemble a demon summoned from the depths of hell—powerful and seemingly invincible.

“Excellent! If I continue to grow stronger, perhaps I really can become a god or a devil, hahaha! This speed of evolution is simply unimaginable. The Central Continent Team… is magnificent. They are nothing more than stepping stones for my ascent to godhood! The Central Continent Team, hahaha, what a glorious phrase! I am overjoyed! None of you shall escape!” Reinhardt shrieked maniacally, seemingly having plunged back into a fit of frenzy. As he yelled, he flung his hands wide, sending a swirl of dust billowing outwards. The few people lying on the ground were tossed more than ten meters away; the sheer force was immense, making it hard to believe such power resided in this individual.

Reinhardt paused, staring exaggeratedly at his hands, then burst into laughter again: “Too strong, this evolved power is too strong! I have an overwhelming urge to destroy and kill! What if this power were directed against your Captain? That Zheng Zha who looked so powerful? What would be the outcome if I faced him? Tell me, who would win? Hahaha…” As he spoke, he raised his hand again. Zhang Heng, lying motionless in the distance, suddenly floated up and began drifting slowly toward him.

When Zhang Heng settled into his grasp, the man frowned deeply. He held Zhang Heng up, examining him from side to side for a long moment before violently tossing him back onto the ground. “Useless now. The power is completely drained… I might as well kill you all and wait for the rest of the Central Continent Team, or leave a few remnants behind… Hahaha, I know you are unwilling, but what can be done? This is a world where the strong prey upon the weak…” A ball of dark crimson flame materialized in Reinhardt’s palm, slowly drifting toward the prone form of Zhang Heng. With the power of this flame, Zhang Heng could easily be incinerated to ashes. At this moment, Zhang Heng lacked any ability to resist; he could barely manage a breath, forced to lie there as the fire approached ever closer.

Meanwhile, far down the passageway, Xiao Honglu and the others were rushing forward with all their might. The leading silhouette, small and swift, belonged to Zhao Yingkong, who had already drawn the Sword of Victory and Oath. However, they were still too far from Reinhardt. Even at Zhao Yingkong’s speed, she could not possibly intercept the flame heading toward Zhang Heng in time. Even if Zero Point immediately deployed his Gauss Sniper Rifle, the distance was simply too vast… “Zhang Heng!” Ming Yanwei screamed mournfully from the distance, having stumbled and fallen due to running too fast. Her small lips hit the floor hard. When she lifted her head again, Reinhardt in the distance had resumed his loud, wild laughter, and the flame was now only a foot away from Zhang Heng.

And then… “BOOM!” Suddenly, a massive black shadow plunged down directly from above Reinhardt’s head. This shadow was the ceiling itself, collapsing downward. In the blink of an eye, Reinhardt, his physical abilities greatly enhanced, sprang off the ground with a powerful leap. Zhang Heng, left directly below, was about to be crushed by the falling slab when another dark figure landed on the ground first with unbelievable speed. This figure smoothly scooped Zhang Heng up into his arms just as the ceiling slammed down upon his head… Another tremendous roar echoed as the ceiling, centered on the black figure, completely shattered. It was only then that everyone clearly saw the identity of this newcomer: it was Zheng Zha, charging in wildly while dragging Julian. Despite the immense distance, he had somehow arrived here, his speed far surpassing that of the Green Goblin’s glider.

Reinhardt’s composure was quite commendable. He drifted away with an air of extreme elegance, then flicked his fingers. “You’ve arrived? Seeking to save your teammate? Too late, I assure you. Their power has been absorbed by me, and with this strength, even you…” Reinhardt’s words were cut short as a surge of mental energy abruptly and urgently pierced his consciousness, conveying only two words.

“Flee quickly!” “Huh?” The next second, Reinhardt’s entire head pulverized into dust. His corpse was propelled outward by an immense force, flying over a hundred meters before smashing violently against a steel wall. Unbelievably, the wall buckled around him, the steel within a hundred square meters collapsing into a funnel shape, with Reinhardt’s body marking the exact center.

The scene was terrifyingly absolute. Zheng Zha stood there, utterly motionless; no one saw what he did—not even Zhao Yingkong, who had been watching intently. Everyone froze, staring blankly at the aftermath. At the same moment, a fissure suddenly cracked open on Zheng Zha’s skin, blood spurting out continuously. It resembled the excessive use of his "Ruin" state when his constitution was weaker, yet the "Ruin" power could never cause the current devastation, nor could it damage his nascent Dragon transformation to this degree.

“This is… Primordial Chaos! Creation and Destruction… Still not dead? Alive even without a head?” Zheng Zha took a deep breath, then lightly jumped. Mid-air, he kicked backward once. The speed was still invisible to the naked eye, but the power of the kick shattered the air, sending a visible ripple of compressed air surging toward the steel wall behind him. With a deafening crash, this seemingly casual aerial kick caused the wall to indent around the ripple’s center, even resulting in fractures and bursts of debris. The sheer, unimaginable might of that single kick—merely a recoil movement—created destruction more terrifying than a tactical nuclear device. After that strike, the steel wall was no longer visible; only a deep, nearly bottomless cavity remained, leading directly into the distant depths of another passage. “Th-that’s terrifying…” Liu Yu muttered, utterly dumbfounded.

The others were equally stunned, save for Xiao Honglu, who suddenly roared in exasperated fury: “Zero Point! Kill the person Zheng Zha brought! You must kill him! Use your Demonic Eye if you must!” Zero Point paused at the command but offered no reply, merely raising his Gauss Sniper Rifle in silence. Xiao Honglu continued speaking to himself: “If the explosion was the superficial collision of internal energy and Vampire essence, and Ruin was their complete mixture, then… any move capable of generating this level of destructive force means Zheng Zha has certainly mixed those two energies together… Damn it, Chu Xuan! Fire your cannon already, or everything might be too late!” At that moment, the Gauss Sniper Rifle in Zero Point’s hands roared. Just before the sound of the shot fully erupted, the white light surrounding Julian in the distance flickered violently. When the shot finally rang out, Julian abruptly turned his head; his eyes had reopened once more! “You dare!” A voice suddenly boomed from the void within the wall. Zheng Zha stood silently in the empty space, his wings beating behind him as if nothing were amiss. Yet, his entire body was drenched in blood, every inch of skin completely split open. Furthermore, the leg he had used to kick the steel wall was completely severed, presenting a truly wretched sight. Despite this appearance, no one felt pity; instead, this version of him exuded an indescribable pressure. Looking at him… anyone who had seen the replicated Zheng Zha felt as if they were staring at the original man.

“It’s not about daring or not daring. I know this power cannot last; otherwise, you would have already become a god. Therefore, you will certainly try to kill me before you weaken. If I must die, I will certainly take someone down with me!” Julian shrieked maniacally, his face twisted, his eyes wide open, clearly preparing to unleash the Alaya-Vijnana upon the remaining members of the Central Continent Team.

Zheng Zha took a deep breath, and a rush of wind swept past. In the next second, he materialized beside Julian, and his foot was already connecting with Julian’s forehead. There was no need for an instant longer; Julian was certainly finished.

Just then, the sound of an ancient bell chimed. For some unknown reason, Zheng Zha’s kick, weighty as a mountain, halted in mid-air. Then, a massive beam of energy blasted in from the extreme distance, enveloping everyone…