Having witnessed the opponent unleash the Exploding Water Orb, Chen Feng, though unsure of its precise power, sensed the potent elemental fluctuations radiating from it. A direct defense would surely result in injury, prompting him to devise a strategy.
First, he darted forward, forcing the opponent to release the newly formed magic orb. Then, with a quick maneuver, he unleashed the flame in his hand—the Dark Hook—in the opposite direction. The opponent, needing to evade the immediate magical aftermath, would inevitably retreat backward. At that moment, he could control the previously cast Dark Hook to strike from behind!
This entire sequence of combat tactics flashed through his mind with the speed of light. Chen Feng executed it without hesitation, and the result unfolded exactly as predicted!
After dispatching Al, Chen Feng rapidly retreated, instantly moving back several meters to dodge an incoming attack from the other mage, Sandra.
“Al…” Sandra roared, his voice laced with profound agony.
Al and he were cohort members at Tianfeng Academy, both apprenticed under the Fifth-Tier Water Elementalist, Patrick. They graduated together and had struggled side-by-side! Their bond spanned over two decades, deep enough to rival that of biological brothers!
Now, seeing his comrade utterly annihilated before him, leaving not even bone behind, how could he not be consumed by rage and grief?
“Die!” Sandra shrieked, frantically tapping his magic staff. Soccer-ball-sized water orbs shot towards Chen Feng like meteors!
Third-Tier Group Attack Magic—Torrential Downpour!
Chen Feng watched the massive area-of-effect assault raining down like a squall, remaining perfectly still. As the water orbs neared, his eyes snapped wide open, and his right hand whipped downward in eight rapid tremors!
“Cyclone Force 25%, Hundred Eight Forms—Dark Hook!”
Eight clusters of azure flame scraped along the ground, advancing uniformly, resembling swift steeds galloping across a snowfield.
“Boom!” The KOF technique collided with the magic. Flame met water sphere, erupting in a cloud of scorching mist mid-air.
The superheated vapor spread outward in ripples across the sky, like ripples disturbing a lake’s surface. Wherever it touched, the accumulated snow instantly melted into icy runoff!
The eight Dark Hooks, each powered by only 25% of his Cyclone Force, proved equal in destructive capacity to Sandra’s furious Third-Tier spell, dissipating simultaneously into nothingness!
The Dark Hook was an attack method far surpassing expectations. A favorite among players in the KOF games, Chen Feng’s eight half-powered Dark Hooks matched a Third-Tier Group Attack spell in sheer power, stirring a great surge of excitement within him!
“I’ll fight you to the death!” Seeing his initial assault fail only fueled Sandra’s frenzy. With a great shout, he spat a mouthful of blood, his body radiating an eerie luminescence as he muttered an incantation.
All surrounding water elements converged upon him, and the remaining ice and snow on the ground rapidly liquefied at the same instant!
Could it be Fourth-Tier Magic? Witnessing this spectacle, Chen Feng’s heart clenched!
The ability to cast Fourth-Tier Magic was the crucial hallmark distinguishing a mage from an Elementalist. Logically, Sandra, at the pinnacle of a Ninth-Tier Mage, should be incapable of such a feat—at best, a pseudo-Fourth-Tier spell. Yet, in his madness, he recklessly pushed past the limits of what his body could control to manifest a true Fourth-Tier spell!
Although Chen Feng had never witnessed a Fourth-Tier spell’s might, he could surmise its power. The White Wolf King of the Ice Rock Fighting Wolves had previously utilized a life-bound fighting skill that was Fourth-Tier; its ability to freeze a fifty-meter radius into solid ice left the present Chen Feng feeling powerless just recalling it.
The water elements gathered around Sandra grew denser, gradually forming a thick, dark cloud above his head. The cloud accumulated, thickening and beginning to solidify.
Chen Feng knew that once the dark cloud successfully condensed, it would unleash a fatal blow. Hesitation was no longer an option. His feet blurred into phantom movements as he surged forward. His right fingertips crackled with Cyclone Force, instantly hardening like steel claws as he lunged to rend the flesh of the mage before him!
Reverse Peel!
However, just as Chen Feng’s fingertips were about to connect, a blade of light suddenly flashed from obliquely above!
It was the assassin, Sammy!
Assassin Sammy had suffered grievous wounds from one of Chen Feng’s Sunflower Three Forms but had not been killed. While Chen Feng was fighting Al, Sandra had already used water-element healing magic to stabilize his injuries!
Though not fully recovered, the damage was no longer critical. Seeing Chen Feng move to disrupt the spell, he immediately charged forward!
This thrust was executed with malicious cunning. Whether Chen Feng advanced or retreated, he was virtually guaranteed to be struck by the attack!
“Ah…” Chen Feng roared, his outstretched right hand suddenly separating as a ball of flame spontaneously ignited in his palm. He thrust it upward, his lean body soaring diagonally into the air!
Hundred Forms—Oni Yaki!
Hundred Forms—Oni Yaki (→↓? + A or C). Oni Yaki is one of the most beloved moves among KOF players, the go-to method for countering aerial assaults and retaliating against close-quarters attacks. During Oni Yaki, the upper body possesses frames of invulnerability, allowing evasion of many high attacks. Assassin Sammy’s attack from above perfectly aligned with this condition. Chen Feng didn’t need to think; the execution method of this move simply materialized in his mind, and he unleashed it!
With a thud, the flame Chen Feng propelled upward collided with the flashing short sword, instantly melting the blade into a puddle of molten iron!
“Ah!” The azure flame traveled backward along the sword’s path, incinerating the concealed assassin in the air in an instant!
In reality, the power of Chen Feng’s first use of Oni Yaki was astonishing!
Killing the opponent in a single move—he hadn't expected Oni Yaki to be so much more devastating than the Dark Hook! However, the Dark Hook could strike at range, while Oni Yaki was suited for close combat; they each possessed their distinct advantages!
Having executed Oni Yaki, Chen Feng remained airborne, angling his trajectory to slam directly into Sandra.
At this moment, Sandra was entirely enveloped by dense water elements, a heavy shadow cloud hovering above his head—the Fourth-Tier spell was on the verge of completion. If this magic were allowed to form, even with Chen Feng’s current strength, a forced confrontation would inevitably lead to severe injury!
In desperation, Chen Feng hooked his left leg out, delivering a diagonal kick directly to Sandra’s face!
This move was the famous Outer Form—Yurikago from KOF!
Because Sandra could not fully control the power of the Fourth-Tier spell, the elemental fluctuations within his body churned violently. His body appeared bloated and distended, like an overinflated ball. Chen Feng’s kick failed to inflict any substantial physical harm!
This was unsurprising; Outer Form—Yurikago utilizes a light kick in the game, and light kicks naturally have a much weaker impact effect.
Nevertheless, the kick jolted Sandra’s consciousness, causing his body to sway unsteadily. The shadowy cloud, already being condensed under duress in the air, began to fluctuate wildly, threatening to detonate at any moment!
After the kick, Chen Feng landed heavily but showed no intention of stopping. His right hand shot up in a hook punch, striking Sandra’s jaw, immediately followed by a left hook. Simultaneously, he surged forward, clasping both fists together and smashing them down onto the mage's head!
Sunflower Three Forms!
Outer Form—Yurikago followed by Sunflower Three Forms!
This entire chain of movements flowed together seamlessly, forming what was undeniably Iori Yagami’s twelve-hit combo!