Following the direction the beautiful Mage had walked, I was stunned once more. Without warning, nearly a thousand Ranger experts had appeared, their uniform Crescent Moon insignia suggesting they belonged to the beautiful Mage. The standard was high-level professional gear, with the three classes evenly distributed. But that wasn't the main point; what truly mattered was that alongside these thousand-plus high-level Rangers, there were over a hundred experts at the Chiyue (Crimson Moon) level. This was the crux of the matter—a clean sweep of Chiyue-grade Zuma Sets. With such a magnificent lineup, the Chiyue experts alone outnumbered the previous two factions combined by at least twofold. Even before a single blow was struck, the victory seemed settled.
Masters are masters; their mere entrance was enough to shock everyone present. I couldn't help but be filled with emotion—this was true power. Over a hundred Chiyue-level Rangers were enough to intimidate the Kuang Long Gang. No wonder that young man named Chi Jiao's expression had turned so ugly.
"Since everyone is here, can we begin?" the beautiful Taoist asked, her demeanor still calm and composed.
"Hah!" Chi Jiao laughed grimly, "Yan Luo, are you truly planning to stand up for them?"
"The Kuang Long Gang has become too arrogant; they don't take anyone seriously!" Yan Luo stated plainly. "It's been time we taught you a lesson."
"Good! Very good!" Chi Jiao said darkly. "Since you insist on interfering, don't blame me for what follows." Chi Jiao instinctively glanced toward the two dozen Chiyue-level experts standing beside him.
"The hundred Chiyue experts of the Shen Yue Palace are indeed formidable," the young Mage beside Chi Jiao stated calmly. "However, when has our Kuang Long Gang ever feared anyone? If you must meddle, you will pay the price."
"Interesting! You want to fight to the death, then!" the beautiful Taoist said indifferently. "Given the current situation, how many chances do you think you have left?"
"You underestimate the Kuang Long Gang," the young Mage sneered. "Once you are all dead, the problem will be solved."
Roar! Almost precisely as the young Mage finished speaking—
Swish! Swish! Ten Blazing Fires, countless thick bolts of lightning, and swirling Ice Howls tore through the air, hurtling towards Yan Luo, the big Warrior, and the group of masters gathered at the center of the field.
"Watch out!"
"It's a sneak attack."
"How dare they!" A dazzling golden light suddenly erupted around Yan Luo. Whoosh! As her Magic Shield activated, she shot backward like lightning, retreating dozens of meters, her astonishing speed leaving a residual afterimage in the air.
Ah! What speed! Even I, known for my own swiftness, was greatly taken aback by the movement technique and speed Yan Luo displayed.
Bang! Bang! Bang! In the instant Yan Luo dodged, the spot where she had stood was torn into a large crater by the barrage of Blazing Fire Sword Qi, Lightning Spells, and Ice Howls, kicking up swirling dust and smoke.
It could be said that if Yan Luo's reaction had been even a fraction of a second slower, she would have been utterly annihilated. But the matter was far from over. Almost simultaneously with Yan Luo’s rapid retreat, Chi Jiao launched his attack, pursuing the afterimage of her retreat. Blazing Fire Sword Qi flashed out alongside his charge, aimed directly at the retreating Yan Luo's chest.
Behind Chi Jiao, the young Mage unleashed three Great Fireballs at the exact same time! The furiously spinning Fireballs carved three eerie arcs through the air, like rapidly flying discs. One circled directly behind Yan Luo, while the other two split left and right, sandwiching her flanks.
At that same moment, the Blazing Fire Sword Qi launched by Chi Jiao reached Yan Luo's chest.
The Blazing Fire Sword Qi and two Great Fireballs had virtually sealed off all of Yan Luo's vital points, while the third Great Fireball guarded her rear. If Yan Luo continued to retreat at that speed, she was guaranteed to be hit.
Ah! Hiding in the shadows, I nearly gasped out loud! This was clearly a perfect, inescapable trap.
"Hmph!" With a cold, sharp shout, Yan Luo, while retreating, suddenly inverted her body into a vertical stance, falling straight down. Her back was nearly grazing the ground.
The two Great Fireballs and the Blazing Fire Sword Qi skimmed past the space where Yan Luo’s chest had been, flying behind her.
Thump! The missed Fireballs and Sword Qi smashed violently into the cave wall behind where Yan Luo had been.
"So close! Such fast reactions!" I couldn't help but clench my fists. Damn, that super 'Iron Bridge Plank' move Yan Luo pulled was absolutely stunning.
However, the situation on the field remained precarious.
Almost as Yan Luo evaded the combined assault of the Sword Qi and Fireballs, Chi Jiao's swift, lightning-fast figure closed the distance instantly. Only then did I realize that the combined attack had merely been a tactic to slow Yan Luo's retreat, allowing Chi Jiao to gain close-combat range.
Roar! Taking advantage of Yan Luo dropping low, Chi Jiao brought down his Caijue (Judgment) blade in a powerful, straight downward chop! Wild Blazing Fire Sword Qi wrapped around the Caijue like a blazing torch.
Ah! What astonishing Dou Qi energy!
Clang! The descending Caijue only struck Yan Luo's afterimage. Simultaneously with performing the 'Iron Bridge Plank,' she had already executed a rapid spring upward, shooting forward like lightning, skimming the ground for over ten meters.
Roar! His strike missing, Chi Jiao smoothly followed up with a sweeping crescent motion, conjuring two crescent-shaped sword shadows that pursued the retreating Yan Luo.
Hmph! As she sprang back, Yan Luo unleashed two Great Fireballs simultaneously.
Boom! Boom! With two loud impacts, the crescent sword shadows collided head-on with the two Great Fireballs.
Behind Chi Jiao, the young Mage immediately waved his Ancient Jade Scepter, condensing two bolts of lightning, intending to smash them down on Yan Luo. However, two other bolts of lightning struck his head first—these were launched by two other Chiyue experts from the Shen Yue Palace, attacking simultaneously to cover Yan Luo.
Hmph! The young Mage was forced to leap back.
The two missed Lightning Spells smashed into the ground, blowing open another crater. The two Chiyue Mages from the Shen Yue Palace showed no hesitation, unleashing Ice Howls, Lightning Spells, and Fireball Spells like a fierce storm upon the young Mage.
Meanwhile, Yan Luo had successfully broken free from Chi Jiao’s close-quarters engagement, creating a fifty-meter distance.
From the start of the ambush to this moment, barely the blink of an eye had passed, yet the danger involved was absolutely heart-stopping and perilous in the extreme.
Yan Luo succeeded in averting disaster through her superior skill, but not everyone possessed her astonishing reaction speed. The big guy had been hit by two Blazing Fire Sword Qis when the ambush began, but his thick God of War Armor played its role at the critical moment. The powerful Sword Qi only penetrated the surface defense of the armor, causing him no substantial harm.
The beautiful Taoist's reaction was equally swift; the moment the sneak attack began, she floated backward rapidly while summoning a fiery red divine beast. In essence, the Kuang Long Gang's ambush caused no lasting injury to their main figures, but the dozen or so nearby Chiyue Warriors suffered grievous wounds. Several were instantly blasted into fragments, leaving no complete corpse behind.
Who could have expected the Kuang Long Gang to suddenly lash out like this?
As Chi Jiao and the others initiated their attack, the large formation on the other side launched its offensive simultaneously.
The Warriors forming the front ranks charged toward the enemy formation like an angry tide rising from the sea, moving with astonishing speed. The Mages’ magical attacks suddenly erupted. Though positioned behind the Warrior ranks, the Mages’ magic struck first! Countless Lightning Spells, Ice Howls, and Explosive Flames rained down upon the enemy lines.
Roar! The opposing allied formation reacted just as quickly. Although they lost the initiative, the Mages immediately raised their Magic Shields, and the Taoists instantly cast Divine Armor Technique to enhance their teammates' defense. Blinding white light heavily enveloped the massive triangular formation—this was the group healing spell cast by the Taoist Rangers! Simultaneously, over a thousand small Skeletons and more than a hundred Holy Word Divine Beasts charged madly toward the enemy formation.
But the most impactful force was the Warrior formation positioned at the absolute vanguard, charging the enemy formation almost simultaneously.
The decisive battle unfolded, everything happening with suddenness. Clearly, the Kuang Long Gang planned a decapitation strike: kill the enemy leaders on the spot to throw the opposing ranks into chaos, or at the very least, gain the advantage to pave the way for their own assault. However, Yan Luo’s skill proved too great; not only did she instantly dodge the surprise attack from over twenty Kuang Long Gang experts, but she also successfully evaded the joint pursuit of the young Mage and Chi Jiao.
Yet, the Kuang Long Gang did not emerge entirely unscathed. In the opening moments of the battle, they successfully inflicted casualties on more than a dozen of the enemy’s Chiyue experts. Their basic tactical objective had been achieved.
Roar! Rumble!
Two torrents of green steel clashed like two trains colliding.
Clang!! Clang!! Clang!! Bang! Bang! Rumbled!
In an instant, Dou Qi flared, flames flew, lightning flashed, and thunder roared!
The once open field instantly devolved into chaos! Countless screams and cries of agony rose and fell amidst the flying Dou Qi and magical attacks! A large number fell in the blink of an eye.
The situation on the field had descended into utter confusion! I couldn't distinguish the positions of either faction. Everywhere were figures locked in combat; everywhere were terrifying scenes of shattered bodies and flying gore.
Heavens! It was hard to believe that people in this world could be so crazed! They fought the moment they spoke, staking their very lives on it.
Honestly, at the beginning, I felt a strange excitement, but seeing countless vibrant lives instantly torn to shreds by terrifying magic and Dou Qi, my heart involuntarily felt a violent throbbing and tearing sensation.
Though embarrassing, I knew I was truly terrified. I could only stare fixedly at the scene, thinking that if I were caught in such a scenario, I would surely be hacked to pieces.
At this moment, I finally considered whether I should slip away quietly. But the situation was so chaotic that I dared not make a move; stirring the attention of either faction could lead to an unknown outcome.
Gradually, the situation on the field began to clear. The allied guilds, centered around the Shen Yue Palace and led by their hundred-plus Chiyue experts, not only withstood the Kuang Long Gang's attack but also seized the momentum to counterattack.
The small triangular formation composed of over a hundred Chiyue experts pierced straight into the heart of the Kuang Long Gang’s lines like a sharp sword.
Roar! Countless green figures charged madly toward this small triangular formation. But any Warrior who slammed into it was, without exception, instantly pulverized by terrifying Dou Qi and formidable magic. Mages and Taoists from the distant Kuang Long Gang concentrated their firepower, focusing heavily on this triangular assault led by Chiyue experts.
At this moment, the difference in level and equipment was starkly evident. Although the magic hurled and Soul Fire Talismans fired by the enemy Mages and Taoists successfully struck the small triangular formation, they could not harm the members inside.
Rumble! Rumble! Clang-clang-clang! The magic slamming against the triangular assault was deflected by the formidable defense provided by the Chiyue Rangers’ God of War Armor, Demon Robes, or Ghostly Battle Garments. In contrast, this triangular formation of Chiyue experts moved as if in an uninhabited land, charging and slashing through the dense enemy ranks, inflicting massive damage on the Kuang Long Gang.
The other Rangers of the alliance did not lag behind, tightly following the triangular charge formed by the Shen Yue Palace Chiyue experts, frantically reaping the Kuang Long Gang Rangers who managed to slip through the cracks.
It was clear that the alliance was gaining an overwhelming advantage.
On the other side, the duel between Yan Luo and Chi Jiao continued.
Battles between Warriors and Mages always revolve around controlling and maintaining distance.
Yan Luo on the field moved like an elusive phantom, her movements irregular and astonishingly fast. She paused only for the briefest moments when casting offensive spells.
Bang! Another incredibly swift Light Beam shot out. A blue arc of lightning, laced with suffocating magical energy, hurtled toward the rapidly closing Chi Jiao.
Roar! The instant the Light Beam was fired, Chi Jiao instinctively performed a side-stepping dodge using his Electric Step. However, the Light Beam, which had been traveling in a straight line, suddenly distorted eerily. Two parallel arcs split and changed direction, precisely towards the location Chi Jiao was evading toward.
Roar! Chi Jiao could not escape. With a loud roar, a dazzling golden light burst from his body—this was the protective Dou Qi Warriors relied on for survival.
Thud! The Light Beam struck Chi Jiao squarely on the chest!
Ah! Struck, Chi Jiao was sent flying backward like he’d been hit by a train!
Thump! He flew a full dozen meters before landing heavily. But several Great Fireballs followed immediately, like shadows! Roar! The moment he hit the ground, Chi Jiao executed a sweeping Crescent Sword Qi to intercept the Great Fireballs closing in on him. Clang! Another explosion followed as the brilliant orbs of light detonated. But before Chi Jiao could recover, Yan Luo, having seized the advantage, unleashed a rapid barrage of continuous magic attacks down upon him: Lightning Spells, Fireball Spells, Great Fireballs, Ice Howls, Hellfire—like a raging storm. Chi Jiao's agile form darted through the downpour like a sea swallow in a tempest, always dodging Yan Luo’s magical onslaught in the flash of lightning and fire. Even the few widely spread Ice Howls he couldn't dodge were stubbornly absorbed by his protective Dou Qi.
Yan Luo’s furious magical assault lasted only about ten seconds before she was forced to stop. At this moment, Chi Jiao finally found his chance to counterattack. He charged toward Yan Luo with his Electric Step, but the instant her magical barrage ceased, Yan Luo activated her movement technique, beginning her own swift and unpredictable high-speed maneuvering.
It seemed neither could gain the upper hand. Every time Chi Jiao managed to close in, Yan Luo would repel him with her high-density magical assault. Furthermore, if Chi Jiao’s reaction was slightly slower, Yan Luo’s magic would smash squarely into him. Of course, Chi Jiao had his countermeasures: dodge if possible, and if not, rely on his protective Dou Qi to tank the hit. The moment Yan Luo’s magical bombardment paused even slightly, Chi Jiao pressed the attack.
After watching for a while, I realized that although their professions differed, Chi Jiao and Yan Luo were evenly matched in strength; a victory for either side would not come quickly.
On the other side, the big Warrior and the beautiful Taoist had also found their respective opponents, engaging in one-on-one duels.
However, judging by the situation, they were evenly matched against their opponents too. Both sides were at the Chiyue level with comparable equipment, meaning a quick resolution was unlikely.
But looking at the overall environment, the defeat of the Kuang Long Gang was only a matter of time. This was because the alliance's triangular formation composed of over a hundred Chiyue experts was simply too devastating. Not long after the fighting began, they had already inflicted significant casualties on the Kuang Long Gang Warriors.
"Retreat!" Chi Jiao, engaged in battle, seemed to sense the dire situation. Taking advantage of a brief pause in Yan Luo's magic barrage, he leaped backward to escape.
"Roar! Retreat!" The engaged Kuang Long Gang forces immediately began to pull back. However, the Warriors who had been holding the front line seemed unaffected, instead charging even more fiercely into the alliance formation. Clearly, they were sacrificing their lives to create an opportunity for their comrades in the rear to escape.
The Mages and Taoists in the rear echelon, along with some Warriors, quickly withdrew upon receiving the order. But what struck me as strange was their direction of retreat: toward the Death Coffin. What was going on? That place housed the super-terrifying brute, Chu Long Shen! What exactly was the Kuang Long Gang planning?
Yan Luo hesitated only briefly before biting back, "Pursue!" Of course, the alliance could not let this chance to annihilate the Kuang Long Gang pass. The Mages and Taoists who were previously in the rear formation activated their movement techniques and chased after them. Soon after, the triangular charge formed by over a hundred Chiyue experts killed the Kuang Long Gang Warriors blocking their path one by one and followed in the direction of the retreat.
In the blink of an eye, the battlefield, which moments ago had been filled with roaring war cries, was left with nothing but cold corpses. The entire world seemed to fall suddenly silent.
Have they all gone? I couldn't help but lean forward, carefully surveying the surroundings. There didn't seem to be a single person left standing.
Hoo! That was truly life-threatening! I never imagined the real-life Player Killing in the Fama World would be so brutal. There were at least three thousand corpses on the field. But these weren't the important part; what mattered was that I now had a brilliant idea forming.
Damn it, stealing from the dead seemed morally wrong, but looking at the dozens of corpses lying on the field clad in Chiyue gear, my heart began to race, and my breathing grew shallow.
Should I make a move or not? After all, that was an entire few dozen sets of Zuma Equipment! Long Xin and the others had risked their lives and saved painstakingly just to scrape together enough money for a single set of this gear.