The broad avenue. Tens of thousands of citizens were still scattering in disarray. Only those near the epicenter of the fighting did not flee further. They stared blankly at the figure that had suddenly appeared—a man who had just demolished a mobile armored city with his bare body.
Why did he fire? Who was he shooting at? People exchanged confused glances, seeking answers in each other's eyes.
“Dead?” The smile instantly froze on Li Mingzheng’s face. The red wine, gently swaying in the glass, splashed onto his hand due to the violent tremor in his wrist: “How is this possible? Impossible!”
Li Mingzheng’s gaze was fixed, unblinking, glued to the screen. He muttered, “He’s eighth on the Blood List. A striker who has never missed. One of the Federation’s top ten snipers…”
Clang!
The crystal wine glass, holding the red wine, flew across the room and shattered against the artistic mural, instantly turning to dust. Crimson liquid slowly streamed down the wall. Li Mingzheng stared at the screen, boiling with suppressed rage. The opportunity he had painstakingly waited three months for had been snatched away by Qin Fen’s last-minute reversal!
“What a pity…” Li Mingzheng slumped, his body suddenly powerless, sinking deep into the sofa backrest. His eyes held a look of disappointed vacancy. “With this scheme failed, I’ll never have a chance to take revenge personally. Little Pluto Hades rarely leaves anyone alive after a fight. Qin Fen ultimately died at the hands of Little Pluto Hades!”
“I am not reconciled!”
This roar of frustrated rage echoed long and loud in a secluded villa deep in the Han Prefecture night.
“It seems… I hit him.”
Qin Fen held his rifle ready, watching the surroundings cautiously. He inwardly marveled that this shot had been sheer luck. Using an M2BH without any optical scope for a thousand-meter shot on such a dark night—the absolute limit was forcing the enemy to retreat. But just now, the enemy’s aura a thousand meters away had suddenly… stopped, vanished.
“Dead…”
In his earpiece, Xing Wuyi let out a low growl. Qin Fen’s gaze snapped toward the stadium behind him, his feet exploding with high-speed power as he lunged toward it without pause.
A feint? Qin Fen was filled with admiration. The Death Sign’s original intent must have been to draw out the SWAT Captain, Ke Xiaosong, right? It was just that the SWAT Captain wasn't even on site today. What state would the Death Sign appear in? Before the concert began, everyone had speculated on this. Every possible method had been considered, except one: erupting directly from the stands, assaulting the concert venue physically—a near-suicidal approach.
Yet, the Death Sign’s method of attack was precisely this suicidal manner. Bursting from the stands to charge and kill—this was difficult even for Qin Fen. The distance was somewhat significant, and charging through a sea of panicked spectators was incredibly hard.
But for the Death Sign, who originated from a terrorist cell, this was no obstacle whatsoever. Unleashing the full power of his Eleven-Star strength propelled his body high into the air. He moved like a flying venomous snake, covering twenty meters in a flash, his toes directly stepping on the heads of the crowd!
That’s right; he didn't need to find a safe landing spot that avoided injury. Causing more deaths would only enhance the terrifying atmosphere he sought to unleash.
A massive firework exploded overhead, releasing dazzling pyrotechnics. The rifle at Sniper Point One roared.
Before Xing Wuyi could even utter the word "death," Lin Ling’s finger had already tightened on the trigger. The twenty-five-millimeter bore of the XM10 spat out a sound like a roaring beast. The moment the bullet left the chamber, a massive airflow field formed around it.
No lock-on. Fire immediately! In the crowded stadium, Lin Ling fired without hesitation. The decisiveness and calm displayed surpassed even Qin Fen’s; this was Lin Ling! In all the New Recruit Competitions, the only one to ever beat Qin Fen was Lin Ling, precisely in one of Qin Fen’s proudest skills: marksmanship!
Bang!
The bullet slammed into the killing intent-charged enemy. The XM109, modified by Qin Fen, possessed power great enough to easily pierce a target enhanced with Level Three biochemical fusion and wearing Dragon Scale armor—an enemy hiding inside the cockpit of a City Guardian.
Even an Eleven-Star martial artist’s physical body might not be stronger than that! The bullet struck the enemy without fail, blowing apart his upper torso. The powerful air field completely disintegrated the target’s upper half, leaving only a head and the lower part of his body, which fell limply to the ground from the air.
Hiding in the shadows, Yu Xiao sucked in a sharp breath. What kind of marksmanship was that? It was superior to the Squad Leader’s sniping level! Yes! Perhaps only by a razor-thin margin, but if the Squad Leader engaged this shooter in a duel, the one who died would almost certainly be the Squad Leader!
Yuwen Qian’s sniper rifle suddenly swiveled toward Sniper Point Two the instant Lin Ling’s shot rang out!
A decoy. The Death Sign’s double!
Despite the distance, Yuwen Qian could use his professional expertise to instantly judge that the Eleven-Star martial artist flying through the air was definitely not the Death Sign, but someone surgically and cosmetically altered to look exactly like him.
This perfect replica could fool everyone, but it couldn't deceive Yuwen Qian.
Known in the Hunter world as the "Thousand-Faced Enchantress," Yuwen Qian’s skills in disguise and makeup stood at the pinnacle of the field. He immediately saw through this meticulously crafted double.
The Death Sign specialized in sniping and demolition! Furthermore, he was someone who never easily placed himself in a situation from which he couldn't escape. He would never launch such a suicidal attack!
At Sniper Point Two, the eyepiece of a sniper scope reflected a cold gleam under the illumination of the fireworks. This spot, secretly guarded by over a dozen men, had been fully under police control just half a minute ago.
The Death Sign had positioned his rifle, his finger hovering over the trigger, when a chill shot up his temple—he was being targeted by a sniper.
Yuwen Qian’s gun also sounded at that moment. The Death Sign was forced to continue firing while instinctively dodging to the side.
Yuwen Qian cursed inwardly. In a normal sniping scenario, he could use his specialized technique to conceal his presence and lock on, but not in this current state. A locked-on shot wouldn't hit the Eleven-Star martial artist. The only thing he could accomplish was to startle him and disrupt his assassination attempt.
Thud!
The Death Sign watched the spot where he had just been standing erupt in a massive crater in the reinforced concrete. He gasped internally: Was that even a sniper rifle? Its power rivaled artillery!
The XM109, in the eyes of many military enthusiasts, was not considered a true sniper rifle to begin with. Many argued that any rifle exceeding a thirteen-millimeter caliber was already an anti-materiel cannon.
However, the Gun King, Qin Fen’s master, didn't believe that, and neither did Qin Fen. This sniper weapon, which could almost be called artillery, startled the Death Sign immediately.
The Death Sign inwardly thanked his luck. If he had relied on his Eleven-Star martial arts to block the bullet just now, even with Ripple Body Protection and biochemical beast enhancement, he would have been reduced to pulp.
As the thought crossed his mind, the Death Sign rapidly retreated behind the sniper position without any lock-on signal. This spot had been discovered, so…
Thud! Another loud impact shook the ground. The Death Sign’s heart turned icy cold. That first shot felt like it had been locked on, but this second bullet, flying in from another direction, gave him no sensation of being targeted at all. If it weren't for his cautious habit of rapidly retreating, he would have been killed without even knowing it.
Where in Tianbei City had such a formidable sniper come from? The Death Sign retreated into the darkness, slipping into the firing blind spots of Sniper Points One and Three.
The third shot rang out…
Yu Xiao fired from a designated observation point. The only target this position could properly aim at was the area between Sniper Points Two, One, and Three's blind spots.
Yu Xiao’s sniping skill was far inferior to Lin Ling’s, and significantly behind Yuwen Qian’s as well. Still, after being rigorously trained by Qin Fen, his skill had improved greatly. While he might not kill an Eleven-Star enemy, scaring him off was enough. The Death Sign felt targeted again, cursing the Tianbei City police system internally. Where had they dredged up so many powerful snipers?
Artillery again? While dodging, the Death Sign scrutinized the damage left by the bullets, racking his brain: What kind of weapon was this? XM109? No! This power was even greater than the XM109. Was it modified? Who could be so ruthless as to modify the precise XM109?
The Death Sign finally retreated completely from the sniper platform. After this exchange, there was no way he could return to the sniping perch. He faced three artillery pieces capable of turning him into mincemeat at any moment.
Before his feet even touched the ground, the hairs on the Death Sign's body stood up again. Six martial artists burst from the darkness! Six Eight-Star martial artists struck suddenly when his killing aura was at its weakest.
They had been hiding there—a special deployment orchestrated by Xing Wuyi using the forces at his disposal.
According to Qin Fen’s original plan, if the Death Sign had dared to enter the sniping platform, the three contemporary supreme snipers opening fire simultaneously should have been enough to eliminate him.
But Xing Wuyi was still worried. He considered this location a potential vulnerability of the venue. What if some extraordinary accident occurred, allowing the Death Sign to escape through that one-in-ten-thousand chance? These six members of the Flying Tiger Squad, wearing their familiar specialized gear, were the ultimate defense meant to prevent the opponent’s escape.
Xing Wuyi knew well that evading sniper fire was not easy, especially the fire of a master sniper. The mental and physical strain, along with the consumption of true energy, was staggering in that brief moment!
If the Gun King had fired three shots, Xing Wuyi believed that even with the Death Sign’s heaven-defying luck, he would have been forced to evade. Placing two ten-year-old children at the exit, each armed with an AK47, would have easily riddled the Death Sign with bullets.
The energy, stamina, and true qi required for the Death Sign to evade even one shot from the Gun King would likely deplete him instantly.
Six Eight-Star Flying Tiger members, all equipped with light powered armor and power gauntlets, and all seasoned veterans—surely this would be enough? Xing Wuyi sighed internally. If he could have placed twelve Flying Tiger members here, his certainty would be higher.
Unfortunately, no one could guarantee the Death Sign would appear here; forces had to be spread out elsewhere. The maximum number they could assign here was only six.
Traps, too? The Death Sign, shaken to his core, wondered about the identity of the person behind this meticulously layered, fox-like scheme!
Too bad… A sinister grin spread across the Death Sign’s lips. He instantly activated the new martial art, Ripple Technique, throughout his body. Without even looking, he placed his hands on the chests of two Flying Tiger members!
Bang bang bang…
Six power gauntlets, each delivering fifteen hundred pounds of force, slammed into various parts of the Death Sign’s body, eliciting sounds of colliding muscle. The expected sound of fracturing bones did not materialize.
The Flying Tiger members stared at the Death Sign in astonishment. The moment the fists struck his body, they all saw his skin and muscles ripple, just like concentric waves created by a stone tossed into calm water! This rippling effect locked the force onto the surface and dispersed it rapidly outwards.
“Heh heh… If you had concentrated all your strength together, I probably would have been killed. But each of you only has less than twenty-five hundred pounds of force? Haven’t you heard? The Ripple Technique grants every inch of skin formidable defensive power…”
As the Death Sign’s proud yet icy voice reached the ears of the Flying Tiger members, his palms, pressed against the chests of two members, suddenly emitted a violent vibration. This vibration caused the air around his palms to expand in wave-like ripples, resembling water.
“Hadōken!”
Three words filled with killing intent drifted into the minds of the Flying Tiger members. The two members spat high jets of blood from their mouths, and bright crimson blood spurted from their eyes, ears, and nostrils simultaneously. Their internal organs instantly ruptured and shattered.
The remaining four Flying Tiger members pushed off backward, but they were half a beat too late. The Death Sign unleashed the resentment and fury from being forced back by three gunshots entirely upon these four members. The 'Night Battle of the Eight Directions' from Baguazhang, accompanied by a shrill, ghost-wailing sound of tearing air, struck the Flying Tiger members.
This time, the Hadōken didn't just hit their chest armor; one palm struck an opponent squarely in the abdomen. The instant palm met the belly, a hole blasted through the backs of the Flying Tiger members, and pulverized internal organs shot out like meat paste.
In the blink of an eye, the six experienced Eight-Star Flying Tiger members, equipped with high-end gear, were instantly annihilated.
“Hello.” The Death Sign didn't rush to leave. Instead, he picked up the communication device from one of the members: “Respected Commander, I have killed all six members you ambushed. I am leaving now. I look forward to our next encounter.”
The command center fell into a moment of silent stillness. A smug expression played on the Death Sign’s lips; this was exactly the effect he wanted, because…
“The stage!” Xing Wuyi’s voice cut through with calm command, causing the smile on the Death Sign’s lips to instantly freeze.
In the second row beneath the stage, a martial artist suddenly erupted! The Death Sign! It was still the Death Sign! This was a secret unknown even to the Federation: the Death Sign was never alone. The Death Sign was a twin! Just like the Flying Heart Girls’ Band, the Death Sign also had a twin brother.
The Death Sign who was sniped spoke only to distract the command center’s attention, allowing his brother to make his move.
Everything had been proceeding smoothly, except…
He hadn't expected his young opponent hidden behind the scenes to sense the danger first.
How did he detect it? The Death Sign had no time to dwell on it. He truly had to leave now, or he might not escape at all. If he lost his brother too, the revenge would have to wait!
Xing Wuyi gave the signal, and the regular police officers maintaining order at the front of the stage simultaneously changed their demeanor. Six Eight-Star Flying Tiger members struck out at once!
“Get lost!”
An Eight-Star martial artist was sent flying backward like a broken kite, spitting blood after a single exchange. The Death Sign’s hand, gripping the air with five fingers, struck straight toward Ya Xin.
A dark streak suddenly flashed out from behind the stage! A piercing, sharp aura instantly filled every weak point in the Death Sign’s attack!
The imposing killing intent accompanying the air-splitting blade sounded like the ecstatic howl of the Grim Reaper harvesting a life. For the first time, the Death Sign’s pupils flashed with alarm. The timing and positioning of this strike were too perfect. It could definitely eliminate him before he could reach Ya Xin and choke her.
The terrifying blade was matched by an even more terrifying person behind it—a face bearing a slight smile, like the Grim Reaper smiling serenely!
The Death Sign’s wrist flipped repeatedly, sending Ripple Power vibrating toward the blade.
Clang!
The fine steel blade shattered into several pieces the moment the Ripple Power struck it. But the Death Sign had no time to rejoice. He saw Xue Tian’s eyes holding a look of satisfied amusement as he rapidly retreated, clutching the two sisters of the Flying Heart Girls’ Band in his arms. His eyes showed no shock whatsoever at the blade being broken.
This smile, this confidence in having a backup plan! The Death Sign couldn't understand what other trump cards this young man held!
The biochemical beast instantly surged through the Death Sign’s body, skyrocketing his strength. The surrounding air resonated with the Ripple Technique, forming waves of turbulent air.
“Your opponent… is behind you.”
Xue Tian’s eyebrows arched. A chill drilled from the Death Sign’s spine straight into his brain. An unprecedented killing aura was washing over him from behind, and this opponent possessed the strength of a peak Ten-Star expert! A sudden burst of a move sent blood surging, and his fists and kicks were accompanied by the muffled rumble of thunder—a terrifying sound of slaughter that even the giant speakers couldn't drown out!
Like the Grim Reaper, striking like a scythe!
Caught off guard by the sneak attack, the Death Sign immediately fell into a disadvantageous position, but his mind had already calmed completely. A man accustomed to life-and-death transitions felt more of a hot-blooded impulse and excitement.
Suddenly! The Death Sign twisted his waist and turned, using his shoulder as the center line to face the attacking Little Pluto Hades. His retracted left arm swept in a semicircle across his chest, his momentum and power reaching their apex. He crouched low, driving his arm forward like an ancient battlefield lance, thrusting straight ahead!
Ancient Counter-Lance!
Countless heroes of antiquity could take an enemy general’s head in the midst of ten thousand soldiers with just a spear in hand, as easily as picking something up. The Death Sign was confident that his lance thrust, executed with his fist, surpassed the ancients by far!
The heroism born of confidence, mixed with the wildness of a terrorist’s bloodline, launched a scream of ghosts and howls with that single strike!
Little Pluto Hades had long anticipated the Death Sign’s attack. When suddenly attacked, a person had only a few options: dodge or counter.
The best counter was the 'Divine Dragon Wags Its Tail' from the Eighteen Dragon-Subduing Palms, but few people in the world knew that move. Little Pluto Hades didn't believe his opponent would use it, and he certainly didn't believe this terrorist would dodge. Therefore, the most likely move was the Counter-Lance!
The Counter-Lance? Little Pluto Hades sneered. He thrust his wrist forward! He met that sharp thrust head-on. The muscles in his palm shifted rapidly, writhing in a blink of an eye—it was the Butcher’s Heart-Plucking Hand!
Hadōken versus Heart-Plucking Hand!
Little Pluto Hades’ palm was like a legendary divine weapon, easily tearing through the compressed air around the Hadōken, reaching the opponent’s fist surface directly!
At this moment, Little Pluto Hades’ aura shifted again—Eleven-Star! The terrifying Eleven-Star strength! Little Pluto Hades was never just a Ten-Star expert! He had never unleashed his true full power in past battles!
Eleven-Star, so what? The Death Sign’s lips curled into a sinister grin. After his blood replacement and rebirth, he had completed the breakthrough in an incredibly short time. In terms of raw destructive power, few opponents of the same level in the world could match him! Even if the opponent also had a biochemical beast, what of it? His biochemical beast was the one most compatible with his new martial arts! Even if it was just an experimental reject, its power should not be underestimated! Hadōken! How could anything in the world withstand the vibration caused by the ripple? This was a vibration more precise than ancient martial arts shockwaves! Only those using a Ripple Chip could execute this specialized punch.
In a flash, there was no time for either side to think deeply. The Hadōken and the Heart-Plucking Hand collided. The Death Sign’s expression suddenly changed. His Ripple Power felt as if it had slammed into super-hard metal. This was… Jin Jue (Absolute Metal)! The rumored Jin Jue of the White Tiger! Was this person Little Pluto Hades?
There was no collision or vibration of muscle and bone. The Heart-Plucking Hand felt like it hit a block of tofu. The Hadōken’s power could not penetrate the Ripple Body Protection; the immense shockwave was violently repelled. His entire fist shattered instantly. Little Pluto Hades’ palm pierced through the Ripple Body Protection and passed through the Death Sign in a crisscross pattern. In his hand, he now held an object.
A beating red heart!
The Killing Path! Little Pluto Hades’ Killing Path instantly tore the Death Sign’s heart out. Without hesitation, he clamped his five fingers down and crushed the fragile organ into a pulp.
The Death Sign collapsed. Blood poured ceaselessly from his chest, and his eyes were filled with disbelief. He could not accept that he had died so easily, defeated in one move by a rising newcomer.
Pfft…
A pulse of fresh blood throbbed across the palm of the Young Pluto Hades. A slight twitch played at the corner of his lips as he murmured, “Ripple Power? Better than expected, breaking through my Golden Absolute and entering my body…” There was no tone of praise, yet to the common ear, it held the distinct appreciation of the Young Pluto Hades for the Ripple Power. This was a proud and self-assured martial artist; such a statement was high commendation indeed.
Caesar stared in astonishment at the Young Pluto Hades on the high stage. Qin Fen’s opponent was an Eleven-Star martial artist? He had instantly vaporized Death Omen with a single move?