Having had a bit too much to drink during the holiday, I overslept. I'll be late with the update, so as self-punishment, I'm adding an extra chapter. Please cast your monthly vote for me; if we reach 20 votes today, I'll unleash four chapters in a burst.

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At the edge of the Base City gate, a scattered group of about ten people stood waiting. Among them were Xu Tianguo and Huang Tianci, along with the others from that meeting hall gathering. They scanned their surroundings, seemingly expecting someone. Not long after, a young runner hurried over, breathless, reporting to Xu Tianguo, "The challenge letter has been delivered. The location is set by the great river on the west side of the city." Xu Tianguo nodded. Brawls were forbidden within the Base City limits, so when guilds clashed, they had to settle matters outside. He waved a hand, commanding, "To the Great River." Everyone followed, their expressions grim, not optimistic about this fight.

……

“Beep beep…” Ye Chen’s communicator rang. He tapped it open, and Xu Tianguo’s voice came through, “The dueling site is the Great River to the west. I’m taking the men over first.” “I’ll be right there,” Ye Chen replied before shutting off the device. He then looked at Bailong, Mo Feng, and the others. “Pack up, let’s go.” Bailong excitedly asked, “Who are we dealing with this time?” “The Dragon Soaring Guild,” Ye Chen mentioned casually. In his past life, this guild was one of the top-tier organizations in the Huaxia Base City, immensely famous, teeming with experts, and filled with a host of superhuman warriors—a true giant power. Any single person would hesitate to confront such a behemoth. In the future, power struggles between factions hinged on the number of superhuman warriors; they were the ultimate strength of any guild. Moreover, with the advent of Atlantis’s energy conversion instruments making electrical power readily available, most members joining a guild or small group were issued specialized communicators that could report enemy situations during danger—this was the inherent advantage of guild affiliation: protection. “Dragon Soaring?” Yue Heng exclaimed, startled. “How did we end up opposing them? That guild is incredibly powerful. They have nearly a hundred thousand ordinary members and one or two thousand elites, including over a hundred superhuman warriors, and that number grows daily. Even the Huaxia Base City is reluctant to move against them lightly.” “This enemy is formidable,” Zhuge Fan couldn’t help but agree. “Are we going?” Ye Chen took a sip of water and asked casually. “Of course, we’re going!” Yue Heng slammed the table and laughed heartily. “Slaughtering a guild like that would be immensely satisfying. How could we not go?” “Exactly!” Zhuge Fan chimed in with a laugh. “A bunch of lunatics, but I like it,” Bailong shrugged. Afterward, the group finished eating, paid a considerable sum of refined currency, and left the hotel. On the way out, they saw tattered, worn-out men and women sitting huddled by alley entrances between buildings, sleeping like beggars, striving for their daily ration of food.

Meanwhile, at the Dragon Soaring Guild's territory. In the spacious main hall, the Guild Master of Dragon Soaring sat in the chief seat. He was a man around twenty-four or twenty-five, imposing and handsome, with a high-bridged nose and broad cheeks. He glanced at the challenge letter in his hand, smiled faintly, and passed it to a young man beside him, instructing, “Have the Ant Camp send 20 superhumans. Have the Mosquito Beast Camp send 5 to handle healing the injured. And for the Wolfman Camp, send 10 to set an ambush; pursue and assassinate them when they falter and try to flee.” “Yes, sir,” the youth acknowledged, understanding that the Guild Master wished to lose not a single superhuman warrior. Thus, he dispatched such a large contingent with the goal of crushing the opposition decisively. “A tiny ant-like guild dares to challenge us? This is a perfect stepping stone to show the other two major guilds our true strength, hopefully putting an end to their constant provocations and petty squabbles,” the man murmured with a faint smile, then closed his eyes. The others in the hall exchanged glances, none daring to speak further.

The scorching sun blazed down upon the Great River. Xu Tianguo led the dozen or so strongest members of the guild to the agreed-upon spot by the riverbank. Seeing that the opposing party had not yet arrived, they sat on the ground to rest and wait, ensuring they conserved maximum stamina. Before long, ten figures approached from the opposite side, chatting casually as if they were touring, all clad in animal hides bearing a coiled dragon insignia on their chests. “They’re here,” Xu Tianguo frowned, rising from the ground. The others followed suit, standing behind him and looking towards the ten figures opposite. In guild warfare, ordinary members were irrelevant; these conflicts were primarily contests of peak martial power. “Are you the Light Guild?” The leading youth opposite looked at Xu Tianguo with a hint of roguishness. Xu Tianguo glanced at the badge on his chest, frowned, and whispered to Huang Tianci beside him, “They only sent ten people. I don’t know if others are hiding. We’ll activate our Superhuman Modes to resist and buy time. Hopefully, the Boss can arrive within five minutes.” Huang Tianci’s expression was grave; he nodded. Boom! The two men roared, activating their Superhuman Modes. The mud beneath their feet compressed. Xu Tianguo’s body became overlaid with black markings, his nose structure subtly altered, and his eyes turned amber—he was a Cheetah Superhuman Warrior! “Roar!” Huang Tianci stomped the earth and roared skyward. His skin shimmered with a golden hue, and a pair of golden antennae sprouted from his forehead—he was a mutated Golden Ant Superhuman Warrior! During evolution, ants and other monsters carried a small chance of mutation, transforming into a different race and acquiring unique abilities. Huang Tianci had indeed mutated into a Golden Ant Superhuman!

Golden Ant Superhuman Warrior: Tier One: Stamina increased 10x, Strength increased 25x, Speed increased 5x, Cellular Vitality increased 10x, Physical Toughness increased 25x. Special Talent: Can devour metal to enhance the body. Even at Tier One, the Golden Ant Superhuman Warrior possessed five times the strength amplification of a standard Ant Superhuman Warrior. This powerhouse, destined to be known as the "Golden Armor God" in the future, was finally beginning to reveal his true form. “Kill!” The two exchanged a look and charged toward the ten figures opposite. These ten men were surprised; they hadn't expected this small guild to possess two Superhuman Warriors. Moreover, observing Huang Tianci’s Superhuman Mode, his imposing aura suggested he would not be easy to handle. They quickly activated their Superhuman Modes as well. Instantly, all ten transformed into Ant Superhuman Warriors, black antennae sprouting from their foreheads, roaring as they charged at Xu Tianguo and Huang Tianci. Huang Tianci’s gaze was sharp. He moved, pulling the massive metal axe from his back—forged with the bones of powerful monsters, making it exceedingly hard. He swung the axe horizontally, aiming directly for the leading youth’s chest. “Hmph,” the youth sneered. The longsword in his hand whipped out like a striking viper, stabbing straight for Huang Tianci’s heart. He was clearly employing a life-for-a-life tactic, betting that Huang Tianci wouldn't meet his strike head-on. Indeed, a flash of fury crossed Huang Tianci’s eyes. He deflected the sword with his axe, lowering its trajectory for another sweep. At this moment, the leading youth thrust his sword again, aiming for Huang Tianci’s neck. Huang Tianci was forced to withdraw his axe to block. He was furious internally, recognizing that the leader intended to drain his Superhuman Mode duration by baiting suicidal exchanges, forcing defensive reactions. In small-scale guild skirmishes like this, high-tech weaponry was not employed; firearms were useless against these Superhuman Warriors unless they were high-yield energy pistols like Ye Chen’s.

On the other side, Xu Tianguo moved like the wind, darting swiftly among the Ant Superhumans. Relying on his superior speed, he constantly shifted positions. His footwork was exceptionally strange, seeming almost aligned with some natural principle. The Ant Superhumans felt a blur before their eyes, and Xu Tianguo’s figure vanished, only to feel the rush of wind from behind them. Slash! The neck of an Ant Superhuman Warrior was sliced open by the dagger in Xu Tianguo’s hand. He cried out miserably and collapsed to the ground, clutching his neck in dying resentment. Several nearby Ant Superhumans were shocked and quickly surrounded him to prevent further attack from Xu Tianguo. Just then, a youth with horns on his head, a Mosquito Beast Superhuman Warrior, rushed from the distance. Shielded by two Ant Superhumans, he reached the wounded man. Without a word, a needle-sized spike extended from the black horn on his forehead and pierced the man’s neck. The spike instantly turned crimson, and the wound on the man’s neck healed at a visible rate. Experts who reached this level generally possessed immense cellular vitality; even a deep slice would mend almost instantly. However, Xu Tianguo’s dagger was a high-frequency particle blade capable of destroying cells, which slowed the healing process. Still, under the Mosquito Beast Superhuman’s ministrations, the wound healed rapidly. “Damn it!” A murderous intent flashed in Xu Tianguo’s eyes as he charged towards the Mosquito Beast Superhuman. The three surrounding Ant Superhumans quickly moved sideways, forming a triangular shield around the healer. Under the brute strength of the Ant Superhumans, Xu Tianguo couldn’t force a direct confrontation. He felt desperate but helpless.

On the other side, Huang Tianci endured a sword strike to his side, his great axe sweeping out and slicing open the leading youth’s abdomen, spilling his intestines. The eyes of two nearby Superhumans constricted, and they immediately moved to shield the youth. Then, the other three who were guarding the Mosquito Beast Superhuman brought their healer over toward the wounded leader. The Mosquito Beast Superhuman extended a spike from his head horn into the youth’s body, channeling pure energy through it. The blood around the cut on his stomach began to regrow rapidly. He scooped up the exposed organs, ignoring the sand and dirt clinging to them, and shoved them back into his body before rapidly closing the abdominal wound, leaving only a scar. “We have to kill this Mosquito Beast Warrior first!” Xu Tianguo’s suppressed anger flared. Huang Tianci nodded. The two charged toward the Mosquito Beast Warrior, but the enemy seemed aware of his importance, always keeping three individuals to protect him. The remaining four surrounded Huang Tianci, while three others focused on Xu Tianguo. Every time Xu Tianguo or Huang Tianci severely wounded an enemy, they would be instantly healed. They fought for a long time, yet could not kill a single opponent.