The Apex

The Savage Martial Arenas of the Fierce Martial Metropolis Ash Zone had a strict food chain.

In the low-level and Intermediate Savage Martial Arena, most of the fighters in the ring were nonprofessionals.

These low- and intermediate-level Fierce Martial Arts fighters took drugs to break through the limits of the human body, stepping into the ring for fame, profit, to hone their skills, or to gain greater power.

Once their skills exceeded the standard, they could become professionals. Of course, most people knew nothing about this. Information about professionals was tightly sealed off, and ordinary people had no way to access it.

After reaching the Advanced Savage Martial Arena, nearly half the Fierce Martial Arts fighters in the ring were already professionals.

They were generally around level 4, while the stronger ones could reach level 5.

Of course, a professional's level was not important. What mattered were skills, skill combinations, and breaking limits.

Generally speaking, however, a professional's level could also reflect their strength to some extent.

In the Top-Tier Savage Martial Arena, professionals were generally level 6, like the two gamblers. The small number of top-tier Fierce Martial Arts fighters capable of competing for the title of Fierce Martial King were level 7.

Since the Fierce Martial Bout Arena was established, five Fierce Martial Kings had appeared in total.

And every Fierce Martial King had been level 8!

If the order of Fierce Martial City rested on mutually assured destruction, and its greatest source of violence was high-tech weaponry powerful enough to destroy the world,

then the Fierce Martial Kings stood at the apex of individual power.

That was Xia Lin's assessment.

Unfortunately, it was not entirely accurate.

The apex of individual power in Fierce Martial City was not occupied by the five Fierce Martial Kings alone.

There were also the heads of the three major conglomerates.

Exactly six sets of footsteps sounded on basement level 100.

Under the dim lights, six figures came into view.

Four Fierce Martial Kings walked behind.

The first generation: Martial Ancestor, Ye Chen.

The second generation: Star Slayer, Yi Tian.

The fourth generation: Lion King, Luo Qi.

The fifth generation: Iron Dragon, Augustine.

The only ones qualified to walk ahead of the four were undoubtedly the heads of the two major conglomerates.

Aoluosi of Aoluosi Pharmaceuticals.

And Huaxin of Huaxin Technology.

Yes, the two major conglomerates were named after the two men.

This also pointed to a terrifying fact that was best not examined too closely: there was no telling how long these two men had lived...

Yet from their appearances, there was no way to tell that they were old monsters who had lived for a hundred years, or even several hundred.

They looked young.

Aoluosi had a Western face, blond hair, blue eyes, and well-defined features. He looked like a handsome, successful man in his early thirties.

He wore a gentle smile that made people take a liking to him at first glance.

Huaxin, on the other hand, had an Eastern face.

His features were comparatively soft but refined, and he too looked to be around thirty. He wore a snow-white kendo uniform, with a longsword at his waist.

But his expression was cold, and he rarely smiled. He seemed like a very serious, rigid man.

As the six approached Suzuki Shinto's hiding place, Aoluosi and Huaxin stopped at the same time.

Looking into the darkness ahead, Aoluosi spoke slowly.

"Little fellow from the Suzuki family... come out and see your uncles Aoluosi and Huaxin one last time."

Suzuki Shinto was already over seventy.

He had been born when his father was old.

Even so, the two old monsters Aoluosi and Huaxin still outranked him in seniority.

It was because of their professions.

Huaxin was a level 8 professional on the martial arts path. His breathing technique could extend his lifespan when cultivated to a profound level.

Aoluosi was a professional on the biological path, also at level 8. All manner of drugs and genetic improvements had greatly extended his lifespan.

Suzuki Shinto, however, was a level 8 mechanic.

He had no means of keeping his body from aging.

No footsteps sounded.

Only Suzuki Shinto's voice came from the dimly lit depths.

"This nephew greets his two uncles."

The aged voice speaking such deferential words sounded quite incongruous.

"But there's no need for us to meet."

"There are just a few things I'd like to clarify for you, uncles."

"My Firmament System wasn't meant to harm anyone. I only wanted some means of protecting myself under the two of you's mutually assured destruction."

Huaxin gave a cold snort, while Aoluosi smiled broadly.

"Then you'll give up the Firmament Plan? Destroy Firmament in front of us, and this ends here today."

"Are you prepared to do that?"

Suzuki Shinto said, "I've poured too much effort into it..."

Huaxin was growing impatient.

He simply waved his hand. "All right, all right. Cut the pointless bullshit."

"Firmament is your stairway to level 9, isn't it?"

"Once Firmament is complete, you can use it to advance to level 9... And don't try fobbing us off with talk of mutually assured destruction. We've seen more than you've ever heard of!"

Suzuki Shinto said nothing more.

Instead, more roaring and clattering noises rang out across basement level 100.

Aoluosi chuckled, and his eyes suddenly turned pitch-black.

He spoke slowly. "Advancement isn't as convenient for native professionals as it is for Ash Zone Walkers. Ash Zone Walkers can make a breakthrough just by completing a mission."

There was no discernible pattern to how native professionals advanced... But some geniuses could catch the faintest spark of inspiration and sense the conditions for their advancement through some mysterious intuition.

Suzuki Shinto was one of them!

Once Firmament launched into the sky and activated, he could break through his existing limits and reach level 9!

And he would become the only level 9 professional in the Fierce Martial Metropolis Ash Zone!

It was true that Firmament's deterrent power was the reason the three major conglomerates had gone to war this time.

But beyond that, their unwillingness to see Suzuki reach level 9 was probably the greatest reason Huaxin and Aoluosi had turned against him!

In an instant, the steel walls of the corridor began to warp.

The steel twisted like modeling clay, transforming into one liquid-metal soldier after another.

Mechanics excelled at fighting on their home turf.

And the entire underground area of the First Research Institute was Suzuki Shinto's home turf!

Even without Watanabe Munen at his side, Suzuki Shinto still had a chance of winning against six opponents on his own.

"Tsk, tsk, tsk."

Aoluosi made the strange sound with a smile and shrugged at Huaxin beside him.

"I told you that little Ash Zone Walker would be useful..."

"After all, that kid Suzuki Shinto really is a genius on the mechanic path."

"If Watanabe Munen were here too, and the mechanic and mechanical fighter linked their skills, even six against two wouldn't be an easy fight."

A piercing flash of sword light suddenly burst forth.

Huaxin's proud voice rang out amid the sword light.

"You're just too cautious, and your entire set of abilities is countered by mechanics."

"That brat from the Suzuki family is dead today! I say so!"

Basement level 55.

An Overload Heavy Punch came crashing toward Xia Lin's head with a howling roar, tearing out a piercing sonic boom!

The punch was too fast! Too powerful!

If it struck him squarely, Xia Lin's head would burst apart, and he would die on the spot!

Yet at that moment between life and death, Xia Lin's emotions instead grew calm.

His usual explosiveness was gone, as was his intimidating madness.

Even the bloodshot veins in his eyes gradually faded, and his gaze became as still as stagnant water.

His actions were mad.

His core was mad as well.

Yet this madness was not the kind of disorderly frenzy that destroyed others and himself alike.

It was a madness with stability in it, a frenzy with order, like walking a tightrope!

His thinking had always been clear.

His goal had always been well-defined.

In fact, Xia Lin rarely did anything meaningless. Since coming to this world, everything he had done had carried meaning and value!

Long before Watanabe Munen threw his heavy punch, Xia Lin had done something in advance.

He had extended his right index finger and pointed it at the half of Watanabe Munen's face that was human.

A chaos-colored light suddenly burst forth and shot into Watanabe Munen's eye at the speed of light.

Rapid Nourishment!