The gap in rank was like an impassable chasm.
For a Fourth Tier fighter to kill a Fifth Tier one had already been the limit of what he could achieve with the help of the system, his equipment, and the Chaos Spirit Furnace.
A Fourth Tier fighter killing a Sixth Tier one?
It was simply impossible.
Even a Fifth Tier Earth Knight had no chance of winning against a Sixth Tier Devil Race member—especially a powerful fighter under the Fourth Demon God.
But he had no choice.
As he pondered,
a voice, tinged with mockery and amusement, came from behind a nearby tree.
"Clap, clap, clap."
As the unhurried applause sounded, a figure slowly emerged.
The newcomer wore an extravagant black noble's suit. His face was pale, his eyes sunken. He was Valen, an Earl of the Undead Demon Race.
He studied Xuan Ye, who sat cross-legged, with great interest, a smile of appreciation playing at the corners of his mouth.
"Impressive, impressive."
Valen said, "For a Moon Demon who grew up among humans, you really do have some talent. You managed to kill so many of my men."
Xuan Ye showed no reaction to Valen's "praise." He didn't even lift his eyelids.
Valen seemed to enjoy looking down on him. His smile deepened, carrying a sick, dissect-a-prey sort of excitement.
"It doesn't matter. You don't have to talk now."
"Once you fall into my hands, I'll have plenty of ways to make you speak."
"The fun of necromancy isn't limited to raising corpses. Stripping away a soul and roasting it with Soul Fire—that kind of torment can turn even the most stubborn hero into the most obedient dog."
"Believe me, you'll tell me everything. For example, what dirty dealings your Moon Demon Race has with the humans."
Valen's smile grew more cruel.
He raised a hand and casually waved it.
"Rustle... rustle..."
Figures emerged from the shadows among the trees.
Dozens of powerful Fifth Tier Devil Race fighters came out from all directions. They were of various kinds: berserk demons wielding giant axes, Shadow Demons with elusive forms. Each exuded a thick killing intent, sealing off every one of Xuan Ye's escape routes.
Behind them stood countless more Fourth Tier Devil Race fighters, packed together in a dark mass. They surged in like a tide, completely surrounding the forest clearing.
Xuan Ye's heart sank to the bottom.
His original all-or-nothing plan had been to feign surrender, get close to Valen, then strike with lightning speed. Even if he couldn't take Valen down with him, he would at least seriously wound the Sixth Tier Earl.
But now, it seemed he wouldn't even get the chance to approach him.
Helpless?
No.
It was an overwhelming killing intent.
Xuan Ye's eyes turned utterly dark, not a trace of emotion remaining.
Then he would kill.
One kill would make it worthwhile; two would be a bonus.
His hatred for Long Xingyu ran deep, but he had no affection for these Devil Race fighters either. They slaughtered human towns and fed on lives.
From the moment he had crossed into this world, it had been steeped in blood and fire.
Nearby towns were slaughtered, caravans robbed, and human bones piled high along the borders of the Demon Realm.
"Clang—!"
The Vengeance Longsword left its sheath, its blade tracing a faint gleam through the dim forest.
If there was no way back, then he would fight to the death!
"Instantaneous Movement Steps!"
Xuan Ye vanished from where he stood.
In the next instant, he appeared in front of a Fifth Tier berserk demon. At the same time, a Light Shadow Clone identical to him condensed out of thin air and lunged at a Shadow Demon on the other side.
The original and his clone attacked at once!
"Corrosive Light Slash!"
A sword flash imbued with both light and dark attributes swept toward the Fifth Tier berserk demon's neck with enough force to tear through anything.
The demon didn't even have time to raise his giant axe to block. His vision blurred, and his head was already flying through the air.
One strike. Instant kill!
Yet almost at the same time—
"Pfft!"
The Light Shadow Clone on the other side had barely covered half the distance before several attacks struck it at once, scattering it into points of light.
There were too many enemies.
Even facing two opponents at once was his limit.
"Hm?"
Valen, beneath the tree, let out a faint sound of surprise.
The playful smile on his pale face faded slightly.
"Interesting."
"With Fourth Tier strength, you can actually kill a Fifth Tier fighter in an instant... The secrets you're hiding are even greater than I imagined."
He seemed even more interested in Xuan Ye now.
"But the game ends here."
Valen slowly raised his right hand, clad in a white glove. A bone staff appeared silently in his palm.
Without chanting, he simply pointed lightly in Xuan Ye's direction.
"Sixth Tier Necromancy: Touch of Decay."
In an instant, an irresistible aura of death engulfed Xuan Ye.
On the ground, countless gray-black streams of death energy became Withered Bone Arms that burst from the earth and clamped tightly around his ankles.
A powerful suction came from the bone hands, frantically draining his life force and Inner Spiritual Power.
"Thud!"
Xuan Ye was yanked violently to the ground, his bones groaning under the strain.
His Inner Spiritual Power shield was as fragile as a sheet of paper against this force. It shattered instantly.
With just one strike, he was gravely wounded.
"Hahaha..."
The surrounding Devil Race fighters laughed without restraint.
To them, Xuan Ye was like a fly caught in a spiderweb. No matter how he struggled, he couldn't escape his death.
Their Commander had personally struck. The hunt was already over.
Valen didn't attack again. He seemed to enjoy watching his prey struggle in despair.
But just then—
"Crack."
A clear snapping sound came from the other side of the forest.
Valen stopped. Frowning slightly, he turned to look.
Several figures were emerging from the dense woods. At their head was a woman dressed in a Gorgeous Purple Long Skirt.
She had long silver hair and strikingly beautiful features. Her bearing was noble, and a cool composure lingered between her brows.
She was Yueye, the Moon Demon Race Princess.
At that moment, Yueye's gaze was fixed on Xuan Ye.
She hadn't arrived too late. She had seen Valen gravely wound Xuan Ye with his Sixth Tier magic.
Yueye's arrival made the atmosphere freeze in an instant.
The smile vanished from Valen's face.
Summoning every last bit of strength, Xuan Ye planted the Vengeance Longsword in the dirt in front of him and used it to push himself halfway to his feet.
He gasped for breath. His chest was in agony, but he didn't look at Valen. Instead, he turned his gaze toward the newcomers from the Moon Demon Race.
He didn't recognize them. His vision was also terribly blurred, and all he could make out was the figure of a woman at their head.
A trace of hope quietly stirred in his nearly lifeless heart.
The Moon Demon Race had few members, but they were extremely united.
The identity he had assumed was that of a Moon Demon.
Perhaps... perhaps there was still a chance to survive.
He didn't want to die.
He hadn't yet avenged Long Xingyu.
And... Cai'er.
He couldn't die here.
Before you continue