With just one blow, Xingtian felt the terrifying difference between a Level 3 monster and a Level 4 monster.
His giant axe could easily cut a dozen Level 3 monsters in half. It felt just like chopping through a dozen sheets of printer paper stacked together, without the slightest resistance.
But Thunderclap wasn't paper. It was a steel plate!
Even now, Yu Xiao could still feel the vibration from the axe handle reverberating through both his hands after he'd blocked that blow!
Hummm!
The power core in Xingtian's chest blazed brightly, its glow shifting from dark red to crimson!
Yu Xiao had directly increased the power core's output by fifty percent!
Xingtian's hands tightened around the axe handle, gradually forcing Thunderclap's claws away from him!
With its power output increased, Xingtian now had the advantage in strength.
Thunderclap seemed to realize this too. As it watched its trembling claws being pushed back by Xingtian, its gaze shifted from Xingtian's head to the power core in his chest.
Just as Xingtian was about to wedge the axe handle against Thunderclap's neck, the force resisting him suddenly vanished!
Thunderclap pulled back its claws!
Xingtian, still pushing forward, instantly lost his balance and pitched forward.
In the blink of an eye, Thunderclap stepped back and leaned to the side, dodging Xingtian's lunge!
The next second, a gigantic, thirty-five-meter-long tail whipped straight toward Xingtian's torso!
Rumble!
After a deafening crash that sounded like the sky and earth had split apart, Xingtian—who should have fallen forward—was sent staggering backward instead!
Yu Xiao felt as if he'd just collided with a moving mountain. Thankfully, he'd activated [Harden] in time; otherwise, after a blow like that, his armor would have been on the verge of being scrapped!
"Roar!"
Seeing that its tail sweep had knocked Xingtian back several steps, Thunderclap immediately let out a furious roar and charged at him!
Xingtian regained his balance and used his giant axe to block Thunderclap's claw as it lunged straight for his chest!
Clang!
But before the clash of claw and axe had even faded, Thunderclap's other claw darted beneath the axe handle toward Xingtian's abdomen!
Too fast!
Even though Xingtian had the advantage in strength, Thunderclap was so absurdly fast that Xingtian simply couldn't keep up. In the time it took Xingtian to launch one attack, Thunderclap could strike twice!
With [Harden] still on cooldown, Xingtian had no choice but to take the blow head-on.
[Warning: Abdominal armor damaged by 37%!]
Seeing that his abdominal armor had nearly been torn apart, Xingtian quickly retreated to create some distance.
If the close-quarters fight continued, it was only a matter of time before Thunderclap tore Xingtian to pieces because he couldn't keep up with its speed!
But before Xingtian could retreat more than a few steps, Thunderclap's massive tail whipped toward him again!
Thud!
Another heavy blow slammed into the side of Xingtian's waist!
Fortunately, [Harden] was active, and Xingtian's massive weight helped him stay upright instead of being smashed to pieces on the spot!
But Yu Xiao was almost trapped in a vicious cycle with no way out.
They fought at close quarters. Xingtian pulled away. Thunderclap whipped its tail. Xingtian was forced to defend with [Harden].
Since Xingtian had no ranged attacks, once the two of them broke off the close-quarters fight, all he could do was take a one-sided beating.
Thunderclap was simply too fast!
As Yu Xiao desperately tried to think of a way to break this vicious cycle, a familiar figure suddenly came to mind.
What would Bai Ying do?
"Roar!"
Thunderclap's roar interrupted Yu Xiao's thoughts, and Xingtian had to face its storm of attacks once more!
One blow, then another...
Compared to Thunderclap, Xingtian moved like an old man in his twilight years. Whenever he blocked one of Thunderclap's attacks, another part of his body took a hit!
Warning alarms rang nonstop inside Xingtian's cockpit. Not a single piece of his armor was still intact.
The more damage Xingtian took, the more recklessly Thunderclap attacked.
Each swipe of Thunderclap's claws was wider and more powerful than the last!
At last, under Thunderclap's relentless assault, the armor on Xingtian's chest was torn to shreds!
The crimson power core was left unprotected, like a flame exposed to wind and snow, liable to be snuffed out at any moment!
A savage glint immediately appeared in Thunderclap's golden eyes!
But instead of attacking the power core directly, it continued to swipe at Xingtian's head!
This was Thunderclap's usual trick: it used its agility to force Xingtian to defend against only one of its attacks.
If Xingtian didn't block this attack, his head would be torn to pieces.
But if he did, Thunderclap's next attack would go straight for the power core. By then, Xingtian wouldn't have time to react and would surely be scrapped on the spot!
Whoosh!
Thunderclap's claw slashed toward Xingtian's head fast enough to tear through the air!
But Xingtian chose not to defend!
The next second, the enormous claw ripped Xingtian's head from his torso!
A dazzling shower of sparks burst from the severed stump of Xingtian's neck. Fragments of his spine flew into the air along with it!
Yet Xingtian didn't fall as Thunderclap had expected!
Instead, he had already raised the giant axe in his hand high at his side!
Realizing the danger, Thunderclap's golden eyes widened. It frantically tossed aside the head it was holding and charged at Xingtian's power core at full speed!
But this time, Xingtian was faster!
The black giant axe, empowered by [Harden], came chopping down from above at an angle. Its sharp blade cut through Thunderclap's tough scales with unstoppable force and sank deep into its flesh!
As Thunderclap let out a miserable roar, dark green blood and shattered scales flew through the air!
In the end, its massive claw failed to reach Xingtian's exposed power core. Thunderclap's huge body toppled straight toward the sea!
But just as Thunderclap was about to fall over, it forced itself upright on all fours!
At the same time, a tremendous force suddenly tugged at the axe in Xingtian's hands!
Squelch!
Thunderclap had actually ripped the axe blade out of its body by force, then quickly backed away from Xingtian!
Yu Xiao hadn't expected Thunderclap to be so ruthless with itself!
The wound, already several meters deep, had now been torn completely open. Blood gushed nonstop from Thunderclap's shoulder like a spring!
The whole thing looked as if half its arm had been chopped off!
But just as Yu Xiao thought Thunderclap was trying to escape, its thick tail whipped toward him again!
This time, though, he had plenty of time to react.
Xingtian reached out with his left hand and grabbed Thunderclap's rapidly swinging tail!
Splash!
The collision sent up waves high enough to rise above Xingtian's knees. The immense impact forced him several steps to the side!
But in the end, Xingtian held his ground!
Before you continue