Revenge

The instant Shen Yu learned the E.G.O.'s details, he was dumbfounded. Seriously? With something like this, my other E.G.O. look kind of...

Despite his complaints, Shen Yu activated it immediately.

E.G.O. manifestation: [Scar]

Both E.G.O. weapons released a thick, bloody aura, and an overwhelming fighting spirit surged in Shen Yu's heart. He hurled his spinning cleaver at Oro.

But Oro had already broken free of Lonesome Dust's restraints. He rolled backward, dodging the spinning Meat Cleaver.

Just as Oro straightened up, an Ice Crystal Spear shot toward him, trailing wind and snow. It abruptly exploded as it drew close, freezing him solid.

Shen Yu caught the Meat Cleaver and charged alongside the Spiderlings. He slashed rapidly with the cleaver, inflicting bleeding, then aimed the Flintlock in his left hand at Oro's head and fired.

Boom! The crimson bullet struck Oro's head, detonating his bleeding wounds and sending blood spraying out.

Almost simultaneously, the ice shattered. A pale gleam flashed toward Shen Yu's neck.

Shen Yu immediately used Backstep to evade and raised Crimson Scar to block.

When the two weapons clashed, tremendous force surged into Shen Yu. His body involuntarily tilted backward, and Oro brought a downward slash onto his shoulder.

Crack! Blue Blood shattered again. Yet Shen Yu chuckled and activated Hornet's combat technique, Thread Dance.

The Red Eyes in Shen Yu's hands released five silk threads, which instantly transformed into cutting blades. As Oro rolled backward to evade, the Spiderlings beside him spat out silk threads as well, binding his legs.

The five threads then transformed into rings of light, instantly enveloping Oro and slicing him relentlessly.

When the technique ended, Shen Yu caught a slash with the Meat Cleaver and retreated several steps to dissipate the force. He fired a shot into Oro's head.

Oro suddenly exerted himself, broke free of the spider silk, and leaped up, bringing his Nail crashing down toward Shen Yu.

Shen Yu dodged in time, and the attack missed.

But when Oro landed, he jolted the Nails on the ground into the air. Before they could fall, he swept his weapon behind him, sending them hurtling toward Shen Yu.

Shen Yu wrapped a silk thread around the Ice Sword behind him and swung it forward, knocking down the incoming Nails. He ordered the Spiderlings to spit out spider silk and bind Oro.

As Oro jumped to evade and cut through the threads with his Nail, Shen Yu's thrown Meat Cleaver struck him. Once it inflicted bleeding, Shen Yu immediately fired and hit him again.

Oro twisted in midair after taking the hit, then landed in a half crouch to rest. Shen Yu immediately sensed trouble and retreated.

Sure enough, a dark figure tore through the icy clouds and descended from above, landing in front of Oro.

The two nearly identical brothers exchanged a glance, a cold glint flashing in their eyes. Then another ringing battle cry resounded. (Image)

Oro & Mato

(Karas) "Th-this is cheating, isn't it?" a Fool ventured timidly after the battle cry ended.

(Kasi) "Stay out of Godhome's business," someone from the Godseeker's Tribe above retorted, looking down.

Tch. So it really is a two-on-one fight. Shen Yu's mouth twitched uncontrollably.

His WAW-class E.G.O., Crimson Scar, provided far greater bonuses than Lonesome had. Yet fighting just one of them had been this painful, and now there were two.

But only by defeating opponents like these can I make this trip worthwhile.

As that thought arose, Crimson Scar trembled again. Another piece of information entered his mind.

[Crimson Scar] Attunement Rate: 40% → 60%

E.G.O. manifestation: Revenge

The instant Shen Yu registered that information, he made his decision. He ordered the Spiderlings to intercept the newly arrived Mato while he formed an Ice Spear in his hand and hurled it at Oro in the distance.

Mato hunched over with his Nail in hand. Pale motes of light instantly gathered around the weapon, and violent air currents surged beneath him.

Half a second later, the air currents erupted. Mato began spinning at tremendous speed, sweeping the Nails off the ground like a tornado before flinging them outward at high speed.

Boom! A Nail struck Shen Yu's Ice Spear, blasting it into a cloud of icy mist. The Spiderlings were dragged straight into the storm and sliced to pieces.

As Shen Yu dodged the rapidly approaching Nails, Oro brought a downward slash crashing toward him.

When Shen Yu evaded, Oro instantly changed his attack into a horizontal sweep, shattering the barrier of Lifeblood and slicing open Shen Yu's chest.

By the time Shen Yu used Backstep to create distance, Oro had already finished charging another Dash Slash. A Nail had also pinned Shen Yu's right leg in place, leaving him unable to move.

With no other choice, Shen Yu swung the Meat Cleaver to block.

Their weapons clashed in midair with a ringing clang. Then pale light erupted, and the Meat Cleaver gave a mournful cry as it flew from his hand.

With a sharp crack, Shen Yu's right arm broke. His body became a bloody blur as he was sent flying into the wall.

Shen Yu looked down. Blood-drenched shards of bone had pierced his flesh and lay exposed to the air. His soft tissue twisted into grotesque shapes, and blood gushed from ruptured vessels, flowing down his arm.

But compared with the injury that followed, that was nothing.

Shen Yu had been sliced open across his entire waist, with only his spine still connecting him at the back. Strangely, however, a smile of triumph lingered on his lips.

Oro's improved technique had caused his Sword Aura to explode as it passed through Shen Yu's body. Rather than simply severing his abdominal organs, it had churned them into pulp that spilled from the cut.

The Fools in the arena sighed at the sight.

(Karas) "Looks like this outsider's journey ends here."

(Kuoluo) "What a shame. I was hoping to see more new tricks."

(Karaxi) "Dying at the hands of beings like these is a blessing in itself."

But the Godseeker above frowned. She noticed that the Hunter Abnormality's resonance was growing increasingly shrill.

Looks like I've lowered my health just enough. Shen Yu glanced at the 9/96 Health on his wristwatch, chuckled, and abruptly activated [Crimson Scar]'s second-stage manifestation.

[Revenge]: Triggers when the wielder is near death. Movement and attack speed increase by a further threefold. E.G.O. weapon special effect enhanced: when Health is below 50%, additional damage increases from 50% → 200%.

Shen Yu's flowing blood instantly ignited, becoming crimson bloodflames. Scarlet liquid flowed from his E.G.O. armor, covering his head before transforming into a Hood.

His eyes turned yellow, revealing crimson pupils. A fanged mask emerged from his collar and covered his face.

This manifestation doesn't heal me, but my other E.G.O. does.

[Lonesome]

[Sleepless Night]: Consume X% Sanity to restore (X−10)% Health. Cooldown: X minutes. Cost: the wielder suffers insomnia for X hours.

Shen Yu decisively chose to consume 40% of his Sanity, restoring his Health to 38.

Once Sleepless Night activated, green motes burst from Shen Yu's body, repairing him enough to ensure he could move.

Then Shen Yu released a silk thread from his right palm, wrapped it around the fallen Meat Cleaver, and retrieved it. He spun it in his hand, and surging bloodflames instantly set it ablaze.

A hoarse laugh sounded from behind Shen Yu's mask. The blood-red pupils within his yellow eyes reflected the scene ahead.

It was time to hunt.