"Hmm!!!"
Suddenly, Wyper seemed to sense something and sprang backward.
Boom!
A giant blood-red palm descended from the air where he had been, covering everything within a five-meter diameter. A thunderous boom rang out, leaving only a deep palm print in the ground.
"Tch, it didn't work? Still, if an attack like that could hurt Wyper, the strongest warrior of the Shandia, then there would be no reason for the Shandia to exist."
Though Luo Chen sounded disappointed, he was not particularly surprised. It seemed this was perfectly normal to him.
"Hmm! You know me?"
After evading the attack, Wyper landed on a tall mangrove and stood on one of its thick branches. Wondering how Luo Chen knew his name, he stared straight at him and asked.
"Of course. You're Wyper, a descendant of Calgara, the Shandia's strongest warrior four hundred years ago. But compared with your ancestor, you're still far too weak."
As Luo Chen spoke casually, he launched another attack at the others.
Crimson currents gathered in his palm, forming dozens of arrows that shot toward everyone.
"Wyper, watch out! Don't let his words distract you."
On the other side, a man wearing a brimless straw hat woven from vines and dark goggles over his eyes shot down the arrows flying at him with the guns in both hands while warning Wyper.
Bang!
An incendiary round instantly swept away several incoming arrows. Flames and energy burst outward, making the surrounding branches and leaves sway incessantly.
"I don't need you to tell me."
The warrior Wyper spoke with a smoking cannon barrel slung over his shoulder.
"I'm curious. How do you know about our ancestors? By all rights, you only just got here. There's no way you could know our background. Tell me, how do you know?"
Wyper aimed the cannon at Luo Chen and pressed him for an answer.
"If you want to know, then show me what you can really do. Defeat me, and you'll get all the answers you want. Demon Blade: Mountain Severing!"
With that, blood-red gas condensed into the shape of a sword. He leaped into the air and swung it down, sending sword energy sweeping toward the Shandia warriors.
Rumble!
Everyone scattered at once. The blood-red sword energy slashed across the ground, instantly splitting a giant boulder in two. It continued on without pause, leaving an enormous trench three meters deep and eleven or twelve meters long.
"If you won't tell me, then I'll make you talk my way! Burn Bazooka!"
Wyper leaped up again as the trees beneath him were destroyed by the sword energy. In midair, he aimed the cannon at Luo Chen once more and pulled the trigger, sending a shell trailing flames toward him.
"That depends on what you're capable of. Demon Fist: Eagle's Wing Spread!"
As he spoke, energy gathered around both fists. He swung his right hand at the oncoming incendiary round, and an eagle flew from it, spreading its wings as it met the attack.
Boom!
The red and pink energies collided, sending currents sweeping in every direction. The surrounding air was thrown into such turmoil that no one could open their eyes.
Bang!
The next moment, the entire sky lit up, then gradually cleared.
The others opened their eyes to find that the two attacks had collided and dispersed. The central area had been cleared out, leaving a flat stretch of ground before them.
"S-so strong! Is this the strength of a divine priest? He could actually disregard Wyper's attack."
The other warriors exclaimed in amazement as they looked at the destruction the two had caused.
Whoosh!
The next second, before they could react, Luo Chen appeared beside them, drew his sword, and slashed at them.
"Hmm!"
Luo Chen seemed to sense something. He immediately redirected his sword and swept the blade along his side.
Whoosh!!!
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Three flash rounds shot toward him and exploded on impact.
Whoosh!
A muscular warrior appeared in front of them and blocked Luo Chen's attack.
"Don't let your guard down."
The warrior Braham spoke to his companions. At the same time, he fired another barrage of dazzling rounds to cover their retreat.
"Tch! That didn't work. So it's you, warrior Braham."
With that, he swung his sword again and cut through the flash rounds. After they were sliced open, they erupted in a blinding light too brilliant to look at directly. He closed his eyes and spoke calmly to all the Shandia warriors.
"Is this your way of the warrior? Compared with your ancestors, aren't you being a little too shameless?"
Even knowing that such words would have little effect on them, he could not help trying to unsettle them.
"More than that, we need victory. As long as we can defeat you, we can challenge Enel and take his head."
Wyper landed on a tree and answered.
"Everyone, out of my way."
A booming voice rang out. A young man wrapped in bandages from head to toe, with hair like a fish's fin, rode a waver up to Luo Chen, drew his weapon, and slashed at his waist.
"Weapon-Burn Blade!"
The blue-white flaming blade swept toward Luo Chen's head, aiming to cut it off. Luo Chen bent backward and evaded the attack with the blade almost grazing him, while a tall, thick tree behind him was cut in half.
Boom!
Without support, the massive trunk fell heavily backward with a tremendous crash.
Bang!
As Luo Chen dodged the warrior Kamakiri's attack, his right leg lashed viciously toward Kamakiri's side like a whip. Kamakiri had no time to block and was sent flying into two warriors who were slashing at Luo Chen.
"You won't ambush me that easily. Hmm!"
No sooner had he spoken than Luo Chen sensed danger above him and raised both arms to block.
Whoosh!
Just as Luo Chen sent them flying, Wyper's attack arrived as expected. He spun through the air, adding the force of his rotation to his right leg as he kicked at the top of Luo Chen's head.
Bang!
Wyper's right foot struck Luo Chen's arms, causing a violent shock wave.
The next moment, both sides backed away.
"Everyone, put on your sunglasses! My turn."
On the other side of the battlefield, Braham warned his companions. Then he aimed both guns at Luo Chen and repeatedly pulled the triggers, sending flash rounds flying toward him.
Bang!
Bang!
Bang!
Luo Chen dodged continuously under the barrage of flash rounds. The dazzling flashes kept him from opening his eyes, leaving him to rely on his other senses to detect the enemy's movements.
"Huff, huff! Damn it, that really is despicable!"
Luo Chen panted as he dodged beside a large tree. Suddenly, another flash of yellow light swept across his eyes, forcing him to close them again.
Whoosh!
An incendiary round shot toward him. Luo Chen dodged it in a sorry state, and a large hole was blasted in the tree he had been leaning against for cover.
"You really are in a sorry state, Fifth Divine Priest. Don't worry, we'll let you die in peace. Die!"
Several warriors wearing sunglasses rode toward him, drew their blades, and slashed at him.
"Even so, I am not someone small fry like you can defeat."
Luo Chen dodged their attacks with his eyes closed. At the same time, he gathered red power in one hand, seized the tip of a spear thrust at his head, and snapped it off with his bare hand. With a backhand thrust, he drove it into one warrior's chest.
Puchi!
"Ah!"
The bright, white spear tip pierced his skin and went straight through his chest. The warrior fell with a scream.
"Damn it, what did you do to my companion?!"
Seeing his companion fall, Wyper charged at Luo Chen, his eyes bloodshot.
Bang!
Luo Chen sent several warriors flying with his fists.
"What else could I do? I killed them, of course. What, are you allowed to kill me, but I'm not allowed to kill you? How ridiculous."
Luo Chen drew back the fist he had used to send the warriors flying and spoke with a smile as he watched Wyper charge furiously at him.