Ye Mo stepped into the pile of rubble with his right foot, his left arm held across his chest. The moment the dark green beam of light struck his shoulder, his entire arm exploded, bone fragments mixed with flesh and blood flying half a meter away.
He didn't call out.
His tongue had been bitten through, and the taste of blood filled his mouth. The pain burned from his shoulder blade all the way to the back of his head, but he could feel something moving inside his body. It wasn't the upgrade reaction that the system had prompted; it was real cellular activity. The broken muscle fibers began to reconnect, and the new tissue was harder than before, spreading under the skin like a metal mesh.
The beam of light was still booming.
A gash was torn open in his chest, his internal organs throbbing outwards. But the very next second that air rushed in, his abdominal muscles began to contract, and blood vessels reconnected one by one. It wasn't like repair; it was more like reconstruction. Every injury made his body stronger.
Loki hovered in the air, the green light at the tip of his scepter growing heavier. He had thought this attack would turn him to dust, but Ye Mo not only stood still, he even took a half-step forward. That step was extremely steady, and the concrete ground beneath his feet cracked with spiderweb-like patterns.
"What exactly are you?" Loki whispered, his voice very low.
Ye Mo did not answer.
He pressed his right hand to the ground, his fingers digging into the crack. A jumble of images flashed through his mind—a man in a tight-fitting suit crawling out of a fire, a woman's body suddenly turning into crystal, and a burly man whose entire body shimmered with a metallic sheen. These were not his memories, but at this moment they were like keys, inserted into a door deep within his body.
The Regeneration speed has increased.
The wound on his shoulder stopped healing slowly and closed abruptly. The charred skin peeled off, and the new growth was slightly red and felt hot to the touch. He could feel his nerves reorganizing, and each heartbeat carried a thrust that sent energy to his extremities.
Loki frowned.
He sensed something was wrong. The divine light net, which was supposed to suppress supernatural abilities, was becoming less effective on this man. His body wasn't recovering from external energy; it was rebuilding itself. As long as he had a breath left, he could keep repairing.
When the third beam of light struck, Ye Mo did not dodge.
He stepped forward, allowing the beam of light to penetrate even deeper into his chest cavity. His ribs shattered instantly, and his heart was jolted out of place. But in the next second, new bones began to grow, intertwining into a more complex structure, like vines binding his vital organs. Blood flow slowed, with every drop precisely delivering nutrients to the damaged area.
Three seconds later, the beam of light dissipated.
Ye Mo knelt on one knee, his chest charred black, yet his chest still heaving. He slowly raised his head, a grin spreading across his face, blood seeping from his teeth. This wasn't a smile; it was pure provocation.
Loki's fingers tightened.
He knew the person before him was different. That attack was enough to Oblivion most superpowered individuals, yet Ye Mo not only survived but was also evolving. This wasn't simple Self-Healing; it was a trauma-driven biological leap. Every time he was shattered, he would be reborn in an even stronger form.
"You think you can win by Regeneration?" Loki spoke, his voice turning colder. "Then I'll let you die seven times and see how many times you can regenerate."
The ground shook as soon as he finished speaking.
Three intersecting nets of light rose again, denser than before, their edges rippled with purplish-black hues. This was an enhanced version of Asgard Imprisonment Spell, specifically designed to seal the energy flow of high-level ability users. The air hissed upon contact with the nets, and even the light itself was distorted.
Ye Mo stood in the middle, his arms bearing deep cuts.
Blood streamed down his arm and dripped onto the ground. But he discovered that Regeneration hadn't stopped, only slowed down. The light network was indeed interfering, but it couldn't disrupt the fundamental process. As long as he was alive, his cells would continue to divide.
He deliberately slowed down his movements and looked down at the wound.
His muscles were growing back little by little, though at a slower pace than before, but without stopping. He understood— Regeneration didn't rely on any external force; it was an instinct forced out of the body by extreme conditions. As long as he didn't die, he could repair himself.
Loki waited a few seconds, and seeing that he didn't move, a smile appeared on his lips.
"Finally couldn't hold on any longer?"
As soon as he finished speaking, the fourth beam of light condensed and slashed down directly at Ye Mo's head.
The moment the beam of light struck, Ye Mo moved.
He suddenly raised his leg, using his newly healed left foot as a fulcrum, and his right fist, still wrapped in partially healed muscle tissue, charged fiercely into the gap in the light net. His fist pierced through the arc-like barrier, sending sparks flying. Although he didn't hit Loki himself, the force of his punch collided with the opponent's phantom barrier.
The sound of shattering glass rang out.
A hundred meters away in the air, Loki's figure swayed slightly. He retreated a short distance, his expression changing slightly. This was the first time someone had been able to forcefully break through the Imprisonment Spell and shatter his protective layer.
"Interesting," he said, his tone no longer flippant.
Ye Mo stood rooted to the spot, his right fist torn open, bone exposed. But he didn't care. He knew the significance of that strike—it wasn't that he had injured Loki, but that he had shattered Loki's psychological advantage. This guy was used to controlling the pace, used to others collapsing in front of him. But now, it was his turn to deal with it.
Loki raised his scepter.
The green light gathered again, even more intense than before. He knew he could no longer hold back. The opponent before him was no longer prey, but an enemy he had to take seriously.
Ye Mo, panting, straightened up.
He felt pain all over his body, every muscle protesting. But he was fully conscious. He knew it would get even harder, but he could win. Because he now understood one thing—his Regeneration wasn't a cheat code given by the system, but a skill he had grown from countless near-death experiences.
If you dare to hit me, I dare to fix it.
You hit me once, I change once.
The more wounded, the stronger.
Loki's Scepter pointed at him, its green light flickering uncertainly.
I'll take you apart piece by piece and see how you ever put you back together.
Ye Mo raised his right hand, fingers spread, palm facing up.
Blood dripped from his fingertips, pooling on the ground.
"Then give it a try," he said.
The wind whipped up debris and blew it across the space between the two people.
Loki's Scepter fell.
Green light shone out.
Ye Mo took a step forward, his right foot slamming heavily on the ground.