"Oh no, fall back and defend!"
The commotion behind him made Tang San feel as though he had plunged into an icy cavern. The Shrek Seven Devils, who had held an overwhelming advantage, were instantly forced onto the defensive. Their captain was captured up ahead, their teammates were in trouble behind them, and the Mad Battle Team watched from the side like tigers eyeing their prey. A mere few seconds of carelessness had created this irretrievable situation.
Dai Mubai had to be rescued, but Oscar, Ning Rongrong, and Shangguan Hong together were clearly far more important than Dai Mubai. Without hesitation, Tang San retreated to the rear of their formation with Xiao Wu, preparing to face the berserk Mad Rhino.
"Attack! Don't give them a chance to breathe!"
Spider Woman issued her orders with an icy expression. As one of only two members of the Mad Battle Team who still retained some reason, she knew this was their best opportunity to snatch victory from defeat!
"Roar!"
The Mad Battle Team had now transformed from an experienced team of Soul Masters into a pack of beasts! The remaining sheep Soul Master and the two throat Soul Masters charged without hesitation. Moving at tremendous speed, the three tied down Tang San and Xiao Wu. Granted, Tang San and Xiao Wu were outstanding even among Soul Elders. But no matter how talented they were, they could not break through the combined assault of three berserk Soul Elders in such a short time. They could only watch helplessly as Mad Rhino, whose overall combat strength had already reached the Soul Ancestor level, rampaged through the rear of their team.
"You really think I'm some pushover?"
At this critical moment, Shrek revealed one of its trump cards! Oscar swallowed, and the Third Soul Ring beneath his feet lit up. Several Mushroom Sausages materialized in his palm! He then threw them to his companions without hesitation.
Translucent wings materialized out of thin air, and Oscar was the first to take to the sky. The rare ability to fly drew waves of astonished cries, but the problems remained. Dai Mubai was bound up like a rice dumpling, and Spider Woman was already preparing to eliminate her. Tang San and Xiao Wu were also surrounded and could not find an opportunity to eat their Mushroom Sausages anytime soon. Ning Rongrong was in even more immediate danger, with Mad Rhino charging straight at him. His raging Soul Power left the young lady deathly pale. Yet just as everyone trembled with fear, a streak of golden light flashed past!
Squelch!
Mad Rhino's charging body sank, and his powerful frame suddenly slammed heavily into the ground. A wound deep enough to expose bone marked his left leg. The one responsible was none other than Shangguan Hong, who stood nearby panting with a golden shovel in hand! The blood on the golden shovel was luridly vivid, and with its sharp edge, it had unleashed the power of a battle-axe! To the onlookers, Shangguan Hong had swung his Martial Soul with all his might, forcibly interrupting Mad Rhino's attack solely to protect his teammate from danger.
"Brother Shangguan!"
Tang San finally managed to barely restrain the two monkey Soul Masters with his Blue Silver Grass. Xiao Wu was still holding off the remaining sheep Soul Master, while he shot forward, urgently rushing toward Shangguan Hong. Shangguan Hong's face was still pale, and he had little Soul Power left to use. In other words, there was absolutely no way he could use his Third Soul Skill! Yet Shangguan Hong had only three Soul Skills. His First Soul Skill was pitifully weak, and Yu Xiaogang had explicitly forbidden him from using his Second Soul Skill...
"Roar!"
Mad Rhino had not stopped because of the pain. In his berserk state, he could not feel pain at all. It was simply that Shangguan Hong's shovel strike had carried too much force, forcibly interrupting his assault. After stumbling, Mad Rhino climbed off the ground and swung a heavy fist at Shangguan Hong.
"Damn it!"
Shangguan Hong looked somewhat anxious, but he could only use his shovel to take the attack head-on. Unable to resist at all, he was sent flying by Mad Rhino. Without a sound, he used his Soul Power to make the blood inside his body seep out. The crimson at the corner of his mouth made everyone from Shrek turn pale with shock. Fortunately, Shangguan Hong landed somewhere safe enough. He quickly ate the sausage, then flew into the sky.
Tang San clashed head-on with Mad Rhino. This chosen son of destiny unleashed a hundred and twenty percent of his combat strength. His face was filled with fury, seemingly born of intense guilt over failing to fulfill his duties as the team's leader and allowing his teammate to be hurt. His dancing Blue Silver Grass carried a thick killing intent. Fighting with everything he had, Tang San suppressed Mad Rhino in the blink of an eye! However, this sudden burst could not last. After forcibly driving the Mad Battle Team's captain back, Tang San created an opening for himself and Xiao Wu. The two swallowed the Flying Mushroom Sausages Oscar had made and took temporary refuge in the air from the Mad Battle Team's onslaught.
The spectators, who had watched the match without taking their eyes off it, finally had a chance to catch their breath before immediately bursting into cheers. Whether it was the Mad Battle Team's berserk Soul Skill or the Shrek Seven Devils' flying Soul Skill, both were exceedingly rare sights. However, the current situation did not bode well for the Shrek Seven Devils. Dai Mubai and Zhu Zhuqing had both been eliminated, while the Mad Battle Team had lost only one three-ring Soul Elder.
At present, the Mad Battle Team's Frenzy Soul Skill was still active, and its duration was definitely longer than that of Oscar's Flying Mushroom Sausage!
It had to be said that things were looking terrible! Even Yu Xiaogang was breaking into a cold sweat below the stage.
Something like Frenzy was extremely difficult to control. In this state, it was entirely possible that the Mad Battle Team might suddenly kill someone! Although there was a referee, given the way the Suotuo City Great Soul Arena operated these days, they would never intervene while the audience was getting excited. In other words, if those Little Monsters in the air were forced to return to the stage, what awaited them would no longer be a match, but slaughter!
Cold sweat poured from Yu Xiaogang's forehead. His good brother Flender had entrusted these extraordinarily gifted children to him. Losing even one would be an irreparable loss. Yu Xiaogang was already beginning to regret his decision. If he had allowed Shangguan Hong to use his Second Soul Skill from the start, the situation would have been completely different! Those troublesome Desert Soldiers could have overwhelmed the Mad Battle Team with sheer numbers. They only needed to briefly delay a few opponents for the Shrek Seven Devils to secure the match.
Mordekaiser's individual combat strength was indeed formidable, but he was far too cumbersome. In Yu Xiaogang's eyes, he was also somewhat uncontrollable, and his Soul Power consumption was far too outrageous.
As he thought it over, an inexplicable anger suddenly rose in Yu Xiaogang's heart!
That damned brat! If he had told me sooner that his Third Soul Skill was so powerful, would I have devised tactics like these? Now look what's happened. The team has been led into the abyss, and that Shangguan Hong cannot escape his share of the blame!
Yu Xiaogang could always find all sorts of excuses for himself. He could successfully convince himself and wash his hands of all responsibility. What he did not know, however, was that everyone from Shrek already harbored considerable resentment toward him. Even his treasured disciple Tang San felt somewhat uncomfortable.
In the eyes of Dai Mubai and the others, they would never have ended up in such a miserable state if Yu Xiaogang had not forbidden Shangguan Hong's Second Soul Skill! In Tang San's eyes, his teacher had entered Shangguan Hong's Second Soul Skill, indirectly causing Shangguan Hong to be injured. That was his best friend!
A rift had formed in Tang San's heart. Though small, it truly existed.
For Shangguan Hong, this was a small, unexpected delight...