When dusk settled, a group of seven people took a submarine to a small island in the center of Blue Silver Lake.
The island was only the size of a few minefields, but it was packed with hotels, restaurants, and entertainment venues. This was one of the most luxurious places to spend the night.
"Lohan Vertigce chose a convenient spot for his escape," Vinel Maybach remarked, his eyes scanning the bustling island.
"We have you with us this time; he won't get away. Haha!" Vulcan Tanheln laughed, confident in their plan.
"Better to be prepared than sorry," Vinel Maybach nodded, though his smug smile betrayed him. For over a decade, Vinel Maybach had remained unchallenged, growing accustomed to easy victories. In Kudsok, the opponent's power didn't matter, and he wasn't concerned about Lohan Vertigce.
Their rendezvous was at the Phoenix House, a lavish venue that Vulcan Tanheln had rented for the night. He had set up an ambush, hiring bodyguards to ensure no surprises.
Vulcan Tanheln was not one to put all his eggs in one basket.
Upon reaching the third floor, Vinel Maybach settled onto a plush sofa. A waitress hurried over to fill his teacup, her hands trembling under his fierce gaze. Vinel's scrutinizing eyes roamed over her, making her so uncomfortable that she nearly spilled the tea. The deadly quiet inside the Phoenix House contrasted sharply with the festive atmosphere outside.
Eli sipped his tea, appreciating the teahouse's ancient aesthetics. If not for his duty, he would have loved to enjoy the lake view from the balcony.
"Thak!"
A loud crash shattered the silence, drawing everyone's attention. The teapot lay in pieces on the floor, tea staining Vinel Maybach's garment.
"Pa!"
"How dare you desecrate this master!" Vinel Maybach's large hand slapped the waitress's face. He had controlled his strength, so her face wasn't swollen, but a red palm print remained.
"I'm sorry... I'm sorry," the waitress stammered, tears streaming down her face.
"Just get out," Vinel Maybach shouted.
"Yes, sir."
The maid bolted for the door, terrified. Everyone in the room felt pity for her, having seen Vinel Maybach's hands groping her.
Vulcan Tanheln inched closer to Vinel Maybach and whispered, "You should try not to touch the Phoenix Palace girls... They belong to Lady Priscilla."
Vinel Maybach's body shook violently. "So what? Who cares about that old lady?"
Eli snorted, picking up his teacup, and moved to the balcony to enjoy the scenery.
They waited until midnight, growing impatient. Vinel Maybach suddenly announced, "Someone is coming."
Before his words faded, a commotion erupted downstairs. Painful cries and howls filled the air, then silence. The group on the third floor exchanged uneasy glances, knowing their opponent had arrived.
Footsteps echoed up the stairs, light but steady.
Vulcan Tanheln swallowed hard. He had over a dozen Level 3 ability bodyguards downstairs. Could they all have been defeated so quickly?
A man in a black exercise suit and shoes appeared, his face more pretty than handsome. His healthy skin and long white hair made any girl jealous, and his piercing white pupils sent chills down spines.
"How are you, Boss Vulcan? Why the long face? Aren't you happy to see an old friend?" Lohan Vertigce sneered, sitting across from Vulcan Tanheln.
Gathering himself, Vulcan Tanheln asked, "Lohan, why did you come back? Can't we sit and talk?"
"Sure, but you'll have to go bankrupt first," Lohan vertigce sneered.
"Is there no other way?" Vulcan Tanheln murmured. "You can't win every fight, even if your ability has increased."
"Let's just play Kudsok and get it over with," Lohan vertigce sneered again.
"Haha, Lohan, what makes you so confident?" Vulcan Tanheln laughed, slamming the table. "Vinel Maybach, it's all yours."
Vinel Maybach nodded to the young man next to him. "Raif, finish him."
Raif, in a tight-fitting training shirt, saluted Vinel Maybach.
"Raif is my senior disciple, a Kudsok master who's beaten even those above his level," Vinel Maybach boasted.
"Is this boy your cannon fodder?" Lohan vertigce laughed, eyeing Raif. "Get out of my way, kid. I don't want to kill you."
"You're courting death!" Raif fumed, suppressing his ability with the ability restraint on his left hand.
As soon as Lohan vertigce put on the ability restraint, he lunged at Raif, landing a vicious punch on his chest.
One figure flew back, slamming into the wall, shaking the building.
"Raif!" Vinel Maybach shouted.
Raif had been sent flying and smashed into the wall his life or death unknown.
Raif collapsed lifelessly onto the ground, people noticed a fist-sized depression on his chest.
"Your apprentice has fainted, now it's your turn," Lohan Vertigce grinned, his eyes holding a dark luster that intended to kill.
Vinel Maybach felt his heart sink to his belly. This development had taken the wind out of his sails. Raif was the strongest of his disciples, a level 4 ability user and a professional in Kudsok who had won against people above his ability level, but he couldn't even take a single punch from the opponent. There was no ability user in Kudsok. Just thinking of how strong Lohan Vertigce would be without the ability restraint made him pale, but he quickly recollected himself. After all, Lohan Vertigce was just a kid, while he had accumulated experience in Kudsok, which should give him the advantage. It was very likely that Lohan Vertigce was much more powerful than him.
The die had been cast; with no way out, Vinel Maybach would have to face Lohan Vertigce on his own.
Vinel Maybach slowly stood up and made his way to Lohan Vertigce under many pairs of expectant eyes. Vinel Maybach put on his ability restraint, twisted his right hand in a strange way before launching a powered punch towards Lohan Vertigce's chest.
"BOOM!
"KABOOM!
When the two started exchanging blows, the spectators watched in awe as they intertwined with each other. Every punch and kick stirred up the air and sent powerful shockwaves out from the center of the chaos. In a blink, vases, tables, chairs, and even the sofas were shredded into pieces from collateral damage.
Suddenly, a loud noise resounded. The two fighters disengaged from each other. One of them still stood unwavering and looked no different from before, while the other seemed unsteady and covered in blood with countless depressions on his chest. Everyone was shocked when they realized that the one who got the worst of it was Vinel Maybach.
Vinel Maybach's body trembled uncontrollably as he spat a mouthful of blood. There was a hint of blood at the corner of his mouth, but he didn't wipe it away. Vinel Maybach gave his opponent an ugly grin. "I have underestimated your strength. You have already reached such a stage in Kudsok.
Vulcan Tanheln was devastated by the turn of events. Seeing Lohan Vertigce had turned his attention back on him, he shouted, "Now
The two bodyguards behind him were hired with a large sum of credit. They were the elites among bodyguards and were also Vulcan Tanheln's last line of defense. Both bodyguards reached for their guns, but before either of them had the chance to aim at the enemy, Lohan Vertigce flicked his hand, sending two ice blades with chilling mist leaking from their edges. The ice blades struck home as they landed squarely at the bodyguards' throats, causing a gout of blood to burst from their throats before they collapsed.
It had been less than ten minutes since Lohan Vertigce had shown up, and he had already defeated most of Vulcan Tanheln's guards. The only two people who were unharmed were the crippled Anvil Abbott and Eli, who was still enjoying the expansive sea.
Lohan Vertigce didn't pay much attention to the two as he walked straight towards Vulcan Tanhel
"Bang
With a muffled bang, Vinel Maybach's body exploded, spilling blood, brain fluid, and body parts everywhere.
Almost everyone stared at the gruesome sight with bulging eyes. Anyone with a bit of sense could tell that Lohan Vertigce caused Vinel Maybach's death, but they couldn't figure out how he did it. The cruel method was enough to send shivers down their spines. The other disciples fled, seeing their leader defeated so easily.
A silver light suddenly flashed, blinding everyone for a split second, followed by three loud bangs.
"BANG!
"BANG!
"BANG!"
The three disciples dropped dead, blood gushing from the fist-sized depressions in their chests, which were blackened at the edges and emitting black smoke along with the nauseating smell of roasted flesh.
Vulcan Tanheln stared at the man standing before the corpses as the silver lightning began to retreat. He was a burly man, two heads taller than a standard six-foot man. He wore a black beast suit that bore a striking resemblance to the one worn by Lohan Vertigce. Vulcan Tanheln's eyebrows twitched.
"Why do you get a golden hand while we don't?" he asked, displeased. In Kudsok, a golden hand ensures that neither side defaults, and there are usually two golden hands. Vulcan Tanheln was displeased by this underhanded tactic.
"Come on, don't be angry. Baraki was meant to be dormant. I just knew you'd bring those who wouldn't hesitate to default," Lohan Vertigce sneered.
"Don't they remind you of that time at Summit Spring? Just because you didn't want to lose to a woman, you left your teammates to suffer a fate worse than death," Vulcan Tanheln retorted.
Lohan Vertigce's face twitched as he frowned. "A man knows when to retreat."
"Oh, nice. You're such a swindling rabbit, justifying your actions while crucifying others," Vulcan Tanheln said with an upturned smile. "Perhaps if you were subjected to the claws of that aging machine, you wouldn't have the mouth to talk nonsense."
Lohan Vertigce's eyes darkened, emitting a thick murderous intent. Vulcan Tanheln stepped forward and assumed the stance of the "Server." Lohan Vertigce smiled, puffed out his chest proudly, and assumed the stance of the "Receiver," separating his legs and crossing his hands behind his back.
"Bang!"
Vulcan Tanheln struck almost immediately. Fueled by anger, Vulcan Tanheln unleashed a powerful punch.
Vulcan Tanheln grimaced and stepped back, his face twisting in pain, his right hand bleeding. He stared at Lohan Vertigce in shock for a long time before looking at the ability restraint on Lohan Vertigce's left hand. "Don't let this old man doubt you."
Lohan Vertigce just sneered in response and assumed the stance of the "Server."