Ye Tian vanished.
Not with speed alone—but with intent so sharp it cut through the battlefield like a blade through silk. The moment the **Life-or-Death Ascension** activated, the world slowed in his perception. Every flicker of demonic qi, every twitch of muscle, every shift of killing intent became painfully clear.
The three captains felt it instantly.
"What—?!" Blood Fang Captain's pupils shrank. "His aura—!"
It wasn't just stronger.
It was **predatory**.
Ye Tian reappeared behind Blood Fang Captain, his dagger already moving. But this time, there was no hesitation, no testing strike. The blade carried every ounce of his killing intent, reinforced by the system's overwhelming boost.
**Slash!**
Blood Fang twisted at the last second, but he was still too slow.
The dagger tore across his back, ripping through armor, flesh, and bone. Blood sprayed into the air like crimson rain.
"Aaaargh!"
Blood Fang staggered forward, roaring in pain and fury. He spun, swinging his crimson saber wildly, releasing crescent-shaped waves of demonic qi that shredded the ground.
Ye Tian dodged two, blocked one, and let the fourth graze his shoulder, tearing flesh. Pain flared—but it only sharpened his focus.
Behind him, Fang Chen laughed loudly.
"That's it! That's the look of someone about to die!"
Razor Bone Captain, enraged, slammed both hands into the ground.
"Bone Domain—Graveyard Manifestation!"
The earth ruptured as jagged white bones burst upward, forming a horrifying forest of skeletal spikes. The terrain became a killing field, restricting movement and threatening impalement at every step.
Lan Mei cursed softly. "This bastard—he's sealing the battlefield!"
Soul Harvester Captain took advantage of the chaos. His body dissolved into black mist, slipping through the bone forest like a ghost.
"Careful!" Lan Mei shouted. "He's coming for your soul!"
Too late.
The mist surged behind Ye Tian, forming clawed hands that plunged straight toward his back.
But Ye Tian had already sensed it.
He spun, eyes cold.
**Soul Guard—Activated.**
A translucent barrier flared around his body, pulsing with system energy. The soul claws struck it and rebounded violently, causing Soul Harvester Captain to hiss in pain as his form destabilized.
"What kind of protection is that?!" the captain snarled.
Ye Tian didn't answer.
He threw a talisman into the air.
**Boom!**
A flash of blinding light exploded, temporarily disorienting everyone nearby.
In that instant—
Ye Tian moved.
He charged Razor Bone Captain.
The captain laughed viciously. "You think you can break my bone armor?"
Ye Tian's dagger glowed faintly.
"Watch."
He thrust forward—not with brute force, but with **precision**.
**Crack.**
The bone armor didn't shatter immediately.
It *fractured*.
Tiny lines spread across it like spiderwebs.
Razor Bone Captain's grin froze.
"What did you—"
Ye Tian twisted the dagger.
The fractures exploded outward.
**BOOM!**
Bone armor shattered into fragments, tearing Razor Bone Captain's body apart from the inside. The man screamed as blood and bone fragments flew in every direction.
Ye Tian didn't stop.
He stepped through the explosion and drove his dagger straight into the captain's throat.
The scream cut off abruptly.
Razor Bone Captain's body collapsed to the ground, lifeless.
Silence—just for a heartbeat.
Then—
**Ding!
Kill Confirmed: Razor Bone Captain
Reward: +1 Level
Skill Fragment Acquired – Bone Tempering**
Ye Tian didn't even look at the notification.
Two left.
Blood Fang Captain saw the corpse and roared in fury.
"I'LL TEAR YOU APART!"
He charged, his saber blazing with demonic light, launching a full-power strike meant to split Ye Tian in half.
Lan Mei moved to intercept—
"No!" Ye Tian shouted. "I've got him!"
He met the saber head-on.
Steel clashed against demonic energy.
The impact sent shockwaves rippling across the valley. Ye Tian's feet dug into the ground, carving trenches as he resisted the overwhelming force.
Blood Fang grinned savagely. "You're strong—but you're still mortal!"
Ye Tian's eyes burned.
"Exactly."
He released one hand from the dagger.
Blood Fang's grin widened. "Giving up?"
Ye Tian slammed his palm forward.
**Yin Burst – Internal Detonation**
The energy bypassed armor entirely.
Blood Fang's eyes bulged.
His chest *collapsed inward* as internal organs ruptured violently. Blood burst from his mouth as his saber fell from numb fingers.
He staggered back, disbelief written across his face.
"You… monster…"
Ye Tian stepped forward and slit his throat.
Blood Fang Captain fell.
**Ding!
Kill Confirmed: Blood Fang Captain
Reward: +1 Level
Ability Chest Acquired – Rare**
The battlefield trembled.
Only one remained.
Soul Harvester Captain screamed in rage and fear, his mist form fluctuating violently.
"This wasn't supposed to happen! You were supposed to be prey!"
He turned—
and ran.
Ye Tian's eyes narrowed.
"You think you can escape?"
He raised his hand.
**Shadow Step – Maximum Output**
The world warped.
Ye Tian appeared directly in front of Soul Harvester Captain, blocking his path.
The captain shrieked and unleashed everything—soul chains, cursed mist, demonic screams meant to shatter consciousness.
Ye Tian endured it.
Blood streamed from his ears. His vision blurred.
But he kept walking.
"Your techniques," Ye Tian said coldly, "are built on fear."
He grabbed the captain by the throat.
"And I have none."
He crushed.
Soul Harvester Captain's mist form collapsed, his soul ripped apart under the system's overwhelming suppression.
The final scream echoed through Shadowpine Valley—
then silence.
**Ding!
Kill Confirmed: Soul Harvester Captain
Objective Completed: First Blood of War
Rewards Distributed.**
The demonic camp broke.
Without their leaders, the remaining Bloodthirst disciples panicked. Fang Chen and Lan Mei led the charge mercilessly, slaughtering or capturing enemies without mercy.
Within minutes—
The valley was painted red.
Ye Tian stood in the center of the battlefield, chest heaving, body soaked in blood that wasn't all his own. The Life-or-Death Ascension faded, and exhaustion crashed into him like a tidal wave.
He dropped to one knee.
Lan Mei rushed to his side. "Captain—are you hurt?!"
Fang Chen laughed breathlessly. "Hurt? Look at this guy—he just butchered three captains!"
Ye Tian exhaled slowly.
"We're not done," he said quietly. "This was only the vanguard."
He looked up at the blood moon.
Somewhere far away, stronger enemies were watching.
And they would not underestimate him again.