"Smith, you can't run away."
The moment Smith appeared, all the executors from Jinghai College turned their sharp, hostile gazes toward him.
"You've humiliated Jinghai College. Do you think you can live peacefully by hiding in this backwater city? If you don't return with us willingly, we'll drag you back by force!" the captain of the Executive Department barked coldly.
Smith raised an eyebrow, a mocking smile tugging at his lips. "Is it really that serious? I only beat you once during the college competition. Is that enough for you to hunt me down like this?"
He shook his head in disbelief. He had never seen such petty behavior from a so-called prestigious academy.
For something so trivial, they'd chased him all the way here, mobilizing such a powerful force just to capture one person. It was ridiculous.
If Jinghai College had shown this level of commitment when fighting monsters, maybe they would've wiped them out by now!
Still, Smith couldn't deny the threat they posed. He noted the enemy lineup carefully. Most of them were third-level psychics, but what really caught his attention were the more than a dozen fourth-level mutants scattered among them. That was a serious force. To anyone unfamiliar with the situation, it would look like they were preparing for a level-four beast tide.
"Enough talk! Surrender now!" the captain shouted.
At his command, he and three other fourth-level psychics leaped into action, rushing toward Smith in a deadly formation.
There had been a fair number of people at the city gate, but the moment they saw the Jinghai College executors making a move, they didn't hesitate to retreat to a safe distance. No one wanted to get caught in the crossfire. As the old saying goes, when the city gate catches fire, the fish in the moat suffer. Staying here meant risking one's life.
"They're really going all out..." Smith muttered, narrowing his eyes.
All four of the attackers were level four. They weren't holding back.
"Wood Release: Advent of the World of Trees!"
Facing such a fierce assault, Smith immediately unleashed his ultimate move. There was no time to test the waters—only raw power would give him a chance.
Boom!
Thick, towering trees erupted from the earth, while vines whipped through the air like furious dragons, lashing out toward the approaching psychics with incredible speed and force.
But they were prepared.
"Breath of Divine Wind!"
"Earth Element: Dragon Soars to the Sky!"
"A Raging Fire Spreads Across the Land!"
In response, the executors each released their signature supernatural abilities, meeting Smith's Wood Release head-on. Their attacks collided with tremendous force, creating a deafening explosion that shook the surrounding area.
Boom—!!
Although Smith's Wood Release was formidable, it was still no match for the combined might of four high-level psychics. The vines were scorched, torn apart, and shattered. Fragments of wood flew in all directions as the coordinated supernatural onslaught overwhelmed his defenses.
Smith gritted his teeth, forced to retreat again and again. He dared not confront them directly; the disparity in power was too great. He'd hoped to slow them down, but they were relentless.
"You won't get away!"
The four executed a flanking maneuver, closing in from three different angles to surround him. Their formation was airtight, leaving no obvious openings.
"Let's break his legs first. I'd like to see him run after that!"
Two of them brandished short, curved daggers and struck with lightning speed, aiming directly for Smith's legs.
Slash!
The blades sliced cleanly through Smith's legs—but instead of blood, splinters scattered across the ground.
What fell were not limbs, but two wooden stakes.
Then, to the astonishment of the attackers, Smith's entire body dissolved into wood.
"A clone?!"
The four executors halted, clearly surprised. They immediately began scanning the area, looking for the real Smith.
But with such a large crowd and terrain, spotting a hidden individual wasn't easy.
"Spiritual Vision: Peek!"
Suddenly, one of the executors—wearing a black dragon mask—pressed two fingers to his forehead. Flames of psychic energy ignited in his eyes, glowing with a brilliant intensity.
"I've got him!"
In less than twenty seconds, he pointed sharply toward the dense forest below the city walls.
"He's hiding right there!"
Smith, nestled in the shadow of a large tree, frowned. "So... perception ability, huh? Looks like I underestimated these guys."
He had planned to hide until they gave up and left or split up enough for him to escape. Clearly, that plan had failed. Jinghai's Executive Department didn't just have brute strength—they had top-tier skills in tracking, surveillance, and coordination.
It was clear now: if he didn't defeat them here, he would never escape.
"In that case... let's finish this!"
With a deep breath, Smith activated both Sage Mode and his Mangekyō Sharingan simultaneously. Power surged through his body, his senses sharpening to their peak.
The four executors charged at him again, determined to bring him down.
But just as they were about to reach him—
BOOM!
A massive blade descended from the sky like a divine judgment, slamming into the ground between Smith and his attackers. The impact sent a shockwave through the area, carving a long gash into the earth and forcing the four executors to stagger backward.
"Who are you? This is Jinghai College's business. Don't meddle in matters that don't concern you!" Black Dragon growled, stepping forward warily.
Clang... clank...
The sound of metal scraping against metal echoed ominously. Slowly, an old figure stepped forward, his silhouette imposing and commanding.
Dressed in a suit of dark golden armor, the man radiated an overwhelming aura of experience and power. Though clearly aged, the battlefield will in his eyes was undimmed. His presence alone seemed to chill the air.
"Jinghai College..." he said slowly, "You've become quite arrogant in recent years."
"Who is this guy...?" one of the executors murmured.
Smith stared in shock. "The old man?!"
He recognized him instantly.
This was the only fifth-level mutant in the entire Dark City—the grandfather of the Red Queen!
The old man stepped forward with a firm gaze.
"My name is Li Tuo, Commander of the First Legion of the Eastern District Coalition under the Holy Empire," he declared. "I was assigned to guard this city... and the City of Darkness will not tolerate provocation!"
He drew his massive broadsword and rested it on his shoulder. The sheer weight of his words and weapon sent a ripple of unease through the Jinghai group.
"Li Tuo?" Black Dragon's tone shifted slightly. He clearly recognized the name.
But he didn't back down. "Old general, with all due respect, the Dark City no longer belongs to the Holy Empire. This is neutral ground. We're simply here to capture a criminal—Smith. Please don't interfere."
Li Tuo narrowed his eyes. "Smith once saved my life. He did me a great favor. How could I possibly stand by and let him be captured?"
He pointed the broadsword at them. "If I'm not mistaken, the four of you are the so-called Executors of Jinghai College—Black Dragon, Yellow Phoenix, White Tiger, and Black Turtle, right?"
The four didn't respond, but their faces said enough.
"I've heard tales of your power. Today, I'd like to see it for myself," Li Tuo said calmly, his tone steady but firm.
"In that case... the old general is determined to stand against us?" Black Dragon asked.
"Exactly."
That single word was like a thunderclap.
Everyone went silent for a beat, the tension reaching a breaking point.
"So be it."
The four executors adjusted their stances, preparing to engage. Li Tuo's strength was no joke—he was a mid-tier fifth-level psychic, an existence that could dominate battlefields. But they wouldn't retreat. Not with their honor and duty at stake.
Li Tuo turned slightly and spoke softly to Smith.
"Brother Smith, I can only hold them off for a short while. The rest is up to you."
Smith nodded deeply, clasping his hands and bowing. "Thank you, General... I won't waste this chance."
With no time to spare, he turned and dashed toward the eastern part of the Dark City.
Li Tuo watched him disappear into the shadows—then stepped forward and raised his broadsword high.
"Come then, Executors of Jinghai. Let me see how far your blades can reach."
And with that, the battle erupted.
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