Duan Nanyang scrolled through the intel and relayed the real situation about the opposing team. All eyes fixed on the newcomer.
Beside the glowing man stood a striking youth: narrow eyes, a high nose, a black baseball cap, lean but powerfully built.
"This is bad… Morde," someone muttered.
"They're from Maple Leaf Camp!"
"Don't panic—we're not pushovers."
"Damn it, Greg's Phosphorus Shrimp talent is useless here…"
"Hey, you're the one who made me glow — don't blame me for drawing Huaxia."
Chen Xiao heard everything clearly through the simultaneous-translation earpiece An Xinning had slipped him — another example of the military region doing things properly.
Morde stepped forward and spoke to the Huaxia team in a slow, deliberate tone. "There's an old Chinese saying: 'Kings do not meet kings.' No need to fight so early, don't you think—"
Boom—Crackle—
Before he finished, a bolt of lightning threw him ten meters back. Cao Linxuan had struck, moving like living lightning, faster than teleportation. Morde hit the ground, stunned. Why were Huaxia so aggressive? They hadn't provoked them.
Cao Linxuan planted his feet and glared. "'Kings do not meet kings'? Maple Leaf trash calling themselves kings?"
Morde's face darkened. "Are we to fight to the death?"
The normally quiet Yan Zhiyuan stepped forward: "The rules demand it. Offense." Then he vanished, lunging straight for Maple Leaf.
"Charge! Surround Maple Leaf!" Duan Nanyang barked.
Bang! Bang! Bang! Figures surged forward. A Yao and Chen Xiao flowed with the crowd, barely needing effort — Huaxia's overall strength clearly outweighed Maple Leaf's.
"Huaxia people, you're despicable!" one of the Maple Leaf fighters spat.
"Wilhelm, Olivia — take down the lightning user!" another ordered.
Boom—
Morde's muscles bulged as his Kangaroo talent flared. He'd unlocked the SSS-rank [Fist King]; every punch he threw gathered lethal intent.
Boom—Boom—Boom—
Wilhelm and Olivia, Maple Leaf's second and third pillars, unleashed their own terrifying strengths — SSS-rank [Deer's Might Descends] and SSS-rank [Bear's Form]. But Cao Linxuan faced all three like he was born to do it. Lightning arced around him with such killing intent the Maple Leaf side reeled.
"The Thunderclap Divine General… is he really this terrifying?"
"I heard Huaxia has ten Divine Generals — are there nine more like him?"
"If Divine Generals are this strong, then the old intel about one being killed by a single strike… how is that possible?"
Cao Linxuan's ferocity forced Maple Leaf to rethink everything. He roared, "Five Thunderbolts!" Lightning condensed on his silver glove, forming an electric sphere like a coiled dragon.
"Huaxia… is too terrifying! Retreat!" Morde shouted.
Retreat was the only viable option. If one Maple Leaf member survived in the forest, their camp could still earn points. But with Huaxia's numbers, escape looked impossible.
"Speed-types! Cut them off!" Cao Linxuan barked. Four speed operatives — two men, two women — launched themselves forward. A Yao joined them; her speed was insane, covering hundreds of meters in a flash and intercepting the Maple Leaf runners. The other speed-types were left behind.
"What monsters are these!"
"Kill the girl first! She's the fastest!"
"I'll take her down even if I die!"
"Surround her!"
"Demon Power! Activate!"
"Azure Divine Power! Slay!"
A Yao hadn't expected that level of desperation. Her combat skill was limited; she suddenly regretted showing off. Multiple energies converged on her — strong forces closing fast — and she made a split-second choice: run.
"Damn it! A Yao's in danger!" someone shouted.
"Why did she speed off? She's reckless!"
"If she dies, Captain Cao will make Maple Leaf bury her!"
Cao Linxuan turned into lightning and charged, but his S-rank [Thunder Charge] couldn't close the gap in time.
Hum—
Just as brutal attacks were about to land, space itself convulsed and the magic shattered: [Eight Directions Slaughter].
Chen Xiao had moved. He'd been closest to A Yao and closed in with blinding speed, the bright lamp glowing faintly in his hand. Its presence alone steadied her.
"Zhou Xun! Thank you—"
A Yao, petite beside him, looked up with bright, tearful eyes and a flushed face. Chen Xiao half-smiled. "Don't be so impulsive next time. Remember we agreed to lay low."
She pouted. "I panicked! I was afraid they'd escape…"
Chen Xiao's gaze fell on a stray lock of hair over her eye; he tucked it behind her ear with a small, casual motion. Her face went red; she covered her mouth and giggled.
"You're actually… nice," she said, then tapped his shoulder.
Cao Linxuan arrived seconds later, watching the exchange; a flicker of displeasure crossed his features. Jealousy? Or something closer to genuine liking? He couldn't say. He forced himself to refocus and turned his attention back to Maple Leaf, lightning crackling in his palm.
"All of you… die."
Hum—Boom—Boom—Boom—
This time his lightning carried an extra edge — irritation sharpened into fury. He unleashed a storm. Gu Liao fought alongside him fiercely, using SSS-rank [Insect Blade] and SS [Strong Carapace]; jealousy lent his blows venom. He'd liked A Yao for a long time and hated seeing her with another, but emotion or not, their attacks were brutal.
In seconds, Huaxia shattered Maple Leaf's formation. The surviving foes looked ashen.
"Do these two know some ancient Huaxia secret art? Why did they suddenly get so fierce?" someone whispered.
The forest was quiet after the storm, only the crackling of dissipating energy remained. Huaxia's team breathed as one — exhilaration and an uneasy sense of how dangerous the game really was.