The green poisonous mist was still churning.
"Gurgle... gurgle..."
It sounded like a cesspool boiling over.
Yao Qian covered her nose, hopping back two steps as she waved her hand in disgust.
"He just... melted?"
"That's the level of the second-ranked player?"
She blinked, her face full of disbelief.
Even though her shot had been quite accurate.
Even though that poison gas bomb was indeed something Solomon had concocted himself.
But he was still a regional overlord.
His death seemed far too hasty.
"It's not that simple."
Qin Yu narrowed his eyes.
He did not lower the [Kiss of Death] in his hand.
The muzzle was still aimed at the bubbling green puddle.
"The system didn't give a prompt."
"No kill announcement popped up."
"And no Plunder Value was dropped."
Upon hearing this, Li Ruobing's expression instantly changed.
"He's not dead?!"
"Impossible!"
"He turned into that—how could he still be alive?"
"Unless he's not a carbon-based life form."
Qin Yu sneered coldly.
"Or."
"This was never his true body in the first place."
As soon as the words left his mouth.
The puddle of originally green liquid suddenly stopped boiling.
Its color began to change.
From green to yellow.
A dry, lifeless, earthy yellow.
"Rustle, rustle..."
A gust of wind blew past.
The puddle of "corpse fluid" on the ground actually turned into a pile of fine, soft yellow sand.
Scattering with the wind.
Even the broken alloy gauntlet had turned into a piece of weathered stone.
"Holy shit!"
"A substitution technique?!"
Yao Qian was so shocked her glasses went askew.
"Is this fucking Naruto?"
"Or Crocodile?"
Qin Yu holstered his gun.
Watching the pile of scattering sand, his eyes were ice-cold.
"It's a [Puppet]."
"The aura of an SS-Grade Item."
"And a very high-level one at that."
"It can perfectly replicate the original body's aura, pain sensations, and even some skills."
"This old bastard."
"From the very beginning, he never intended to fight us to the death."
"He's really a fucking old weasel."
...
At this moment.
Five nautical miles away from the battlefield, deep beneath the sea.
A pitch-black small submarine, like a startled loach, was frantically fleeing, skimming along the seabed.
Inside the submarine.
"Pfft—!!"
The real Solomon violently spat out a large mouthful of black blood.
Splattering it all over the control panel screen.
His face was deathly pale.
His entire body trembled violently.
Not only that.
His right leg.
The very leg that had been broken on the puppet when Qin Yu shot it.
Now showed a bizarre, twisted state.
Although not broken.
The bones were clearly shattered.
This was the price.
[SS-Grade Special Item · Shadow of the Yellow Sand (Scapegoat Doll)]
[Description: A substitute formed from the condensed essence of an entire desert. It can block one fatal attack for you.]
[Side Effect: 30% damage feedback. The host permanently loses 10% of their maximum constitution.]
"Qin Yu..."
"Qin Yu!!"
Solomon clutched his chest.
His turbid eyes were now completely bloodshot.
It was a bone-deep hatred.
And a trace of fear hidden deep within.
Too strong.
That man's strength had completely exceeded his expectations.
That Gravity Bullet that ignored defense.
That Thunderstorm Item that could alter the weather.
This is simply not something players should have at this stage.
"My Desert Scorpion..."
"My fleet..."
"It's all over."
Solomon's hand trembled as he pulled out a golden syringe from his chest.
[S-Grade Cellular Regeneration Fluid].
He stabbed it viciously into his thigh.
"Hiss—"
The fluid was injected.
An excruciating, bone-deep pain and numbness shot through the broken bone.
But he didn't even let out a groan.
He just stared fixedly at the red dot on the Radar.
"This debt."
"I'll remember it."
"Huaxia Zone..."
"Qin Yu..."
"As long as I still have that Blueprint in my hands."
"As long as I can find that place..."
"I'll be back sooner or later."
"I'll tear you to pieces!!"
"I'll turn all your women into Sand Slaves!!"
The submarine accelerated.
And disappeared into the depths of the dark trench.
...
On the sea surface.
The thunderstorm was still raging.
"He got away?"
Li Ruobing looked at Qin Yu, somewhat unwilling to accept it.
"Should we pursue?"
"The Radar can pick up a faint signal source."
"Roughly at five o'clock."
"No need."
Qin Yu waved his hand dismissively.
He lit another cigarette.
The flame illuminated his cold, stern profile.
"Don't pursue a desperate foe."
"Especially underwater."
"That's their home turf."
"Besides."
He exhaled a puff of smoke.
Glancing at the pile of yellow sand on the ground.
"Between that Gravity Shell shot earlier and the final backlash from the poison gas."
"Even if the substitute bore most of the damage."
"The feedback to his main body is enough to make him suffer."
"He won't be getting out of bed."
"For at least ten days to half a month."
"Our top priority now."
Qin Yu turned around.
His gaze pierced through the sky-filling lightning and ice shards.
Landed on that frozen expanse of sea.
There.
The roar of the chainsaw.
Was resounding through the heavens.
"Is to clean up the trash in front of us first."
"Especially."
"That bitch who doesn't know her place."
...
On the ice.
The battle had entered a white-hot phase.
Or rather.
A brutal one.
"Zzzzzzzz—!!"
The massive industrial chainsaw, with a teeth-grating screech, bit viciously into a crystal-clear ice shield.
Ice shards flew.
Striking Elena's face like bullets.
Leaving trails of blood.
But she didn't even blink.
Both hands clamped down on the chainsaw's handles.
Every muscle in her body tensed, veins bulging.
Like an enraged lioness.
"Break..."
"For me!!"
"Crack!"
That ice shield, capable of withstanding Rocket bombardment.
Under the high-speed rotating saw teeth.
Finally developed a crack.
Then.
Shattered.
The saw teeth drove straight in.
Aiming straight for Fenrir's neck.
However.
Just as the teeth were about to touch Fenrir's pale skin.
"Too slow."
Fenrir's voice.
Was as cold as if it had drifted from an ice cellar.
No panic at all.
Even carrying a hint of mockery.
She leaned her body back.
At an angle that defied physics, evading the fatal strike.
Simultaneously.
Her [Frostmourne] swept up in a backhanded slash.
"Thud!"
A flash of cold light.
A deep, bone-revealing wound instantly appeared on Elena's abdomen.
No blood flowed out.
Because the wound was frozen instantly by the extreme cold sword energy the moment it was cut.
"Ugh..."
Elena grunted.
Staggered back two steps.
Nearly slipping on the ice.
"Is this your strength?"
Fenrir stood in place.
Her silver hair was scorched and curled from the lightning strike.
Her S-Grade Armor was tattered and torn.
Yet her imposing presence remained.
Aloof and superior, as if watching a dying ant struggle.
"After leaving Lord Odin,"
"you've fallen this low?"
"Wielding a lumberjack's trash,"
"swinging it around like a madwoman?"
She extended a finger.
Gently flicking the blade.
"Hum—"
A clear sword hum resonated.
The surrounding air temperature plummeted.
Shattered ice on the ground reformed into countless sharp icicles.
Suspended behind her.
Dense and numerous.
Like a wall of swords.
"Elena."
"Your techniques."
"Your habits."
"Even your breathing rhythm before each swing."
"I know them all."
"Because these,"
"are what I taught you in the training camp."
"How can a disciple,"
"ever defeat her master?"
Fenrir stepped forward, one pace at a time.
With each step,
the ice beneath her feet thickened.
The oppressive aura of an S-Class powerhouse
was unleashed without restraint.
Crushing Elena until she could barely breathe.
"Pah!"
Elena spat out a mouthful of bloodied saliva.
Straightening her back.
Even though the wound in her abdomen burned with excruciating pain.
Even though her stamina was completely depleted.
In her eyes,
there was not a trace of retreat.
Only an even more frenzied will to fight.
"Master?"
Elena laughed.
A bitter, wretched laugh.
"You call yourself that?"
"Locking me in a cage like a dog."
"Forcing me to eat my comrades' flesh."
"Injecting me with that torturous enhancement serum."
"Is this what you call teaching?"
She pulled the chainsaw's starter cord once more.
"Vroom—!!"
The engine roared back to life.
"Fenrir."
"You're right."
"I can't defeat you."
"In skill, in attributes, in equipment."
"I'm no match for you."
Elena took a deep breath.
A flicker of resolve flashed in her eyes.
"But."
"This is the Wasteland."
"Not your arena."
"Here,"
"only those who are more willing to die prevail!"
Before her words faded,
Elena moved.
This time,
she did not raise the chainsaw to strike.
Instead, she released her grip.
Letting the several-hundred-pound chainsaw skim across the ice.
Like an out-of-control wheel.
Sliding swiftly toward Fenrir in a low, sweeping motion.
"Hmm?"
Fenrir's brow furrowed slightly.
"Discarding your weapon?"
"Foolish."
She merely swung her longsword lightly.
The countless icicles behind her shot forward instantly.
"Clang! Clang! Clang!"
A dense series of impacts rang out.
The chainsaw, struck by the icicles, sparked wildly and veered off course.
Sliding away to the side.
"Without your weapon,"
"what will you fight me with?"
Fenrir sneered.
However,
the next moment,
her pupils contracted sharply.
Because she saw
that the moment Elena released the chainsaw,
she did not retreat.
Instead, she charged forward bare-handed.
Her speed more than doubled from before!
[Skill: Berserker's Blood (Activated)]
[Effect: Burns health to exchange for 200% speed and strength burst. Duration: 30 seconds.]
"To kill you,"
"I'll give up this life of mine!"
Elena let out a piercing shriek.
Her entire body transformed into a golden afterimage.
Instantly breaking through the icicle blockade.
She crashed directly into Fenrir's embrace.
This was not combat.
This was wrestling.
A savage brawl between wild beasts.
"You seek death!!"
Fenrir roared in fury.
The longsword in his hand stabbed directly toward Elena's heart.
"Thud!"
The blade pierced through Elena's left shoulder.
And emerged from the other side.
Blood instantly stained the silver armor crimson.
But Elena seemed to feel no pain.
On her face.
A ferocious, twisted smile appeared.
"Got you."
Her right hand.
Clamped down like an iron vise on Fenrir's wrist holding the sword.
Crushing the wrist bones.
"Crack!"
"Ah!"
For the first time, Fenrir cried out in pain.
Before she could react.
Elena's left hand.
Though pinned by the sword.
She forced herself forward another inch.
Using her own body.
To lock the blade in place.
Then.
Headbutt!
"Thump!!"
This headbutt.
Slammed squarely into Fenrir's nose bridge.
No fancy moves.
Just brute force.
Blood gushed from her nose.
Fenrir saw stars from the impact.
Staggering backward.
The two tumbled together.
Rolling wildly across the ice.
Elena clung to Fenrir like a burr.
Grabbing her hair.
Biting her ear.
Even kneeing Fenrir's abdomen repeatedly.
All dirty, low-blow moves.
All street-fighting tactics.
But this.
Was most effective.
"Madwoman!!"
"You madwoman!! Let go of me!!"
Fenrir panicked.
Her proud swordsmanship.
Her noble S-Class abilities.
Were useless in such close-quarters combat.
Especially Elena's completely unguarded fighting style.
Filled her with dread.
"Let go?"
Elena's face was covered in blood.
Her eyes gleaming with madness.
"Let go in hell!!"
She pulled out a dagger from somewhere.
The one Qin Yu had thrown to her earlier.
[Item: Armor-Piercing Dagger (B-Grade)]
Though not high-grade.
It was sharp enough.
"Thud! Thud! Thud!"
Elena straddled Fenrir.
Mechanically plunging the dagger down.
Into her thigh.
Into her arm.
Into her shoulder.
Each strike.
Sent a spray of blood mist.
"This one!"
"Is for Lisa!"
"This one!"
"Is for Anna!"
"And this one!"
"Is for me!!"
Fenrir screamed in agony.
She tried to summon frost armor.
But as soon as it formed.
Elena smashed it with a punch.
"Ahhh!!"
Fenrir finally erupted.
A terrifying wave of cold exploded from her body.
[Skill: Ice Age (Instant Cast)]
"Boom!"
A massive shockwave sent Elena flying.
The two separated.
Elena slid over ten meters across the ice before stopping.
Covered in blood.
Gasping for breath.
The wound on her left shoulder was horrifying.
And Fenrir opposite her.
Was even worse.
A large chunk of her beautiful silver hair had been torn out.
Her face was covered in bruises and scratches.
That S-Grade Armor she wore.
Was riddled with holes from the dagger.
Like a tattered sieve.
"I'll kill you..."
"I swear... I'll tear you to pieces..."
Fenrir staggered to her feet.
Still clutching [Frostmourne] tightly.
Her eyes.
Had completely lost reason.
Turning into those of a true beast.
"Ice Dragon..."
She raised the sword.
The surrounding air began to solidify.
A massive, ice-constructed dragon phantom.
Slowly took shape behind her.
This strike.
Was the final cry of an S-Class powerhouse.
Enough to instantly freeze everything within a hundred-meter radius.
Elena pushed against the ground.
She wanted to stand up.
But her body had reached its limit.
That earlier burst of power.
Had drained all her strength.
"Is it over…"
She looked at the roaring ice dragon.
A bitter smile tugged at the corner of her mouth.
"Boss."
"It seems I still…"
"Didn't embarrass you, right?"
At that moment.
A lazy voice.
Suddenly rang out above the battlefield.
Accompanied by the crackle of electric current.
"Embarrass you?"
"Who dares say you embarrassed me?"
"That person must be blind."
Elena jerked her head up.
Amidst the sky full of lightning.
A figure.
Had somehow.
Already appeared behind Fenrir.
In his hand.
He held that pitch-black Sniper Cannon.
The muzzle.
Was pressed right against the back of Fenrir's head.
"Not bad."
Qin Yu's voice.
Sounded like the toll of a judgment bell.
"The foreplay was sufficient."
"Now."
"It's my turn to have some fun."
Fenrir's entire body stiffened.
The ice dragon that had just taken form.
Instantly shattered.
She could feel.
From that cold muzzle pressed against the back of her head.
A destructive power was gathering.
That was… the power of a rule.
"Don't…"
"Qin Yu…"
"I can give you…"
"I can be your dog…"
Fenrir's voice trembled.
It was the fear of death.
That had completely shattered her arrogance.
"Dog?"
Qin Yu laughed.
A cold laugh.
"Sorry."
"My house doesn't need a dog."
"And."
"You have rabies."
"I'm someone."
"Who values hygiene."
"Goodbye."
"BANG!!"
A deafening roar.
Without any suspense.
At point-blank range.
This bullet, empowered by [Extinction · Void Grasp].
Directly blasted Fenrir's head apart.
No.
Not just her head.
That terrifying annihilating force.
Instantly devoured her upper body.
Along with that armor.
Along with that S-Class ice sword.
Even the space behind her.
In that instant.
Turned into a black void of nothingness.
No gore or flying flesh.
Only disappearance.
Complete and utter disappearance.
"Thud."
The remaining half of the corpse.
Limply collapsed onto the ice.
The newly crowned number one on the Nordic Zone leaderboard.
Avenger Fenrir.
Deceased.
Qin Yu blew away the smoke from the muzzle.
Without even a glance at the corpse.
He walked straight up to Elena.
And extended a hand.
"Can you still move?"
Elena looked at the man before her.
Looked at the hand stretched out towards her.
Tears.
Uncontrollably streamed down.
Mixing with the blood and grime on her face.
As they fell.
"Yes."
She grasped Qin Yu's hand.
Using his strength to stand up.
Though she swayed unsteadily.
Her back.
Remained ramrod straight.
"Boss."
"Thank you."
"Thank you my ass."
Qin Yu rolled his eyes.
Shoving a bottle of [Basic Recovery Potion] into her mouth.
"Drink it up."
"After this fight."
"We've struck it rich."
Demons Don't Fall in Love