IUD-Chapter 776 Bet

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The fire raged on, looking unyielding and fierce.

In the heart of the forest clearing, drenched in a vivid red glow, Fang Li and the Scarlet Blazing God faced each other once more.

But this time, the atmosphere was charged with tension.

Fang Li's breath came in uneven gasps, while the Scarlet Blazing God's once-calm demeanor had shifted to one of evident frustration.

Nearby, Shirayuki knelt on the ground, cradling the unconscious forms of Sun and Habi in her arms, her expression a mix of uncertainty and concern.

Their carefully crafted battle strategy had crumbled when Sun and Habi had bravely sacrificed themselves to intercept the attack.

Though they had been revived, to the Scarlet Blazing God, they were merely pawns— valuable, yes, but easily replaceable. Their loss was hardly a significant blow.

It was likely that the Scarlet Blazing God had originally planned for Sun and Habi to be sent to different nations, where their extraordinary combat skills would sow chaos and ignite conflicts, ultimately leading to wars across the land.

For her, the loss of Sun and Habi was a minor inconvenience, as long as Aria remained under her control.

Yet, there was one thing that made the Scarlet Blazing God uneasy: Shirayuki's 'Irokane Slayer'.

While Fang Li's powers were formidable and enigmatic, the 'Irokane Slayer' had always been a direct counter to her. In terms of fear, it was that weapon that truly unsettled her.

Thus, for the moment, the Scarlet Blazing God chose to remain still, observing the unfolding situation with caution.

This pause allowed Fang Li a moment to regain his breath.

"Hū..."

He exhaled slowly, taking stock of his condition.

His Prana had barely returned.

His stamina was dwindling.

Even though the plan to counterattack with the 'Irokane Slayer' had failed, Fang Li still found himself at a disadvantage.

"Li Kun..."

Shirayuki, still holding Sun and Habi while gripping the 'Irokane Slayer', shared her concern, her eyes wary as they flicked toward the Scarlet Blazing God.

Fang Li glanced between Shirayuki and the Scarlet Blazing God, who was now watching him intently, her earlier composure slipping away but a smile still playing on her lips.

"So, it has come to this, huh?" He murmured.

With that, Fang Li began to stride toward the Scarlet Blazing God.

"Li Kun!" Shirayuki called out, her voice laced with anxiety.

Even the Scarlet Blazing God turned her gaze toward him, her smile now tinged with curiosity.

"What's this?" She taunted, "Have you finally decided to surrender and join me?"

Fang Li remained silent, stopping just a few paces away from her. He lifted his chin, locking eyes with her.

Despite his exhaustion and the precarious situation, he still had a card to play.

'—Stigma'.

If he unleashed this hidden power, he could potentially overpower the Scarlet Blazing God, even in her most formidable state.

After all, the strength of Stigma had been growing within him.

Yet, he knew he couldn't use it carelessly.

"If you don't want to die too quickly, it's best not to rely on that power." Ryougi Shiki's warning echoed in his mind.

Given the fragile state of his soul, tapping into Stigma, which drew on his soul's energy, would only hasten the collapse of his already fractured Sea of Death.

As Ryougi Shiki had cautioned, using Stigma was akin to speeding up his own demise.

Thus, Fang Li was hesitant to resort to it unless absolutely necessary.

Though he was not afraid of death— indeed, he was indifferent to it— if he found himself with no other options, he might still wield Stigma without hesitation.

But for now, he had not yet exhausted all his alternatives.

"Hmm?"

Scarlet Blazing God suddenly made a sound of confusion.

It wasn't just her; even Shirayuki looked taken aback.

Fang Li had slowly raised his weapon, Bo Xie, toward the sky.

His ice-blue Mystic Eyes were fixed on the Scarlet Blazing God.

"You remember what I said before, right?" He stated in a steady voice.

"You get what you give. Since you used a Certain Kill Technique on me, it's only fair that I return the favor with my strongest killing move."

He had indeed made that declaration before, back when the Scarlet Blazing God had been in Habi's body.

Recalling that moment, a smile crept across the Scarlet Blazing God's face.

"Could it be that you also possess a Certain Kill Technique like Ruyi Bang?" She laughed, amusement dancing in her eyes. "In that case, I'd love to see it."

Fang Li met her playful gaze with unwavering intensity.

"You'll get your chance," He replied, his voice rising with determination.

"Previously, I risked my life to withstand your Ruyi Bang. This time, you'll have to wager your life to counter my killing move."

This was likely Fang Li's final gambit.

If it failed, he would have no choice but to hasten his own demise by invoking the power of Stigma.

Thus, this last strike...

"I will stake everything I've fought for until now."

With that resolve, Fang Li summoned all the remaining Prana within him.

Instead of channeling it into the Ogre Lux in his grasp, he focused it entirely on amplifying his explosive power.

"Zheng..."

Sparks erupted from Fang Li's body like starlight and along with those sparks came a palpable, deadly aura.

That murderous energy enveloped the Scarlet Blazing God in an instant.

Then, without warning, it surged forth.

"Qiang—!"

A sharp, resonant hum of the sword filled the air.

Fang Li's Bo Xie transformed into a streak of lightning, hurtling violently toward the Scarlet Blazing God.

In that fleeting moment, Fang Li poured every ounce of his remaining strength into that singular strike, launching Bo Xie forward.

Bo Xie spiraled like a bullet, racing straight toward the Scarlet Blazing God.

"Buzz—!"

The powerful rotational force stirred the air around it, creating a vortex that enveloped the rapidly spinning Bo Xie, morphing it into a colossal, awe-inspiring tornado.

The ferocious tornado tore through the sky, slicing through the flames of the forest as it barreled toward the Scarlet Blazing God.

"—!"

A profound sense of danger surged through the Scarlet Blazing God's mind.

Without a moment's hesitation, she raised both hands, summoning a brilliant crimson light. Like a shield, the light rippled outward, forming a protective barrier before her.

In the next heartbeat, the overwhelming tornado collided with her barrier.

"Boom—!"

With a thunderous roar, it felt as if a massive tornado had truly crashed into the shimmering crimson shield, unleashing a cataclysmic shockwave.

The shockwave morphed into a fierce hurricane.

The hurricane transformed into a torrent of energy.

Like a violent storm, it surged outward in all directions, even reaching the heavens above.

(End Of Chapter)