The Hunt for Blood Hammer

In the arena, the battle shifted dramatically.

The heavy-armored guard, Blood Blade, swung his sword at Kent's dark-armored figure, yet was surprised when Kent didn't dodge, instead charging straight toward him. At the moment of impact, Kent's hands flew outward, hurling two dark-red fireballs toward the mage not far away and the charging assassin, Scythe.

In a split second, Scythe leaped forward, his two daggers becoming a blur of deadly shadows. Facing Water Stream's figure head-on, he unleashed all his strength. Despite being a woman, she possessed advanced assassination skills and a calm mind. She was likely the greatest opponent he had ever faced.

Fortunately, with Cang Er's swift magic, he would soon gain the boost from the Bloodthirsty spell, which would instantly raise his combat power to level fifteen.

No woman could withstand his deadly twin blades.

Yet events took an unexpected turn.

Water Stream's figure suddenly vanished.

A red light shot in from the side.

Startled, Scythe crossed his daggers in front of him.

Boom—

The fireball hit him squarely.

Meanwhile, Cang Er finished chanting his second enhancement spell: Bloodthirsty.

Boom—

Two red lights flashed on Scythe and Blood Blade. Caught off guard, Cang Er was also struck by a fireball, slamming him against a stone wall as he spat out blood.

Blood Blade's frustration reached its peak.

The black-armored figure was too fast. Though his sword slashed Kent's shoulder, the blade slid off to the side, and Kent collided into Blood Blade's chest like a boulder, knocking him down.

In his peripheral vision, two fireballs flew out.

What on earth?

How could a heavy-armored warrior use magic?

The bloodthirsty and swift spells fueled an unprecedented surge of power within him, clouding Blood Blade's mind with rage. He roared, his giant sword swinging in rapid succession, but Kent dodged repeatedly, heading straight for Cang Er.

"Scythe! Stop him!" Blood Blade shouted furiously.

Scythe, still reeling from the fireball, was consumed by frenzy. Water Stream's disappearing figure confused him, but Blood Blade's shout brought him back, and he charged at Kent with bloodshot eyes, daggers ready.

The terrified Cang Er, using all his strength, chanted a powerful Prayer spell. As an eleventh-level mage sage, this was his trump card, typically reserved for life-threatening situations. But Kent, clearly unrestrained by any rules, bypassed Blood Blade and Scythe's blockade, charging directly at him.

Swift spell!

A radiant glow enveloped Cang Er, healing his wounds, and he dashed away at astonishing speed.

Kent turned abruptly, leaving Scythe swiping at empty air. Gritting his teeth, Scythe chased after him.

Blood Blade barely had time to register the sight of the elderly Cang Er darting past him, only to have the black-armored figure looming large in his vision. With a thunderous crash, he was sent tumbling head over heels.

"Damn it—!"

This was absurd—he couldn't hit or injure Kent, and all he did was crash into people!

Wearing enchanted black armor, Kent couldn't match the old man's magically enhanced speed.

But his fireballs could.

Fireballs flew from his hands as if they were endless, each one aimed at Cang Er.

Boom—

Cang Er stumbled as a second white glow appeared around him. Another powerful Prayer spell had drained his mana, but yet another fireball was headed his way—no, two fireballs...

Boom! Boom!

Cang Er was flung into the air, his body flipping several times before crashing to the ground.

Behind him, metal clanged. Kent turned abruptly to find Scythe staring at him with panic in his eyes.

His twin daggers had hit Kent's armor but hadn't left a mark.

And then came the fireballs again!

A warrior in heavy armor who could cast magic?

Scythe opened his mouth, about to suggest calling it off, only to see Kent rear his head back.

The next moment, his armored head collided with Scythe's, smashing against his forehead.

Blood sprayed like a blossoming flower as darkness consumed his mind.

The crowd erupted into chaos.

Blood Blade, still lying on the ground, shook his disoriented head, suddenly realizing one thing…

Where was that woman?

Outside the ring, chaos had erupted.

Just as Scythe, wielding twin daggers, intercepted Water Stream, she took a step forward, vaulting over Scythe's head like a bird in flight.

A cracking sound echoed as the wooden poles surrounding the arena shattered. Water Stream shot toward Blood Hammer on the grandstand like an arrow.

With her Hidden Killing Dance, she used the Featherfall Technique.

Her black-feathered arrow spread like a peacock's fan, transforming into hundreds of sharp arrows.

In an instant, Blood Hammer raised his sword in defense.

Ding-ding-ding—

The black-feathered arrows in Water Stream's hand danced wildly over Blood Hammer's sword and iron armor, landing countless hits, leaving holes all over him. Yet Blood Hammer fought back furiously, swinging his sword and shouting in rage, only to be outpaced by Water Stream's incredible speed; his sword cut through her shadow but never touched even a strand of her hair.

The sound of explosions filled the air, and the arena descended into a state of chaotic panic.

As a level twelve greatsword warrior, Blood Hammer usually dominated the Spear Camp with overwhelming strength. But Water Stream's onslaught was simply too fierce, and the ferocity of her concentrated strikes caught him completely off guard.

It was only then that the guards around Blood Hammer reacted, surging forward like a tidal wave.

The distant guards began to mobilize as well.

The crowd scattered in fear, while the guards advanced like a steel blade slicing through the crowd, aiming straight at Blood Hammer's guard.

Within moments, they were engaged in battle.

Though outnumbered, the opponents' leaders and key figures were all thoroughly tied down, leaving the remaining fighters—though capable—in disarray, their panic and confusion magnified by the chaos.

In coordinated two-on-one and even three-on-one assaults, the guards' offensive and defensive maneuvers were relentless, bringing an overwhelming storm of attacks. In terms of small-scale skirmishes, even foes of the same level struggled against their sharp coordination. Such precise combat was far beyond the capabilities of the disorganized Blood Hammer mercenaries.

Blood splattered in all directions as Water Stream and Blood Hammer clashed.

Armed with a black-feathered arrow, Water Stream held her own against Blood Hammer's sword, and each arrow she shot brought a spray of blood. Blood Hammer, now exhausted, had only a few guards left, all of whom fell one by one. Foaming at the mouth with blood, he roared, pouring every last bit of strength into his fight.

"Who are you!!"

Hidden Killing Dance, the Piercing Strike.

Her figure turned into a sharp blade, advancing without hesitation.

Thud. Thud. Thud—

Water Stream's body was flung backward. Rising again, she gazed at Blood Hammer.

Blood Hammer staggered, clutching his neck as blood spurted from his mouth. Taking two steps, he plunged his sword into the ground to steady himself. Blood dripped from between his fingers, and his armor showed numerous wounds, with blood running down his legs in rivulets.

Blood Hammer's face twisted in disbelief. He still couldn't understand how a simple gamble had escalated to this. Who had sent this female demon after him?

"Huh…huh…who…are you?"

"I already told you," Water Stream sneered, "but you wouldn't believe it."

Behind her, Blood Hammer remained standing, though he was no longer alive.

In his dying consciousness, the last images imprinted in his mind were Water Stream's leap into the arena and her final words.

"I am the Blood Rose."