Chapter 140: A Battle Waged with Life

"Grandpa..."

"Grandpa!"

"Grandpa, when are we getting the teddy bear?"

"Grandpa, you're back! Heehee..."

Images of warmth surged through Watcher 17's mind like a tide. The sweetly smiling little girl, her sparkling eyes, her innocent voice… all of it was etched deeply into the very core of his soul.

Watcher 17's gaze shifted suddenly, transforming from the cold indifference of battle to an unyielding determination. His grip on the halberd tightened, and the green light emanating from his body burned even brighter within the roaring flames. Clenching his teeth, he let out a thunderous roar from the depths of his soul:

"Don't underestimate my faith—ahhhhh!!!"

The fiery tide surged forward like a colossal beast devouring everything in its path. Yet, in the face of Shingin's destructive sea of flames, Watcher 17 did not flinch. His body charged forward, unwavering even as the fire licked his suit and scorched his skin.

Shingin's pupils widened in disbelief. How could anyone march fearlessly through his inferno, let alone one amplified by the oppressive force of the wind, choking the very air his opponent breathed?

"Damn it!!" Shingin roared internally, his rationality overcome by a crushing bloodlust. Without hesitation, he poured all his power into the fusion of wind and fire, intensifying the fiery tornado into a storm of annihilation, intent on obliterating everything in its path.

Watcher 17's silhouette was entirely consumed by the flames, his burning suit radiating blinding light. His breaths grew labored, his muscles strained to the limit, yet the resolve in his eyes only deepened.

"The teddy bear... Grandpa will buy it next time…"

Through the scorching heat, a faint smile graced his lips.

With a sudden motion, he raised the halberd high above his head, channeling every ounce of strength into its blade. The green light exploded like the sun at dawn, piercing through the darkness. The burst of energy swept away the surrounding dust as the emerald glow surged skyward, splitting the blue inferno in two!

"Boom—!"

A deafening explosion shook the battlefield. The halberd cleaved into the core of the fiery vortex, and the split flames roared like wild beasts scattering in all directions. The clash of green and blue forces created a shockwave that tore through the land, leaving deep fissures in its wake.

Shingin staggered backward, his expression a mix of shock and unwillingness. He hadn't expected this man to hold his ground against a full-force attack—let alone split apart his Sea of Flames!

The scorching fire gradually died down, embers drifting on the wind like falling stars. The air was heavy with the bitter scent of scorched earth, thick with the weight of lingering battle. Watcher 17 stood firmly in place, his suit tattered and his body riddled with wounds. Yet, his posture remained as steadfast as a mountain, and his trembling halberd showed no signs of yielding.

"Shingin... I admit your power is formidable…" Watcher 17's voice was low, but it carried an undeniable weight of authority. "But as long as I stand here, I will never let you pass!"

Shingin panted, his hand trembling slightly. He knew the man before him was at his limit, but the faith that fortified him remained an unbreakable wall.

"Don't force me…" Shingin muttered, the crimson glow in his eyes intensifying.

Watcher 17 met his gaze with unflinching calm. Slowly, he raised the halberd once more, the green light reigniting like a lone pine on a windswept peak, burning defiantly against the storm. In that moment, his figure stood as an indomitable warrior, immovable by any force.

"Watcher 17!!"

Shingin roared, his lightning spear disintegrating under his will. Blue and yellow lightning coalesced, forming spectral fragments that spiraled around him, reassembling into a water sword. Its crystalline blade shimmered with a deep luster, each ripple emanating tremendous power.

Watcher 17's eyes narrowed as his battle spirit surged, green flames erupting like a volcano. His figure blurred into a shadow, appearing suddenly before Shingin, his halberd slashing horizontally with immense force!

The blade tore through the air, its thunderous boom shaking the earth. The emerald slash fell like a thunderbolt, bearing down on Shingin with the weight of a mountain!

Shingin's pupils shrank as he barely managed to twist away. Yet the halberd's devastating force grazed his shoulder, sending him hurtling through the air like a broken kite, plummeting toward the ground.

The impact from the strike unleashed a gale that exploded behind Shingin, scattering debris in all directions. As he fell, the compressed air screamed in protest, foretelling the peril he faced. Yet just before he hit the ground, a violent whirlwind erupted around him!

The cyclone halted his descent, and the resulting force propelled him back into the air. The swirling winds kicked up clouds of dust, splitting the battlefield in two.

In the next instant, the whirlwind detonated like a raging dragon, shaking the heavens. Suspended in the storm, Shingin's body defied gravity, wrapped in tempestuous winds and roaring water currents. The water coiled around him like a raging river, shredding the air into fragments and forming a turbulent spiral.

This spiral was no longer a mere force of nature—it carried a cruel and destructive will. Each droplet gleamed like a blade, sharp and merciless. The surging water transformed into a colossal dragon, its mouth gaping wide, roaring toward the heavens with world-ending fury!

Fully merging with the deluge, Shingin's sword glowed like a cold star, aligned with the devastating torrent. The tip of the blade radiated frigid brilliance, merging with the flood into the sharpest spear, piercing toward the sky!

"Path to Heaven!!!"

Shingin bellowed, his voice like thunder shaking the earth. The water sword in his hands erupted with dazzling brilliance, a boundless waterfall cascading downward with earth-shattering momentum.

Watcher 17's gaze burned with unwavering resolve. Without hesitation, he raised his halberd to meet the descending torrent head-on.

The clash of blade and torrent fractured the air, causing it to tremble violently. Yet, Shingin's spiraling onslaught was unstoppable, its speed and power tearing through all resistance.

The halberd was knocked aside, and a deep gash tore across Watcher 17's chest, blood gushing forth like a crimson rain.

"Ugh—ahhhh!!!"

Staggering backward, Watcher 17 clung to his halberd, barely steadying himself. His chest was drenched in blood, his shirt shredded to reveal a wound deep enough to expose bone. Yet despite this, he stood tall, his eyes resolute as ever.

"Is this your faith…" Shingin gasped, his icy gaze fixed on Watcher 17. "But you can't stop me!"

Watcher 17 wiped the blood from his mouth without a word. Though his body trembled slightly, the weight of his presence remained as unyielding as a mountain.

"Faith… is what keeps me standing…" Watcher 17's voice rumbled across the battlefield, each word laden with unshakable conviction. "If my sacrifice buys even a second of peace, then my life is worth it!"

The wind stilled. The water calmed. The air between them hung heavy with silent killing intent.

The final act of this deadly duel was about to begin.