No Way! This Can’t Be Real!

"So, This Is What You Call My Doom?"

Ronald slowly stood up, his gaze cold as he looked at Ye Xiaochi. His voice was calm, almost indifferent.

"I've heard so much about the legendary Xuan-rank Yaksha Clan… but after seeing you today, I must say, I'm disappointed."

"No way! Your armor shouldn't have been able to block my bone spikes! And once poisoned by my Venomous Tail Strike, there's no way you could still be standing!"

Ye Xiaochi's expression twisted in disbelief as he stared at Ronald. But then, with a casual sweep of his hand, the five bone spikes embedded in his armor clattered to the ground.

His pupils shrank as he fixated on the gaping hole in Ronald's armor—beneath it, a faintly glowing, light-gray inner vest was revealed.

"A… a spiritual-grade soft armor?!"

The entire crowd was stunned into silence, their legs nearly giving out from sheer shock.

"Damn… this is just insane!"

They thought it was some kind of spiritual artifact, but in reality, that inner vest was a Hunter Undersuit—a high-tech relic Ronald had brought from the Ringworld.

Back in the Space Era, elite Hunters relied on this very armor to withstand volleys from multiple automated turrets. Ronald had obtained it through a loot card draw, and ever since, he had worn it at all times, only taking it off to sleep.

Bone spikes might be deadly, but after penetrating a high-grade mortal-rank armor, how could they possibly pierce through an even higher-tiered Hunter Undersuit?

"No! I refuse to accept this! DIE!"

Ye Xiaochi roared in fury. His skeletal structure crackled ominously as he fired ten more bone spikes in rapid succession.

This time, Ronald was ready. His plasma blade danced through the air, deflecting five or six of them, but the remaining spikes still managed to hit him.

He was blasted backward, slamming onto the stage.

But just moments later, under the shocked gazes of the audience, he stood back up again.

Seeing Ye Xiaochi's face turn ghostly pale, Ronald smirked.

"Seems like those bone spikes take quite a toll on you. So? Want to try another round? Who knows, maybe this time, I'll really die."

The Yaksha Clan's Venomous Tail Strike was a trump card, akin to a gecko severing its own tail. It drained a tremendous amount of vitality. If Ye Xiaochi fired another barrage, Ronald's fate would still be uncertain—but one thing was for sure… Ye Xiaochi himself would be doomed.

"Since you're done attacking, I suppose it's my turn now."

Ronald reached behind him and pulled out a long, cylindrical metal object wrapped in cloth.

"What… what is that?"

The spectators murmured in confusion. Even Luo Shuihan and the others turned their gazes toward him with curiosity.

Mia, for some reason, suddenly recalled the fuel barrel from that day at the Eastern Mountain City gates.

Ronald held the mysterious metal object with practiced ease, positioning it in front of him. One end was aimed directly at Ye Xiaochi. A faint smirk played at his lips.

Ye Xiaochi took a deep breath, forcefully suppressing the blood churning inside his body. His eyes were bloodshot with rage.

"Ronald, do you really think you can beat me just because of a few artifacts?!"

He bellowed like a madman and suddenly pulled out a black pill from his robes—then swallowed it whole.

"Demonic Ascension Pill!"

Luo Shuihan's voice was cold as she spat out the words. A dangerous glint flickered in her eyes as she turned toward the black-robed elder, her fingers unconsciously clenching into fists.

"Elder, such a precious pill… and you gave it to Ye Xiaochi? You must really want to secure victory today."

The elder chuckled. "Your Highness, the Yaksha Clan does have… some ties to our own lineage. I see great potential in this young one. If properly nurtured, he could become a valuable piece on the board."

His words were smooth and calculated, but Luo Shuihan merely snorted coldly. She said no more—but her clenched fists told another story.

Ronald had no way to stop whatever pill Ye Xiaochi had taken.

But he didn't care.

Because what he held in his hands… wasn't some metal rod.

It was a Rapid-Fire Machine Gun—the highest continuous-firepower weapon in the entire Ringworld arsenal.

Seeing the changes in Ye Xiaochi's aura, Ronald's brows furrowed slightly.

Then, without hesitation, he pulled the trigger.

"DADADADADADA—!!"

A deafening roar erupted. The machine gun spat out a relentless torrent of bullets, blazing like a fiery dragon surging toward its prey.

"PUFF! PUFF! PUFF! PUFF—!!"

A grotesque symphony of flesh being torn apart echoed across the arena.

The spectators' eyes widened in horror. The scene before them defied all logic.

Ye Xiaochi's entire body was riddled with bullet wounds, blood bursting out like a fountain. In an instant, he collapsed into a growing pool of his own blood.

"HISS—!"

A collective gasp swept through the crowd. Even the referee, Li Feiyun, was shaken.

"W-what… what the hell is that weapon?!"

As everyone stared at Ye Xiaochi's bloodied corpse, an icy chill ran down their spines.

Ronald calmly reached for the circular ammo drum on his belt. He detached the empty one and replaced it with a fresh, fully loaded magazine.

"CLICK."

With a crisp metallic sound, the next round was locked and loaded.

He slowly walked toward Ye Xiaochi, his machine gun raised.

Because this was a life-and-death duel, referee Li Feiyun did not intervene.

Everyone's eyes followed Ronald's every step. They swallowed hard, feeling an oppressive weight settle in their chests.

Ronald pressed the barrel of the gun directly against Ye Xiaochi's forehead.

A flicker of killing intent flashed in his eyes.

But just as he was about to pull the trigger—

BOOM!

Ye Xiaochi suddenly shot into the air!

"Wi-wings?! HE GREW WINGS?!"

Someone screamed in disbelief.

It was said that among the Yaksha Clan, only those with extraordinary talent could awaken their ancestral bloodline upon reaching the Sixth Stage of Body Refining—growing a pair of bat-like wings from their backs.

And now, Ye Xiaochi's crimson wings stretched wide, dripping with blood.

In the VIP pavilion, Mo Yan burst into wild laughter.

"Excellent! It seems our Demonic Ascension Pill wasn't wasted after all! This time, Ronald is dead for sure!"

"RONALD!!! I'LL KILL YOU!!!"

Ye Xiaochi's voice was a shriek of pure fury and madness. Like a demonic blood bat, he dived at blistering speed toward Ronald.

"DADADADADADA—!!"

Ronald opened fire once more, unleashing another storm of bullets. The gunfire lit up the night as it roared like a steel whip, sweeping toward Ye Xiaochi.

But this time—

Ye Xiaochi was too fast.

Now, a full-fledged Sixth-Stage Body Refiner, he twisted through the air with impossible agility, dodging the storm of bullets by a hair's breadth.

The real battle had only just begun.