Chapter 13: Storming the Core Zone

Core Zone Periphery·Bone Refinery

Lin Ye replayed the beast horde battle in his mind. Against all except the Boar King, he'd achieved instant kills. Yet their coordination — defensive formations, melee-ranged synergy — mirrored human Specialized squads (lacking only a support role).

Originally committed to solo combat, this clash shifted his perspective. Against elite foes, a well-coordinated team might prove invaluable.

"Did you slaughter these beasts alone?" Lu Tianyu approached in cyan combat gear, alloy blade gleaming. "Third High's Lin Ye, right? Rank 8?"

"Correct." Lin Ye nodded, neither denying nor elaborating.

"Underestimated you." Lu Tianyu closed the distance. "Join me. Together, we could storm the Core Zone."

First High students would've gaped at this — their arrogant top-ranked genius actively recruiting.

"No need. I don't team up." Lin Ye turned away. "And I'll enter the Core Zone alone."

"Alone?!" Lu Tianyu's grip tightened on his blade (inter-student combat being prohibited). "Even I wouldn't dare solo Tier-2 Beasts."

"Disbelieve if you want." Lin Ye shrugged. "Truth's unpopular these days."

"You're… serious?"

"Why lie?" Lin Ye sprinted toward the Core Zone without glancing back.

Lu Tianyu watched his retreating figure, teeth gritted. "If he dares, so can I!" Against better judgment, he charged toward the forbidden zone.

Lu Tianyu had always been the golden boy, elevated above peers. His eyes were set firmly on Qingyang City's top exam rank. Now this Lin Ye emerged, dazzling enough to provoke his pride into a duel of supremacy.

Core Zone Ruins·Abandoned District

Lin Ye prowled derelict streets, tactical boots crunching debris. The skeletal remains of a once-bustling commercial hub surrounded him. His gaze lifted to the warped Starfire Tower as the Nine Heavens Thunder Prison vibrated in his meridians — a predator's thrill before worthy prey.

Whoosh!

Three Shadowblade Panthers materialized in triangular formation, their bone-blades oozing violet venom. Spiked backs bristled with corrosive bone-needles, and crystalline third-eyes glowed on their foreheads — mutated variants.

"Now this is a challenge. True Tier-2 Beasts." Lin Ye ripped off his shredded combat suit. Purple lightning wove into armor across his skin. When he crouched to spring, the pavement spiderwebbed with cracks.

The central panther's third-eye unleashed a psychic assault. Lin Ye's body auto-detonapurple lightning to counter. "Glad I boosted Energy with Special Points. These things have mental attacks?!"

During the lightning's afterglow, the flanking panthers pounced. Lin Ye intercepted with thunder-wreathed fists. Bone met lightning in pyrotechnic sparks. Instinct made him backflip as bone-needles shredded his previous position.

First exchange proved their deadliness. One panther disrupted focus, two others attacked, but the real killers were the needle-barrages.

Lin Ye activated full Nine Heavens Thunder Prison output. "Let's race."

"Thunder Surge·Mountain Breaker!"

His speed maxed out, splitting into seven lightning clones. Fists wove a lethal net through the panther formation.

The Shadowblade Panthers showed no fear. Their bodies split into three phantoms each — nine illusions total — stabbing bone-blades at Lin Ye's vitals. The blindingly fast exchange became a lethal dance of speed, invisible to weaker observers.

Lin Ye had an epiphany. Channeling the Nine Heavens Thunder Prison into his right fist, he unleashed: "Thunder Surge·Sun Piercer!"

A blinding purple sphere erupted, expanding to engulf all panther phantoms. At peak brilliance, it imploded with a thunderclap, leaving a football field-sized crater — the Tier-2 Mutated Shadowblade Panthers vaporized without trace.

Tier-2 Mutated Shadowblade Panthers x3 slain. Points +1200. Special Points +720.

"Combining Nine Heavens Thunder Prison with Thunder Fist creates this?" Lin Ye stared at the void, his heart blooming with joy. "I've got my ultimate move now."

Core Zone Ruins·Central Plaza

Six kilometers away, Lu Tianyu battled a Unihorn Bison. Sparks flew as his alloy blade skidded off its scales. The Tier-2 Beast's defense surpassed expectations — even his B-Class [Blazing Inferno] couldn't penetrate.

"Damn it!" He rolled from a stomp, left sleeve soaked in blood. The bison's horn gathered crimson energy.

Thwish!

"Flame Dragon Burst!"

"Frost Seeker!"

"Voidrend Slash!"

Wang Shuo's fire and Xu Mingfei's ice struck the bison's eyes simultaneously. Yang Zhijie's spatial slash hit its horn. As the beast recoiled, Lu Tianyu plunged his blade into its underbelly scales. The Unihorn Bison collapsed with a death bellow.

"You alive?" Wang Shuo offered a hand to the panting Lu Tianyu.

Lu Tianyu grasped it, rising unsteadily. "Barely. Why risk the Core Zone? These beasts outclass you."

"We know." Xu Mingfei shrugged. "Hence teaming up."

Lu Tianyu glared at the corpse. "Fine. We'll team." He turned eastward. "Lin Ye… I'll prove I'm 1."

Unbeknownst to him, the entire nation's gaze had locked onto Lin Ye's apocalyptic strike — breath stolen, voices silenced.