Chapter 82: The Moment of Crisis

The masked assailant had slashed hundreds of times, yet none of those fierce strikes managed to inflict even the slightest wound upon Xiao Feng.

His speed was simply inhuman. Combined with his razor-sharp perception, he could clearly discern the masked man's blade trajectory and parry each blow with precision.

Growing frantic, the masked figure suddenly leapt back. A sinister white flame coiled around the black alloy blade in his hand — a clear manifestation of his supernatural ability. The searing blaze transformed the weapon into a fiery sword, which he then brought down toward Xiao Feng with savage force.

Xiao Feng's gaze froze upon the flaming blade. A flash of alarm passed through his mind.

In a heartbeat, he raised his own sword to block. This time, however, electric sparks crackled along the edge of his weapon.

For merely a tenth of a second, the two blades collided with a thunderous clang, but in that instant, Xiao Feng's blade — the Slaughterer — was cleaved in two by the masked man's alloy weapon.

The broken blade clattered to the floor, ringing with cold finality.

Yet, the masked man's body suddenly convulsed, enveloped by electric arcs that danced across his limbs. Paralyzed by Xiao Feng's electric ability, he collapsed with a twitching thud.

Xiao Feng sneered coldly and turned to leave, but his ankle was still gripped with terrifying force — Charles refused to let go. The grip tightened, radiating a searing, agonizing pain.

Charles chuckled darkly. "Trying to escape? Don't delude yourself…"

Without hesitation, Xiao Feng raised the broken hilt of his blade and brought it down upon Charles's arm. Mercy had no place in this deadly moment — only ruthless violence could offer him a sliver of survival.

Just as Xiao Feng's blade was about to descend, a deafening gunshot rang out — bang! A bullet slammed into his chest.

His expression froze. It felt as if a hammer had struck his sternum, followed by a wave of blistering pain. Looking down, he saw blood blooming rapidly across his once-white shirt. He staggered but gritted his teeth and pressed the shattered blade toward Charles.

Henry, rifle in hand, calmly fired two more shots. Bang! Bang! — both bullets struck Xiao Feng's wrist, instantly rendering his arm powerless. The broken blade slipped from his grasp, clattering to the floor.

"Xiao Feng!" Kailey screamed, her voice tearing through the chaos. She rushed forward and cradled his faltering body in her arms.

At that moment, her world collapsed. She stared helplessly at the man she loved — the first man to ever touch her heart — now lying wounded, limp against her chest. Despair overwhelmed her.

Blood gushed from Xiao Feng's chest in a crimson torrent. With a bitter smile, he looked into Kailey's tear-filled eyes. "Forgive me… Kailey. I've made you suffer."

Kailey bit her lip, sobbing uncontrollably. Her mind clouded with panic, she whispered, "I'll get you out of here. I'll take you to a hospital — I swear…"

But at that instant, Charles stirred. Regaining full consciousness, he sneered and tightened the grip of his bio-mechanical hand. A dreadful crack echoed as Xiao Feng's ankle bones were crushed.

"I'd like to see you run now… with your leg shattered."

Xiao Feng howled in agony, the pain from his mangled limb too excruciating to bear.

Kailey, eyes blazing, struck Charles across the face with her foot.

Charles shrieked. Instantly, electric currents surged over his body again, wracking him with spasms.

At such close range, Kailey could have electrocuted him to death.

Bang! — a sudden gunshot exploded. Blood burst from Kailey's shoulder. She collapsed beside Xiao Feng.

Weakly, Xiao Feng turned toward her, anguish etched across his face. "Kailey…" he gasped, reaching out to clasp her trembling hand, tears clouding his vision. "I'm sorry…"

Kailey smiled faintly through the pain. "No… I'm the one who should apologize…" She gripped his hand tightly. "Don't worry. We'll be alright…"

Henry strolled toward them, rifle in hand, shaking his head. "Touching. Truly touching…"

Then he kicked Xiao Feng's head viciously. "Run, will you? Keep running! Let's see how far you get with a broken leg."

A sharp buzz rang in Xiao Feng's head. For a moment, clarity returned.

Henry kicked him again, but in a sudden burst of resolve, Xiao Feng twisted and lunged, clamping his arms around Henry's leg — and sank his teeth into him.

Henry yelped in disbelief as searing pain surged up his calf. "You son of a bitch — you bit me?!"

Snarling, Henry raised his rifle and riddled Xiao Feng's back with bullets, each round tearing through flesh and bone. Blood sprayed in all directions.

Kailey screamed, "No! No, Henry! I'll kill you for this — I swear I will!"

Her voice broke, lost in her sobs. The once-proud envoy of the Alliance now crumbled under a grief so vast it consumed her.

Henry emptied the last of his bullets into Xiao Feng before pulling away. He tossed the rifle aside and ripped up his pant leg — four bleeding punctures glared back at him.

Clenching his teeth in fury, he cursed, "What the hell are you, a damn dog?!"

Xiao Feng lay motionless, collapsed upon the floor. Kailey, shattered by the hail of bullets, had already lost consciousness.

The room fell into a heavy silence. Charles and the masked man struggled to rise — defeated by a lone warrior, their humiliation immeasurable.

Henry turned to the soldiers nearby. "Take him out of here. And get Kailey to a hospital."

"Yes, sir," they responded in unison.

The Alliance soldiers slung their weapons and moved forward, lifting Xiao Feng's limp form to carry him away.

And then, in that moment of seeming defeat — the unthinkable happened.

Xiao Feng, riddled with bullets and barely clinging to life, curled his lips into a sudden, eerie smile — and opened his eyes.