'This old hag doesn't even know that I was going easy on them,' I sighed to myself. It proved challenging to act weak and maintain my humility. If they were aware that I could kill them at any moment, they would likely be begging for mercy right now.
But soon enough, her arrogant words turned into reality.
A tremendous amount of energy emanated from the pit where Zhang had crashed. Every neuron in my body screamed a warning about what was to come.
*CRACK
*CRACK
*CRACK
As if a dormant volcano had erupted underneath, the ground convulsed, and jagged cracks tore through the lifeless forest floor.
What followed was a radiant eruption of golden light from the cracks that bathed the desolate landscape, casting a blinding glow across the once-dead surroundings.
"This is getting more interesting," a smile formed on my face as I waited for his next move. It was a perfect opportunity for me to really test my power without relying on my one-shot skills.
Feeling something big about to go down, I quickly summoned my Aegis Projection.
With the aid of Mirage, I reshaped it to a new and more scary version. It transformed into a menacing entity, now cloaked in a deep shade of red. A malevolent devil mask replaced its previous visage, concealing the brain within.
The six hands, though still the same in number, pulsed with an intensified energy, surrounded by a foreboding black aura that added an extra layer of dread to its already eerie presence.
The sheer size of my colossal projection triggered a response from the environment, stirring the wind around it. With each subtle movement, the air hummed like there was a storm brewing .
And for added flair , the newly adorned demon wings extended majestically, casting an ominous shadow against the backdrop of the crimson sky.
The revamped appearance of my Aegis Projection was at least four times scarier and more intimidating than before. Even Helena, with all her confidence, couldn't help but feel the weight of the impending catastrophe hovering above them.
My slowed-down perspective allowed me to see him a little, now fully cloaked in golden light. But even with this enhanced reaction time, he was still too fast to follow.
Having narrowly dodged his attack, he abruptly shifted his body to punch me. This time, I was forced to teleport again.
Blink!
While I was faster than him when teleporting, the moment he pinpointed my location, he materialized almost instantly. It wasn't teleportation in his case; it was pure kinetic energy.
Realizing that depending solely on defense wouldn't ensure my victory, given Zhang's speed, I knew that I needed to counter it. Therefore, I changed my strategy. Instead of evading, I opted to confront him head-on.
Unfortunately, my close combat skills were now in cooldown, so I coated my body with a mini version of my Aegis and then used vibration, combining it with the light skill to create an illusionary effect.
In an instant, countless fists materialized from me, confronting Zhang in a mesmerizing display of power. The illusionary strikes carried the weight of multiple abilities, overwhelming his senses and challenging his ability to discern the real from the illusory.
That was the plan . However —
In a sudden burst, his speed surged again. Before I could fully register what was happening, his fist lunged at my chest with a speed that felt like a lightning strike, catching me off guard.
Then, like a bomb, the kinetic energy in his fist exploded within me.
The impact felt like a seismic shock, reverberating through every fiber of my being.
My body seemed to warp as the kinetic energy from his attack detonated inside. In this surreal slow-motion experience, I could feel the gradual destruction of my muscles, the violent rupture of my veins, and the overwhelming assault on my internal organs.
Time seemed to stretch as my brain finally registered that I was dying. Every moment became an eternity as the pain continued.
Then, just like that, darkness descended. The kinetic energy, having reached my brain, shutdown my consciousness .
The world faded away, as my body disintegrated into nothingness .