Chapter 79: Can't Run, Can't Fight

Chapter 79: Can't Run, Can't Fight

Meanwhile, on another skybridge, the spear-wielding knight in gray armor was being mercilessly beaten by the giant beast in front of him.

There were no tactical nuances or skillful maneuvers involved. It was just a straightforward, one-sided beatdown.

His spear couldn't pierce the beast's hide, his speed was no match for its wings, and his techniques were utterly overwhelmed by the beast's reflexes. As for his escape routes... he had none.

His only choices were to defeat the beast or die trying.

And thus, he died.

The beast bit him seventeen times in total. First his left hand, then his right, followed by his forearms, upper arms, shoulders, left leg, right leg...

Eventually, the knight's head was torn off with the seventeenth bite.

The huge beast was obedient; it had dismembered the knight into exactly eighteen pieces as commanded.

With its task complete, the huge beast picked up the spear and gracefully flew back to its master, presenting the foe's weapon with a submissive nuzzle.

"Good boy." Nox took the spear, petting the beast's head as he examined the weapon.

"Hmm, fifteen percent mithril alloy, standard crack unit issue. Nice find," he remarked, tossing the spear into his magical space before retrieving a crystal larger than his head and offering it to the beast. "Here's your reward."

The beast chirped happily, taking the crystal and crunching it down with audible delight.

"Every time I see you feeding your summons, I can't decide if you're stingy or generous..." Mervant joked.

Presently, he was shirtless at the side, receiving treatment. Calidora's healing magic enveloped his body in a soft, bluish-white light, which made him look like he was sitting inside a glowing egg.

"All summoners are like this. Our summoned beasts are our lifeblood, so we spare no expense," Nox replied, patting the beast's neck. The beast then transformed into a puff of white smoke and returned to the book strapped to his back.

"But you, I really think you ought to save some money. How long are you going to keep using that worn-out sword? It can't even cut through the elite guard's armor. Spare a thought for your wife too. If I hadn't shown up, you'd all be goners," Nox continued.

"What are you talking about, Dark Verdict is my clan's most strongest sacred blade. It just hasn't recognized me yet." Mervant sighed. "If I could unlock its full power..."

"But you can't, so right now it's just a worn-out sword." Nox shrugged. "If I were you, I'd get a decent replacement in the meantime."

"Maybe, but I'm broke." Mervant shrugged back. "Even if I save up, I wouldn't know where to buy a good sword."

"That's why I said you should save money." Nox sighed. "If you're broke, you won't be able to afford it even if you manage to find one."

"Not necessarily..." Mervant grinned. "There's always you. I could borrow some from you, right?"

From that point on, Liu Ji's strategy shifted from "fighting a formidable opponent" to "just let me hit you once."

Relentlessly, he pressed forward, swinging wild punches at the commander's face. At first, his foe wasn't afraid of him. After all, Liu Ji's fundamentals were basically naught.

In fact, he had previously been on the offense all the way, just that he couldn't get a hit in. But shortly after, Liu Ji found a solution to break the deadlock.

His desert manifestation body was extremely flexible. It didn't only allow Liu Ji to regenerate, he could even reform his body as well; growing new arms or changing his shape was possible, too.

Just that, having only spent extended periods of time as a potato and human, Liu Ji wasn't ready for the experience of controlling a three-headed, six limbed body, so he hadn't tried this yet.

Now, facing such an exceptional training opportunity, Liu Ji felt he needed to try these tricks.

And thus, the circumstances changed.

At first, the black-armored commander tried to counterattack, slashing as he retreated and countering Liu Ji countless times.

But regardless of how he hacked, Liu Ji would instantly regenerate, continually barraging the commander with six uncoordinated fists.

Two fists were manageable, and the commander could read how they would move according to the opponent's posture, but six fists...

Helpless, the black-armored commander had to abandon counterattacking and focus on escaping. Using his experience in pursuits, he tried to put some distance between himself and Liu Ji, then look for an opportunity to strike back.

After all, he couldn't retreat or run away.

Even though he knew that his opponent was seemingly indestructible, he could only continue fighting, engaging in what felt like an endless chase...

Endless...

Or was it?

For some reason, the black-armored commander felt Liu Ji's speed increasing. His own dodges were becoming more desperate, and the punches he narrowly avoided seemed to almost scrape the sides of his armor now.

Instinctively, he realized that if he kept running, he would eventually be caught.

If that were the case, he had no choice but to fight...

BAAM!

The thought hadn't yet fully formed in his mind when he failed to dodge Liu Ji's punch, and his entire head exploded like a firework from the impact of the blow.