CHAPTER 636: CHAPTER 30: FORBIDDEN AREA FOR LIVING BEINGS

The hexagonal energy shield swirled around Su Xiao, and this move, known as the ’Counter Shield,’ could last for another four minutes.

With Su Xiao’s current battle consumption, the counter shield could be activated for a total of 20 minutes, and the remaining mana value needed to be converted into Blue Steel Shadow energy to be imbued on the blade.

If Blue Steel Shadow energy was continuously imbued on the blade, the mana value would be clearly insufficient, so Su Xiao only activated Blue Steel Shadow in critical moments, most of the time the blade would not have Blue Steel Shadow energy imbued.

Even so, the mana value was still quite insufficient. As for the potions for mana recovery, Su Xiao had purchased some, but it depended on luck; when the trading market had items, he had no money, and when he had money, there were no items available, which was quite troublesome.

Su Xiao withdrew the Blue Steel Shadow energy clinging to the blade; activating Blue Steel Shadow was meaningless if it couldn’t hit the enemy.

Feitan hid behind the umbrella not far away; he didn’t dare recklessly attack now. After receiving two cuts from Su Xiao, his telekinesis energy was devoured by nearly a tenth. If he was hit more than ten times, he wouldn’t be able to use his big move, at which point victory and defeat would be determined.

Su Xiao didn’t know how much telekinesis energy Feitan had left, but his own mana value was already running low.

The current situation was that whoever’s energy depleted first would die first. Both had similar close combat abilities and couldn’t do much to each other, yet Su Xiao had the advantage.

"Looks like we underestimated the gang."

Feitan’s shirt was already soaked with blood; though his injuries were not severe, the wounds on his abdomen and neck were bleeding uncontrollably.

Su Xiao rarely spoke during battle, so when Feitan began to speak, he had already charged forward.

"Tch."

Watching Su Xiao charge at him, Feitan was momentarily at a loss. The dozens of energy shields floating mid-air were causing him a headache.

Feitan’s narrow eyes squinted. After hesitating for a moment, he decided not to confront Su Xiao head-on.

The situation reversed; previously, it was Feitan chasing Su Xiao to attack, with Su Xiao primarily defending, but now Su Xiao had Feitan running around the battlefield chaotically.

Zheng.

The blade aura slashed through, and the sound of a sonic boom echoed continuously in the basement.

By now, the basement had transformed into a forbidden area for living beings, but a gang member watching the scene with a gun from above accidentally fell through a hole in the ceiling.

"Pull me up!"

The gang member screamed in terror; before any other members could rescue him, he felt a numbness in his arm.

He instinctively lifted his right hand before his eyes, only to find his palm missing, spurting blood.

"Ah..."

The short scream was abruptly cut off, followed by the crisp sound of blades clashing, and the gang member was sliced into dozens of pieces.

This horrifying scene left the other gang members aghast, and they quickly distanced themselves from the hole.

Zheng!

Several blade auras spread in all directions, these were the auras Su Xiao intended to slash Feitan with but missed.

A female contractor recording the scene with a piece of blue equipment recoiled in fright, the blade aura skimmed her head, even slicing through her hair.

"Are you kidding me? I’m just recording, it’ll be pixelated; this is professional ethics."

The professionally dressed female contractor hesitated, considering whether to remain on the battlefield, which was more dangerous than imagined.

She often recorded the battle scenes of other contractors but would blur them to avoid revealing too much of their identities and thus prevent vendettas.

Now she was deliberating, choosing to flee over obtaining a precious battle recording at the risk of her life.

Not only this contractor, but others also quickly left the scene, knowing full well the terror of Feitan’s big move.

Bang, bang!

Su Xiao and Feitan clashed; Su Xiao’s long knife cleaved ahead while Feitan had no choice but to block.

Ding.

Due to the disparity in strength, Feitan staggered, exposing a flaw in his stance.

Su Xiao kicked straight, his foot aiming for Feitan’s chest, and if it landed, Feitan would be severely injured, his ribs breaking into pieces and stabbing into his organs.

Just as this kick was about to land, Su Xiao suddenly halted his attack, using Dragon Slash to push Feitan back.

There was a chance to seriously injure Feitan, but he abandoned it without hesitation. Was he showing mercy? Of course not.

According to Su Xiao’s insights, Feitan’s big move grew stronger the more injured he became.

Moreover, Su Xiao speculated that Feitan’s enhancement from injury might have certain limitations, such as self-inflicted wounds not reinforcing the big move, or damage from teammates not enhancing the big move, etc.

Whether ally-caused damage was effective remained unknown, but self-infliction was definitely not possible. Otherwise, Feitan wouldn’t willingly present himself for Su Xiao’s kick, risking death.

A few meters apart, the two stood in a standoff, Feitan eyed Su Xiao with confusion. He had deliberately exposed a flaw, yet his enemy didn’t attack.

"Strange."

Feitan glanced at the knife in Su Xiao’s hand, combat scenes flashing through his mind.

"It seems I guessed correctly; your ability to devour telekinesis energy isn’t from attacking me, but from that blue energy invading my body through wounds caused by that blade. Only cleaves convey that energy; limb attacks don’t carry it, right?"

Feitan muttered as he analyzed Su Xiao’s ability.

"No, since the blade can bear that ability, limbs likely can too. The key is inflicting wounds on me; without wounds, that blue energy can’t invade the body.

Additionally, that annoying energy shield is fading, its color lighter than before, and exhibiting a drifting phenomenon, suggesting a short duration and likely high consumption."

Feitan’s analysis was extraordinarily sharp; within mere minutes of their encounter, he deduced the outlines of Su Xiao’s two main abilities and contemplated counterstrategies.

While Feitan analyzed Su Xiao’s abilities, Su Xiao was also deducing Feitan’s powers.

First off, Feitan’s endurance wasn’t weak, indicating his total telekinesis energy was ample; relying on Blue Steel Shadow energy to devour all of it was improbable.

Hence, beating Feitan required one method: seizing a chance to slay him in a single stroke, never allowing him a chance for serious injury—Su Xiao had no desire to be scorched.

Moreover, Feitan’s speed was excessively fast; this basement was a suitable combat location, restricting Feitan’s agility.

Yet, caution was essential if Feitan activated his big move. Any semi-enclosed environment would drastically heighten its power.

Both devised strategies to kill the other in under ten seconds.

"Running out of time."

Feitan actively charged towards Su Xiao, leaving Su Xiao momentarily stunned; nearly ten minutes had passed, and Su Xiao’s counter shield was about to disappear—perhaps the enemy had sensed this, and stalling would be the best tactic.

When something unexpected happens, a plot must be afoot—Feitan’s target might not be him.

Scanning his surroundings, Su Xiao glanced through the ceiling hole at the gang members on the level above, their eyes wide with horror as they witnessed the battle.

Seeing the guns in their hands, Su Xiao’s pupils tightened.

PS: (Not fully recovered, slightly affecting speed but will do three updates.)