Reaper of the Martial World

Book 8: Chapter 80: Dream (2)

Within the Dark Ocean’s depths, Dyon’s eyes had grown cold, killing intent wafted from him, making it seem as though the already dark waters could grow even darker.

The ten puppets surged forward, their sudden appearance surprising the five remaining numbered warriors, but not enough to throw their rhythm off.

The two sentinels seamlessly retreated, disappearing from the purview of Fifteen’s lighting treasure as then ten puppets swept forward to replace them in an instant.

Ten’s eyes narrowed. He immediately realized that these puppets were far more powerful than the last two. There were only two reasons he could think of that their attackers hadn’t used them directly. Either the two sentinels had a special ability, or the costs of using these puppets was too high. There was even a small possibility that both answers were true.

‘These puppets likely won’t last long.’

“Fight defensively!” Ten roared.

His four companions immediately understood, closing in the distance between the five of them and protecting Fifteen in the very center.

Ten and Eleven were forced to fight three puppets each, leaving two to Thirteen and the silent Fourteen. Unfortunately, Ten soon realized that the difference between the two puppets was not small by any stretch of the imagination. These were true higher dao formation puppets. Not just that, but whatever material it was they were made out of… It seemed harder than anything Ten had ever come across in his long life.

These puppets would have already been difficult to fight at their full prowess, but with so many handicaps facing them now, it almost felt as though the world was crashing down upon them. If it wasn’t for Ten’s abnormal constitution, he might have already collapsed.

‘If a lightning discharge comes now…’ Ten grit his teeth. Though he had found a workaround for the cold qi, the neurotoxins in his system didn’t seem to respond no matter what he did. In fact, bothering it only exacerbated the problem. He could only shove it to a far corner of his body, hoping it wouldn’t build up anymore.

What Ten didn’t know was that the King jellyfish could only discharge once an hour. Although Dyon had used them twice now, he had used them more than a day apart, not wanting his enemies to get a gauge on just how often he could. Ten seemed to understand this truth, so he hadn’t lowered his guard at all.

The worst part was that if a dangerous situation occurred, he couldn’t use his enigmatic qi like Twelve had for fear of the sudden appearance of the immortal puppets. To this very moment, he still had no idea how one of them had so suddenly appeared.

Dyon’s breath grew steady as he pulled back a sleek black arrow. The world around him seemed to melt away.

‘The most important tool to an archer are his eyes… How comical considering my eyes can’t see a thing down here. However… My divine sense can.’

Dyon’s eyes sharpened. ‘Go now.’

The sentinels suddenly shifted in the darkness, their saber-like blades accumulating the cold qi in the surroundings. While it alleviated the stress on the numbered warriors, Ten felt a terrible premonition as his Perception throbbed.

“Focus!”

Ten’s voice shook the four, their senses reaching out to their peak.

The attack of the three puppets he was facing grew fiercer. In that moment, a puppet suddenly separated from Eleven.

Trapped between two puppets, Eleven’s lovely brows could only widen. “Ten, your back!”

‘So it’s me this time, huh?’ Ten sneered.

All this time, he had been roaring out commands at the most opportune time. He wanted the enemy to focus on him, he wanted them to understand that he was the leader, the core of this team.

Dyon inexplicably released his arrow. It didn’t seem to have any sort of purpose. If anything, it seemed far too early.

The senses of the five numbered warriors tingled. They could feel that same overwhelming danger they had before. Another arrow was coming!

In that instant, the crackling of lightning set the ocean waters ablaze with blinding blue lights. Everything for miles seemed completely visible as an uncomfortable feeling raised the hair on the back of their necks.

Ten felt he was prepared. Using the same trick against him twice? Never.

A roar escaped his lips. His bloodline surged, causing scales of silver to coat his body. As he expected, the cold qi wouldn’t react to purely bodily changes. What lightning? It would have to cross his defenses first!

The barbaric Ten grew even more so. But, his silver scales seemed to be alive. They lifted up and vibrated before settling back down and repeating. They acted more like the feathers of a bird than the scales of a dragon.

Split moments later, the lightning struck.

‘Huh?’ Ten brows immediately furrowed. This lightning… It wasn’t anywhere near as stronger as the previous two strikes! How was that possible? He wasn’t a fool. Even with his silver scales, the difference shouldn’t be so drastic. It felt like nothing more than a tickle. The neurotoxin couldn’t even seep into his skin.

At that moment, the strike of the fourth immortal puppet struck Ten’s back, sending him flying toward the three he was already fighting. His focus had been trained on expelling the lightning as quickly as possible so he had planned to directly withstand the blow, but what he didn’t expect was for this blow to pull him out of the encirclement of his warriors. Fifteen was exposed!