Chapter 52: The Spider’s web

Because Captain Marlow had spent his entire life cultivating his body, his physical constitution was far stronger than that of an ordinary person.

Furthermore, Ryan had only used sixty to seventy percent of his strength in that final punch.

He hadn’t even used his full power.

As a result, Captain Marlow’s head and limbs had not been blown apart by the impact.

Yet he had still died with his eyes wide open.

His expression was frozen in unwillingness.

The hatred lingering in his heart was immense.

Even in his final moments, he couldn’t accept what had happened.

According to the intelligence they had received, Ryan was supposed to possess only the strength of the Origin Sea Convergence Realm First Stage, and the Bloodline he had awakened was merely the lowest-grade D-Rank Ordinary Spider Bloodline.

But why?

Why had Ryan reached the Origin Sea Convergence Realm Fifth Stage after only a day or two?

And what was even more unbelievable—

Why did he suddenly possess a terrifying C-Rank Top-Tier Bloodline?

Why was the intelligence they had gathered so drastically different from reality?

Captain Marlow’s final thoughts were filled with disbelief.

Then darkness completely swallowed his consciousness.

...

"No..."

Witnessing Captain Marlow’s tragic state, Hank was instantly scared out of his wits.

His body instinctively tensed as rage surged through him.

He was about to charge forward.

But then—

He abruptly stopped.

Reason finally overcame his anger.

Hank’s expression changed several times before he gritted his teeth, turned around, and fled.

In an instant, he had already escaped more than nine meters.

He had finally come to his senses.

Even Captain Marlow, a peak Origin Sea Convergence Realm Ninth Stage cultivator, had been effortlessly crushed by Ryan.

As for himself?

He was only at the Origin Sea Convergence Realm Sixth Stage, and his Bloodline was inferior to Ryan’s.

If he rushed forward now, he would only be throwing his life away.

He couldn’t avenge Captain Marlow.

The only sensible choice was to escape and summon reinforcements.

"Heh."

Seeing Hank flee without hesitation, Ryan couldn’t help but smirk.

"Didn’t you just say you wouldn’t be polite to me?"

His eyes narrowed playfully.

"And now you’re running?"

Ryan suddenly flicked his right hand toward the fleeing Hank.

A flash of white light erupted from his palm.

"Chh-chh-chh—!"

Hundreds of thick Spider Silk strands shot out.

Each strand was roughly as thick as a finger, resembling countless white serpents streaking through the air at astonishing speed.

In the blink of an eye, they caught up with Hank.

One strand after another wrapped tightly around his waist, arms, and legs.

Hank’s escape abruptly slowed.

"Spider Silk?"

His expression changed drastically.

Then realization dawned on him.

"It turns out the intelligence wasn’t completely wrong..."

He stared back at Ryan in horror.

"Ryan... you’re actually a Double Bloodline monster!"

At that moment, Hank finally understood.

The intelligence hadn’t necessarily been false.

It had simply been incomplete.

They had never discovered that Ryan possessed a second Bloodline.

He was a Double Bloodline Fighter.

Hank’s heart filled with regret.

He and Captain Marlow should never have provoked such a monster in the first place.

This hadn’t been an ambush.

It had been a suicide mission.

Around them, the watching crowd erupted in shock.

"Spider Silk?! That black-cloaked figure is actually a Double Bloodline Fighter!"

"What?! He hid it that well?"

"He’s actually a Double Bloodline monster!"

"Fortunately, the Spider Silk is being released through white Origin Energy. It looks like only the lowest-grade D-Rank Ordinary Spider Bloodline. Honestly, its current combat power isn’t particularly impressive."

"What do you know?"

"Never underestimate a Double Bloodline Fighter! Even a D-Rank Ordinary Bloodline can have extraordinary potential if given enough time to develop."

"No wonder he was confident enough to fight two people alone!"

"So that’s the reason he could completely turn the situation around!"

"It’s a rare monster..."

...

"Hmph!"

Ryan snorted coldly.

With a sharp pull of his hand, the Spider Silk tightened.

Hank, who was more than nine meters away, was immediately dragged backward.

"No!"

Hank’s face turned pale.

If he were pulled back, he would definitely die.

"Get off me!"

He roared.

White Origin Energy surged violently through his body.

His muscles suddenly expanded.

His entire physique seemed to grow larger.

Dark black fur began sprouting from various parts of his body—his ankles, arms, chest, and even his face.

In an instant, Hank’s appearance had undergone a dramatic transformation.

His body now possessed the characteristics of a massive black ape.

This was the Mighty Black Ape Bloodline.

A D-Rank Excellent Lifeform-Type Bloodline.

Its active ability was Boundless Strength, while its passive ability was Agile and Fierce.

It had evolved from the D-Rank Ordinary Black Ape Bloodline.

At this critical moment, Hank fully unleashed the power of the Mighty Black Ape.

His legs slammed against the ground.

BOOM!

His body lunged forward with tremendous force.

The hundreds of Spider Silk strands wrapped around his waist and limbs instantly stretched taut.

Then—

Snap! Snap! Snap!

Several strands broke apart.

Hank continued forcing his way forward, his monstrous strength steadily tearing through the Spider Silk.

"Mighty Black Ape Bloodline?"

Ryan’s expression darkened.

"Not good."

He immediately understood the problem.

Compared to his Overlord Body Bloodline, the current Spider Bloodline was clearly inferior in both level and combat potential.

Although both were Lifeform-Type Bloodlines and their current cultivation realms were comparable, the difference between a D-Rank Excellent Mighty Black Ape Bloodline and a D-Rank Ordinary Spider Bloodline was obvious.

The Spider Silk simply couldn’t withstand Hank’s monstrous strength indefinitely.

If this continued, every strand would eventually snap.

And the distance between them was already considerable.

If Hank managed to completely break free and focused solely on escaping, Ryan might not be able to catch him.

The Overlord Body Bloodline could easily crush Hank in a direct confrontation.

Its weakness, however, was speed.

It wasn’t particularly suited for chasing fleeing opponents.

If Ryan allowed Hank to create enough distance, then switched to the Overlord Body Bloodline and lost the Spider Silk’s restraining effect, Hank could potentially escape before Ryan caught up.

For now, the Spider Silk was his only effective long-range method of controlling the fleeing Hank.

Ryan’s eyes flickered.

Should he switch Bloodlines and use his overwhelming strength to drag Hank back?

Or should he abandon the restraint and immediately chase him down?

Before Ryan could make a decision—

A thunderous roar suddenly echoed from the distant sky.

"How dare you fight and kill within Ashfall City?!"

"Everyone, stop!"

The furious voice instantly interrupted Ryan’s thoughts.

Ryan looked up.

From the distance, a young City Watch Captain clad in armor shot forward like an arrow released from a bowstring.

He skimmed just above the ground, moving at astonishing speed.

Behind him followed more than a dozen grim-faced City Watch members.

The leading Captain possessed the strength of the Origin Spirit Realm Middle Stage.

The City Watch members behind him were all at the Origin Spirit Realm Initial Stage.

Their arrival created an oppressive atmosphere.

It was as though a group of merciless Reapers had suddenly descended upon the battlefield.

The surrounding spectators immediately panicked.

"Oh my god! The Ashfall City Watch is here!"

"Get out of the way!"

"Hey! You people in front! If you don’t want trouble, move!"

"Damn it! Don’t block the road!"

The crowd scattered in every direction, frantically making way for the approaching City Watch.

Ryan’s expression changed immediately.

"Not good!"

"The Ashfall City Watch!"

A trace of alarm appeared in his eyes.

He knew very well that fighting and killing within the city was strictly prohibited.

Anyone who violated the law would face severe punishment.

And in particularly serious cases—

Execution was even possible.

Ryan absolutely did not want to get involved with the City Watch.

Once they caught him, the situation would become far more complicated.

And there were too many of them.

Every single member of the City Watch possessed Origin Spirit Realm cultivation.

With his current abilities, fighting them head-on was completely out of the question.

His mind raced.

He immediately identified the most important point.

Escape.

Ryan’s expression hardened.

Without hesitation, he switched to his Overlord Body Bloodline.

In an instant, thick yellow Bloodline Origin Energy surged across his palms.

A terrifying force erupted from his body.

"Get over here!"

Ryan’s eyes widened.

He grabbed the remaining Spider Silk with both hands and pulled backward with all his might.

"Whoa!"

Hank’s expression changed drastically.

He suddenly felt an immense force transmitted through the Spider Silk wrapped around his body.

Despite activating the Mighty Black Ape Bloodline with everything he had, he could no longer resist.

"Get off me!"

He roared desperately.

"Snap! Snap! Snap!"

More Spider Silk snapped under the enormous opposing forces.

Fortunately, before all of it could break, Ryan’s overwhelming strength finally took effect.

Hank’s feet left the ground.

His entire body was lifted into the air, still tightly bound by the remaining Spider Silk.

"Damn it!"

Hank’s face turned pale.

"Let me go!"

He desperately struggled in mid-air.

Ryan ignored him.

His expression was cold as he suddenly swung both arms.

The terrifying Rampaging Tyrant Strength within his body erupted.

WHOOSH!

Hank’s eyes widened.

For a brief moment, he couldn’t understand what had happened.

Then he realized—

His body was no longer under his control.

Like a massive stone tied to the end of a rope, Hank was violently swung through the air.

And the direction Ryan had chosen—

Was directly toward the rapidly approaching Ashfall City Watch.