The edge of the sword refracted an iron-gray cold light tinged with orange-red under the firelight, dark hair swayed slightly, and a warm, putrid wind from the sewer brushed across the surface of the cheek.
Xia Nan gripped the Beheading Longsword tightly, shouting without looking back.
Iron Head, who had already unconsciously stepped back after witnessing the horrific scene, quickened his pace a little more.
With a dazed and slightly panicked expression, he hurriedly left a few words of caution, then hid in the shadows of the corridor from which he came.
"Mr. Xia Nan, be careful not to get bitten or scratched by their teeth and claws."
"He has ’Beastification’, watch out for infections!"
Xia Nan nodded almost imperceptibly, his eyes fixed on the towering figure standing against the backdrop of raging flames, surrounded by numerous corpses on the ground, his expression growing ever more serious.
Originally, he had found crucial clues, deducing from the "Iron Scab Moss" that the enemy’s hiding place was most likely in the sewers.
Planning to find their hideout through the Gray Badger Gang, which was often active underground.
In a way, it saved him some effort.
But the price paid for this was the complete annihilation of the Gray Badger Gang, including its leader "Eight finger".
Xia Nan called out tentatively to the other side.
All that echoed in the air was the crackling of the fire consuming the wooden boards, the roaring sound of water rushing in the distance, and the low growl carrying a heavy sense of warning.
He keenly sensed that the beastly eyes were swelling with a ferocious savagery fueled by slaughter and bloodlust.
He knew there was no possibility of communication anymore.
Xia Nan suddenly let out a long breath.
His hot breath condensed into a misty white arrow-like trace in the air.
The rise and fall of his chest abruptly calmed, his breathing steady and deep.
Yet, the boiling and surging battle intent deep within kept his heart pumping faster, sending surges of blood rich with strength rushing to every part of his body.
His mind spun rapidly.
Possible attack methods, the effects of the sewer environment, the enemy’s combat style, things to be wary of...
In less than a second, he synthesized all the details in his mind, transforming all the combat information into actual actions.
Driving Xia Nan to take his first step forward since he arrived here.
The sturdy leather boots sank deep into the sewage-covered ground, sticky sludge squeezed and pushed to both sides, revealing decayed leaf fragments and unknown debris within.
Oddly enough, after the boot landed, there wasn’t the anticipated struggle to pull it out from the sludge.
The moment his sole touched the ground, his boot and the leg above disappeared in an instant.
In their place, the sludge burst open like an explosion, the air thickened suddenly, and...
A lofty, resounding wolf howl!
Highly compressed, fierce wind swirled mud droplets, blood, and scattered limb fragments into a snarling wolf’s head rushing forward, its mane streaming.
Dozens of meters of distance crossed in a blink, leaving a long trail of blood along the ground.
With no intention of holding back, the iron-gray Wolf Teeth descended suddenly, as if even the air was split apart under the sharp blade, emitting a piercing wail.
In an instant of extreme stillness and movement, Xia Nan even saw the rugged man’s hood fringe lifted by the wind, the unusually dense facial hair compared to most, and those beast-like pupils contracting in sudden shock.
The iron-gray arc of metal traced a crescent-like semicircle in the air, the familiar resistance of flesh and blood parting under the sharp blade transmitted through the hilt in his palm.
The fragile cloak offered no defense capability, tearing into tatters under the wolf wind at the first contact with the sword blade.
Fractured brown long fur, cut resilient skin, writhing and expanding muscular tissues...
Followed by a stream of scarlet bloodshot pearls, a slanting wound extended from the right shoulder near the scapula, finally sinking into the waist of the left abdomen.
If it weren’t for that burly man, sensing a mortal danger in the howl, backed instinctively to the side.
He’d likely have suffered more than just this wound; the iron-gray longsword would’ve sliced through his neck vertebrae, directly decapitating him.
Just as Buck assumed the opponent’s attack had ended and planned to counterattack.
He was suddenly aware that post-Beastification, his significantly strengthened body felt like an invisible weight was bearing down on him.
Every inch of skin from his toes to his head suddenly became heavier.
His joints were even more rusted, making it difficult to exert force.
The beast-like eyes suddenly reflected a menacing red light, emitting extreme danger.
Before him, the young adventurer with black hair somehow managed to prepare for another strike in a very short time.
His feet planted firmly on the ground, knees bent to support his body, arm muscles bulging with power, the Beheading Longsword thrust straight forward.
The surface of the blade was coated in an unstable ochre-red glow, resembling complex runes continuously changing.
Under the suffocatingly dense onslaught, Buck no longer had time to think, reacting purely on instinct.