Before the Fat Henchman could scramble to his feet, the colossal Battle Robot, weighing several tons, leaped high into the air. The terrified scream of the Fat Henchman echoed throughout the room as the massive machine came crashing down directly on top of him.
Blood splattered everywhere. The once-dominant Fat Henchman, famous for using his own body weight to crush enemies, was now crushed by the very tactic he prided himself on.
Watching his summoned lackeys perish in an instant, Qin Ming, hiding behind a wall, couldn't help but wince.
He had anticipated that the second-stage boss, the Battle Robot, would be formidable, but he hadn't expected it to be this terrifyingly powerful!
Taking a deep breath to steady his nerves, Qin Ming turned toward the wall, ready to unleash his charged skill. But to his shock, the Battle Robot seemed to have some kind of X-ray vision, detecting his movement before he could act. Without hesitation, the robot fired a red-hot beam, cutting through the wall and hitting Qin Ming squarely in the chest.
The searing sound of flesh being sliced filled the air as Qin Ming's chest was torn open, blood spilling everywhere. He was sent flying, crashing to the ground with a painful thud.
Lying on the ground, feeling the agonizing damage, Qin Ming realized the vast difference in power between the bosses of the first and second stages. They weren't even on the same level!
Before Qin Ming could even regain his footing, the wall in front of him exploded. The Battle Robot, arms spinning in a deadly windmill motion, burst through the debris.
Seeing the massive machine barreling toward him, Qin Ming pushed himself off the ground with his legs, sliding across the floor to evade the attack. As he slid backward, he pulled out his revolver, firing rapidly.
The large-caliber bullets sparked off the Battle Robot's armor, barely denting its outer shell. They could only penetrate the surface, unable to reach the internal components, becoming lodged in the armor.
Ignoring the gunfire, the robot continued its advance, its metal arms swinging wildly, smashing through everything in its path. Though its fighting style appeared comical—arms flailing independently—it was highly effective.
The robot's combat prowess was actually quite advanced. Its data had been programmed with the techniques of numerous martial arts masters, allowing it to counterattack in the most direct and efficient manner possible.
On top of that, as a machine, it had no hesitation or tells, making it nearly impossible for anyone, even seasoned fighters, to predict its next move.
As the Battle Robot closed in, relentlessly pressing the attack, the nearby window suddenly shattered. Having finally dealt with the enemies outside, the Punisher came crashing through, ensuring no outside interference.
Without missing a beat, the Punisher threw two grenades straight at the robot.
Explosives were much more effective against mechanical foes than regular weapons.
The powerful blast sent the once-unstoppable Battle Robot crashing to the floor. Before it could recover, the Punisher, already in a kneeling position, aimed his weapon at the robot's vulnerable eye, the weak point glowing red.
With a calm precision, the Punisher unloaded a full magazine, each shot aimed squarely at the robot's eye, trying to destroy the laser emitter.
However, despite his accuracy, the Punisher's handgun was too weak. Even after twelve rounds, the reinforced glass protecting the laser emitter remained intact.
As the Battle Robot's eye glowed once more, preparing to unleash another devastating beam, the Punisher's expression turned grim. He readied himself to dodge when suddenly—
The air crackled with tension as a revolver spun through the air toward the Punisher.
It was Qin Ming's custom-made revolver.
The Punisher's eyes lit up as he snatched the weapon mid-spin. Without hesitation, he aimed and fired.
The deafening sound of the large-caliber revolver echoed through the room. The bullet punched through the already damaged protective glass, finally shattering it.
Sparks flew as the bullet pierced the laser emitter, sending the robot into a violent convulsion.
However, instead of collapsing, the Battle Robot went haywire. The damage to its laser system caused it to malfunction, firing uncontrollably in every direction.
The Battle Robot was now out of control!
Thin laser beams shot out in all directions, slicing through the walls, leaving scorching marks wherever they struck.
As the erratic beams closed in on him, the Punisher leaped into the air, rolling behind cover.
But as for Qin Ming? He stood his ground, his ultimate move already fully charged.
With a roar, he unleashed his skill, pushing his hands forward.
True Sonic Hand Blade!
A violent gust of wind erupted from his hands, forming a spiraling blade of air that tore through everything in its path as it hurtled toward the Battle Robot.
The air blade clashed with the robot's lasers in midair. In an intense showdown of power, the two B-level skills collided, each vying for supremacy.
In the end, the air blade sliced straight through the lasers, splitting them in two.
The air blade struck the Battle Robot, cutting its laser emitter clean in half and rendering it completely useless.
But Qin Ming wasn't without cost. The split laser beams had struck his shoulder and side, leaving two gaping wounds on his body.
Groaning in pain, Qin Ming clutched his bleeding wounds, struggling to his feet. Across the room, the Battle Robot, now blind without its head sensor, flailed its arms wildly, aimlessly smashing everything around it.
Taking a deep breath, Qin Ming let out a furious shout.
"Sonic Hand Blade Barrage!"
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Three consecutive blasts of wind shot from his hands. With a grim, determined expression, Qin Ming unleashed rapid-fire strikes—first with his left hand, then his right, followed by a final charged attack with both hands.
The combined assault left the Battle Robot covered in X-shaped cuts, the final blow severing its already damaged head.
Sonic Hand Blade, this rapid-fire technique was something Qin Ming had devised himself.
While less powerful than the full Sonic Hand Blade, it had the advantage of speed and efficiency. Each strike only cost 0.5 spirit points, but it came with a significant drawback: reduced damage. The rapid-fire version only dealt damage equal to his raw strength, unlike the normal version's double damage or the fully charged version's quadruple damage.
Exhausted and barely standing, Qin Ming clutched his wounds as blood poured from his injuries. The overuse of his spirit energy left him with a pounding headache, nearly incapacitating him.
Yet even with its head severed, the Battle Robot refused to go down.
Sparks flying from its neck, the robot, stubborn as ever, continued to lumber toward Qin Ming, its movements stiff and erratic.
Desperately scanning the room for a weapon, Qin Ming suddenly noticed a revolver being held out in front of him.
The Punisher had appeared beside him, his face stoic as he offered Qin Ming the weapon.
Not only did he return the revolver, but he also unhooked his belt, handing over the last three grenades he had left.
Meeting the Punisher's gaze, Qin Ming hesitated only for a moment before accepting the weapons.