At this moment.

The ground beneath the Ghost Dragon Martial Consortium headquarters lay in ruins.

"You can't stop me."

Akiyama Chika struggled to prop herself up with her giant blade. Behind her, Sharkai Bai's voice echoed again.

How powerful was his strength to send her flying with a single punch, blade and all? The sheer impact made her arm, gripping the blade, feel like it might shatter.

(Can't hold on!)

Unable to block Sharkai Bai's attack, Akiyama Chika was kicked away.

She tumbled across the ground several times before stopping, seemingly unconscious.

Sharkai Bai's gaze shifted back to Kongshui Ji atop the structure.

"I don't like being looked at like that."

He picked up Akiyama Chika's massive blade and hurled it toward Kongshui Ji.

He needed no one flaunting that strongman posture before him.

"This tea is too weak."

"My deepest apologies."

Facing the incoming blade, Kongshui Ji lifted his teacup from the nearby round table. After sipping it with closed eyes, he said expressionlessly to his butler An Mai.

The giant blade suddenly burst into flames mid-air.

"Hm?"

Berserk Mode ended. Sharkai Bai's eyes turned cautious.

"Long time no see, classmate Bai!"

Xia Yuan appeared before Kongshui Ji, two black-clad figures behind him.

"It's you. A bit troublesome, but no issue."

"Hahahaha!! Still as infuriating as ever!"

One black-clad figure stepped forward and leaped down.

As he landed, rustling footsteps approached nearby.

He walked up to Sharkai Bai and removed his oversized cloak.

(!!!)

Pitch-black flames ignited on his hands. Ignoring Bai's shocked stare, he attacked first. A black fire dragon lunged, jaws wide, to tear into Bai.

Boom!!!

Just as flames engulfed him, Bai punched the fire dragon apart.

Second Berserk Mode!

Amidst scattering black flames, Sharkai Bai's purple pupils locked onto the familiar figure. He roared furiously.

"Tch... I don't know what happened, but beating you half to death and dragging you back should work, right!? Situ Sheng!!!!!!"

"......"

His attack deflected, Situ Sheng's mechanical eyes held no emotion.

It began.

This was their third rematch.

Xia Yuan watched from above, pleased.

"To recruit Situ Sheng to your side... interesting."

Kongshui Ji also observed the two below.

Situ Sheng's aura felt far stronger than before.

Had he joined that faction to grow stronger? No, impossible.

Kongshui Ji dismissed the thought. Why would Situ Sheng, leader of the Five Dragon Kings, side with Xia Yuan?

"Hmph... Watch closely."

Xia Yuan ignored the implied question.

In the arena, Situ Sheng dodged Sharkai Bai's strike. Pitch-black wings sprouted behind him as he counterattacked.

"Come! Remember your defeat from two years ago!"

The enemy vanished before him, baffling Situ Sheng.

When Sharkai Bai's voice echoed overhead, Situ Sheng slammed into the ground.

His black wings dissipated instantly.

The punch's force collapsed the earth around him.

He staggered upright.

Fresh blood poured from Situ Sheng's mouth.

"......"

He remained silent.

(Spatial cut? Teleportation?)

His opponent seemed near-invincible in strength and speed.

No magical aura emanated from him.

His speed defied human limits.

"Is this power from your disgusting black thing? Hahahaha! Pathetic!!!!"

When Situ Sheng reacted, Sharkai Bai already gripped his long hair.

Thud————!

Yanking him close, Sharkai Bai drove a knee into his face.

A spray of blood bloomed before Situ Sheng's blurred eyes.

"......"

Sharkai Bai tossed the unconscious Situ Sheng behind him.

His gaze fixed on Xia Yuan above. He vanished.

The next second—he appeared before Xia Yuan.

"Oh dear, furious classmate Bai. I underestimated your peak strength."

Boom!

The First Attendant caught Sharkai Bai's kick and threw him back down.

Sharkai Bai, in this state, had overwhelmed Xia Yuan's new toy effortlessly.

This surprised Xia Yuan.

Second Berserk Mode ended.

Sitting in the crater's center, Bai slumped in exhaustion.

"Handle it. And retrieve that failed product."

After Xia Yuan's order, the First Attendant charged at Bai.

(Damn!)

Bai saw him diving in. He clenched his right fist and raised it.

But the punch missed.

Pain exploded through his ribs, spreading everywhere.

The First Attendant kicked the off-balance Bai like a ball.

Blood spewed from Bai's mouth as he flew backward.

Agony blurred his mind.

Forcing a Third Berserk Mode now would only worsen his wounds.

He had no strength left.

Not even a finger could move.

"......"

The First Attendant stomped on Bai's back.

The ground collapsed widely again.

"...Damn..."

Bai breathed raggedly, near death.

"Trash. I'll handle and retrieve it."

For the first time, the First Attendant spoke.

Since the failed Celestial Carving Academy destruction, he'd lost count of Xia Yuan's modifications.

Fifty times? A hundred? A thousand?

As Xia Yuan's protector, he'd never faced a true opponent. Xia Yuan always seemed at ease.

"Move faster."

Xia Yuan ordered again.

"Wait! If he dies, the Sharksea Clan will go berserk! I won't provoke that bastard Sharksea Yanjun!"

Kongshui Ji, calm until now, couldn't stay seated.

He'd only meant to bed this arrogant brat for a year or two. Killing him? He lacked the nerve.

"Relax. Even Sharksea Yanjun can't beat my First Attendant!"

Xia Yuan's voice brimmed with confidence.

"Heaven's Fall."

A massive magic circle appeared above Bai. The First Attendant, holding Situ Sheng, reappeared behind Xia Yuan.

A meteor plummeted from the clouds.

Its target: Bai, half-dead on the ground.

No escape.

(Hmph... Dying now... Can't save anyone... Goodbye, everyone...)

Suddenly, the earth trembled violently.

A giant earthen wall rose, shielding Bai.

"Damn it! First Attendant! Finish him!"

Sensing trouble, Xia Yuan fumed, stomping in place.

"Don't move."

As the First Attendant prepared to charge, a golden spear flew from the sky and embedded at his feet.

Shinzimi, bishop of the New Wing Divine Church, hovered like a little demon, arms crossed, glaring down at Xia Yuan's group.

In Bai's blurred vision, a golden-haired girl stood before him.

He was helped up.

"Tch! Seriously, don't push yourself, idiot!"

A familiar voice.

It reached Sharkai Bai's ears from the golden-haired girl.