Chapter 439: Fierce Battle
Chapter 439: Fierce Battle
The Iron Demon's crimson eyes, hidden behind the mask, fixed intensely on Chen Chuan. With his broken spear in both hands, he seemed to perform some sort of internal breathing exercise.
In just a moment, a faint red mist emerged from his skin, and the pungent scent of blood or rust intensified.
His aura became even more formidable than before, and the oppressive force of his bio-field was almost overwhelming.
Across from him, Chen Chuan's skin grew scorching hot, and wisps of white vapor rose from his body, swirling around him without dissipating.
Initially, this white vapor was merely heat and moisture, but now, it carried the essence of altered tissue, steaming as it exerted its full potential.
However, without sufficient coverage and foundation, and lacking a unique breathing technique, this situation would not have arisen.
The two stood facing each other, their contrasting mists of white and red rising upwards into the sky.
After a brief standoff, Chen Chuan's figure flickered, and he charged forward. The clash of weapons soon followed.
As their silhouettes intertwined in a blur of motion, the white and red vapors collided, but even in the heat of battle, they did not merge. Instead, they maintained distinct boundaries, swirling and mixing for a moment before dispersing in the wind, only to converge again in an instant.
This time, Chen Chuan's Forge Breath Technique clearly demonstrated its superiority. His strength had increased, surpassing the Iron Demon by a fine margin. Although the speed difference remained negligible, in reality, Chen Chuan was slightly faster.
In this initially evenly matched battle, even this slight advantage was enough to tip the scales.
The Iron Demon, usually dominant with his strength and speed, now found himself at a disadvantage in both aspects, suppressed by his opponent.
The opponent's superior strength and the fear of his spear being severed again forced the Iron Demon to rely on his skills to neutralize each attack.
Despite his adept skills, the impact of the force required the altered tissue to absorb, and his mind had to remain intensely focused, resulting in a rapid depletion of his essence and blood.
After over ten minutes of relentless combat, it was evident that the Iron Demon, compared to the beginning, had lost his initial dominance.
Although he had used a breathing technique to enhance his state, the continuous engagement, constant wound healing, and exertion of strength led to immense exhaustion. He seemed to have passed his peak and was now declining.
In contrast, Chen Chuan, with his Second Self sharing the burden of damage, had not depleted his essence and blood significantly. He maintained the state induced by the Forge Breath Technique.
This shift in dynamics led to a noticeable change. Initially, the battle was almost evenly matched, but gradually, the Iron Demon found himself on the defensive, with fewer opportunities to strike back, and his counterattacks becoming increasingly rare.
It wasn't just a matter of state; the broken spear affected his performance. The two broken spears, while appearing similar, were unfamiliar to him, and many of his techniques failed to unleash their intended power.
After a few more minutes, the Iron Demon managed to block one of Chen Chuan's slashes, but this time, his strength seemed insufficient. He couldn't fully deflect the blade, and it sliced through his shoulder.
He grunted, and the altered tissue quickly converged, blocking the blade. With one hand, he broke off the spear to create a gap, and with the other, he thrust it back at Chen Chuan.
But the sword moved swiftly, parrying the incoming spear with a twist and a sweep, followed by a horizontal slash. These rapid and powerful moves were a testament to the opponent's speed and strength.
The Iron Demon's eyes narrowed, and he hastily retreated, feeling a chill in his chest and abdomen. The wound on his shoulder hadn't fully healed, and now a deep gash had been carved across his chest.
Chen Chuan showed no mercy, pressing forward relentlessly. The Iron Demon kept backing away, blocking and parrying, but more wounds appeared on his body. Despite the altered tissue's healing, it was evident that he couldn't turn the tide of the battle.
He seemed to realize this, and his eyes hardened with determination. With a burst of ferocious strength, he parried the sword with two loud clangs.
Without waiting for the Iron Demon to counterattack, Chen Chuan chose to retreat. He was familiar with this burst of power, knowing that every time before the opponent unleashed it, their bio-field would surge.
Holding his sword, Chen Chuan stared at the Iron Demon. Regardless of whether the opponent was human or something else, as a fighter, he possessed fundamental combat instincts. Through the previous battle, the Iron Demon should have realized that without a change in strategy, he posed little threat. So, if he had any tricks up his sleeve, this was the moment to reveal them.
And so, Chen Chuan waited.
After pushing him back, the Iron Demon emitted a dull sound from his chest, and his body suddenly expanded and contracted. In a chilling display, thin, elongated flesh sprouts and tendrils emerged from beneath his skin, writhing outward.
Chen Chuan's gaze intensified slightly, recognizing that these were extensions of the altered tissue within the Iron Demon's body.
As Chen Chuan observed, the tendrils that extended from the creature's body wrapped around its torso and limbs, while others solidified into several sturdy appendages, one of which grew from its arm, dragging on the ground like a whip.
Some tendrils also spread onto the broken spearhead, seemingly enveloping it, and a faint red mist emerged from within.
Chen Chuan couldn't help but recall the entity that had possessed Meng Huan, noticing a resemblance between them, yet feeling they were different. The former was more spiritually inclined, while the creature before him was more physical.
At this moment, the biological field it presented was no longer the stable and calm realm it once was.
It could still be considered a solid barrier, but countless cracks now marred its surface, revealing restlessness and ferocity, eager to burst through the confines.
These contrasting auras in the same domain created a strong sense of contradiction.
And...
Chen Chuan's brow twitched as he sensed something writhing behind the Iron Demon, seemingly attached to its body, but extremely vague and thin.
At that moment, the Snow Empress Blade in his hand trembled slightly. He glanced at it, seeing the blood-red line on the blade's back, and a thin mist emanating from the weapon.
He looked forward again, at the almost mutated body, and without hesitation, his thoughts moved, synchronizing with his second self.
Though his strength hadn't doubled, it had increased slightly.
Chen Chuan waved his long sword, creating a white mist as he swung it, then took a step forward.
The Iron Demon, sensing the change, responded by extending its broken spear and whip-like appendage, approaching Chen Chuan.
As they closed in, the Iron Demon struck first, swiftly lashing out with its whip-like limb. Chen Chuan dodged the attack, stepping to the side, and the whip cracked against the ground, shattering the soil. With another swing, it aimed at Chen Chuan again.
Chen Chuan shifted his footing, dodging to the side. The Iron Demon, determined to keep him within range, matched his movement, displaying surprising speed, seemingly faster than Chen Chuan.
Just then, Chen Chuan spun, abruptly changing direction. The Iron Demon, fixated on him, mirrored his move, but for some reason, it seemed to struggle, its body lagging a beat behind.
Chen Chuan's eyes flashed, and with a swift turn, he dashed forward, parrying the broken spear with his sword. He lunged forward, punching the Iron Demon's chest with a booming impact.
The Iron Demon staggered under the blow.
Chen Chuan landed his strike but didn't press the advantage. Instead, he leaped backward, quickly retreating.
In that instant, the whip-like limb slashed beneath his feet, sending a skin-cutting gust of force. The ground erupted, scattering dust and debris, and a cloud of sand and dust enveloped the area, accompanied by a booming sound. The power of the attack was evident.
Despite the power, it was useless if it didn't hit the target. Chen Chuan landed, shifting his weight, and with a sudden burst, he charged through the dust cloud, meeting the incoming spear with his sword.
The spear transmitted a powerful force, but Chen Chuan noticed that while the strength was greater, the impact was less solid, almost fragmented.
His mutated tissue instantly dissipated the force, not requiring his second self to bear the brunt. Simultaneously, he pushed the sword outward, unleashing a heavy blow, causing the Iron Demon to stagger backward several steps.
Chen Chuan lunged forward, delivering a horizontal slash that cut across the Iron Demon's chest, halted only by the dense muscles. Though the blade couldn't penetrate too deeply, it continued to push the Iron Demon backward.
After retreating seven or eight steps, the Iron Demon halted, bracing against the ground to stop its retreat. As it prepared to counter with its blade, Chen Chuan withdrew, then swiftly shifted to the side, parrying the blade with his own, slicing open the skirt armor and causing blood to gush out.
The Iron Demon spun to pursue, but Chen Chuan thrust his sword forward, pressing against its shoulder. The force of the blow disrupted the Iron Demon's balance, causing it to stumble. As it adjusted, Chen Chuan's blade flashed forward again, slicing through its chest and shoulder, severing the tendrils and cracking the bones beneath.
...
...
(End of Chapter)
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