Chapter 440: Severing Life
Chapter 440: Severing Life
As the Iron Demon endured the powerful and heavy blow, his body sank, and he immediately contracted his mutated tissue, impeding the downward slash of the blade.
But Chen Chuan didn't linger, swiftly withdrawing his sword without waiting for his wounds to heal, and striking again with consecutive slashes.
The Iron Demon, hindered by his broken bones and torn muscles, struggled to adjust his movements and exert force effectively. He could only manage a feeble defense, and under Chen Chuan's relentless pressure, more deep cuts appeared on his body, causing him to grunt and retreat repeatedly.
Chen Chuan showed no signs of stopping. Just as he was about to continue his relentless assault, the Iron Demon finally reached his limit, unleashing a burst of force. Chen Chuan took a step back, retreating from the outer circle first.
He stood there, gently shaking the sword outward, flinging the entangled limbs and messy flesh and blood onto the ground.
The Iron Demon's wounds were rapidly healing, and the gaps left by the severed limbs were quickly filled by the rapid growth of new limbs. Even the cracked bones were mending, and within just a few breaths, he appeared as if he had never been injured.
Chen Chuan's expression remained calm. He had noticed that although the Iron Demon's speed and strength had caught up, the oppressive aura he exuded was not as overwhelming as before.
In Chen Chuan's eyes, strength and speed required harmonious coordination to be fully effective. If one possessed strength but lacked control and flexibility, or if speed became uncontrollable, then skill and technique became irrelevant. And at this moment, the Iron Demon exhibited these flaws.
In other words, the recent growth not only wasn't beneficial but was actually hindering him.
Chen Chuan gazed at the limbs on the Iron Demon's body. As a Fighting Guardian, the Iron Demon should be well aware of these changes, but they might not have been his own choice.
He slowly pointed the tip of his sword at his opponent, and the mist around his body, along with the light mist above it, slowly rose.
These things were of no concern to him. He only knew that by completing this mission, he could return to Central City and receive guidance from an even higher level of power.
Before that, he had to eliminate the obstacle before him.
With a swift movement, he charged forward, clashing his sword with the spear repeatedly. But after a few strikes, he sensed the Iron Demon's strength beginning to scatter, and his speed gradually lagging.
Chen Chuan's sword flashed, deflecting the spear shaft, followed by two rapid slashes. The Iron Demon blocked them, but his stance was visibly disorganized, and his center of gravity shifted as he moved.
Chen Chuan delivered a powerful thrust with his long sword, piercing the Iron Demon's shoulder socket. This strike penetrated deep into the muscles and bones, seemingly about to explode the flesh and bones there in the next moment.
The Iron Demon's eyes widened, and he desperately manipulated his mutated tissue to constrict the wound, while the limited essence blood stored in his heart rushed outward, attempting to rapidly repair the damaged area.
Noticing the concentration of the Iron Demon's force in that area, Chen Chuan's eyes flashed, and he swiftly withdrew his sword, lashing out with a sideways sweep.
This strike was as swift as lightning, precisely timed to exploit the moment when the Iron Demon's mutated tissue couldn't react. With this slash, the spear-wielding arm was severed and sent flying into the air!
The Iron Demon stared at him with blazing red eyes, seemingly unaffected. His other whip-like arm suddenly lashed out, wrapping around Chen Chuan's body, attempting to pull him towards himself.
Chen Chuan immediately widened his stance, stabilizing his center of gravity and remaining rooted to the spot. Simultaneously, he took a deep breath, and his skin grew even hotter and more scorching.
He reached out, grabbing the whip-like limb and yanking it taut. With his sword, he slashed, instantly severing the limb.
Without pausing to shake off the entangled limb, he stepped forward, lunging towards the Iron Demon in an instant. Using the momentum of his charge, he stabbed the Iron Demon's abdomen, piercing through the outer layer of wrapping and penetrating his internal organs until he reached the hard spine.
Although this strike didn't completely impale the Iron Demon, it caused him to stagger backward. Chen Chuan grabbed the broken whip limb, dragging it close. With his left hand, he released the sword hilt and punched the Iron Demon's chest and abdomen, then pulled and elbowed him in the face!
This strike emitted a thunderous roar, and countless cracks appeared on the iron mask. The Iron Demon jerked his head back, spitting out broken teeth and blood. He staggered backward.
After retreating a few steps, the Iron Demon's chest and abdomen, protected by tough muscle fibers, exploded with a boom. Although the limbs instinctively contracted and began to heal, it was visibly slower than before.
Chen Chuan's eyes flashed slightly. Healing wounds required the consumption of essence blood, and the current situation indicated that the Iron Demon's essence blood and spiritual balance were failing to keep up with the demands of the battle.
Chen Chuan stepped forward, grabbed the hilt of his long sword, and pulled it out with a twist. As the Iron Demon grunted, Chen Chuan seized his arm and, with a swing, slammed him to the ground, creating a deep pit in the dust.
The Iron Demon spat out a mouthful of blood, trying to get up. But before he could complete the motion, Chen Chuan kicked him down again. Then, grabbing his one remaining arm, Chen Chuan lifted him up and slammed him onto the ground on the other side.
A loud bang echoed, followed by another resounding crash.
The Iron Demon lay there, struggling to get up, only to be met with another forceful slam, then a fourth, a fifth...
After an unknown number of repetitions, the Iron Demon could no longer stand. His body was nearly pale, as if he had been soaking in water for a long time. The once-bulging muscles and bones beneath his skin were now shriveled, leaving only thin layers of skin. His eyes were deeply sunken.
His chest heaved rapidly. Above him, a figure stood, obscured by the dust, watching over him.
Instructor Chen Chuan thrust the Snow Empress Blade into the ground and drew a short sword from his waist. He knelt, positioning the blade at the Iron Demon's neck and gripping his topknot to lift his head. With his gaze fixed forward, he said, "Farewell."
With a surge of strength, he snapped the Iron Demon's neck, feeling the lightness of the head in his hand. He sheathed his sword, held the head in front of him, and removed the shattered mask from the face, revealing a swollen, bloodied visage. Despite the disfigurement, he could discern a younger person beneath, and the outline seemed familiar.
As he stared, the eyes of the face suddenly rolled back, and a white object shot out, aiming directly for his own.
Just as it approached, a powerful hand clamped down on it with a loud smack, halting its advance.
Chen Chuan's expression remained unchanged as he examined the object. Its body was covered in wrinkles, resembling an elongated brain, writhing incessantly, with the front end curling under the pressure of his fingers.
He realized this object might be the true form of the Iron Demon, some kind of activated metamorphosis.
According to Instructor Tian Yu and Advisor Rao, even if the body was destroyed, as long as this object remained, the Iron Demon could continue to exist. Furthermore, if it acquired a new body from the same tier, it could quickly return to its former prowess through unique means.
However, this object itself didn't possess much strength. At least, not compared to a complete fighter, who could only rely on surprise attacks.
With a flex of his hand, Chen Chuan crushed the object, causing the tentacles and main body to explode under the force, disintegrating into tiny bits of flesh that rained down.
According to the information, destroying this object was enough to neutralize the threat. The rest could be ignored, but for thoroughness, it was best to burn it all. However, the situation with his teammates was more pressing, so he could deal with them first and return to handle this later.
Chen Chuan tied the Iron Demon's head to his waist, retrieved the Snow Empress Blade, and picked up the two broken spears, heading towards the riverbank.
The battle in front of them continued, but all four could hear that the commotion on the other side had ceased. Due to the dust and vegetation, none could tell who had emerged victorious.
The two Imperial Warriors had been confident, believing that their Marshal would surely win. But as the figure appeared in the distance, displaying the head at his waist, the two warriors experienced a mental shock. Their once-steady stance faltered.
The Iron Demon was not only their superior but also their spiritual pillar. They couldn't fathom their invincible, almost unbeatable Marshal being defeated and beheaded.
Under this stimulus, their biological fields became agitated. If they had maintained their defense, they might have endured, but with Chen Chuan's intervention, the duration was uncertain. However, this disruption provided Yuan Qiuyuan and Qin Qingque with an opening.
Yuan Qiuyuan let out a hearty laugh. His staff, like a venomous dragon, pierced through the spear, tapping the opponent's forehead. The helmet shattered, and the head snapped back.
With another shout, Yuan Qiuyuan leaped from his position, raising his staff high in the air before smashing it down. The staff struck the warrior's forehead with a loud bang, causing blood to gush from his eyes, ears, and nose. The impacted portion of the head caved in, and the body staggered before falling straight back.
Qin Qingque, on the other hand, let out a crisp shout. A cold glint pierced the neck of her opponent, entering through the throat and exiting from the back.
She held her gun with one hand for a moment, then withdrew it. As the Imperial Warrior knelt and fell forward, she pulled the gun, shook the red tassel, and spun it, scattering blood droplets before calmly holstering it.
...
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(End of Chapter)
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