Chapter 732: Encounter
Chapter 732: Encounter
Xu Chan observed the approaching duo, a man and a woman, both around twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old. Their physiques were robust, and they bore a striking resemblance to each other, even in height.
The woman on the right had a slightly softer facial expression, with short golden hair, a pointed chin, and upward-slanted eyeshadow that gave her a sharp gaze.
The man on the left had shoulder-length hair that fell to one side, a chiseled face, but a lighthearted expression.
Both were dressed in deep blue protective uniforms adorned with silver-white decorative lines, tightly hugging their well-defined and aesthetically pleasing muscles.
They appeared unarmed, but on the back of their arms, there was a flexible, wing-like fin, which seemed rather extraordinary.
Xu Chan instantly recognized the pair as the Thunder Twins from the Spiral Deep Sea Corporation, "Svaya Lundstrom" and "Sigurd Lundstrom," siblings known for their prowess.
His expression turned solemn.
In the present world, companies that stood tall did so not only because of abundant resources but also due to their formidable military might.
Some recruited, while others cultivated their own fighters, like the companies within the Union. These fighters were nurtured with extensive resources and underwent rigorous selection processes, ensuring that only the most exceptional emerged.
The Thunder Twins, Blood Diamond, were no exception.
Dealing with one opponent was manageable, but three presented a challenge, and Xu Chan was certain that there were more than just these three.
Suddenly, a red shadow flickered before his eyes, and before he could further observe or contemplate, Blood Diamond charged towards him, throwing a punch aimed at his face.
Blood Diamond's upper body was massive and heavy, and as he punched, it seemed like his entire body pressed forward, creating a powerful gust that made Xu Chan's uniform cling tightly to his body.
Simultaneously, the sibling duo's figures flickered, and a booming roar echoed through the air, continuous and relentless. Their movements, influenced by their uniforms, left behind shimmering traces of light as they closed in on Xu Chan from both sides.
Xu Chan watched as the fist before him grew larger, knowing full well that his opponent possessed unique force abilities and was unafraid of heart power. Yet, instead of evading the onslaught, his eyes narrowed with determination, and he countered with a punch of his own!
As he struck, his aura surged, and a faint glow emanated from his fist. His clothes swelled, and his gaze revealed unwavering resolve.
All three combatants in the vicinity could sense that this attack was all-or-nothing, a desperate move without regard for consequences.
The Thunder Twins, witnessing Xu Chan's determination, interpreted it as a sign of his willingness to risk everything. Unconsciously, they slowed their charge slightly.
A fighter with spiritual awareness, when pushed to the brink, could be terrifying. In this case, the siblings could let Blood Diamond bear the brunt of the pressure and danger, then finish off the weakened opponent. If not, they could observe and make their move later.
Blood Diamond was taken aback by Xu Chan's decision to engage in a direct clash, knowing full well that Xu Chan could withstand his force abilities. This unconventional approach, seemingly seeking mutual destruction, surprised Blood Diamond.
With three of them present, they held an absolute advantage. Under such circumstances, Xu Chan would not dare engage in a life-or-death struggle, and he was unprepared for such a scenario. Reluctantly, Blood Diamond summoned his spiritual awareness, causing a faint glow to emanate from his fist.
Spiritual awareness could only be countered by spiritual awareness, but compared to Xu Chan's unwavering aura, Blood Diamond's seemed feeble.
Spiritual awareness required a connection to the spiritual realm, necessitating not only personal readiness but also a strong will. Blood Diamond lacked both, resulting in a slight disadvantage.
Their fists collided, and in an instant, Blood Diamond's spiritual awareness dissipated, followed by Xu Chan's force, which struck his fist, causing a cracking sound. The impact then carried through to his chest!
A loud boom reverberated as a gaping hole appeared in Blood Diamond's chest, spewing blood, shattered bones, and ruptured organs.
Blood Diamond, who could have withstood Xu Chan's attack, was critically injured in their first encounter!
At their level, a single mistake or misjudgment could decide the outcome, as offense often outmatched defense.
Xu Chan's successful strike didn't deter him; instead, he pulled back his fist embedded in Blood Diamond's chest, spinning him around to face Sigurd Lundstrom, the younger of the Thunder Twins.
Sigurd Lundstrom had no choice but to sidestep, allowing Xu Chan's maneuver.
Xu Chan dodged one attack, but he couldn't avoid the other, leaving his back exposed to the older sister of the Thunder Twins, Svaya.
Svaya's cold eyes revealed a hint of cruelty and bloodlust, and the fins on her arms suddenly glowed faintly as she swept her arm towards Xu Chan's back.
These fins were also transformed weapons, and this strike was enough to slice Xu Chan diagonally in half.
However, as the fins made contact, a faint glow appeared, and at that moment, Xu Chan managed to transfer his psychic power to the attacked area, causing their psychic powers to merge instantly. Still, Svaya's accompanying heart power was difficult to block entirely, resulting in a deep wound on Xu Chan's back that almost reached the bone.
Despite this, Xu Chan minimized the damage and impact, and although the wound looked severe, his combat strength was unaffected, and he would even recover soon.
Svaya narrowed her eyes, knowing that it was impossible for psychic power to transfer so quickly. She realized that Xu Chan must have allocated his power beforehand and waited for her attack.
This man had anticipated everything from the start.
His wealth of experience and grasp of the battle situation surprised her.
There was more to it; if the opponent had blocked her with the Blood Diamond, she would have struck without hesitation, even if it meant killing him. She wouldn't have held back, unlike her brother, who, due to his less dominant personality, would likely choose to spare him in such a situation.
In an instant, had he seen through their personalities?
At that moment, Svaya realized she had underestimated his ranking.
Xu Chan, a veteran of the front lines, possessed vast combat experience and had endured numerous enemy sieges.
He not only understood the psychological state of his enemies in battle but also knew that fighters rarely had no weaknesses—at least, most did. This allowed him to identify and exploit their vulnerabilities.
After his previous encounter with the Blood Diamond, he knew that his defensive capabilities were formidable, but his speed and reactions were relatively weak. So, this time, he capitalized on this weakness, immediately overwhelming the Blood Diamond.
Furthermore, by sacrificing a minor injury, he turned the battle into a two-on-one fight.
Xu Chan slowly retracted his fist, allowing the Blood Diamond to fall to the ground, still barely breathing.
It wasn't that he didn't want to finish him off, but the Blood Diamond's defensive capabilities were genuinely impressive. Xu Chan had allocated his psychic power and couldn't gather all his strength. As for now, the Thunder Twins were closely watching him, ready to strike if he showed any sign of exertion.
He sighed inwardly, acknowledging the strength of his opponents, who left him no opportunity to retaliate once they realized his threat.
Svaya stared at Xu Chan, knowing that he had disabled the Blood Diamond first, but their raw strength didn't differ significantly.
The battle outcome depended on various in-fight reactions. Even in a one-on-one fight, Xu Chan couldn't guarantee victory against either of them, let alone when they fought as a well-coordinated duo.
However, neither side immediately resumed the fight.
Xu Chan remained vigilant, his gaze stern, sensing that the two were clearly waiting for someone.
Having just unleashed his power, he took this opportunity to heal his wounds and regulate his breathing.
After a three to four-minute standoff, Sigurd spoke, "Svaya?" He glanced at the Blood Diamond on the ground.
Svaya licked her full lips, hummed, and waved her hand, causing Sigurd to retreat a few steps. He then pulled up the Blood Diamond and withdrew into the forest.
Svaya turned her back to Xu Chan, took a few steps backward, and with a boom, she vanished into the forest like a flash of lightning.
Seeing the twins' retreat, Xu Chan checked the boundary token. The active value there had risen to nearly 19, as he hadn't had time to use his psychic power to resist external corruption, causing the index to soar in a short time.
The other two likely had the same issue but might have taken suppressive medication beforehand.
Now that the fight was over, the value dropped as he adjusted, slowly returning to zero.
Once he confirmed they weren't pursuing him, Xu Chan turned and left, following the markers left by his squad members. After half an hour, he caught up with them.
The squad rejoiced at his safe return, and the medical team examined his back wound, which had already healed after some time. They gave him anti-parasitic medication to prevent any potential infections from the wound.
Xu Chan checked on his squad's status, relieved to find no significant losses during his absence. Suddenly, a voice sounded from the boundary token, "Xu Squad Leader, the reconnaissance team ahead discovered an indigenous settlement just three kilometers away."
"A settlement?"
Xu Chan was surprised. "Are there indigenous people in this region?"
...
...
(End of Chapter)
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