Chapter 732: The Encounter
Chapter 732: The Encounter
Xu Chan noticed the approaching duo, a man and a woman, both appearing to be in their late twenties. They shared a striking resemblance, with robust builds and nearly identical heights.
The woman on the right had a slightly softer visage, her golden hair cut short, but with a pointed chin and upward-sloping eyeshadow, giving her a sharp gaze.
The man, on the other hand, sported shoulder-length hair that fell to one side, his features angular and his expression carefree.
Both were dressed in deep blue defensive uniforms adorned with silver-white decorative lines, tightly hugging their well-defined and aesthetically pleasing muscles.
At first glance, they seemed unarmed, but a flexible fin-like object on the back of their arms hinted at something more complex.
Xu Chan quickly identified them as the Thunder Twins, Sylva and Sigurd Lundstrom, from the Helix Deep Sea Corporation.
His expression grew solemn.
In the present world, companies that stood tall were not only resource-rich but also possessed formidable military might.
Some recruited, while others cultivated their own elite fighters, like those within the Union. These fighters were nurtured with substantial resources and underwent rigorous selection processes, ensuring that only the most formidable emerged.
The Thunder Twins, Blood Diamond, were no exception.
Facing one opponent might be manageable, but three presented a challenge. Xu Chan was certain that there were more than just these three.
Suddenly, a red shadow flickered before him, and Blood Diamond charged, throwing a punch aimed at his face.
Blood Diamond's upper body was massive and heavy, and his punch seemed to carry the force of his entire body, creating a powerful gust that pressed Xu Chan's uniform tightly against his body even before the impact.
Simultaneously, the twin siblings flashed, and a loud, continuous booming sound filled the air as they approached from two directions, their movements accompanied by flickering light traces due to their uniforms.
Xu Chan watched the fist growing larger in his vision. Despite knowing their unique force, he wasn't afraid of a heart force impact. Instead of evading, his eyes narrowed, and he countered with a powerful punch!
This time, Xu Chan's aura intensified, and a faint glow emanated from his fist. His clothes seemed to swell, and his gaze turned resolute.
The three individuals in the field could sense that Xu Chan's attack was all-or-nothing, disregarding any other concerns and willing to risk everything.
The Thunder Twins, witnessing this determination, subconsciously slowed their charge slightly, believing Xu Chan was prepared to fight to the death.
A fighter with psychic sense, willing to go all out, was truly formidable. The twins could let Blood Diamond bear the pressure and danger, then easily finish off the weakened opponent, or simply observe and make their move later.
Blood Diamond never expected Xu Chan, after their previous encounter, to engage in a head-on clash, knowing he could withstand the force. His apparent willingness to risk mutual destruction startled Blood Diamond.
With three of them present, they held a clear advantage. Under such circumstances, Xu Chan wouldn't dare engage in a life-or-death struggle. This lack of preparation caught Blood Diamond off guard, forcing him to hastily summon his psychic power, resulting in a faint glow on his fist.
Psychic sense could only be countered by psychic sense, but Xu Chan's aura was far more resolute. Blood Diamond's power appeared feeble in comparison.
Psychic sense required mental communication with the opposing world, demanding intense focus, preparation, and a formidable will, all of which Blood Diamond lacked, resulting in a slight disadvantage.
Their fists collided, and Blood Diamond's psychic sense instantly dissipated. Xu Chan's force followed, smashing into his fist, causing it to crack with a 'kaka' sound. The powerful force then struck Blood Diamond's chest!
A loud boom echoed as a gaping hole appeared, spewing blood, shattered bones, and debris.
Blood Diamond, who could typically withstand such attacks, was severely wounded in their first clash.
At their level, a single mistake or misjudgment could decide the outcome, as offense often outweighed defense.
Xu Chan's successful strike didn't deter him. Instead, he pulled back his fist, dragging Blood Diamond's body, and spun him towards Sigurd, the younger Thunder Twin.
Sigurd had no choice but to sidestep, allowing Xu Chan's maneuver.
Xu Chan dodged one attack, but he couldn't avoid the other, completely exposing his back to the older of the Thunder Twins, Sylva.
Sylva's cold gaze revealed a hint of cruelty and bloodlust, and the fin-like wings on her arms suddenly glowed faintly, sweeping towards Xu Chan's back.
These wings were also mutated weapons, and this strike was enough to slice Xu Chan diagonally in half.
However, as the wings made contact, a faint glow flashed at the point of impact, and in that instant, Xu Chan managed to transfer his psychic power to the attacked area, causing their psychic powers to merge momentarily. Still, Sylva's accompanying heart force was difficult to block entirely, resulting in a deep wound on Xu Chan's back that almost exposed his bones.
Even so, Xu Chan minimized the damage and impact, and although the wound looked severe, it didn't affect his combat ability in the slightest, and he could even recover within a short time.
Sylva narrowed her eyes, sensing that it was impossible for psychic power to transfer that quickly. She realized that Xu Chan must have allocated his power in advance and was waiting for her attack.
This man had anticipated everything from the start.
His wealth of experience and grasp of the battle situation left her astonished.
And it wasn't just that. If the Blood Diamond had blocked her attack, she would have struck without hesitation, even if it meant killing him. She wouldn't have held back, unlike her brother, whose less dominant personality would likely lead him to hold back in such a situation.
In an instant, had he also seen through their personalities?
She suddenly realized that she had underestimated his ranking.
Xu Chan had been fighting on the front lines for years, amassing an incredible wealth of combat experience. He had faced enemy sieges countless times.
He not only understood the psychological state of his enemies during combat but also knew that fighters rarely had no weaknesses. He could grasp these weaknesses and exploit them.
After their previous encounter, he knew that the Blood Diamond had strong defensive abilities but was weak in speed and reaction time. So, this time, he took full advantage of this, quickly overwhelming his opponent.
Furthermore, by accepting a minor injury, he turned the battle into a one-on-two fight.
He 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 abilities were genuinely formidable. Earlier, he had to distribute his psychic power and couldn't gather all his strength. Now, with the Thunder Twins closely watching him, any sign of force would prompt them to strike.
He sighed inwardly, acknowledging the strength of his opponents, who wouldn't give him a moment's respite once they recovered.
Sylva stared at Xu Chan. Although he had initially disabled the Blood Diamond, there wasn't a significant disparity in their raw power.
Combat depended on various reactions in the heat of battle. Even in a one-on-one fight, Xu Chan might not necessarily defeat either of them, let alone both working in perfect harmony.
Yet, neither of them immediately resumed the attack.
Xu Chan remained vigilant, his gaze stern. He could sense that they were clearly waiting for someone.
But having just unleashed his power, he used this respite to heal his wounds and regulate his breathing.
After a three to four-minute standoff, Sigurd spoke, "Sylva?" He glanced at the Blood Diamond on the ground.
Sylva licked her full lips, hummed, and waved her hand. Sigurd stepped back a few paces, then pulled the Blood Diamond up and retreated into the trees.
Sylva turned her back to Xu Chan, took a few steps backward, then spun around. A thunderous roar echoed as she vanished into the forest, like a bolt of lightning.
Seeing the twins' retreat, Xu Chan checked the Dimensional Token. The Vitality Index there had risen to nearly twenty because he hadn't had time to use his psychic power to resist external corruption, causing the index to skyrocket in a short time.
The two on the other side likely had the same issue but might have taken suppressants beforehand.
Now, with the battle over, his adjustments caused the index to drop and gradually return to zero.
Confident that they wouldn't pursue him, he turned and left, following the markers left by his squad members. He caught up with them half an hour later.
The squad was overjoyed to see him safe. The medical team examined his back wound, which had healed in the short time since. They gave him anti-parasitic medication to prevent any infestation through the wound.
Xu Chan assessed his squad's condition and was relieved to find no significant losses. Just then, a voice from the Dimensional Token spoke, "Xu Squad, the reconnaissance team ahead has 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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