Chapter 77: Assassinating the Fire Usurper

"Where did they go?"

Pu Wen moved through the wilderness, his gaze constantly sweeping around, searching for No. 8. According to the original plan, five enforcers who had stepped onto the Path of the War God were to battle five Incendiaries, while he and Yan Xicai teamed up to set a trap and eliminate the leader, No. 8. However, midway through the plan, Yan Xicai was chased and fled by an Incendiary. Just when he thought he would have to face No. 8 alone, No. 8 himself ran off... This battle had progressed to the point where both teammates and enemies were gone, leaving only Pu Wen.

Bang—!Just as Pu Wen was wondering, a slight tremor came from the sky. He looked up, his eyes filled with surprise. Below the clouds, a black ribbon was gradually retracting into the War God Path's foundation at the sword hilt. But on that ribbon, a figure was clinging tightly to one end, seemingly struggling fiercely.

"Isn't that the Incendiary?"

No. 8's figure rapidly moved away from the ground. He watched the approaching War God Path foundation, his eyes filled with excitement and frenzy. His hand reached into the black ribbon, grasping several times, only to find emptiness... but he showed no intention of stopping, continuously using "Theft." Finally, after dozens of consecutive uses of "Theft," a dark red fragment fell into his palm. This fragment was about half the size of a palm, and compared to the complete War God Path foundation, it was like a stone sliding off a mountain. Yet, this was the limit of what he could achieve... The moment this foundation fragment detached, the entire Ancient War Treasure suddenly shook. The black ribbon instantly shattered into nothingness, and No. 8, losing his support, plummeted through the air, falling straight towards the ground!

"His target is the foundation?" Pu Wen's expression tightened at the sight.

Pu Wen didn't understand much about the foundation... Although every ancient treasure contained a corresponding foundation, they never had the chance to interact with it. They only knew it seemed crucial to the ancient treasure. The Incendiaries daring to steal the War God Path foundation would undoubtedly trigger a series of chain reactions. Pu Wen didn't believe the beings deep within the Ancient War Treasure would allow them to leave this sea area.

"That Incendiary who stole the foundation fragment is a Tier 3. Now Yan Xicai is missing, and that guy Lu Xuanming is nowhere to be found... It's just me left. How can I deal with him?"

Pu Wen glanced in the direction No. 8 had fallen, then at the chaotic battle still raging nearby, and immediately felt a headache. The fierce battle between the enforcers and the Incendiaries was nearing its end. Three of the five enforcers who had walked the Path of the War God were dead, and two Incendiaries had also fallen. Countless other ordinary enforcers were dead or wounded, with only three or four figures still fighting amidst bodies strewn across the ground. Pu Wen roughly calculated that out of the seventy-plus people who originally entered the ancient treasure, probably no more than ten were still alive... In nearly a century, the Ancient War Treasure trial had never seen such horrific casualties. The enforcers from Aurora City had hoped to use this opportunity to train more enforcers and restore their strength, but these young recruits had all died in the ancient treasure! If the ancient treasure were to open now, wouldn't those three enforcers be scared to death on the spot?

At this point, Pu Wen shook his head, pushing all distracting thoughts aside, and charged directly towards where No. 8 had fallen... The conflict had escalated to such a degree that unless the most formidable Incendiary was dealt with, no one would walk out alive.

Meanwhile,

No. 8, plummeting from the sky, clutched the foundation fragment tightly. His palm moved towards the ground below. Hard stones were instantly stolen, leaving only soft sand and soil beneath. He landed heavily on it, and a large cloud of dust billowed up. Even though the ground was soft, it still landed No. 8 quite hard. He staggered to his feet, feeling pain throughout his internal organs... but when he looked at the foundation fragment in his hand, joy still surfaced. Mission accomplished! Having stolen the War God Path foundation fragment, he should advance significantly in rank upon returning, perhaps even entering the top five.

Just as No. 8 was secretly rejoicing, a whistling sound of rushing air suddenly came from behind him. He felt a chill down his neck and instinctively rolled forward without hesitation!

Clang—

A long blade grazed No. 8's scalp, shearing off a significant amount of blood.

Before No. 8 could even see who his attacker was, the blade light struck again with astonishing speed. Thoughts flashed rapidly through his mind. With a lift of his finger, the cold gleam pressing towards his brow vanished into thin air, only to be clutched in his palm. However, the hand seemed to have anticipated the weapon's disappearance. Not only did the attack not stop, but the hand itself transformed into a blade, covered in a steel-like black, and struck like lightning towards No. 8's face! No. 8 immediately swung his blade to block, and the knife edge scraped against the hand, producing dazzling sparks. But the terrifying force still sent him flying several meters back!

No. 8's combat experience proved extensive. He adjusted his body in mid-air and landed steadily on the ground. He looked up to see a young man in black clothes and black trousers standing before him, coldly shaking his reddened hand.

"Did he dodge it..." Lu Xuanming's brow was deeply furrowed.

"It's you?" Cold light flickered in No. 8's eyes.

Lu Xuanming's attack had been too sudden, almost as if he had been hiding near him all along, waiting until his guard was lowest before striking suddenly. If not for No. 8's extensive combat experience, he might have been decapitated instantly. But now he had escaped, and both sides had created distance... Under these circumstances, the scales of victory could no longer tip in Lu Xuanming's favor.

No. 8 remained calm, standing in place. His right hand grasped at the emptiness before him: "Steal 'Light'."

Lu Xuanming's vision instantly plunged into darkness. The target vanished, the environment vanished. This sudden anomaly caused Lu Xuanming to halt, and at the same moment, a whistling blade light slashed towards his neck! It was his own blade. Without thinking, Lu Xuanming's Iron Armor instantly covered his skin. A sharp sensation pierced through the tough armor, and he was knocked sideways by the blow. Just as he was about to roll to mitigate the force, a distinct sound of a bullet being chambered rang out.

Click—!

"Damn it!"

A thought flashed through Lu Xuanming's mind. The next moment, a crimson flower of blood burst from his thigh!