**BOOM!**
**BANG—BANG!**
In the mountain forests of the night, violent explosions erupted one after another. Rocks were pulverized. Trees were toppling. What was once a tranquil, deserted island had now become a chaotic battlefield.
Salus felt that something was horribly wrong. She had clearly come to rescue someone, yet for some reason, she was locked in a life-and-death struggle with the very person she was supposed to save.
*What is up with the energy in this man? Isn't this the power of an Evil God?! Why can an ordinary human manipulate it so skillfully? Could he be a [God-Favored]? This is completely different from the "ordinary person" described in the files!*
And the sword in his hand—why was its divine aura so thick?! Why was the "vital hostage" recorded in the files—a member of the human faction—able to wield two opposing types of energy simultaneously, even merging them for use?
Most importantly... *Why is he swinging that sword at me like I'm the one who murdered his father?!*
*I crossed the vast ocean, enduring countless hardships to reach this terrifying, forbidden land just to save you. Forget about gratitude—you're actually trying to kill me?!*
"Stop fighting! I'm here to rescue you!" Salus raised her mechanical arms in a gesture of surrender.
But the only response she received was a lethal slash capable of cleaving a mountain range.
*SHING!*
Salus barely dodged, narrowly avoiding the fate of being sliced in two. This time, she was well and truly pissed off.
"Are you insane?! I came here out of the goodness of my heart to save you, and you try to chop me up?! Didn't your mother ever teach you any manners!"
Salus charged forward in a rage, intending to give Tang Ping a slap, only to be kicked squarely by him. She smashed into a nearby cliff face, becoming wedged in the rock, unable to move.
The Proxy of the Evil God did not miss this opportunity. He raised both hands, intending to annihilate this monster once and for all.
"O Great Tanosi! Grant me strength!"
"I shall carry your will and your wrath, bringing down the hammer of punishment upon the enemy before me!"
"Abyssal Sorcery—**Jellyfish Cannon!**"
A pure, ocean-blue energy condensed in the man's hands, forming an indestructible projectile. It streaked toward Salus with the momentum of a thunderbolt.
*If I take a direct hit, I'll lose half my life, if I don't die outright... Screw it! Survive first, talk later!*
"Stealth Mode—Deactivate!"
"**Holy Angelic System—Open!**"
Under Tang Ping's astonished gaze, Salus initiated a transformation. Her arms retracted into the sphere, and patterns resembling circuit boards appeared on her shell as her entire body ignited with golden flames. Two pink astral rings made of ancient script appeared out of thin air, rotating around the sphere. As the rings spun, the golden fire on Salus grew even more brilliant.
"That golden flame... what is it?" Even though Tang Ping had witnessed Tanosi's power, he couldn't help but take a step back in the face of this sight.
"No matter what you think, I am taking you with me!" Salus roared. Like a burning sun, she surged toward Tang Ping with absolute, unstoppable force.
***
While Tang Ping and Salus were locked in a fierce battle, on a nearby mountainside, the Dragon Princess clad in light armor gazed at the three enemies before her...
*Clang! Clang!*
Two long spears descended. Only one was left. Qing Lan didn't pull the spears out; she let them continue their role as nails, pinning her foes down.
"Haven't you been recognized by the World's Will? Why are you obstructing us?" the sole survivor, Pax, questioned loudly.
He didn't understand why she was attacking them. Since she had been recognized by the World's Will, she should be part of the "Good" faction. One could tell by the divine power radiating from her—pure and untainted. According to the data, she was likely a descendant of the Four Saints—the Azure Dragon. Pax simply couldn't fathom why things had turned out this way.
"..." The Dragon Princess did not respond, merely looking at them with cold, indifferent eyes.
"I can sense a shackle on you. Is it a slave contract? Release us immediately, and we will help you remove it!" Pax was desperate. He tried to break free, but the vines were reinforced by divine power; even at 100% horsepower, they didn't show the slightest sign of loosening. The others were surely still fighting; the longer he was delayed here, the harder it would be for them to retreat. After all, their primary mission wasn't to purge the heretical Evil God, but to rescue the hostage.
"You seem to have misunderstood a few things..." Qing Lan spoke flatly.
At the same time, she manipulated the vines to bind Pax even tighter. Pax felt as though his internal organs were about to be squeezed out.
"Ah... stop... NO!" Pax wailed. Although he was currently in his metallic sphere form, an attack of a divine grade still caused him immense pain.
"First, I accepted the power of the World's Will only because I needed it."
"Second, the noble Dragon Clan bows to no one. A mere slave contract? I can tear it up whenever I wish."
"Third—and this is your greatest mistake—you actually dared to try and take away my **Husband**! Outrageous... unbelievable... Even if the gods forgive you, I never will! Die!"
The Dragon Princess clenched her fists. In an instant, three long spears shimmering with emerald light appeared in the sky. With a wave of her hand, the three spherical monsters before her were blasted into fragments.
Having dealt with the enemies, Qing Lan looked toward a spot at the foot of the mountain and revealed a long-absent smile.
"He's grown even stronger... As expected of the man I chose!"
***
**BANG-BANG-BANG!**
Salus smashed frantically against the shield, looking like she wouldn't stop until one of them was dead. Yet, despite the onslaught, the jelly-soft barrier remained firm, protecting Tang Ping. Salus felt as though she wasn't hitting a shield, but crashing into a non-Newtonian fluid.
This was no time for games; she had to retreat with the hostage!
"Wake up! I'm here to save you!" Salus turned on her speakers and offered an olive branch.
She had originally planned to take Tang Ping away secretly while her brother, Bernidas, pinned down the Evil God. However, things had clearly deviated from the plan. The hostage had been brainwashed, and the other three support members were nowhere to be seen. She had to find a way to complete the mission alone!
"You're an inhabitant of this planet too, aren't you? It's dangerous here, come with me!"
"Stop using that power! You'll die!"
To lower Tang Ping's hostility, Salus even softened her tone, pleading for a dialogue. But Tang Ping remained unmoved. He was like an emotionless combat machine, steadfastly executing his mission. There was only one objective: eliminate the enemy before him.
**[Aetheris System: Processing data...]**
**[Source: Hostile Unit]**
**[External Voice Interference: Blocked]**
In a world of silence, Tang Ping could hear nothing but his own heartbeat. This was Monica's advice—eliminate unnecessary noise and focus on the enemy until victory was achieved.
"Tang Ping, can you hear the sounds from outside?"
"No! I can't hear anything except your voice. Why?"
"Nothing. I was just afraid the noise cancellation might fail and the explosions would distract you."
"Thanks. I'm glad I have you!"
"..."
Monica remained silent. This was her job. Even if the methods were dirty, she had to crush any "sprouting seeds" of truth. Everything was for the sake of Lady Tanosi!
"As I thought, there's nothing to be afraid of..." Tang Ping muttered. With Tanosi's power within him and Monica's assistance by his side, everything was under control. Even facing this spherical monster, he felt no fear.
With that thought, Tang Ping casually fired an energy blast, sending Salus flying into the distance. The techniques Monica had taught him were merely the simplest methods of energy circulation—moving mana along specific pathways and meridians to increase efficiency. On this foundation, Tang Ping had added his own ideas: augmenting limbs with mana to boost physical explosive power far beyond an Olympic athlete, or concentrating it on his weapon to multiply its lethality.
Through his vivid imagination and Monica's real-time assistance, the divine arts known as the **[Jellyfish Series]** were born. Tang Ping's combat strength had skyrocketed. Even if ten mutated strawberry monsters stood before him now, he could wipe them out in the blink of an eye.
"O Great Tanosi, grant me the speed of a gale!"
"Abyssal Sorcery—**Jellyfish Godspeed!**"
Tang Ping's legs tensed before he lunged forward like a projectile. His speed now rivaled Salus's limit-state, which took her completely by surprise. *This guy... he's actually getting stronger?!*
Salus decided to stop holding back, pushing her machine's efficiency to 80%. She was going to give it her all!
"**Thrones Mode: 8th Eye Open!**"
The light radiating from Salus intensified. Surrounding leaves instantly charred and curled, and the air warped from the intense heat. Tang Ping struggled to keep his eyes open. In the next second, Salus sent him flying with a heavy blow, only to strike him back into the air before he could hit the ground. She had changed her mind—she would beat him unconscious before taking him away!
However, Tang Ping was no pushover.
"O Unpredictable Tanosi! Use your brilliant acting to deceive the enemy, and indeed, the entire world!"
"Abyssal Sorcery—**Jellyfish Phantom!**"
*Swish—!*
In an instant, three phantoms appeared on the battlefield, each looking identical to Tang Ping. The four "Tang Pings" scattered simultaneously, fleeing in different directions. This sudden development left Salus momentarily stunned. She quickly recovered.
"**Thrones Mode: 9th Eye Open!**"
With her energy efficiency boosted, Salus rapidly caught up to one "Tang Ping."
*CRASH!* The burning metallic sphere smashed through him from behind, but the figure dissolved into scattered motes of light.
"Dammit! A phantom. Next one!"
Before long, the other two phantoms were also smashed to pieces. Salus launched a final assault, charging straight for Tang Ping's true body. This time, he had nowhere to run.
"Jellyfish Cannon!"
*Flash!* The energy blast couldn't stop Salus's approach; she cut through it like a hot knife through butter. She could even see the terror on Tang Ping's face.
"Jellyfish Barrier!"
"Jellyfish Barrier!"
"Jellyfish Barrier!"
Seeing the tide turn, Tang Ping frantically deployed his defenses, opening three shields in a row. But it was useless!
*Shatter!*
*Shatter!*
*Shatter!*
The three barriers vanished instantly. Facing the golden sun before him, Tang Ping was drenched in sweat. She opened her mechanical arms, reaching out for a decisive capture.
"Jellyfish Godspeed!"
At the final moment, Tang Ping used a bizarre footwork to narrowly evade Salus's grasp, diving back into the jungle.
"Stop struggling! Just come with me!" Salus navigated nimbly through the trees, still trying to persuade him to surrender.
*No... I'm out of time!* Salus thought. From the sounds on the comms, Bernidas and the others were currently suppressing the Evil God. As for Pax—though she was worried since he hadn't shown up to support her—she had to focus on her own mission!
*As long as I can get this idiot off this island in time, Brother Bernidas can unleash the forbidden arts without restraint and eliminate her once and for all. The mission will be a complete success.*
*However... why won't this damn bastard stop?!*
"STOP! You total jerk!!!" Salus accelerated once more, closing in on Tang Ping. But Tang Ping remained deaf to her calls, veering off in another direction to continue his flight.
***
Tang Ping was panicking. He had exhausted his options. The **Jellyfish Cannon** was his most powerful technique; if even that couldn't defeat the enemy, running was meaningless—he would be caught sooner or later.
*As expected, I can only rely on Lady Tanosi...*
"Lady Tanosi, what's the situation on your end? Have the enemies been defeated?"
"&#%#$@&....."
*Dammit! Nothing but static! I have to figure this out myself...*
*Think. Think about the moves in manga and movies... A way to turn the tide... That's it! My initial attacks were effective. It was only when she got serious and flames erupted from her surface that my moves stopped working. If I increase the density of my mana, I can boost the destructive power. Maybe then I can land a fatal blow.*
*Fine! Let's gamble!*
"Jellyfish Phantom!"
A phantom split from Tang Ping's body, leading Salus further ahead. Meanwhile, Tang Ping's true self lay flat on the ground, successfully blending into the terrain under the cover of the illusion.
*CRASH!* The phantom ahead was shattered. Salus turned around. She had found Tang Ping's real body.
He raised his longsword. "I don't know who you are, and I have no grudge against you. But, if you intend to destroy this fledgling nation and crush the hopes of its people, I will never allow it!"
Tang Ping issued his declaration with solemn resolve. As if responding to his conviction, the Water God's Seal erupted with a brilliant azure light. It climbed up his wrists, surged through his heels—even his strands of hair seemed to pulse with inexhaustible power. An invisible pressure began to radiate outward; his silhouette, enough to make any enemy recoil, was like a deity descending upon the world.
The massive energy continued to stack, finally converging onto the **Seven Star Dragon Abyss**. The confusion in Tang Ping's eyes vanished, replaced by an ineffable fanaticism.
In this battle, there was no retreat. This time, I will win.
"The victor will be me—Tang Ping!"
***
"I see... so you're a willing participant?" Salus's voice grew low. If she had human eyes, Tang Ping would surely have seen the disappointment within them. "I've seen too many people like you. At first, you only 'borrow' the power, but in the end, you forget who you even are. I... won't let you become like that!"
She drew a cross in her heart. The astral rings began to rotate at high speed. "O lost lamb, find your way home under the guidance of the Holy Light!"
Scorching flames enveloped her entire body. Salus could feel every bit of her latent potential being ignited. This was the Fire of Heaven from the sun—the **Solar Flare** capable of incinerating all filth in the world. She would crush the villain who had fallen into the abyss and correct the twisted truth, even if it meant using violence!
"On my pride as a Guardian of the Holy Light Cross Kingdom, I shall offer this singular victory to my Creator, my most beloved Heavenly Father."
"**Thrones Mode: 10th Eye Open!**"
Salus charged at Tang Ping with everything she had. The brilliant golden flames illuminated the entire sky. She was a comet falling to Earth, swearing to annihilate all life before her. *This time, no matter if you fire cannons or deploy shields, nothing can protect you! Accept the judgment of justice, traitor!*
"Divine Forbidden Incantation—**Flare Comet!**"
On the opposite side, Tang Ping was ready. "O Ruler of the Great Ocean—Tanosi! Your wrath can submerge entire cities; your roar can destroy countless fleets. You are the strongest on this planet, the one and only Supreme God! Lend me your strength and annihilate the enemy before me!"
Tang Ping took a step forward, both hands gripping the hilt. "This is the path I have chosen! Abyssal Sorcery—**Jellyfish Slash!**"
Tang Ping swung with a mighty force. A massive blue arc of energy streaked out instantly, aimed straight at Salus. This strike was infused with all his mana. His life. His glory. Everything was staked on this single blow!
A god-tier slash capable of sweeping through thousands of armies collided with a flaming comet capable of piercing the earth's core.
At the boundary where blue met gold, space warped instantly. And then—the world went still. No wind. No sound. Even heartbeats seemed to stop.
In the next second—
**BOOM-RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRUMBLLLLLLLE!!!!!!**
Light swallowed everything. The sky was torn asunder. The earth crumbled. Within a hundred-meter radius, nothing remained but charred ground and scattered, burning embers.