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"Fire Fist!"
A low growl echoed through the air as a flaming fist hurtled toward Kruger. Before he could react, Kruger was engulfed by the inferno, his eyes widening in shock.
Max, who was witnessing this scene up close, stared in disbelief.
"I've seen this cowboy-hatted, freckled guy before! And just earlier, his leader asked me if I needed help."
"You!"
Max was stunned. These unconventional-looking guys weren't ordinary people at all.
Kruger had been incredibly powerful, and Max wouldn't stand a chance against him in a one-on-one fight.
"Are you all right? Our King instructed me to protect you," Ace said with a smile as he adjusted his cowboy hat with a flick of his index finger.
In King's World, linguistic heritage was remarkably simple. Almost everyone could easily master multiple languages.
Having witnessed the transcendence of the Sword Immortal civilization, Ace had no intention of abandoning his evolved power. Following the prevailing trend, he took a Rejuvenation Pill to maintain his appearance in his early twenties. However, his weathered eyes betrayed his true age.
"That person?"
Max froze.
"That's right. He is our king," Ace nodded.
Suddenly, Ace's expression shifted, and he seized Max's mechanical arm.
"Our king is looking for you. Come with me."
Max's face tightened, and he stopped abruptly, refusing to move.
"I'm sorry. I have other business. I can't go with you."
The group was dressed in unconventional attire, but what truly terrified Max was the man in a cowboy hat before him. He could unleash flames, and even the formidable Cruz couldn't match his power.
"Who knows if I'll be torn to shreds if I go with him?"
Ace's brow furrowed, and he suddenly tightened his grip.
Crack!
With a sickening metallic crunch, Max watched in horror as his impossibly sturdy mechanical arm warped. This man's strength was immense enough to leave a handprint on the highest-grade alloy of the arm.
"Holy shit!" Max thought. Sweat beaded on his forehead, but he dared not resist.
This cowboy-hatted freak was monstrous beyond belief!
Half an hour later, Max found himself face to face with Qin Yi in an abandoned factory.
"Max, you've changed a lot in just a few days," Qin Yi said with a faint smile.
"H-hello!" Max stammered, his voice trembling slightly.
"I asked you here because I need your help with something," Qin Yi said, cutting straight to the point.
"Please tell me," Max replied.
Ace's power had made him realize that this group was far more dangerous than any special forces unit and couldn't easily be crossed.
"I need you to help us reach Elysium," Qin Yi stated.
"Elysium?" Max exclaimed in shock. Then he looked troubled. "I'm sorry. I might not be able to help you. Even I..."
Before he could finish, Qin Yi waved his hand, interrupting him.
"No, you can help us. The data in your brain, for example, is quite valuable." With a smile, Qin Yi pointed his finger.
Max immediately felt a jolt in his brain. A tiny chip floated out and landed in Qin Yi's palm.
"This is the central chip that controls all of Elysium's systems. It's a very useful item," Qin Yi murmured, his gaze locking onto Max, who trembled under it.
"I'll keep this safe for you. As compensation for your cooperation, I'll let you live."
Max jolted, his entire body shaking. "Let me live?"
"Exactly. Your entire body has been irradiated. To survive, you must reach Elysium.
"So now, our goals align!"
"You're likely aware of the dangers involved in reaching Elysium. We will ensure your safety throughout this journey."
Qin Yi stated indifferently.
"Are you certain you can guarantee my safety?" Max immediately countered, his survival being his utmost concern at that moment.
"Certain," Qin Yi nodded.
Max fell into deep thought. Compared to Spider's group, these people seemed far more trustworthy, though strange. At the very least, they had intervened directly when he was in danger.
"All right, I agree. What do you need me to do?"
"Lead us to Spider's group!" Qin Yi's eyes flashed with amusement as he grinned.
Getting to Elysium was simple in theory: just fly a spaceship there. The problem was that none of the five members of Qin Yi's group knew how to operate one.
Half an hour later, Max led Qin Yi and his group to Spider.
Spider was busy manipulating a computer and reviewing information when he saw Max. His reaction was immediate.
"Max! What's up? Man, I thought you were dead!"
"They're all dead, except me!" Max declared loudly, taking a deep breath.
"Quick, show me what you've got!" Spider urged anxiously.
"If you're looking for the password to Elysium, you won't find it on him," Qin Yi suddenly interjected.
"Who are you?" Spider's gaze shifted and fixed on Qin Yi.
"Minato!" Qin Yi called out with a faint smile, offering no further explanation.
In an instant, the golden-haired youth behind him flashed into action, subduing Spider with lightning speed. He pressed a pitch-black kunai against Spider's neck.
"Can you pilot a spaceship?" Qin Yi asked softly, channeling the Dao.
Sweat beaded on Spider's forehead as the sharp kunai dug into his neck, sending a cold, piercing pain through him.
"I can. What do you want?" Spider shouted, signaling his subordinates with a desperate glance.
"Xiaoyao, take care of them," Qin Yi instructed calmly, his gaze unwavering.
Li Xiaoyao nodded. He drew his longsword and circled the group at lightning speed before sheathing it again.
Spider's eyes widened in disbelief at the aftermath. His men collapsed limply to the ground, not a single one stirring.
"What do you want?" Spider's entire body trembled as he finally grasped the terrifying strength and ruthlessness of his captors.
"All I need is a driver."
"A driver?" Spider blinked in surprise.
An hour later, Qin Yi, Max, Spider, Minato, and three others—seven in total—boarded Kruger's spaceship.
"Are we charging straight into Elysium like this? We'll definitely be detected!" Spider roared.
"If we want to sneak in and seize Elysium, our best opportunity will be in five days!"
"That's none of your concern. Just focus on piloting the ship," Qin Yi said indifferently.
He knew that even with Kruger's spaceship, Elysium would recognize it. But what difference did it make? He wasn't afraid of their ship-destroying missiles.
Once inside Elysium, he could take control of the entire colony with the chip he had. Wouldn't that be effortless?
Unable to dissuade Qin Yi, Spider could only roar in frustration before activating the spaceship.
In an instant, the spaceship soared into the sky, speeding toward Elysium.
(End of Chapter)