The third week of the Iron-Gate mission arrived, and with it, a change in the very atmosphere of the pass. The air was no longer just cold; it was filled with an astonishing destructive power that seemed to vibrate within the void itself.
Blake Harrison stood at the entrance of the Hive Core, his figure gaunt but his eyes burning with a light that was far more terrifying than when he had first entered. In front of him stood three High-Level Grave-Walkers, each possessing a physical strength that rivaled peak-level 5th Layer practitioners. Their stony bodies were enveloped in a ghostly green aura, and their movements were incredibly fast, threatening to slit Blake's throat in a short time.
Faced with the terrifying attacks unleashed by these three powerful husks, Blake seemed completely unconcerned.
In a very short period of time, he struck out with three fingers, each strike carrying a needle-point of Martial Intent. The three strikes were extremely powerful, arriving in an instant, causing the surrounding mist to be momentarily stunned.
The next moment, a terrifying rumbling sound echoed through the canyon. Under the effect of Blake's destructive intent, the three powerful husks trembled violently. The destructive force was simply too strong; it shattered all their internal stony structures, sending them flying and turning them into grey dust before they even landed!
If any disciples from the Cloud-Step Academy had been present to witness this horrifying scene, they would have trembled involuntarily, their gazes towards Blake revealing intense disbelief.
It seems no one expected that a 2nd Layer Vital Essence "stray" would possess such formidable strength.
Blake ignored the debris and continued walking forward calmly. With each step, the earth seemed to tremble, reverberating with a heavy, rhythmic thud. His expression remained unchanged. Even after easily killing three 5th-layer level husks, he remained completely calm, as if it were all as it should be.
"Buzz, buzz, buzz..."
Suddenly, a strange sound was heard from the shadows of the Hive Core. Figures quickly stepped towards Blake's location. Each of them possessed an extremely powerful aura, descending upon the scene in a short period of time. Among them were four "Grave-Kings," their bodies encased in ancient, black-iron armor.
These four beings possessed an aura that converged in the void, together pressing down on Blake's body. The power contained within their collective presence was beyond description.
Blake, however, remained unconcerned. An overwhelming aura of power erupted from his body. This aura was infused with his Void-Refined essence, and when it was released, everything in this space seemed to freeze. The necrotic pressure released by the Grave-Kings was frozen in the void, unable to descend upon Blake's body.
A hint of mockery flashed in Blake's eyes. One of the Grave-Kings seemed impatient and roared, its iron claws flashing as it slashed a beam of dark light towards Blake's chest. This attack was not only extremely fast but also incredibly powerful, threatening to completely pierce through his heart.
Blake remained unconcerned. Just as the opponent's claw was about to descend, he had a sudden thought.
A powerful scythe aura surged around him. From the void, a cold light flashed out from the blade of Silence, its speed unbelievable. Everyone present—had there been any—would have only felt a flash before their eyes before the cold light completely disappeared.
The next moment, a scream-like hiss echoed as an iron arm flew out. The Grave-King who attacked Blake involuntarily staggered backward, the wound on its shoulder gushing grey, necrotic fluid. It seemed never to have dreamed that it would be maimed by Blake in such a short time.
In another direction, another Grave-King launched an attack. This one held a long, rusted spear, the spear flashing with a murderous light. Wherever it went, space itself seemed to be pierced through.
However, Blake didn't need to dodge at all. Just as the powerful expert's attack was about to land, a cold glint flashed in his pupils.
Driven by his will, the Martial Intent within his body unleashed a dazzling dark light. The power of that strike was equally formidable, and in a short time, it slashed a deep bloody gash across the "throat" of that powerful husk!
The Grave-King looked at Blake with a face full of resentment, its stony body crumbling into nothingness.
Blake continued to lead his weapon forward, each step causing the ground to shake. His strength was truly formidable. Even those who had witnessed his battle at the Academy would be especially shocked. Unbeknownst to the onlookers, Blake had already refined his foundation to an unfathomable level, making his strength vastly different from what it once was.
However, the "Strong Ones" of the Hive were not yet finished.
From the depths of the green miasma, a tall figure stepped forward. Its cultivation was equivalent to the peak of the 6th Layer, and its personal strength had already reached a terrifying peak. It was tall, with muscles like forged steel and a huge bronze hammer in its hand.
It casually took a step forward, and the entire canyon seemed to tremble. Before Blake knew it, the giant was standing in front of him.
"You should consider yourself honored to die by my hand," the giant seemed to radiate through its necrotic intent, its voice like grinding stones.
Blake looked at his opponent with a sarcastic expression. Just as the opponent's bronze hammer was about to land, Blake unleashed another punch. The power contained in this punch was indescribable.
BOOM!
The destructive power contained in Blake's fist strike shattered everything in a short time and quickly descended upon the body of the giant. This caused the opponent to let out a scream, its body blasted away, its face—or what remained of it—turning ashen.
Death energy permeated the giant's body, gradually stripping away its necrotic life until it became a corpse!
"How terrifying!" a voice whispered from the mists.
Malachi stepped out from behind a pillar, his eyes reflecting intense disbelief. "Blake, your strength... it far exceeds the imagination of anyone in the Azure Vault. Even a peak 6th-layer equivalent killed with a single punch..."
Blake ignored everything else. He wiped the dust from his knuckles and looked toward the very center of the Hive, where the "Strongest Ones" awaited.
"The three top sects of this Academy will definitely not let this go," Malachi warned. "Once news of your strength spreads, they will send powerful figures to suppress you."
Blake's pupils flashed with a cold light, carrying a hint of disdain.
"Let them come," Blake said, his voice reverberating in the hearts of the silent husks. "I will kill them as easily as cutting melons and vegetables."
He continued to step forward, his expression unchanged, as if everything that had happened was exactly as it should be. The final week of the Iron-Gate was halfway over, and the true massacre had only just begun.