Chapter 86: A Ploy
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Lucifer and Li Yan were made abundantly clear of the presence of the assassins. But for them, such existences simply meant more loot for Big Bro. Thus, it was with a mind clear of distractions that they traveled through the Fire Nation. Quickly, they reached the border that separated the Fire Nation from the Water Nation.
Although this area of land was considered the 'Neutral Zone' between the two Nations, Lucifer knew better than to believe such a lie. So, with a sword in hand, he pretended to be on guard as he passed through a war-torn battlefield.
No one was left alive after the most recent scuffle on this part of the border between nations, but the scars of war would almost always be a reminder of what had once transpired.
Scattered corpses, broken appendages, severed heads, shattered weapons, cracked armor, and fallen soldiers. There were many traces of fights that likely lasted for years on end…
For a couple dozen shadowy figures tasked with the killing of the two surviving members of the Devilduke Family, they planned to add to the kill count of the battlefield…
Of course, Lucifer was also thinking the same thing.
'With us not being outside the bounds of the Fire Nation, the Emperor no longer has to worry about our deaths affecting his reputation. So from the very beginning…'
'From the very beginning, he didn't even plan to allow us the chance to complete the mission. All routes lead to death, and death lies around every corner.'
With a calculative mind, Lucifer stopped atop a bloody hill with weapons plunged into the ground from all angels.
Pat!
He set down the small goth girl and gave her a Low-Sky Rank Protection Talisman. "This will prevent the worms from harming you," he said.
"Mhmm…" Li Yan bobbed her head before grabbing hold of the Talisman like a precious heirloom.
After the safety of his little sister was out of the way, a cold smile crept up Lucifer's devilish face.
Waiting for the loot bags to come to him, he unsheathed his long, black sword and stabbed it into the ground. After which, he clutched the hilt of the blade and awaited the arrival of loot bags who were just itching to be looted.
Before long, roughly 20 ninja-like men materialized into view.
With lethal intent oozing from their apathetic expressions, they stared at the target for their mission. Not expecting him to have stopped in the middle of nowhere, a hint of confusion flashed past their eyes.
However, making use of their many years of experience as killers, they replaced their confusion with the intent to kill. Which, as a result, led to the first shadowy figure making a move.
POW!
Like a speeding bullet, an Early Nascent Soul Realm Assassin shot toward the seemingly weak servant.
Observing his cultivation to be in the Peak Golden Core Formation Realm, he expected to make quick work of him before moving onto the real target of the mission.
However, contrary to his expectations…
SHING!
"!!!"
A black sword made contact with his blade, causing sparks to fly!
After a quick use of increased power, the Assassin was pushed back by the servant. Falling to the ground below the hill, the assassin's expression was rife with shock and bewilderment.
"A ruse… This servant is stronger than he's willing to show."
The one who spoke was not the one who attacked first. Rather, he was the leader of the group of assassins. Knowing that the target could be hiding something within her sleeves, he made sure to stand back and gauge the situation.
However, now that the target's servant revealed his strength, there was no longer anything preventing the lead assassin from going all out. So, without further hesitation, his body blurred from view!
Along with him, the rest of the assassins also made their moves!
19 in the Early Nascent Soul Realm and 3 in the Middle Nascent Soul Realm. Such a force blazed through the skies, spinning around and flipping toward the target in a bright array of colors!
Half were tasked with the takedown of the surprisingly powerful servant, while the other half aimed to sever the head of the Devilduke heir.
There were many things that they could've predicted to happen in response to a frontal assault like this one. But never in their wildest dreams could they have anticipated…
FWIP!
Lucifer and Li Yan vanished from view, effectively dodging all the incoming strikes.
"!!!" "!!!" "!!!"
"Go into Beta Formation-!"
In the process of announcing these commands, the lead assassin had a fist land on his left side. Feeling the full force of this deadly attack, he could tell that more than a single one of his ribs cracked and shattered. Then, with an even greater pushing force, his body was sent barreling toward a low-sitting mountain in the distance!
BOOOOOM!!!
A loud explosion shook the ground for dozens of miles, leaving the remaining assassins in a state of utter shock.
But unfortunately for their nerves, Lucifer was far from satisfied…
With a light kick off the ground, his figure once again faded into the speed stream. Then, with the art of surprise, he grabbed onto the head of an assassin with both his arms. After which, he did a little twist and…
Crack!
A distinct cracking sound echoed out in the surroundings.
Looking to the source of such a grating sound, the assassins saw a head twist around a neck and pop off its socket like a beyblade. Terrified, they backed away from the corpse.
"Boo."
"!!!" "!!!"
A devilish face appeared behind multiple of them at the exact same time. Freaking the hell out, they instinctively drew their swords and daggers before slashing out with everything they had!
OOOM!
The combined force of their strongest moves was enough to cause the air and earth to tremble beneath their might. But for Lucifer, their showy attacks were nothing more than child's play.
This was especially shown to be the case with how easily he kicked up the first assassin's blade, only to follow that up by spin-kicking the second assassin. Then, with a slight flick of his fingers, the third through sixth assassins were sent crashing into one another.
Picking up a few pebbles off the ground during a somersault, Lucifer flicked them at the seventh through eleventh assassins.
Pop! Pop! Pop!
With their heads exploding like bloody watermelons, Lucifer used the blood as cover smoke. Jumping from one bloody corpse to the next, his figure sped up like a blur of crimson. After which, he took out a black blade and lunged at the throats of the remaining 10 or so assassins.
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