Chapter 141 Are you Kai Blackthorn?
Eric's doppelganger, a whirlwind of fire and lightning, shocked the onlookers into stunned silence.
The Inferno Thunderstorm, a maelstrom of raw energy, dwarfed even the Shadow Panther King's attacks in its sheer destructive power.
Those caught in its path stood no chance.
"No!"
A cacophony of terror-stricken shrieks rent the air as the players, having realized the peril too late, desperately endeavored to flee to safety.
But the Inferno Thunderstorm, a 15-foot radius of pure chaos, descended with terrifying speed. Escape was impossible.
Those with survival skills still available reacted instantly. Assassins vanished with Galestride, Swordsmen raised their blades in a desperate Parry, and Berserkers braced themselves with Block.
Those caught without a lifeline, their health already low, were incinerated instantly. Four more names vanished from Martial Alliance's roster. The survivors gasped for breath, their hearts pounding in their chests.
"You little punk! You're dead!" QuintessenceRat, the 9th-level Berserker, snarled, his eyes burning with rage. He hefted his massive greatsword and charged, aiming a vicious blow at the doppelganger's head.
Subsequently, the remaining contestants, having their competitive fervor kindled, emulated their actions, unleashing a torrent of assaults.
Instead of defending, the doppelganger smiled coldly. With a roar, he activated Earthshatter Strike, his sword cleaving through the air.
The Martial Alliance players, expecting a desperate last stand, were caught completely off guard.
The Earthshatter Strike, empowered by the last vestiges of the doppelganger's energy, hit with devastating force. Two players, their health already low, were obliterated instantly. Three more were left clinging to life, their health bars flashing ominously. Only Leo Ironblade and QuintessenceRat, their levels and gear superior, weathered the attack with more than half their health remaining.
But the doppelganger had paid a price. His own health, battered by the combined assault, plummeted towards zero.
"Crazy bastard," QuintessenceRat grinned, his eyes gleaming with avarice. "But your gear is mine now."
He'd seen the way the mysterious Swordsman fought, the damage he'd inflicted. This was a player with a high red name, no doubt. And when red-named players died, they dropped their gear. Since both Swordsmen and Berserkers favored heavy armor, there was a good chance he could snag a few upgrades.
Leo Ironblade, his heart still racing, let out a shaky breath. The mysterious Swordsman had been a formidable opponent. If not for the timely intervention of the others, he might have been staring at the respawn screen.
But something about the fight, the way the Swordsman moved, the skills he used... It felt eerily familiar.
As if reading his thoughts, the doppelganger locked eyes with QuintessenceRat and smiled.
Swap!
In a heartbeat, the doppelganger vanished, replaced by the real Eric.
The switch was so swift, so seamless, that no one noticed.
Eric's Abyssal Blade and Silverlake Gleam blurred, transforming into a whirlwind of death.
Sixteen afterimages, each a deadly arc of silver and shadow, materialized around the stunned melee fighters.
QuintessenceRat stared in disbelief as his health bar, moments ago comfortably full, vanished in an instant.
'What...?'
He'd seen the Swordsman die. He was sure of it.
'So how...?'
'And the speed... It was inhuman. He hadn't even registered the attack before his vision went dark.'
'Sixteen strikes, delivered with one sword. It defied logic.'
But what truly terrified QuintessenceRat and the others was the sheer power behind those strikes. Even with his high defense and level, each hit had ripped through him, inflicting over 300 damage. Some had hit for over 500. With a health pool of 840, even at full strength, he wouldn't have survived a single attack.
"Kai Blackthorn..." Leo Ironblade choked out, his eyes wide with shock and a growing sense of despair.
He recognized that attack. He'd seen it twice before, both times ending in his humiliating defeat.
He'd been on the cusp of greatness, of turning Martial Alliance into a force to be reckoned with in Willowbrook Town. But Eric had shattered those dreams, robbing him of the Shadowwing Citadel pass and turning his ambitions to dust.
The bounty he'd placed on Eric and his teammates had backfired spectacularly. Instead of sowing chaos, it had led to the deaths of countless guild members, turning Martial Alliance into a laughingstock. From over a hundred strong, their ranks in Willowbrook Town had dwindled to less than ten.
And now this...
Every encounter with Eric ended in disaster. It was as if fate itself conspired against him, pushing them further apart with each encounter. He was starting to feel like Eric was his nemesis, a specter haunting his every move.
This third defeat, swift and brutal, shattered what little confidence he had left.
The first time, he could rationalize it. An ambush, a lucky strike.
The second time, he'd blamed it on underestimating his opponent.
But this... This was pure skill. Two sword strikes, delivered with such speed and precision that they defied comprehension.
He wasn't even sure he was worthy of being called Eric's opponent anymore. It was like when he'd faced CelestialParagon, those repeated defeats pushing him to the brink before he'd finally swallowed his pride and sought a truce.
CelestialParagon, Eric... These were forces beyond his control, beings operating on a different level.
The remaining members of Martial Alliance stared at Eric, their faces pale with terror.
Five of their comrades, including their leader and their strongest fighter, lay dead. Slain in an instant.
"So that's Kai Blackthorn..."
ZephyrStrider, witnessing Eric's power firsthand, felt a chill run down his spine.
He'd never seen Eric's face before. The hooded figure, clad in dark, featureless armor, was an enigma. Only his health bar and the weapons he wielded, a pitch-black sword of unknown origin and a faintly glowing blue blade that hinted at Mithril quality, offered any clues to his identity.
But one thing was clear: Eric was far more powerful than Leo Ironblade had led him to believe.
Under normal circumstances, he would have avoided confrontation. But the die was cast. Blood had been spilled. Eric and Martial Alliance were now locked in a deadly dance. And he couldn't allow this threat to fester.
While the others stared, frozen by fear, Eric calmly looted the fallen players, his movements efficient and practiced. Five pieces of equipment, Bronze Level or higher, vanished into his bag.
ZephyrStrider felt a surge of anger. The audacity of this man, stealing from them right under his nose.
"I thought you might be different," ZephyrStrider said, his voice cold and sharp. "But you're just a common thug." He nocked an arrow, his aim steady. "Since you're here, I'll end this."
The Shadow Panther King, its berserk phase over, was now at 30% health. The two elite panthers were gone. The victory was all but assured. He could deal with this nuisance without fear of interruption.
He loosed three arrows in quick succession, each aimed at Eric's vital points.
At the same time, the remaining Martial Alliance members, spurred by their leader's command, unleashed their own attacks.
Fireballs, Ice Arrows, Shadow Bolts, Charge... A chaotic symphony of death and destruction aimed at a single target.
Eric smiled.
Without moving a muscle, he activated Silent Stride, his body blurring as he vanished from their sight.
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