Volume One: The Nature of the Devil Never Changes
Arc: The Great Guerrilla War
Ikalath and Meng Ling stepped onto the black stone arena.
The stands trembled with the cheers of the disciples.
Thousands of eyes followed the long-awaited battle.
The referee raised his white staff and shouted loudly:
"There are a few rules!
Killing is forbidden.
Anyone who leaves the arena or admits defeat will be declared the loser."
Then he struck the ground with his staff and shouted:
"The fight begins!!"
Meng Ling did not hesitate.
Suddenly—
He appeared directly in front of Ikalath.
There was no time to react.
His fist shot forward—
Like a bolt of black lightning.
The impact exploded across the arena.
Even the spectators' ears rang from the force.
The punch struck Ikalath squarely in the face.
Yet Ikalath's body did not move.
He stood like an immovable wall.
He simply spat a little blood onto the ground.
A thin line of blood trickled from his nose.
He stepped back slightly within the arena.
A demonic smile slowly spread across his face.
His overwhelming aura erupted.
The air grew heavy.
Pressure pressed down on everyone's chests.
Ikalath clenched his fist.
"You're strong…
but still weak compared to me."
The crowd erupted.
"What speed!"
"Meng Ling used his full strength from the start!"
Someone shouted:
"Ikalath didn't even move!
He's like a stone wall!"
Suddenly a man appeared near the arena.
He wore luxurious golden robes.
He shouted loudly:
"Disciples!
The betting hall is now open!"
"Place your bets on who will win!"
"Don't regret missing your chance to profit!"
One disciple said lazily:
"Oh… it's Du Wang, the famous gambler.
All his bets are scams…
but I'll still join."
The disciples rushed toward the betting table.
The sound of primal stones clashing filled the air.
"I bet five purple primal stones on Meng Ling!"
"No! Fifty blue primal stones on Ikalath!"
Another disciple slammed down everything he owned.
"I spent forty years collecting these stones!
Meng Ling is famous in the sect…
Ikalath appeared out of nowhere!
Even if his cultivation is higher—
I'm betting on Meng Ling!"
Ikalath thought silently.
(Damn…)
(That punch was strong.)
(My nose actually hurts.)
(But I can't lose face by reacting to something so small.)
Ikalath wiped the blood from his nose.
He raised his hand.
A black-red aura formed around it.
Pure chaos energy.
Suddenly—
Black chains erupted from the arena floor.
They looked like charcoal iron with crimson edges.
They wrapped around Meng Ling's body.
Chest.
Arms.
Legs.
Neck.
Meng Ling shouted in shock:
"What!?"
Ikalath lunged forward.
But suddenly—
Mist appeared behind him.
A hand emerged from the mist.
Scarlet King's hand.
He pushed Ikalath forward.
Ikalath shot forward at terrifying speed toward Meng Ling.
His fist smashed into Meng Ling's cheek.
The ground shattered beneath Meng Ling's feet.
But friction stopped him just before the arena's edge.
Three of his teeth flew from his mouth.
Meng Ling touched his cheek in pain.
(He's incredibly strong…)
A spectator suddenly shouted:
"That's cheating!!
Gu Yue helped Ikalath!"
The crowd roared angrily.
"Yes! That's cheating!"
"Restart the match!"
"Cancel the bets!"
Suddenly—
Everyone felt as if the concept of death had seized their souls.
Their legs trembled.
A terrifying killing intent flooded the arena.
Scarlet King's killing intent.
It was overwhelming.
Monstrous.
Many disciples began vomiting.
Some collapsed to their knees.
Others fainted.
Faces turned pale.
A few even lost control of their bodies in terror.
The killing intent manifested like a massive black predator with crimson eyes.
Scarlet King spread his arms.
His aura crushed the arena.
His red eyes swept across the crowd.
His majestic voice echoed:
"Anyone who dislikes it…
may leave."
"We are fighting for faction leadership—
not performing for your amusement."
Lin Yuan moved instantly.
He activated his chain technique.
Small portals opened in the sky and the earth.
Chains erupted out.
They bound Meng Ling tightly.
Then violently hurled him toward Ikalath.
Ikalath raised his fist.
He delivered a direct punch to Meng Ling's chest.
Crack!
Meng Ling's ribcage shattered.
The sound of breaking bones echoed through the arena.
Blood burst from Meng Ling's mouth.
It splashed across Ikalath's face.
Ikalath laughed mockingly.
"Hahaha…
Pathetic!"
Suddenly Meng Ling roared:
"Stone Armor!!"
Massive rocks erupted from the arena floor.
They gathered around his body.
His chest and arms became covered in thick stone armor.
His defense increased dramatically.
The chains shattered instantly.
But Ikalath drew the twin daggers Scarlet King had given him.
He moved instantly.
He slashed through part of the stone armor on Meng Ling's arm.
Meng Ling blocked the attack.
But Ikalath moved again—
And vanished.
Ikalath appeared in the center of the arena.
His eyes scanned the battlefield.
Searching.
Suddenly—
Meng Ling appeared behind him.
His fist shot toward Ikalath's back.
But Ikalath smiled.
He had already seen it—
Through Lin Yuan's eyes.
Thanks to the synchronized daggers.
Ikalath raised his blades.
He blocked the attack.
But he slid backward slightly.
Fragments of stone armor shattered from Meng Ling's fist.
Meng Ling thought grimly:
(Victory is nearly impossible…)
(There is only one option left.)
Scarlet King laughed softly as the crowd's cheering grew louder.
Ikalath moved like a storm.
He began systematically destroying the stone armor.
Slash.
The armor on Meng Ling's left arm shattered.
Flash—
Ikalath appeared behind him.
Slash.
The armor on Meng Ling's back cracked apart.
Flash—
He appeared in front of him.
Slash.
The armor on Meng Ling's chest split open.
Then Ikalath kicked him violently in the stomach.
Meng Ling was blasted backward.
But suddenly—
Meng Ling pulled out a strange red pill.
It radiated a sinister aura.
At that same moment—
Scarlet King and Elder Zhao Tian Yi jumped to their feet.
They shouted simultaneously:
"Blood Explosion Pill!!"
"Ikalath—retreat!!"
Meng Ling roared:
"Victory…
or death!!"
But inside his heart he thought:
(I'm sorry…)
(But Long Wei threatened to kill my wife and child if I lose.)
(So I must win.)
(No matter the cost.)
He placed the pill in his mouth.
And swallowed it.
Suddenly—
A blood-red aura erupted from his body.
His muscles expanded.
His skin turned crimson.
His eyes burned like blood.
Before anyone could react—
His fist shot forward at terrifying speed.
Ikalath finally sensed the danger.
(Damn… I'll retreat and let Scarlet King deal with—)
Before he could finish the thought—
An unbearable pain exploded in his chest.
He looked down.
Silence fell across the arena.
Except for Scarlet King—
Whose gaze remained lifeless and calm.
Meng Ling's fist had pierced through Ikalath's chest…
like a bloody spear.