The blade in Ivan’s hand pointed directly at Black Snake, its tip gleaming coldly in the dim light.
“Cut the crap.” With a swift stride, he closed in on Black Snake again, the blade of slaughter in his hand tearing through the air, bringing with it a piercing shriek as it heavily chopped down.
But just like before, the blade only sparked a dazzling shower of fire against the tough Originium Arts shield.
Black Snake remained motionless, undisguised contempt flickering in her eyes.
“It’s useless,” her voice was steady, “You are too weak.” Just then, him echoed in the depths of Ivan’s mind, with a hint of impatient mockery: “Kid, if you can’t do it, let me.
Can’t even deal with such a weak opponent?” Ivan didn’t answer.
Ivan slowly sheathed the blade of slaughter in his hand.
The tsuba and scabbard mouth made a crisp clinking sound.
“What?
Giving up?” Ivan’s mind, however, had completely calmed down.
He silently recited the essentials: sheathe the blade, build momentum…
run, accelerate…
then, execute a rapid Iai strike.
As long as he maximized speed and slashes, unleashing multiple Crimson Sakura slashes, he would surely break her defense.
Ivan moved.
The rapid Iai strike hit precisely, sparks bursting on the shield.
Black Snake stood still, watching Ivan’s performance, a hint of amusement in her eyes.
Ivan’s attacks didn’t stop, instead, they grew faster and faster.
His figure gradually transformed into a blurry black streak, difficult for the naked eye to catch, with only countless fierce black blade lights, like a violent storm, continuously pounding on the shield.
Sparks no longer shot out sporadically, but exploded in an unending barrage.
The Reunion Movement Soldiers behind him momentarily forgot to move, frozen in place.
Suddenly, all the blade light and sounds came to an abrupt halt.
Ivan stood, blade sheathed, and uttered four words in a low voice: “Crimson Sakura Slash.” Boom—!
The air seemed to solidify for a moment, then, all the blade trajectories that had been blocked by the shield reappeared in mid-air simultaneously.
Countless delayed-burst slash energies instantly converged and stacked.
Crack!
A crisp cracking sound rang out, and Talulah’s indestructible shield shattered completely.
“It’s over!” Ivan’s blade of slaughter turned into a black lightning bolt, striking directly at Black Snake’s neck.
At the last moment, Ivan slightly adjusted the blade, changing from a chop to a slap, intending to knock her unconscious with the blunt side of the blade.
However, just an instant before the blunt side of the blade was about to touch the target— A longsword burning with scorching flames blocked it in the nick of time, precisely deflecting the blade of slaughter.
Black Snake’s voice was still steady, but with a hint of finally revealed coldness: “Too slow.” Her gaze seemed to penetrate Ivan’s body.
“And, if I’m not mistaken, that strange fire resistance effect on you should also be gone, right?” Ivan glanced at the now empty status bar in his vision, his face instantly turning extremely grim.
Bang!!
There was no time to react.
Talulah’s free left hand had already risen, and Talulah’s Originium Arts exploded violently at point-blank range in front of Ivan.
The deafening roar of the explosion was tremendous.
Ivan was violently thrown backward by the blast wave, crashing heavily to the ground.
His clothes were burned with several large charred holes, his exposed skin was scorched, and sharp fragments from the explosion created several bone-deep wounds, blood quickly seeping out.
Fortunately, at the last moment, he managed to switch to a shield to block it, and he also had his iron armor protection.
Ivan coughed out a mouthful of blood mixed with dust, thoughts flashing rapidly through his mind, otherwise, that hit really would have been the end for him.
Ivan struggled, still wanting to force himself up to fight again, but just then, behind Talulah, dense and chaotic footsteps surged like a tide.
A mocking voice rang out: “Why are you still struggling to fight when you’ve been beaten like this?
Truly incomprehensible.” Mephisto emerged from the shadows.
Another clear and somewhat complex voice followed.
Frostnova looked at Ivan, who was covered in wounds but still trying to stand, and slowly said, “Even knowing that in the end there will be nothing left but bones, he still chooses to fight to this extent.
A remarkable warrior.” Mephisto, Frostnova, and the composed Black Snake standing with her sword.
Ivan’s gaze swept over the desperate lineup before him, and he couldn’t help but reveal a bitter, self-mocking smile.
“As expected…
they all came.” Talulah gazed at him, and slowly spoke: “I will remember you, Ivan.” This sentence was like a verdict, coldly sealing the outcome.
Before her words even finished, without giving Ivan any time to respond or think— “Pfft—” A sharp blade pierced through the iron armor and then through his body.
Ivan’s body suddenly stiffened, all movements, all thoughts were completely severed in that instant.
His vision began to blur and change color, all sounds in his ears rapidly receded, leaving only his own heavy and broken gasps, and the faint sound of blood dripping onto the earth…
Simultaneously, high in the sky, inside the aircraft heading towards Rhodes Island.
Amiya, who was looking out the window, suddenly widened her eyes, her pupils contracting sharply in her brown eyes, as if an invisible spike had brutally pierced her heart.
Her small hand instinctively clutched the collar of her chest, and a huge and pure sorrow engulfed her without warning.
“What’s wrong, Amiya?” The Doctor beside her immediately noticed her abnormality.
Amiya turned her head, her face pale, her voice trembling and choked with an uncontrollable sob: “Doctor…
I…
I suddenly feel a very, very sad feeling…” Tears flowed uncontrollably, streaming down her cheeks, “Mr.
Ivan…
he…
he…” She couldn’t finish the sentence, but the chilling, bone-deep sense of finality, transmitted through some profound bond or Originium Arts resonance, had already explained everything.
The cabin instantly fell into a dead silence.
All Rhodes Island Operators who heard this sentence.
Whether it was the Doctor, Nearl nearby, or others who noticed the sudden change in atmosphere, they all understood at this moment what Amiya’s unfinished words meant.
A heavy atmosphere weighed on everyone’s hearts.
They might have been worried about the battle earlier, but now there was only silent sorrow for the passing of a warrior who fought to the very end.
Some lowered their heads, some clenched their fists, some looked away in distress.
Only the roar of the engine remained in the cabin…
Just as Talulah and the others turned to leave— A roaring sound began.
The “corpse” behind them slowly stood up.
“Ivan” in a posture like a puppet on strings.
Wobbling, inch by inch, he propped himself up from the pool of blood.
Those eyes had completely lost all light and vitality, replaced by an ominous white glow.
“[Objective Achieved: Transcend Life and Death]” “Now, switch.”