Chapter 462 - Top-Tier Life Vibration Energy

A golden skeleton demon had taken full form from its totem state within the deep, wide riverbed carved out by the Sonic Fang Force. It wasn't exceptionally tall and definitely nowhere near the ten-meter hulking frame of the previous Thousand-Beast Shaman, but it did resemble a human skeleton. It stood slightly larger, approximately two and a half to three meters in height.

Golden runes crawled across the surface of each bone on Evil Remains, almost like a coat of scales. Black smoke tinged with flame erupted madly from the gaps of those scaly runes, covering every part of its skeletal frame.

The flaming black smoke gave off an extremely terrifying aura. If it had appeared under normal circumstances in an open space, it would have spread wildly amidst the winds in all directions the moment it emerged.

Every plant and animal in that region, or perhaps even some inanimate objects, would have undergone a bizarre bone modelling. They would have turned into a lifeless, rigid forest of bones.

Yet at that moment, the flaming black smoke could not disperse at all, merely managing to cling to Evil Remains' body like a thin mist or an illusory layer of armor, as it struggled against the rampant decomposing force around it.

Its power to petrify others into bone was indeed terrifying, but it paled in comparison to the Sonic Fang Force, an extreme force that was capable of destroying everything.

Evil Remains floated in the center of the deep pit of the riverbed. A power of death and petrification endlessly surged from within its body and formed a dark sphere of about five meters in diameter upon its surface. But the moment it formed, it was largely wiped out by the extreme force converging from all sides and forced back into a thin layer of haze. This cycle repeated over and over, almost a dozen times in the blink of an eye.

Evil Remains barely protected its core body as it drifted upward toward the surface of the riverbed. Its ascent was excruciatingly slow, as though everything around resisted its departure. It reached out tiny hands to pull it upward, but every meter it rose required a massive expenditure of its power. Even the golden scales of runes across its body began to dim.

Evil Remains was truly unfortunate since Gale Shaman and Thousand-Beast Shaman had died right beneath Cassius's Sonic Fang Force. Both of their skeletons had been left floating in the riverbed, and Evil Remains had formed in that perilous environment.

What was Sonic Fang Force? It was the power that allowed Cassius to reach the level of an extreme combat artist. Sonic Fang Force unleashed fourfold lethal effects upon its surroundings at all times. In essence, it was a never ending killing move.

Evil Remains had become trapped in a torrent of continuous killing moves, enduring terrifying pressure every passing second. It was only thanks to its genuine extreme Cataclysmic Spirit level power that it could barely hold on.

Had they both met unprepared, Evil Remains might truly have posed quite a tricky threat to Cassius and likely forced a fierce battle. He would have had to pay a price to defeat it in a life-or-death struggle. There was even a chance that both would be grievously wounded, leading to a dire end if Cassius had not realized Evil Remains' emergence first.

But sometimes, seizing the initiative made all the difference in the world. This scenario resembled two experts of equal rank, yet one had wandered unprepared into the other's ultimate technique. Even if the unfortunate one managed to escape, a grave injury would be inevitable.

Splash... splash...

Beneath the river's surface formed by Sonic Fang Force, Evil Remains was shrouded in flaming black mist, as half the golden scales on its skeleton faded and even cracked. After some resistance, it had floated close enough to the surface that the scenery above was faintly visible.

Its entire skeletal frame suddenly trembled, the golden runes flashing to life like a lightbulb flaring up. Black smoke burst from its body, unleashing a terrifying deathly petrification force. Though it did not exactly hinder the Sonic Fang Force, it briefly forced open a void. Evil Remains seized this chance and lunged fiercely upward.

The surface parted, and a demonic figure burst forth with a loud splash. The flaming black mist, held down by the extreme force, suddenly boiled and expanded, recklessly radiating a malevolent aura around it.

Evil Remains roared wildly, sending ripples through the air. Shrouded by black smoke, it was about to land on the shore like a falling meteor. Then it saw a towering figure, four meters tall, waiting quietly on the bank as though he had been there for some time.

That figure had a sinister, wicked silhouette beneath the sunlight, as though draped in a thick, heavy suit of giant armor. Crimson light flowed like magma from the gaps in the armor, exuding an unimaginable power.

Its head hung low, but two bony horns at the top protruded and entwined like a crown. His face resembled a serpent, cold and emotionless. He seemed like a solemn Golem.

Clank, clank, clank!

The Golem raised its head. It revealed a fearsome, demonically charged face of chalky stone. Two crimson lights glowed where the eye sockets should have been.

"A dark creature on par with an extreme combat artist—this is the first time I have encountered your kind. Your life vibration energy must be tastier than any other dark creature's life vibration energy I've consumed!"

"!!!"

A part of the black smoke around Evil Remains dissipated as it sensed the intense fatal threat looming before it. This human actually devoured dark creatures?! No, he was no longer human at all—he was clearly a monster! Even among dark creatures, he was indisputably a monster...

Cassius's terrifying life magnetic field from his Golem Covert Martial Arts had evolved to a predator's due to consuming too much life vibration energy from dark creatures. It exerted a powerful intimidation on all dark creatures, making him their nemesis. Even the original Ultimate Dark Form, the Golem, could not achieve such an effect.

The rage once brimming in Evil Remains' eyes had turned to horror. Black smoke billowed around it as it prepared to retreat in another direction, but Cassius tore through the air, descending like a colossal dark figure from above.

"I really hated that look in your eyes just now. If you're afraid, then be fully afraid. If you're terrified, then tremble all you want! Why put on that face like you're seeing a monster? You lot are the real monsters..." His voice was low and raspy, like metal grinding against each other.

His words were accompanied by a menacing silhouette and a fist that shattered the air in a thunderous

boom

.

Bang, bang, bang, bang! Whoosh!

The Golem's punch slammed into one side of Evil Remains' skeleton.

Boom!

The surface of the riverbed shook violently as the fleeing Evil Remains was pounded back into the river of Sonic Fang Force with a single strike. Fortunately, Evil Remains only sank a short distance before its power erupted anew, and it charged back up savagely!

Its skull-like face twisted ferociously, jaws opening as though to roar.

Roar... Bang!

Suddenly, a huge force crashed against its forehead. Cassius spun his right arm like a massive hammer, unleashing enough force to shatter mountains upon Evil Remains. A black streak of smoke hurtled down once again, striking the river's surface, yet it sprang upward again in stubborn refusal.

However, Cassius, now transformed into a Golem, no longer felt like toying with Evil Remains. He tensed his body and dove down.

Evil Remains had barely leaped three meters off the water's surface when its vision suddenly went dark. A massive, iron hand slammed against its skull and five thick, pincer-like fingers locked onto the sturdy cranium!

The towering, four-meter suit of armor encompassed the two-plus-meter skeleton entirely, smashing it down into the river's depths.

Thud!

The "water" churned outward without a single droplet splashing, since it was not true water but the surging Sonic Fang Force. Two dark silhouettes sank together into that roiling, terrifying current of power.

Thump! Boom! Rumble...

The riverbed shook, pebbles and soil at the bank leaping several centimeters into the air. It seemed like a deadly struggle was taking place within the waters, or perhaps only a trapped beast's final throes.

Bang! Crash...

Whoosh.

A human figure suddenly burst out of the river, landing firmly on the riverbank. Cassius was back in his normal state and slightly panting. He sensed an unusual weakness in his body.

He had fought repeatedly, especially in that final clash involving Sonic Fang Force against Evil Remains. It had nearly drained every last bit of his Southern Dipper force, leaving his acupoints empty. It was rare that he would be spent to such a degree.

Still, the gains were considerable.

Pop... Pop...

Two consecutive pops reverberated through his body's acupoints. Cassius clearly sensed that his Southern Dipper Red Falcon Fist had reached a new level, ascending from the third stage to the fourth. His acupoints had increased from thirty-one to thirty-three. Soon, his Southern Dipper Sonic Snake Fist would likewise ascend to that same stage through resonance.

Of course, he currently felt no difference, mainly because his Southern Dipper force had been nearly depleted. Once he returned to rest for a while, the traits of this higher-stage Southern Dipper force would gradually become apparent.

Perhaps even his Sonic Fang Force would change accordingly. Since its foundational power was now bolstered, it may grow stronger as well. It was likely that the destructive capability of Sonic Fang Force would escalate one step further.

Regardless, these were not the matters that most concerned Cassius. He raised his sturdy right hand, which still clutched a skeletal remnant. His Golem Covert Martial Arts circulated quietly within him, a particular vibrating frequency covering his palm and reacting intensely with the skeletal remains.

The process extracted a tremendous amount of scorching, top-tier life vibration energy that flowed ceaselessly from his arm into his abdomen. Cassius's arm felt slightly swollen. His skin was sore, as though he was immersed in boiling water. He also faintly sensed a feeling of fullness. Despite the discomfort, he showed a rare, deeply satisfied smile.

Never before had Cassius seen his Golem Covert Martial Arts react as though it was overstuffed while absorbing a dark creature's life vibration energy. This only proved just how bountiful the gain was.

Moreover, this life vibration energy seethed like boiling water, utterly unlike the mild trickles he had absorbed in the past. It was fundamentally different in both quantity and quality. His arm trembled for quite a while before gradually coming to rest.

Cassius rolled his shoulder, bones crackling. When he recalled the abundant life vibration energy he had collected while hunting in the Calamity World, and compared it to today's spoils, he felt stirrings of ambition. After saving up so much for so long, perhaps it was time to start spending.

He wondered what rank his Golem Covert Martial Arts might reach in one leap. Even if he could not max it out, the improvement would surely be significant.

Shaking off his reverie, Cassius glanced down at his right hand once again. The body of Evil Remains had turned to dust, drifting in the breeze like sand. Only a palm-sized piece of bone remained, bearing a golden totem. It was so faint that it seemed as though a single breath could snuff it out.

He examined it briefly, then tucked it away. It was best to let Evil Mother handle matters in her area of expertise.

Cassius scanned his surroundings, seeing chaos and devastation everywhere. There was not a spot that didn’t bear signs of destruction and battle. Vast swaths of forest and grassland had been torn apart and riddled with countless crater-like explosions.

In particular, the riverbed carved out by Sonic Fang Force wound destructively across the land like a horde of giant serpents. It had nearly plowed half the mountain slope into a wasteland.

It seemed his strength had unwittingly grown to such a degree. He recalled his first time-travel, when Instructor Lisa had explained the realms of Covert Martial Arts cultivation beneath a large tree at sunset.

"A pugilist who surpasses the limits of the human body can fend off a hundred foes; their fist power can pierce metal armor as thick as a knuckle, and their senses are sharp enough to catch a sparrow in flight..." Cassius murmured to himself, slowly clenching his knotted fist.

"Instructor, I reached that level long ago and have gone far beyond. Now, I stand just below the Holy Fist realm. I’m qualified to gaze upon the highest peak of the path of Covert Martial Arts. It's a pity you can't witness it..."

A gust of wind howled, bringing a moment's silence.

"I will continue on this path, all the way."

Cassius suddenly turned, treading upon the white bone dust of Evil Remains scattered across a dozen meters. Bracing against the fierce wind, he advanced silently toward the mountain peak.

***

A minute later, on the other side of the mountain.

Evil Mother, blood dripping from her hand, leaned half her body against a tree trunk in an uneven clearing strewn with fallen leaves. Cassius stood across from her, holding an arm in his hand.

"You're saying he used a highly lethal burst technique, sacrificing one arm and destroying some red eyeball artifact, to force you back. Then he escaped after coughing up blood..." Cassius questioned.

The Evil Mother nodded silently.

"I don't blame you for this. The Gate Organization always has a few tricks up its sleeve." Cassius spoke as he removed the bracelet looped around the wrist of that severed arm.

He eyed the metal chain adorned with multiple keys and asked quietly, "So what do these keys open..."

Whoosh.

The wind blew in gusts as they both looked up at the cave entrance higher on the slope, where the dark creature test site lay.

One more member of the Gate Organization waited nervously inside.