Chapter 655 - You Hit Me So Hard, I'm Even Bleeding!

"Retreat! Retreat now!!!"

"What is that monster, my goodness!"

"Even the cyclops of legends was never this huge! A cyclops as big as a mountain?! Either of these two behemoths could flatten an entire mountain range by itself..."

"Full retreat! This is not a battlefield we have any business stepping onto!"

In the basin surrounded by mountains, whether it was the Black Ops Agency, the Steel Knights, or even the Gate Organization, everyone began withdrawing. Regardless of which side they were on, they were figures considered powerhouses by the whole world.

For example, aside from the six General Kings, the other members of the Gate Organization were in fact notorious. They were the sort who could lead a squad alone and stir up a storm. Indeed, they had also done so. Some Gate Organization members were even highly-wanted criminals in certain nations.

Yet this very cadre of powerhouses turned to flee. Faces that were once cold and stern were now filled with a terror and fear they could not hide. The two Ultimate Dark Forms behind them instilled despair from their sheer silhouette alone. They stood like two titans on the earth.

Specialists in speed covered several kilometers in moments, yet showed no sign of escaping their shadows. Even the bright moon was wholly blotted out!

"Who is this sudden powerhouse from the Covert Martial Arts world? Skyfall called him a Holy Fist!?"

Across the chaotic battleground, Knight Commander smashed through one rock after another in his path. He vaulted like a cannonball until a black shadow closed at his flank.

That shadow sprinted alongside him as it replied, "Who is he? By the Covert Martial Arts world's own terms, he indeed counts as a Holy Fist! Alessandro, you and I both know what Holy Fist means in that world. It signifies the end of the path of the Covert Martial Arts. The pinnacle of existence! To borrow their phrasing, they’ve transcended humanity into the realm of the gods! That's a world completely apart from ours! The Gate Organization's deputy leader Skyfall called himself a Holy Fist, but is in fact only at the extreme combat artist realm. The gulf between extreme combat artist to Holy Fist is terrifying. It requires a chasm of ten thousand years..."

The shadow was none other than Chief Mechanist Dixie. He knew full well the dreadful battle behind them was no longer one humans like them could join. The aftershocks of the exchanges alone could fell any elite present.

Boom!!

A colossal crimson foot loomed above them and slammed down on the earth as one of the titans stumbled back. A small mountain beside the Chief Mechanist and the Knight Commander was crushed, melting everything around. A near-inaudible scream sounded underfoot.

The Chief Mechanist warded off the flying debris as his eyelids twitched.

If he remembered correctly, the ones who had fled in that direction were the Gate Organization's Third General King, Ghost Serpent Knight from the Steel Knights, and Red Hound Glenn from the Black Ops Agency. Two at the level of a General King and one semi–General King seemed to have been stomped to death just like that?! A suffocatingly pathetic death, mashed to pulp!

More importantly, the owner of that giant foot hadn't even meant it. Driven back again and again by its foe, it stumbled and accidentally crushed elites underfoot. Such an easy, absurd demise was unacceptable given the status of the Third General King and the others. He feared that the same could happen to himself.

The Chief Mechanist and the Knight Commander traded a look, then fled all the more frantically. They refused to die by stomping!

𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

***

At the center of the Lotak mining area, two sky-high existences waged a mythic battle. Their energies were like the ocean, spreading to every area of their domains. The black sky, heavy clouds, and even the air was permeated by their energy.

Overbearing Wills filled the space, temporarily taking command of all things. In this realm, they were absolute gods!

Boom, boom...

Surging shockwaves hurled boulders around. Sparks from the colliding boulders flared red-gold within the murky wind. At the foot of a mountain, Holy Fist Skyfall shivered.

The others had a chance to flee, but he was unluckily positioned right between Cassius and the Lord of Flooding Light. The ancient altar's power blunted the first shockwave and let him live through luck. Yet the dueling auras of the two terrors still locked him down.

Even as an extreme combat artist, he couldn't break free. He could only cough up blood and find a sturdy peak to shelter from the blasts.

The storm in Skyfall's heart had not abated. "He came for the Lord of Flooding Light! Cassius... A Holy Fist! A true Holy Fist!"

One hand on his wounded shoulder, he peered over the ridge toward the battlefield. The Lord of Flooding Light was like a walking volcano. Torrents of light spouted from the surface of its mountain-like red body every second. They illuminated the surroundings, caused the temperature to climb, and twisted the air currents in the area.

But a colossal, demonic shadow was unmatched in the crimson sky. A raptor’s screech rang out as a domineering vulture phantom surged forward with a fist. The Lord of Flooding Light was raked by the vulture, suffering a gouge to the bone on one arm.

"Begone!"

The Lord of Flooding Light whipped its arm, shoving the vulture phantom back into several peaks!

Just then, the Golem's two gigantic steel-armored arms tore through the heavy clouds!

Bang! Bang!

The red giant's arm and the armored arm collided again. Light and the Golem's aura reacted violently, devouring each other. The rising white vapor burned through the clouds, opening a vast hole.

The Lord of Flooding Light finally felt the foundation of Cassius's strength and felt the first stirrings of a threat.

"Southern Dipper heir! You are a Holy Fist of the Southern Dipper lineage!"

Were it an ordinary Holy Fist, it didn't need to fear even though it was newly freed and weakened. However, this was a Southern Dipper Holy Fist...

The Lord of Flooding Light bore a deep hatred for the Southern Dipper lineage. It had nearly been worn to death by Southern Dipper starlight while it was sealed in the Miracle Garden. Given the chance, it would surely avenge itself.

Boom...

Another series of earth-shaking clashes rang out as the Lord of Flooding Light was visibly forced back, step by step. Its remaining light erupted again and again.

"What the fuck is this?! You’re clearly a Southern Dipper Holy Fist, yet you have a physique on par with an Ultimate Dark Form! That must be... a Golem? Southern Dipper Red Falcon, Southern Dipper Waterbird? A dual wielder of the Southern Dipper—Holy Fist and Dominator Fist!"

It was hit with wave after wave of shock.

Boom...

The Lord of Flooding Light crushed mountain after mountain as it was sent stumbling backward. Its vast Will throbbed.

"Damn it! If I were at my peak, you could never press me so far! Give me time to recover and you would be no match for me..."

"The past is past, the present is present. Everyone has a peak and a bottomless valley. There aren't any what-ifs. Right now, I am stronger than you!" The Golem's intense voice rumbled from beneath the steel helm.

The refined giant silver arm lit up and threw a punch. In that instant, a phantom of an iron-wing waterbird appeared over it.

Shing!

Even the air split with a wound that wouldn't close. The two mountains flanking the Lord of Flooding Light were sliced diagonally in half as a huge gash opened on its body! Billowing energy spilled out, hitting the ground as lava.

Its massive form staggered back a few steps, then lunged at Cassius. "Trying to kill me? THat won’t be so easy! Whoever you are, even if you are White Bird Holy Fist, you will pay a bitter price!"

Light gathered on either side of its arms into a pair of magma-like crimson arms. Four giant fingers formed a strange seal, and a point of light bloomed in its palm. Cassius charged in as well. He was far from fearing close combat with the Lord of Flooding Light. Instead, he welcomed it!

The Golem's refined silver armored body was like a heavy mecha. Black demonic flames rose on its surface. His hands then spread like a python seizing prey!

Bam!

A bright sun erupted right at their collision. It was so bright that nothing could be seen. One could only see several giant mountains disintegrating and becoming sand along its blurry rim.

Boom!

Hiding behind a peak, Holy Fist Skyfall's eyes were squinted to needles. He immediately slammed a fist into the ground and started to burrow under a mountain. A second later, the ground shook and a fierce hot wind howled past. The earth compressed under the pressure as the transmitted force split his wounds anew.

Moments later, the excess shockwaves in the soil squeezed him out. He turned to find that the peak that had shielded him was now a mere ten-meter mound. The hill was unusually smooth like a nearly perfect cone.

Clearly, hiding was useless. Either he'd have been gravely wounded or dead from the clash.

As the light waned, two figures emerged. A massive severed red arm stood upright in the earth like a pillar of lava. Beside it, the Lord of Flooding Light's body was covered by a mesh of cracks and deeply sunken fist marks. The extra arms had vanished. Of its original two, only the left remained as even the right had been torn off.

Opposite, the Golem's refined silver armor was scorched. Its edges were damaged, especially at the shoulder. Great plates of armour had fallen away, and the inner body was slightly injured. A few drops of blood fell through the armor joints.

The massive metal helm turned slightly, glancing at the wound.

"You hit me so hard, Lord of Flooding Light. I'm even bleeding... You beast!"

"Roar!!!"

The Lord of Flooding Light bellowed deafeningly, perhaps at Cassius's faint, sardonic mockery. Their dreadful Wills had peaked. This battle would decide life and death!

The two huge figures collided again. The Lord of Flooding Light ignited itself when it sensed there was no hope of escape.

The Miracle Garden's seal had been too cruel. It had been bound for too long, and its fuel was nearly spent. It had relied on its own formidable essence and deep reserves to battle Cassius this far, but it could no longer hold out. It could only rouse its remaining light to self-immolate!

"I told you, even if I die... I'll make you pay a heavy price!"

The Lord of Flooding Light clamped onto the Golem, its Ultimate Dark Form essence burning while exuding a Will steeped in malice.

"A heavy price? Do you think I'm in agony? Do you see me burning in pain? No, no... you're actually warming me! Hahaha! The enticing aroma of your life burning makes my mouth water. This flavour is too wonderful. May your life never part from mine. Merge with me, Lord of Flooding Light!"

Though caught within the terrifying flames, the burning Golem eagerly wrapped its arms around the Lord of Flooding Light. That tender pose was like that of lovers in an ardent embrace!

Cassius always kept one saying in mind.

It was important to respect food and give thanks for every meal!