The Spear Pierces the Storm
A massive red spear sweeps across the area.
Windows shatter from the sheer wind pressure alone, and buildings crumble in its wake.
Hunters are flung aside by Wang Feng's reckless swings, heedless of the collateral damage.
"Take cover!"
"The captain's going wild! Don't just stand there!"
"Everyone, get out of the area! You'll get swept up!"
Only the Changcheon Raid Team, already accustomed to Wang Feng's antics, or high-rank hunters could even hope to join the fray properly.
"Let's see if you can block this too, monster!"
Whirrr—
Wang Feng spun his spear in a wide arc.
A massive circular gale followed its trajectory.
A crimson whirlwind, dyed red by his aura, bore down on Nix like a grinder.
Krunch—
The scarlet gale pulverized everything in its diagonal path.
Nix's fourth head moved to intercept it.
"Shaaah—!"
A furious roar erupted, scattering the wind.
Mana gathered in an instant, birthing a tiny breeze.
Dwarfed by Wang Feng's red gale, this faint green wind seemed utterly insignificant.
Undeterred, the fourth head unleashed it toward the crimson storm.
Whoooosh—
The green wind detached and swelled rapidly.
It greedily devoured everything along its path, growing ever larger.
"It's sucking us in!"
"Dodge!"
"Wind magic?! At least S-rank!"
By the time the green gale had advanced far, it was no longer small.
Having ballooned beyond its humble origins, it now dwarfed Wang Feng's red whirlwind.
It resembled a colossal typhoon.
Whoooosh—
Finally clashing with the red gale, the green storm engulfed it just as voraciously.
Wang Feng grinned savagely as his own attack fueled its enemy's growth.
"Ha! Not bad!"
Even before the all-devouring typhoon, Wang Feng showed no fear.
He laughed heartily, gripping his spear tighter, as if delighted by the challenge.
"Don't think this king's power ends here!"
A spear excels at thrusting, leveraging its length.
A spear master excels at swings and slashes too, but the essence lies in the pierce.
What, then, of a thrust from Wang Feng, the pinnacle of spear mastery—called the Divine Spear, unparalleled under heaven?
His strike transcended mere thrusting.
"Hup…!"
Wang Feng drew a deep breath.
He pulled his right hand back along the shaft, extending his left horizontally.
Relaxing his forward left foot, he shifted all weight to his right.
And then.
Whoooosh—
As the raging typhoon closed in, he thrust his spear.
His centered weight exploded forward.
Contracted muscles expanded, unleashing pent-up mana in a burst.
Shuuuk—
The elegant thrust pierced straight ahead.
It quelled the blocking typhoon, shattered late-rising earthen and icy walls.
Finally, it targeted the heart of the nine-headed serpent.
'My spear pierces even that lofty mountain.'
Wang Feng smirked as his spear tip burrowed to the hydra's snout in a flash.
Bang—
A sharp sonic boom ruptured the hydra's torso.
Seeing its uncharacteristically shocked expression, Wang Feng was utterly convinced of victory.
'No regeneration can shrug off that damage.'
Whirrr—
Reclaiming his Dragon Fang Spear effortlessly, Wang Feng laughed in satisfaction.
And then.
"Captain—!"
Rumble—Boom—!
A bolt of lightning struck Wang Feng.
Nam Hoon grimaced at the blinding flash.
He worried for his exposed captain.
He yearned to rush over, but couldn't move.
Because.
"Shii—"
Across the field, the hydra flicked its tongue—the one that had lost a third of its body, including its heart.
Nam Hoon's face twisted in despair at its full recovery.
When Wang Feng's full-powered thrust pierced it, Nam Hoon had shared his certainty of victory.
But that conviction shattered cruelly soon after.
'What kind of insane regeneration…? How is it unscathed after the captain's strike?!'
Was there no way to kill this monster?
Anxiety and fear crept in; Nam Hoon swallowed hard without realizing.
Whoosh—
"Hoo… Impressive. To regenerate from that."
"Ah…! Captain! You're safe!"
Wang Feng rose slowly from the debris.
Soot covered him, but his eyes still burned with fighting spirit.
"Yang Hong! The elixir!"
"Yes, Captain!"
Yang Hong hurried from the safer rear, handing over a shimmering rainbow potion from his item bag.
Spotting the glow, Nix lunged at Wang Feng.
As if denying him time to drink.
"Hmph! Won't let you recover, eh? Smart for a monster!"
Snatching the elixir, Wang Feng leaped back.
Nix's nine heads pursued relentlessly.
"Changcheon Raid Team! Protect the captain!"
The team charged Nix to buy Wang Feng time.
"Shaaah—!"
The eighth head bellowed in rage.
Bolts of lightning rained down.
Nam Hoon yelled urgently.
"Scatter!"
Accustomed to Wang Feng's indiscriminate assaults, they dodged the sudden strikes without panic.
As they evaded naturally, Nix's left head roared.
"Kyaaah—!"
Sharp ice pillars erupted from the ground.
The raid team dodged again, but Nix pressed on.
As if anticipating their moves, the right head emerged.
"Shii…."
A low, distinct growl echoed; its third eye on the forehead opened silently.
"P-Petrification Demon Eye! Get out of its line of sight!"
Nam Hoon's desperate cry came too late.
Those who leaped airborne to avoid ice were exposed in the right head's vision.
"N-No!"
"D-Damn it!"
"Gaaah!"
Screams rang out as statues plummeted with thuds.
Before Nam Hoon could react, Nix whipped its tail.
Boom—!!!
It swung indiscriminately at full statues and partial ones alike.
Stone shards flew amid raid team screams.
"You monster…!"
Nam Hoon's face contorted; he swung his sword with subordinates, fierce blue aura targeting the seventh head—fainter than Wang Feng's, but blazing.
"Shaa—"
The seventh head mewled softly; tiny light orbs floated up.
Nam Hoon paused mid-thrust.
'…Each head uses different magic. So…?'
The realization hit; he shouted.
"Light magic!"
He retreated hastily.
Midair evasion was tough, but SA-rank Nam Hoon managed, kicking off air with a skill.
And simultaneously.
Pew—
Pure white beams lanced from the orbs like lasers.
Changcheon members were swept away helplessly.
"Argh!"
"S-Save…!"
"Uwaaak!"
Casualties mounted in seconds.
With just Wang Feng absent, the tide turned decisively; Nam Hoon bit his lip.
Nix's onslaught continued.
Lightning and fireballs overlaid the light barrage.
Earthen pillars and ice spikes burst from below; winds and poison mists spread.
Black orbs appeared, swallowing team members whole.
The nine heads tore and devoured exposed hunters mercilessly.
Nam Hoon paled at the slaughter.
"Th-This can't be…."
Despite evident mana drain from prior fights, it still had this much left?
Never seen such a monster.
SS-rank? Was it even a monster?
"Kyaaah—!!!"
As Nam Hoon stared in shock, the left head lunged.
He swung late; it dodged adeptly.
"Too slow…!"
As it shredded him—
"Don't space out, Nam Hoon!"
A flash pierced between them.
"C-Captain!"
"Don't stand there like an idiot, Nam Hoon! Lead the team!"
"Yes, sir!"
The Dragon Fang Spear returned to its master.
Wang Feng twirled it, locking eyes calmly with the nine glaring heads.
"A bit late, monster. 'Preparing,' were you?"
His wound-riddled body was pristine, like Nix's.
Nix clicked its tongue softly.
"Don't take it personally. I just recovered like you did."
-More importantly…
Wang Feng glanced around, murmuring.
"In that short time, my team took a hit… Ready to pay for it?"
He grinned ferociously and kicked off.
"Shaaah—!!!"
Nix met his renewed fury head-on, fiercer than before.
Wang Feng swung wildly against the nine incoming heads.
Crimson trails streaked everywhere.
Dust billowed from wind pressure alone.
The hunter-monster duel peaked.
"Vice Captain."
"…Yang Hong Hunter."
Yang Hong approached Nam Hoon and the regrouping team.
SA-rank comrades under Wang Feng exchanged brief nods.
Yang Hong spoke first to Nam Hoon, eyes fixed on the battle.
"Airstrikes incoming soon."
"…!"
Nam Hoon whipped around; Yang Hong smirked.
"Party support."
"…So that's the captain's 'preparation.'"
Yang Hong nodded lightly.
"That beast's done for."
"Regeneration's great, but how's it surviving fighter jets? Even if it does, captain finishes it."
"Music to my ears…."
Nam Hoon glanced at the clashing pair, then asked quietly.
"Our role?"
"…Heh. Sharp as ever, vice captain."
"Get to the point. I want to aid captain now."
"No rush. That's why I asked Changcheon. Distract it till strikes hit."
"…You want us to die?"
Yang Hong waved off the glare.
"Think I'd ask Changcheon to suicide? Just…."
His gaze shifted afar.
Nam Hoon followed, spotting hunters there.
"Them…."
"Here to 'help' captain… but really scavenging glory. Thought prior strikes thinned them, but they regrouped fast."
"…Use them?"
"Cooperation, not exploitation."
Nam Hoon pondered, then nodded slowly.
"We'll cooperate."
"Heh. True right hand. Refreshing."
"Lead them, buy time?"
"Yes. Signal before strikes. Retreat on cue. Don't get caught."
"No worries… Then."
Nam Hoon bowed briefly, leading members to the outer hunters.
Yang Hong watched fondly, smiling.
"Hope strikes start soon. That's the beast's end."
His eyes gleamed at the relentless duel.