Infinity, The Arcade Age

"Raaagh!"

The adventurer codenamed "Earth" let out a thunderous roar as he leaped into the air, his hand surging with energy. With precision and power, he grabbed Mary by the head, then hurled her into the ground with devastating force.

C-Rank Skill: Arid Earth!

Using her as a hammer, Earth smashed Mary into the ground twice in quick succession, each blow shaking the earth. Then, with a mighty heave, he flung her into the air.

Earth's relentless assault showcased the raw destructive power of the Orochi Lineage. Though technically C-rank skills, the sheer damage output rivaled B-rank abilities. The only downside was their immense energy cost.

However, Earth and Wind had mitigated this flaw by enhancing their bloodlines. Their mastery of the Hakkesshu Powers reduced the energy consumption of these techniques, allowing them to unleash skills like ordinary attacks.

Mary, battered and bloodied from the initial strikes, plummeted from the sky.

As she fell, Earth knelt and began channeling his strength, drawing power from the ground itself. The ground quaked violently, cracks radiating outward as energy surged into his arm.

Fully Charged Skill: Roar of the Earth!

Earth prepared to end the fight with a single decisive blow. His fist trembled with raw energy, ready to unleash a devastating punch that would obliterate his opponent.

But Mary was not about to go down without a fight.

With her body twisting midair, she summoned every ounce of her strength, leaving behind a blur of afterimages as she launched herself toward Earth.

Desperation Move: Mary Typhoon!

"What?!"

Caught off guard by Mary's sudden counterattack, Earth hesitated for a fraction of a second.

It was enough.

Mary's momentum drove her straight through his charged attack, her elbow smashing into his face. She followed up with a series of rapid strikes, her body darting around him in a whirlwind of violence.

The final blow came as a spinning kick to his chest, launching Earth backward like a ragdoll. He crashed into the ground, his massive frame sliding several meters before coming to a stop, broken and bloodied.

Mary, however, paid a steep price for her victory. As she landed, her body gave out, and she collapsed in a heap.

MAX Mode Activated!

Mary had tapped into her latent potential, unleashing her ultimate ability at the cost of her own vitality. The MAX Mode, a state of heightened power accessible only in moments of desperation, had turned the tide of battle, but it left her in a weakened state.

Qin Ming, watching the battle unfold, barely dodged a swipe from Wind as he processed what had just happened. Even Wind seemed momentarily distracted by his comrade's defeat.

But the reprieve was brief.

"Damn it!" Wind snarled, his face contorted with rage. He prepared to charge Mary but was stopped by a volley of gunfire.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Qin Ming's shots found their mark, striking Earth's prone form.

"AAAAH!"

Earth howled in agony as blood sprayed from his wounds.

"You bastard!" Wind bellowed, his aura flaring as he activated his bloodline's full power.

In a blink, Wind was upon Qin Ming. His movements were too fast to track, his form flickering in and out of sight.

A-Rank Skill: True Orochi Yashiro – Mizuochi!

A flash of crimson light accompanied Wind's devastating attack. His claws raked across Qin Ming's chest, bypassing even his high defense.

The assault continued with a flurry of strikes, each claw slashing through flesh and muscle. By the end, Wind drove both hands into Qin Ming's torso, hoisting him into the air.

With a bloodcurdling roar, Wind tore his claws apart, sending Qin Ming flying across the dojo. He crashed to the ground, a trail of blood marking his trajectory.

Wind's laughter echoed through the battlefield as he clenched his bloodied hands into fists.

"You're the first adventurer to push me this far," he sneered. "But it ends here. Let's see how much more you can take!"

He advanced on the fallen Qin Ming, preparing another attack to finish him off.

Qin Ming, his body battered but not broken, struggled to his feet. His fists clenched tightly, flames flickering faintly around his hands. He would not go down without a fight.

But before Wind could strike, the wall behind him exploded outward.

BOOM!

Two figures came hurtling through the debris, their bodies colliding midair before crashing to the ground.

It was Shiranui Hanzou and Tsukimi Soukaku.

Soukaku, now fully transformed into a Shura Demon, roared as he rose to his feet. His eyes glowed with unholy light, and his spectral claw twitched with anticipation.

"This is the end for you, Shiranui!" he bellowed.

Hanzou, battered but defiant, wiped blood from his mouth and assumed a battle stance.

"Do you think becoming a demon will save you?" Hanzou retorted. "I'll send you and your cursed bloodline straight to hell!"

The two warriors launched themselves at each other once more, their battle reigniting with even greater ferocity.

Amidst the chaos, Qin Ming, Wind, and Mary all turned to watch. The battlefield was now divided into three fronts, each one a life-or-death struggle.

And in the shadows, a new threat loomed, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.

(Chapter End)