Legend of Icaros

Fuck! That guy's speed is insane-I guess that's the effect of using spirit qi to empower his body. Too bad for him, I can't use super speed while on foot. Still, he's completely screwed. Even with his high strength, enhanced by that magic treasure-the gauntlet-and the physical boost from his spirit qi, he still can't harm me.

Icaros analyzed the situation at lightning speed while tearing himself free from the wall of the ship where he had been embedded.

Just then, the male cultivator wielding the shield and sword charged at him. His movement was undeniably superhuman, shield raised to absorb any impact, sword hand tensed and ready to strike.

Icaros braced himself, choosing to rely solely on his fists and raw, superhuman strength. The cultivator arrived in the blink of an eye, his velocity terrifyingly fast.

But Icaros, who had focused his senses to their peak, had already tracked every motion. He shifted his body, preparing to dodge and then strike back with lethal force.

However, the cultivator was clearly a seasoned warrior. At the very last instant, he leaped upward, evading Icaros's punch. While suspended in mid-air, he frantically channeled spirit qi into his arm and blade. With a blinding flash, he swung down, aiming to cleave straight through Icaros's neck.

In his mind, he already saw the boy's head flying off in a spray of blood.

CLANG!

Instead, his sword struck Icaros's neck like metal against diamond. The impact produced a heavy thud, but the blade failed to even scratch his skin, let alone sever his head.

By the time the cultivator landed, he was standing right next to Icaros. His eyes widened in utter disbelief. The last thing he saw was Icaros grinning at him before a fist moving at superhuman speed shattered through his skull.

Nelly forcefully repelled the two small demonic dragons. She sidestepped swiftly, then snatched something from a pouch at her waist. A green whip materialized in her palm, which she instantly infused with spirit qi. She lashed out, looping the weapon around one of the approaching beasts.

With superhuman strength, she yanked it forward, sending it flying straight onto her waiting sword-which was already coated in roaring green flames. The demonic dragon screeched in agony before dissolving into smoke.

Seizing the moment, the second dragon lunged to finish her off. But Nelly was prepared. She released a pulsating green aura made of pure spirit qi, blasting the creature away for a crucial moment before the field faded.

Her female opponent chuckled darkly at the sight.

"What are you laughing at?" Nelly spat, venom lacing her tone. "Is it because I'm about to beat the crap out of you?"

The woman chuckled again, shaking her head. "My, my... the fight is just beginning."

As she spoke, her neatly trimmed fingernails elongated into sharp, black claws. Her legs tore through her footwear, transforming into powerful, beast-like limbs that gripped the floor with unnatural strength. Scales began to spread across her visible arms and legs, even creeping up her cheeks. Her teeth sharpened into vicious fangs, bared as if ready to tear into flesh.

She had transformed into a lithe, terrifying demon. With a single tap of her foot, she vanished and reappeared atop a destroyed cannon. A wicked grin spread across her face.

"We are just getting started, honey."

Witnessing this, Nelly's expression hardened. She recognized the technique immediately-this woman was definitely from the Nine Transformation Demonic Sect. Nelly steeled her resolve, circulating her spirit qi throughout her entire body, ready to meet this new threat.

With a sharp burst of energy, Su Yan blocked her opponent's attack, allowing the force to push her back and create some distance.

The female cultivator noted this unusual defense but already had a sinister plan. As Su Yan prepared to unleash her qi techniques, she intended to plunge her daggers into her, delivering a fatal wound.

But Su Yan knew better. In combat, speed always reigned supreme.

Instead of wasting time on a grand technique, she simply assumed a stance and fired off condensed arcs of spirit qi. Their destructive power had been amplified by her secret art.

"Fuck!" her opponent gritted out, immediately shifting to defend herself.

I can't cut through his axe? Fine. Let's see how he survives overwhelming power, Li Han thought, deciding to go all out.

Holding up both hands, two fingers on each arm extended, releasing terrifying purple energy shaped like blades. They crossed before him in an 'X' formation, his legs coiled like springs ready to launch.

Without warning, the floor shattered as Li Han burst forward. His first energy sword slammed against his opponent's block, sending the man flying backward in shock.

Not one to be outdone, the enemy twisted his body mid-air and brought one of his axe crashing down, aiming to split Li Han's skull in two.

Li Han raised his other hand to block, but unexpectedly, the axe sliced straight through his energy sword.

However, that was exactly what Li Han wanted.

While the axe came down, his other hand-instead of forming another blade-was now spinning a condensed, drill-like beam of energy. He released it instantly. The projectile shot through the narrow gap in the opponent's defense, piercing straight into his skull and drilling inward with devastating speed.

The axe fell weakly against Li Han's head, but it lacked the force to break through the layer of spirit qi protecting him.

A smile bloomed on Li Han's face. Thankfully, the trick worked. During our clash, I dispersed the energy from one hand to form the drill while using the other sword as a decoy. It cost a lot of energy to hide the fluctuation, but it was worth it.

Meanwhile, moments after Icaros had killed the swordsman, the remaining cultivator saw his chance. He leaped high into the air to maximize the force of his blow, aiming to crush Icaros where he stood.

BOOM!

Icaros crossed his arms effortlessly, taking the hit directly to his forearms. Contrary to the cultivator's expectations, he dealt zero damage. He barely even budge an inch,the ship's floor sinking some inches from the raw power.

Now fully focused, Icaros wasn't about to be caught off guard again. As his opponent's fist landed, Icaros countered instantly with a casual punch of his own.

The force was cataclysmic. The cultivator was sent flying backward, crashing violently into the ship's reinforced walls.

Gasping and spitting blood, the man struggled to stand up. His mind was in turmoil as he scanned Icaros with his divine sense.

How? He shows no signs of cultivation base. He doesn't even look that muscular, yet he sent me flying like a ragdoll. If he were a cultivator, I would sense it, but there is absolutely no trace of spirit qi within him... unless he's using a supreme secret technique to hide it? But that should be impossible once battle begins!

Shaking his head, he pushed the confusion aside. I don't care how he does it! I'll just hit him harder and harder until he falls!

Gritting his teeth, he saw Icaros walking toward him calmly. The cultivator roared, exploding forward with every ounce of speed he possessed. His muscles tensed, core burning, ready to unleash everything he had.

He closed the gap instantly and threw a massive punch. Icaros blocked it, merely shifting his weight slightly.

Enraged, the cultivator continued his assault, trying to overwhelm Icaros with close-quarters combat.

But his confidence shattered completely when their fists collided head-on.

CRACK.

A sickening sound of metal bending echoed. The cultivator's priceless gauntlets were actually dented by Icaros's bare knuckles, sending a jolt of pain shooting up his arm.

The pain broke his rhythm. In that split second of hesitation, Icaros grabbed his wrist, drove his fist forward, and punched straight through the man's heart.

Coughing up a torrent of blood, his body went limp. As darkness claimed him, his last lingering thought was filled with incredulity: My gauntlets... they were used to shatter skulls... yet they were crushed by bare hands...