Chapter 686: Precision Prediction! The Demonic Soldier Falls
If the audience here were to ask those who had watched Ling Zhan in combat before, their first impression of him would consist of just four words:
Loves playing with death.
Right now,
Ling Zhan's "heart-stopping" combat style was on full display, leaving everyone thoroughly stunned.
At least among all those present, no one would dare to face off against the Blades Demonic Soldier in a test of combat skill like this!
The Blades Demonic Soldier was universally acknowledged as a natural-born killing machine.
While the Blades Demonic Soldier on the tenth floor of the Tower of Ten Thousand Demons was only level 110—far weaker than higher-level, more ferocious elite versions—
one had to remember that Ling Zhan himself was only level 100!
Not only was he battling under a 50% reduction in all stats due to environmental debuffs, but he was also fighting completely alone, without any teammates to support him!
Additionally, monsters from the Ten Thousand Demons race were far stronger than creatures from the other forbidden zones.
All these factors combined
created a truly challenging scenario.
Everyone present, including the arrogant Brean, had to admit that under these conditions, defeating a Blades Demonic Soldier was an impossible feat for them.
Meanwhile, on the screen,
after effortlessly evading the Blades Demonic Soldier's deadly, pinpoint attack, Ling Zhan opted not to use any skills. Instead, he slashed forward with his Crimson Flame Warblade!
Swish!!
A torrent of blazing flames erupted from the blade, surging toward the Blades Demonic Soldier like an overwhelming tidal wave!
This slash perfectly capitalized on the Blades Demonic Soldier's attack recovery lag.
It was common knowledge—
whether in games or real-life combat—that "recovery lag" was a real thing.
After launching a skill or performing an attack, there would always be a brief window of time where the attacker was unable to move or react.
Even the mighty Blades Demonic Soldier wasn't exempt from this rule.
What it had thought to be a perfectly executed, deadly thrust was dodged with incredible combat instincts and agility.
That alone would have been extraordinary,
but what truly shocked everyone was Ling Zhan's sheer audacity.
Most fighters, after narrowly evading such a precise attack, would immediately create distance between themselves and the enemy.
But not Ling Zhan—he was just that confident!
He moved only one step to the side!
Had he misjudged by even a centimeter, he would have been struck.
Instead of retreating to a safe distance, he chose to stay within a hair's breadth of the enemy.
This meant only one thing:
Ling Zhan had dodged with the intent to counterattack immediately.
At this range, combined with the recovery lag after the enemy's attack,
the Blades Demonic Soldier was guaranteed to suffer his counterstrike.
Unless…
it activated a skill right at that moment!
These thoughts flashed through everyone's minds in mere milliseconds.
Faced with the surging flames and the imminent slash, the Blades Demonic Soldier, realizing this human was far from ordinary, knew it couldn't let the attack land.
Its instincts screamed that being hit would result in its immediate and tragic demise!
Was there even a choice?
The Blades Demonic Soldier trusted its combat instincts.
Buzz!!
A faint golden light enveloped its massive, monstrous body.
Clearly, the Blades Demonic Soldier had activated its life-saving skill!
Ten Thousand Blade Golden Shield!!
The spectators outside, seeing this unfold, immediately understood one thing:
Despite its unmatched combat prowess,
the Blades Demonic Soldier had lost the first round of its duel with Ling Zhan!
Why? Because it was forced to use a skill.
In duels between masters, the victor was often decided in an instant.
Whoever could exploit a momentary weakness would seize victory.
Now, with its shimmering golden shield,
the Blades Demonic Soldier braced itself for the incoming wave of fire and the sword slash.
A cruel smirk curled on its lips.
It planned to counterattack the moment it deflected the attack, delivering a fatal blow to this insolent human!
But…
it had underestimated Ling Zhan.
Whether in life or in combat, Ling Zhan always prepared for the unexpected.
Knowing his slash would almost certainly land, Ling Zhan had already predicted the Blades Demonic Soldier's next move.
The Demonic Soldier's instincts were correct—
had the slash landed, it would have died instantly.
This was because Ling Zhan's attack carried a series of enhancements: SS-grade Poison Coating, SS-grade Radiance, S-grade Critical Strike, SS-grade Armor Break, and SS-grade Detonation.
The Detonation skill, even in its initial form, added explosive and armor-piercing effects to attacks.
Now upgraded to SS-grade, its power was terrifying.
Poison Coating, Radiance, Armor Break, and Critical Strike were all staple techniques in Ling Zhan's arsenal.
The SS-grade Poison Coating alone was unremovable by any skill below SS-grade.
This meant that if the slash connected, the Blades Demonic Soldier would suffer the combined effects of four SS-grade skills and one S-grade innate talent, instantly killing it.
Naturally, it resorted to its life-saving skill when sensing danger.
But how could Ling Zhan not anticipate this?
As the flaming blade descended, Ling Zhan suddenly withdrew it!
It was a feint!
In the same instant, he raised his hand and cast the SS-grade Silencer skill on the Blades Demonic Soldier mid-activation!
"Urgh…"
The Blades Demonic Soldier let out a muffled groan as it realized in shock that its SS-grade life-saving skill had been nullified!
What!?
A mere gesture had canceled out its ultimate defense!?
This was its Order Skill—how could this be!?
But there was no time to think!
Because…
Whoosh!!
The deadly flaming slash returned, engulfing it in searing flames as it descended mercilessly.
"No!!"
The monstrous cry of the Ten Thousand Demons language escaped its mouth, its hideous face twisted in despair.
This time…
the slash landed!
Boom!!
Torrents of flames consumed its massive body as the 15-meter-long Crimson Flame Warblade cleaved into its form.
Squelch!!
The sound of a blade cutting through flesh echoed, crystal clear.
Ling Zhan's blade had effortlessly bypassed its defenses, delivering a massive, lethal blow!
"Argh!!"
Enveloped in flames, the Blades Demonic Soldier let out its final, agonized scream before its body turned to ash.
The level 110 Blades Demonic Soldier…
had fallen.