Xu Ming and Yu Na suddenly noticed Han Ning, who had silently maneuvered near the three intruders, and their faces lit up with relief.
A distance of two to three hundred meters was nothing for Han Ning, who could now transform into a Molten Gold Battle Tiger—just a few strides away.
He picked up the two rifles that had sunk into the water, quickly inspected them, and tossed one to Xu Ming. "Take the gun. You two head back first. I'll check things out over there. Snowflake, escort them back."
"Mm—got it." "Mrow~"
"Miss Yu, aren't you coming?" Xu Ming asked after swimming a few meters and realizing Yu Na hadn't followed.
"You go ahead," Yu Na shook her head, her gaze fixed on the boat where Lin Qianqian was, her expression full of worry.
"Take care, then." Knowing he couldn't be of much help, Xu Ming retreated under Snowflake's protection.
Han Ning understood Yu Na's concern for Lin Qianqian and didn't press further. He motioned for her to stay close.
The three of them hid in an inconspicuous spot, observing the chaos unfolding nearby.
Fights were breaking out on over a dozen boats.
Dozens of invaders displayed terrifying strength, overpowering the Awakened from Azure Cloud Resort within two or three exchanges, leaving them severely injured and spitting blood.
The scene was nearly one-sided.
The most intense battle was on Chairman Wu's boat.
At the bow stood a man as solid as cast iron, his towering figure radiating suffocating pressure. His cold gaze swept over the fighters ahead, as if appraising lambs for slaughter.
On the deck, Chairman Wu's body was half-drenched in blood, his face deathly pale. Blood continuously trickled from his lips, yet he stubbornly raised his trembling hands.
With his movements, translucent, soap bubble-like golden shields flickered into existence—some large, some small—darting nimbly around him and Vice Chairman Zhao.
Beside them, six or seven Awakened from Azure Cloud Resort lay sprawled, each drenched in blood.
An unremarkable-looking invader cupped his hands near his mouth and blew lightly.
"Shreee—"
A piercing shriek tore through the air.
Ripples formed in the atmosphere as nearly tangible, translucent spikes slammed into one of the soap bubble shields.
The shield trembled violently with a soft pop, managing to block most of the impact, but the residual psychic shock still stabbed into Chairman Wu's mind like a dagger.
His vision darkened as blood gushed from his nose and mouth.
Inside the Soap Bubble Shield, Vice Chairman Zhao's body steamed with scorching white mist. His muscles swelled unnaturally, adding half a head to his height.
Veins bulged like dragons beneath his bronze skin, each breath accompanied by searing heat.
"Damn you!" he roared, his massive fist encased in condensed white energy as he swung at a gaunt man.
Yet, instead of retreating, the man grinned eerily.
With a sudden motion, the gaunt invader pressed his palms toward the deck, and Vice Chairman Zhao's footing turned treacherously slick.
Vice Chairman Zhao mustered all his strength into a stomp, but instead of gaining leverage, his foot slipped, throwing him off balance as he stumbled forward.
The Steam Power concentrated at his fist's edge dissipated abruptly, leaving less than a tenth of its original force.
The gaunt man sidestepped effortlessly, his eyes filled with the mockery of a cat toying with a mouse.
The third intruder was a short, stocky man.
His skin was covered in a layer of grayish-white Stone Carapace, his arms thickened, and his knuckles resembled stone-carved radishes.
He completely ignored the obstruction of the Soap Bubble Shield, smashing through it with his rock-hard fist.
"Bang!"
Under the tremendous impact, the Soap Bubble Shield shattered instantly.
Though the short man's arm was also severely injured by the recoil, his carapace cracked and bleeding profusely.
Yet, the sheer brute force penetrated the shield, partially striking the Mental Link sustaining it for Chairman Wu.
Chairman Wu convulsed violently as if struck by a sledgehammer, blood gushing from his mouth, and the shield's glow dimmed instantly.
Three against many—the Azure Cloud Awakened Association should have had the numerical advantage.
But these three intruders displayed astonishing strength.
Even the two vice chairmen were easily suppressed.
"Pfft!"
The trio's encirclement rapidly tightened, pinning the faltering Chairman Wu and the desperate Vice Chairman Zhao into a small area at the deck's center.
Defeat was inevitable.
Just then, the iron tower of a man, who had stood motionless like a statue at the bow, finally moved. He leaped, his heavy landing causing the foredeck to tremble slightly.
He strode toward Chairman Wu, his massive shadow completely engulfing the latter.
It was an oppressive, suffocating presence born of sheer physical power.
"Seems you're their leader?"
The iron tower extended a palm-like hand, reaching for Chairman Wu's neck.
"Old Wu!"
Seeing Chairman Wu about to be captured, Vice Chairman Zhao's face twisted in fury.
Instantly, his body emitted a high-pressured hiss like a steam engine, the white vapor around him tinged with red.
Under the influence of the crimson steam, his right arm muscles swelled further, veins beneath his skin threatening to burst.
Muscle fibers seemed to tear under the strain.
He channeled all his remaining power into a single punch, aimed straight at the iron tower's heart.
"Oh?"
For the first time, a flicker of something resembling "interest" crossed the iron tower's indifferent face.
He hadn't expected this battered man to unleash such raw physical force.
His hand, reaching for Chairman Wu, paused slightly, then shifted from a grab to a fist. Unflinching, he met Vice Chairman Zhao's crimson iron fist head-on.
As his fist swung, his skin rapidly darkened, gleaming with a metallic sheen.
The two fists collided.
A dull thud reverberated.
Crack.
The crisp sound of bone breaking followed.
"Ugh—" Vice Chairman Zhao's face contorted in agony, unable to even scream as he was sent flying like a man hit by a speeding locomotive, crashing hard into the railing connecting the bow and the ship's side.
"Some strength, but not enough."
The iron tower shook his head dismissively, as if swatting a fly, and continued reaching for Chairman Wu.
"If we weren't injured, we wouldn't have lost so easily," Chairman Wu laughed bitterly.
Just as that large hand, covered in a cold metallic sheen, was less than a meter away from Chairman Wu's neck—pale from blood loss—a dark golden figure, like lightning tearing through the rain, arrived between the iron tower of a man and Chairman Wu.
A tiger fist, covered in dense dark gold bristles with sharp claws protruding from its tips, landed squarely on the wrist of the iron tower man's outstretched hand.
Bang!
At the point of impact, the falling raindrops were shattered by the dispersing shockwaves.
"Ugh—"
The towering man's massive frame swayed slightly.
His arm, seemingly forged from metal, was violently forced upward by an overwhelming, terrifying power the moment it made contact with the dark gold tiger fist.
Crack!
A faint sound of bone fracturing came from his wrist.
Immediately after, the skin on his right arm trembled violently.
Then—bang!
Blood exploded.
His entire right arm was pulverized into a mist of blood, completely obliterated.
Even his right chest was twisted unnaturally.
"Guh!"
The iron tower man grunted, staggering back several steps before colliding with the railing, barely managing to steady himself.
"Who are you?!"
He stared at the figure before him—taller and more imposing than himself—his face, which had remained expressionless until now, finally revealing unconcealable shock.
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