Mushroom Lord in the Underground City

[Wind Pressure Slash Level 10]

[Flaming Dragon Breath Level 10]

Sword Qi and the fire punch collided, bursting with sparks flying everywhere.

Shi Wu had to dodge these blue sparks, while Gray could take advantage of this opportunity to close in and attempt to scorch Shi Wu with the intense heat.

"Such a bother..."

Shi Wu swung his Sword Qi while retreating using [Wandering Body Step Level 10].

Facing Gray, he wasn’t as hopeless as Bella when it came to counterattacking.

However, relying solely on long-range Sword Qi attacks, it was obviously difficult to pose a threat to Gray, even if Bella assisted with crossbow arrows from the side.

Yet, this doesn’t mean that Shi Wu is at a disadvantage. On the contrary, if this stalemate continues, Gray is the one who will eventually die.

The terrifying blue flames wield immense power, and maintaining them will inevitably consume a lot.

Conversely, [Wind Pressure Slash] consumes very little energy for Shi Wu, and his physical strength is adequate. If necessary, No. 9 can provide him with spores to enhance his potential...

However, Gray also seemed aware of this, for he was intentionally heading towards another Node Tower within the city, with a clear plan in mind — either battle him, or watch him demolish the Node Tower before finishing him when his power is depleted.

Shi Wu naturally couldn’t allow Gray to destroy the Node Tower.

"If only I knew the master’s Stepping on the Moon..." Shi Wu felt a pang of regret.

Back then, between [Stepping on the Moon] and [Shrinking Ground], two top-tier mobility skills, the former was faster and covered more distance, while the latter was more elusive and unpredictable.

He chose the latter.

[Shrinking Ground]’s shorter movement distance meant that after using it, he couldn’t completely escape the scorching range of those blue flames.

It was the only option left.

But before that... Shi Wu put No. 9 off his shoulders.

No. 9 immediately sensed something amiss: "Shi Wu, what are you going to do?"

Shi Wu simply tilted his head towards Gray’s direction and said plainly, "Charge over, finish him."

No. 9 shook the mushroom cap wildly, hoping Shi Wu wouldn’t take the risk.

"We have no choice. We can’t let another Node Tower be destroyed." Saying this, Shi Wu turned to Bella on one side, "Miss Bella, if something happens to me and I fail to kill him, you’ll need to deliver the final blow."

Bella nodded without hesitation, even though it meant she might die.

Only No. 9 wrapped around Shi Wu’s leg: "No! Let me think, I have to think..."

"I’ve got it!"

"Shi Wu, you go distract him first, I’ll be back soon!"

"Don’t you dare die quietly!"

Saying this, No. 9 dashed into the distance, running in a winding path to avoid the blood-filled pits.

Bella first glanced at the Node Magic Tower, and then at Gray’s current position: "He’s close to the Node Tower, we don’t have much time."

Bella’s intentions were clear, she was willing to sacrifice rather than risk the Node Tower being destroyed.

Shi Wu shook his head: "Miss Bella, it’s not that I’m afraid to die, I trust my partner!"

After saying that, he chased Gray using Wandering Body Step, once again swinging Sword Qi to slow him down.

Bella had no choice but to follow closely with her Explosive Crossbow, constantly demolishing the buildings along the way to hinder Gray’s path.

Meanwhile, No. 9’s short legs moved quickly, its feet stained with blood grime, but it forced itself to ignore it.

It charged towards an intact Fungal Mat, and sat down on it.

The mushroom body connected with the mycelium, and then...

"Mushroom Lord!!!"

...

Though Shi Wu and Bella had done their utmost to delay him, Gray was steadily approaching the important Node Magic Tower in the city.

The Mage atop the tower had noticed the commotion, launching several enhanced spells from within the tower towards Gray.

However, Gray suddenly intensified the blue flames; what had been confined to his arms now engulfed his entire body.

The temperature around him rose even higher.

He couldn’t even remain in one place for long, as the ground was constantly melting under his feet.

He clasped his hands together, aiming at the tower’s top!

With a shout from Gray, the blue flames transformed into a massive dragon head, vaporizing the giant ice spear shot from within the tower, roaring upward.

With a "boom," half the tower’s peak melted in the inferno, a shielded figure was seen flying out clumsily to escape to a distant safety.

This strike only deprived the tower of its counterattack capabilities; the runes within the tower were still operational.

But Bella couldn’t afford to wait any longer.

She activated a device at her waist to slightly boost her speed, blocking Gray’s inevitable path.

"Foolish, you’ll be reduced to ashes before you even touch me!"

Gray rushed forward with charged fists towards the close tower.

"Slow, Nine," Shi Wu sighed, and once again poised himself to use Shrinking Ground.

He couldn’t allow Bella to charge while he retreated, even though he trusted No. 9.

Bella and Shi Wu almost stepped forward simultaneously; Bella agile, swift, but not as fast as Shi Wu’s Shrinking Ground.

Shi Wu transformed into a ghostly silhouette, reaching close to Gray almost instantly.

This speed rendered Gray unable to react, though he didn’t need to.

As Shi Wu stood before Gray, his gear and skin ignited, about to be consumed by flames.

At that moment, a beam of moonlight flashed from afar, inserting itself between the two.

Seeing the round mushroom shape, Shi Wu instinctively said, "Master?"

But he soon recognized that the mushroom wasn’t his master, but No. 9!

"I said to wait for me!"

As No. 9 grumbled about being late within the Fungal Network, a surge of Extreme Cold Power erupted from its cap, confronting the blue flames.

[Frost Breath Level 8]

While No. 9’s cold power was at a disadvantage, it managed to lower the temperature around significantly, preventing Shi Wu from turning into a fireball.

"Lower right chest, that’s his weak spot!" Bella shouted out, her feet never ceasing, revealing the weakness she had spotted earlier.

"Damn it!"

Blocked by the sudden appearance of Puki, and having his weakness revealed in chaos, Gray’s arms flared intensely, shielding the clan leader’s demon core.

Two glints of cold light flashed, with Gray stunned on the spot, staring blankly at the combined form of Shi Wu and No. 9.

"You..."

A cross-shaped bloodline appeared in the center of his face...

Shi Wu slowly sheathed his sword: "You overly emphasize on protecting that weakness."

Gray fell heavily, his four-headed skull scattered across the ground.

Bella rushed over without pause, piercing a sword down to dig out the two demon cores, ensuring that the elite of the Demon Race was completely dead, and finally breathed a sigh of relief.

No. 9 stood triumphantly atop Shi Wu’s head, straightening its mushroom form.

"Ahem," Shi Wu cleared his dry throat, beginning the customary task, "No. 9, thanks to you, the Mushroom Race... especially you, are truly remarkable!"

Above, under Shi Wu’s compliments, No. 9’s mushroom body proudly straightened to the point of bending.

Bella couldn’t help but chuckle — these mushroom people, when not using skills, do seem cute and amusing.

As they were pleased with resolving the crisis, two loud explosions echoed from afar.

Bella and Shi Wu looked towards the source.

On the other side of the city, a massive Blood Blade swept across, slicing two Magic Towers in half, sending them crumbling down.

Among them, was a Node Tower...