Chapter 271 | Every Pain Makes Me Stronger
’Don’t be naive, Dexter.’
Dexter’s fist tightened as he glared at her.
She continued.
’I’ve played house with you for long enough, don’t you think?’
Something inside Dexter went still. Not calm. Still. There was a difference.
Aurelyx turned away. ’I’m getting bored.’ She took a step. ’If there’s nothing else, scram.’
Dexter’s eyes became cold, and the two middle-aged men immediately moved. One stood between Dexter and Aurelyx while the other remained slightly behind. The first man studied Dexter’s face, and recognition appeared. Then contempt.
"So you’re him." Dexter finally looked at him. "The useless bastard from the Ashford family."
Dexter’s expression barely changed. One thought crossed his mind. ’I really should change that name.’
Apparently every enemy he met had received the same insult handbook.
The second man chuckled. "Imagine chasing the Monarch all the way here." His gaze moved over Dexter. "Kid, go back to your picnic." The first man smiled. "Take care of your other wives. You still have two more, after all."
Dexter stared at them, and then his mana began rising. Slowly. The leaves around his feet trembled. The men stopped smiling. Heat spread through the forest.
Dexter rolled his shoulders. "If I have to take her back by force..." His eyes moved toward Aurelyx. "I won’t mind doing it."
The two men stared, then both sighed. "Hehehe." The first man’s expression turned cold. "Little kid."
His aura erupted.
’BOOM!’
Trees bent, and leaves exploded outward. Peak Ultra Realm.
Dexter’s eyes narrowed.
Then the second man’s aura erupted too.
’BOOM!’
The pressure doubled. Peak Ultra Realm. Both of them. And not ordinary Peak Ultra Realm experts. Their mana was dense, far stronger than the Ultra Realm enemies Dexter had encountered before.
The ground cracked beneath their feet merely from the pressure.
Dexter’s expression changed slightly, and the first man noticed. "Now you understand."
The second smiled. "Leave."
Dexter inhaled as he lowered his center of gravity. "Not until she comes with me."
The man’s smile vanished. "Then die."
Dexter disappeared. So did the second man.
A palm appeared between them, and Dexter’s fist crashed into it.
’BOOM!’
The collision detonated through the forest. The ground beneath both men collapsed as the trees shook violently.
A barely visible circular shockwave ripped leaves from branches and the Peak Ultra expert actually slid backward half a step. His eyes widened.
Dexter narrowed his eyes. ’Strong.’
Before Dexter could strike again, the man’s wrist rotated, and his palm shot toward Dexter’s chest. Dexter crossed both forearms.
’BANG!’
The impact launched him backward. He flew nearly thirty meters before his boots struck the ground.
’SCRAAAAAPE!’
Two trenches formed beneath his feet, and Dexter finally stopped. His forearms throbbed. He lowered them.
The Ultra expert looked at his palm. A red mark crossed it, and his expression darkened. "A Superhuman with the physical strength of an Ultra Human?"
Dexter didn’t answer as his eyes shifted. Aurelyx was walking away, and the second man accompanied her.
Dexter’s face darkened.
"GET BACK HERE!"
Heat erupted. "Scorching Fury!"
’BOOM!’
Massive flames exploded from Dexter’s body as the air distorted, and leaves near him curled instantly from the heat.
Black-red flames crawled across his shoulders and arms as his Flame Demon Bloodline surged.
The first man frowned. "What bloodline is that?"
The second glanced backward, and his expression became serious for the first time. "Doesn’t matter." He turned away. "You should be able to take him down. Don’t let him disturb the Monarch."
The first man smiled. "I am more than enough."
The second continued after Aurelyx.
Dexter’s eyes flashed. "Flame Burst Step!"
’BOOM!’
He disappeared, and the first man reacted immediately, punching toward Dexter’s expected path. Nothing. His eyes widened. Dexter had changed direction halfway through the burst.
A second explosion came from the side.
’BOOM!’
Dexter appeared behind the second man. His fist was covered in Abyssal Heavenly Flame. The second man’s instincts screamed and he turned but it was too late.
Dexter’s left foot struck the earth as his hips rotated. Every muscle from his leg to his shoulder transferred power into the punch. The second man raised both arms, and Dexter’s fist landed.
’BOOOOOOM!’
The man’s expression changed. His feet left the ground as he became a projectile.
’BANG!’
He struck a massive tree that was thicker than three men surrounding it with their arms outstretched.
The trunk exploded and man continued through it.
’Bang!’
A second tree snapped and he finally struck a boulder, and stone fractured.
Dexter immediately turned toward Aurelyx. "Lyra!"
He took one step.
’WHOOOOSH!’
Something screamed through the air. Dexter twisted instantly as a gray chain covered in vicious thorns ripped past his face. It curved unnaturally and came back.
The first man stood several meters away with one hand extended. Gray mana poured from his fingers. "I said..." The chain multiplied. "...I am your opponent!"
Three thorn-covered chains lashed toward Dexter. His pupils contracted. One came for his throat. One for his legs. One for his torso. His body reacted. The first missed. He jumped over the second. The third changed direction. Dexter reached out.
’CLANG!’
His hand caught it, and the Ultra expert blinked. Then smiled. "Idiot."
The chain moved like a living serpent, wrapping around Dexter’s forearm once. Twice. Three times. The thorns dug through his skin. Blood appeared, and the man’s smile widened.
"You dare grab my Violet Violent Thorn Vine?"
Dexter’s eyes narrowed.
As the man smiled and spoke. "Explode."
’BOOM!’
The thorns detonated. Blood sprayed. Chunks of flesh tore from Dexter’s forearm. Several thorns drove deep enough to scrape bone. The man expected a scream. None came.
Dexter looked at his arm, then at him. The man’s smile faded. "What?"
Pain, Dexter knew pain intimately. For months, the strange bond created through his investments and his wives’ conditions had forced him to endure echoes of agony that should have broken ordinary people. He had endured that for months and with the indestructible Buddha Endurance Scripture, every pain makes him stronger!
Dexter lifted his gaze. "That’s it?"