Chapter 61: Killing the 2nd Echelon Rank
Darrox stamped the ground and vermilion glyphs spread in a circle as he used his [Molten Bastion] skill—lava-like plates crawled over his armor, doubling thickness, boosting Physique and fire resistance.
Kai lunged. Their blades met mid-street with a thunderous clang that cracked asphalt.
Kai’s raw power shoved Darrox three meters back, gouging twin trenches beneath his boots.
Darrox swung his twin axes outward, chanting. Fiery crescents arced away, curving midair and converging like jaws.
Kai sidestepped as one blade scraped sparks off his vambrace, but the second whistled toward his neck.
He ducked, twisting into a low sweep. Emberstorm’s edge hissed through air, clipping Darrox’s thigh guard.
Sparks erupted as the molten coating absorbed most damage, yet Darrox still grunted. He retaliated with a shoulder charge. Kai hopped back, flipping once, landing on a delivery truck’s hood.
Darrox raised both axes overhead. Runic tattoos along his forearms pulsed crimson as he used his [Seismic Sundering] skill—he slammed both blades into concrete. Shockwaves rippled outward, shredding the roadway and sending cars tumbling. Jagged spikes shot toward the truck.
Kai’s Sense kicked in. He jumped high, spinning while using his [Inferno Splitting Slash] skill.
Emberstorm flared as a half-moon of blazing scarlet shot downward, colliding with the onrushing spikes. Explosion! Super-heated fragments rained.
Kai landed behind Darrox as smoke billowed. A flicker of surprise crossed the merc’s visor. "Your strength is ridiculous for a 1st-Echelon Rank."
"You look disappointed," Kai quipped.