The Emperor slew the dragon to awe the world. Within Arlan, martial prowess and seniority reign supreme. The Imperial Arena hosts a tournament every month. The annual Continental Martial Gathering in September is one of the most thrilling events across the entire Western Continent. The annual Continental Martial Gathering in September is one of the most thrilling events across the entire Western Continent. Outstanding performance in the Imperial Arena leads directly to high military ranks and rapid promotion. Piapan holds the rank of Senior Colonel without any battle achievements, needing only one meritorious deed to immediately advance to Brigadier General. As a runner-up, his strength, movement techniques, and combat skills all demand perfection, requiring him to push beyond existing limits; otherwise, he couldn't fight his way through the arena's brutal competition. The colossal blade swept through horizontal and vertical slashes, crashing down with immense force. Ox blocked effortlessly, the deafening clang of massive steel weapons colliding threatening to burst eardrums. No one dared approach the two combatants, as both wielded tremendously powerful weapons that would kill any ordinary soldier with even a glancing blow. Piapan barely managed to parry, veins bulging one after another on his explosive muscle-packed arms. This merfolk possessed terrifying strength. "Quite strong indeed." Piapan immediately abandoned defensive postures. Despite his large build, he was anything but clumsy—ferociously agile as he crouched low, spun around with a wide circular slash, putting all his strength into trying to sever Ox's legs. The door-sized colossal sword executed an upward slash that nearly sent Piapan's massive blade flying, forcing him back several steps. The sword wind cut into his chest, tearing open a bleeding wound. Piapan's right hand trembled slightly as he desperately maintained his grip on the colossal blade. "Is this all you've got, Piapan?" Though Zachak's face showed no anger, inwardly he seethed with fury. Arlan Military Police were being thrown into disarray by a group of pirates—even if they successfully retrieved their target, he would lose face. Piapan's hair stood on end. Facing the reprimand, he didn't dare speak as Ox charged forward with another fierce slash, forcing him to retreat several steps again. Zachak's eyes turned icy cold. Getting serious now, he prepared to draw his sword and execute Ox. The gloomy, sweltering sky finally accumulated enough violent energy. Lightning flickered within the churning black clouds, and with a thunderclap, the entire world lit up like polar day—for just an instant. Two throwing knives emerged from the woods. Zachak, unable to support Piapan, swung his sword to deflect the knives. Though it appeared effortless. Only Zachak understood their terrifying force—like cannon fire. Not only was there this merfolk, but experts were also ambushed in the woods. He looked toward where the knives were thrown but saw no one. The overall situation was most important. Morrison needed to draw out the most dangerous Zachak, letting Ox slaughter the entire squad. The thrown knife shot out with absurd power, like a ballista bolt, piercing through two military police consecutively. The second one was actually pinned to a tree, both dying instantly. Two more military police were pierced through. Zachak felt shocked internally—continued , defeat was certain. Morrison actively revealed himself, standing right at the forest's edge. Half his face showed burn scars and disfigurement with over a dozen diagonal cuts, appearing extremely fierce. He took another throwing knife from his chest harness but didn't move, just held it coldly while staring at Zachak, then took two steps backward. The meaning was clear: if you don't come kill me, I'll eliminate your people one by one right here. Zachak had no choice. He charged toward Morrison on horseback. Zachak's warhorse had campaigned with him for years, raiding numerous cult strongholds large and small, never once losing control. No matter how Zachak urged it, the horse whinnied in terror, refusing to move toward that direction. Zachak knew exactly who they were trying to capture. Under Arlan's ruthless political rules, he understood that returning empty-handed would ruin the rest of his life. His expression turned completely cold. He embraced the resolve expected of a high-ranking Arlan official. One sword slash—a horse that fears the enemy in battle is worthless. The horse's head fell off, blood spraying everywhere as Zachak landed steadily on the ground. "Piapan, you still have Life Alchemy. Don't disgrace me—I'll handle the strongest opponent here." Zachak's gaze turned icy. Even if it was a trap or ambush, he had to proceed, charging into the dark woods on foot. "Though it feels somewhat dishonorable." Piapan also made his decision. Once Life Alchemy activated, he would spend his remaining life as a monster—no turning back. The blood-red symbols on his back swelled violently, spreading across his entire body. His hair turned blood-red and stood on end. Speed, strength, recovery, and explosive power elevated to terrifying levels. His 2.5-meter frame moved with incredible speed, leaping seven meters high. Spinning wildly mid-air, his colossal blade whirled madly, the air growing heated from the force. He descended upon Ox with a devastating slash. An extremely dull thud echoed. Even Ox struggled to withstand this blow—the combined weight of the colossal blade itself, the enhanced cutting force from the life symbols, gravity, and inertia totaled over five tons. Ox's knees began to bend slightly. A torrential downpour fell from the sky. Ren, who had already slaughtered all the horses on the road, licked blood from his claws while watching Ox's battle. The heavy rain poured down relentlessly, shattering upon impact with the ground. Ren laughed wildly, his blood-stained mouth appearing utterly terrifying. "Buddy, heaven wants you dead." Ren taunted Piapan, well aware of Ox's capabilities. Ordinary merfolk struggle to survive long on land—even those traveling from the distant Mirror Sea for trade periodically return to water, not daring to linger too long. Ox endured purely through terrifying physical conditioning, equivalent to permanent altitude sickness. His fighting resembled anaerobic exercise, never unleashing full power. Ren taunted Piapan, well aware of Ox's capabilities. Ordinary merfolk struggle to survive long on land—even those traveling from the distant Mirror Sea for trade periodically return to water, not daring to linger too long. Ox endured purely through terrifying physical conditioning, equivalent to permanent altitude sickness. His fighting resembled anaerobic exercise, never unleashing full power. As the gills on Ox's chest, abdomen, and back opened and closed, oxygen surged, filling his limbs with power. One sword slash—pure overwhelming force. Piapan was sent flying over ten meters with his blade, crashing against a tree. Internal organs damaged, he vomited blood from his mouth. Deep within the dense forest. The rain poured down in sheets. Zachak pursued Morrison until they reached a relatively clear area where the eastern sea was visible in the distance. His hair completely soaked, holding a blood-red longsword, the palace pressure and eastern coast battles stretched his nerves to the limit. His mere killing intent drove away all birds and beasts from the forest. Morrison also stopped—they were far enough now that Zachak couldn't influence the main battle. Fierce winds and torrential rain, raging waves churning. A hair's breadth from life and death. "You plan to cut me with that toy-like thing?" Morrison spread his hands empty, not even holding weapons. He sneered, playing mind games with Zachak. Zachak remained unprovoked, holding his sword with one hand while slowly approaching Morrison. Throwing knives shot out. Zachak didn't waste energy blocking but dodged with extreme agility. Three rapid-fire crossbow bolts predicted his trajectory, shooting toward his head. Zachak simply twirled his sword, causing surrounding raindrops to shatter explosively, momentarily creating a vacuum. All three arrows shattered and broke upon the ground as the heavy rain continued pouring down. "Is this all you've got?" Zachak sounded somewhat disdainful, now about twenty meters from Morrison. A thunderclap exploded, white lightning illuminating heaven and earth. Morrison had already closed the distance completely, swinging backhanded like lightning born from darkness. The dagger swept toward Zachak's neck.