Chapter 78: Desperate move
Leo turned his head with difficulty to look behind him.
The one who had driven the blade through his back was another alien.
At first glance, it resembled the one-horned mutant.
However, the differences were immediately apparent.
Its skin was a deep crimson, and a pair of jet-black horns curved upward from its forehead instead of just one. Crimson eyes glowed with cruel intelligence, while two sharp fangs protruded from the corners of its mouth.
Unlike the one-horned mutants clad in simple black armor, this alien wore an exquisite suit of armor adorned with intricate gold and silver engravings, giving it the appearance of a noble warrior rather than a mindless beast.
The alien looked at Leo with amusement before finally speaking.
"I’m impressed, human."
"Those creatures may be nothing more than disposable slaves..."
"But they aren’t so easily killed."
"Even your so-called Superhumans would struggle to eliminate two of them."
"And yet..."
"You’ve slaughtered so many."
It slowly withdrew one finger and dipped it into the blood flowing along the blade protruding from Leo’s chest.
Bringing the bloodstained finger to its mouth, it slowly licked it clean.
A satisfied smile spread across its face.
"Hmm..."
"My master has become quite fond of human blood lately."
"I think yours..."
"...will be a rare delicacy."
A low, eerie laugh echoed across the battlefield.
"Hehehe..."
Nearby, Nina stood frozen in place.
Her face had turned deathly pale as she stared at the blade piercing through Leo’s chest.
Her entire body trembled.
Leo turned toward her.
Despite the pain twisting across his face, he managed a faint, reassuring smile.
"Don’t blame yourself..."
"I’ll handle him."
The words only made the tears gathering in Nina’s eyes spill over.
Leo slowly closed his eyes.
A bitter smile appeared on his face.
...Looks like this is where my journey ends.
When he opened them again...
Every trace of hesitation had disappeared.
Only icy resolve remained.
He slowly raised both hands.
A grenade rested in each palm.
His thumbs were already hooked through the safety rings.
The two-horned alien merely watched with interest.
"You think those toys are enough to kill me?"
Leo smiled weakly.
"We won’t know..."
"...until we try."
Then he shouted toward Nina.
"Kid!"
"Run!"
His thumb began pulling the pin free.
Just before it came loose...
A cold, feminine voice echoed through the battlefield.
"Frozen World."
The surrounding temperature suddenly plummeted.
A biting chill swept across the battlefield.
In the next instant—
The two-horned alien...
The ground beneath its feet...
Even the surrounding air...
Everything was instantly sealed beneath thick layers of crystal-blue ice.
Leo’s eyes widened.
Without the slightest hesitation, he abandoned his suicidal plan.
Gritting his teeth, he forced strength back into his trembling legs and stepped forward.
"Aaargh!"
An unbearable burning pain erupted from the wound in his chest as the blade tore free from his body.
Blood immediately poured from the wound.
Ignoring the agony, Leo staggered toward Nina with all the strength he had left.
On the way, he grabbed the Moonsteel Shortsword still embedded in the skull of the fallen one-horned mutant.
He pulled it free in one motion before positioning himself in front of Nina.
Even gravely wounded...
He still stood between her and danger.
Seeing his blood-soaked back, tears streamed uncontrollably down Nina’s face.
Without looking at her, Leo spoke calmly.
"Now isn’t the time for crying."
"Stay alert."
His sharp eyes swept across the battlefield.
In the distance, more shadows were rapidly approaching.
Additional one-horned mutants.
At that moment,
Crack...
Crack...
Crack...
The massive block of ice imprisoning the two-horned alien began to fracture.
A moment later
Boom!
The ice shattered into countless glittering fragments.
The alien casually shook the remaining frost from its arms and shoulders as though nothing had happened.
Its crimson eyes slowly scanned the darkness.
Searching...
For the one who had dared to freeze it.
Then...
A graceful figure stepped out from the shadows.
Long sapphire-blue hair flowed behind her like silk beneath the moonlight.
A silver-and-black mask concealed the upper half of her face, leaving only a pair of crystal-blue eyes that were as cold and tranquil as a frozen lake.
She wore a fitted black combat top beneath a light tactical jacket, dark cargo pants, and reinforced combat boots.
With every step she took, frost spread silently across the cracked ground.
Her movements were calm.
Unhurried.
Yet the moment she appeared...
The entire battlefield seemed to fall silent.
Even the frigid air itself felt as though it obeyed her will.
Although half her face remained hidden behind the mask...
Leo could tell without a doubt.
She was a beautiful woman.
The two-horned alien’s crimson eyes settled on the masked woman.
A cruel grin spread across its face.
"Are you from the Rizen Group?"
The woman didn’t answer.
She simply stared at him with eyes as cold as eternal ice.
The alien chuckled.
"Well... no matter."
"I’ll have plenty of time to ask later."
"After I’ve carved you apart..."
"...piece by piece."
As the last word left its mouth, it lowered its body into a charging stance.
The ground beneath its feet exploded.
Boom!
Its figure shot forward like a crimson comet, crossing dozens of meters in the blink of an eye.
The speed was so terrifying that even Leo struggled to even follow its movements.
Yet...
Just as it reached the halfway point,
Another figure burst out from behind the masked woman.
He didn’t hesitate.
He charged directly toward the alien.
The two-horned alien showed no trace of concern.
With a single fluid motion, it swung its sword toward the newcomer.
The silver-haired youth didn’t dodge.
Nor did he draw a weapon.
Instead...
He simply threw a punch.
Straight at the incoming blade.
The alien’s pupils narrowed slightly.
’He’s using his bare hand?’
’Has this human gone mad?’
At that moment, the young man’s calm voice echoed across the battlefield.
"Gregory Secret Technique..."
A brilliant golden radiance erupted around his clenched fist.
The dazzling light was as warm and brilliant as the morning sun, instantly driving away the surrounding darkness.
"...Disintegration Fist."
The fist and blade collided.
There was no deafening explosion.
No violent shockwave.
Only silence.
Then...
The alien’s treasured sword began to crumble.
Starting from the point of impact, countless cracks raced across the blade before it rapidly disintegrated into fine gray dust.
Within a heartbeat...
Nothing remained.
The fragments drifted away with the wind.
The alien’s confident expression instantly vanished.
Its crimson eyes widened in disbelief.
"...Zen Technique."
Without the slightest hesitation, it kicked off the ground and retreated dozens of meters, widening the distance between them.
Only then did it finally study the newcomer carefully.
Standing before the masked woman was a young man who appeared to be no older than twenty.
His short silver hair shimmered beneath the moonlight, while a pair of brilliant amber eyes remained calm and unwavering.
He possessed a lean, athletic build rather than an imposing physique, yet every movement carried effortless confidence, as though countless battles had been etched into his body.
He wore a fitted black combat uniform trimmed with silver, reinforced by lightweight armor around his shoulders, forearms, and shins. Draped over his shoulders was a long white coat embroidered with intricate golden patterns that fluttered gently in the night breeze.
His expression was tranquil.