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High-rank Dark Creatures, such as the Dark Ghost Vine, are intelligent.

Although the Dark Ghost Vine’s intelligence wasn’t on par with that of humans or other races, it still possessed a basic sense of danger. That was, after all, a biological instinct.

But this evolved Dark Ghost Vine before them was a bit strange.

Normally, a Dark Ghost Vine wouldn’t proactively attack humans unless its territory was invaded.

’Is the Underground Swamp its territory?’

’If so, then the Human Alliance’s first group of explorers must have already invaded it when they discovered Forbidden Zone No. 317.’

’And this ninth-rank evolved Dark Ghost Vine couldn’t possibly have evolved so suddenly.’

’So, there was only one explanation.’

’This Dark Ghost Vine came from somewhere else.’

’But from where?’

Even as Li Tiannan shouted, he struck again, charging down at incredible speed and doing everything in his power to stop the Dark Ghost Vine from closing in on Gao Neng.

But it was just as he’d suspected.

This evolved Dark Ghost Vine had truly gone mad.

It completely ignored his attacks and threw itself at Gao Neng with all its might. Countless giant vines, like a spider’s legs, whipped and stabbed toward him.

"ROAR!" Shen Ning’Er led her dragon to meet the assault.

A loud crash followed.

The dragon shattered.

Shen Ning’Er was also sent flying backward.

"BOOM!" A blue light flashed.

Fang Tangtang had decisively fired her Electromagnetic Cannon.

But it still had little effect when it slammed into the Dark Ghost Vine.

A ninth-rank evolved creature’s power was infinitely close to that of a Strongest.

How could a single blast from an Electromagnetic Cannon possibly be enough to deal with it?

’Dammit... It’s just as I thought!’ A bitter taste filled Gao Neng’s mouth. He had known all along that if he made a move, he would definitely draw the Dark Ghost Vine’s attention.

But now he’d already acted.

He couldn’t escape even if he wanted to.

The Dark Ghost Vine was simply too large.

Its speed wasn’t particularly fast, but the reach of its giant vines was so vast that it was impossible to escape its attack range in a short amount of time.

He had no choice but to fight it head-on.

Gao Neng didn’t hesitate.

He immediately gathered all the Elemental Energy in the air, planning to condense it into a massive wall or shield.

But the moment the thought crossed his mind, he dismissed it.

’It would never hold!’

’In that case, I’ll just go all-in and bet big.’

"Energy Materialization: Flying Earth Dragon!" Thanks to the ’Darkness’ element in his third attribute, Gao Neng could materialize a Flying Earth Dragon in the shortest possible time.

Moreover, there was no chance of failure.

So, he decided to give it a try.

’What would it look like to materialize a Flying Earth Dragon with this much Elemental Energy?’

Gao Neng had never tried it before.

But he was about to find out.

Because as soon as the thought formed, the Elemental Energy, which had been shaped into long blades, suddenly froze. Then, it converged like a raging storm.

"RUMBLE!"

"BANG!"

The violent storm was so powerful it even forced the charging Dark Ghost Vine to a brief halt.

And in that pause...

A Flying Earth Dragon, a full several hundred feet tall, appeared in midair.

Its two sharp scythe-like arms glinted with a metallic luster. The wings on its back unfurled and beat ceaselessly, kicking up a terrifying gale.

A concrete Flying Earth Dragon.

Materialization complete!

"SKREEE!" the Dark Ghost Vine shrieked.

"ROAR!!!" The Flying Earth Dragon roared in response.

The two giant ’creatures’ faced off in midair.

...

For a moment, the entire world seemed to stand still.

Shaximo, Wei Ya, Zhou Jin, Lin Ying, Yi Qingge, Yi Qinglian, and all the Dragon List Geniuses and adventuring parties stared at the scene, their faces filled with terror.

"It’s so... huge..."

"A mantis!"

"And this mantis has wings!"

’Did Gao Neng materialize that?!’

’Did he really materialize that?!’

Shock.

Terror.

Disbelief.

All sorts of emotions flooded the hearts of the onlookers.

This was especially true for Yi Qinglian.

Her chest heaved violently. By now, she knew without a doubt that the person who had saved her was none other than Gao Neng—the very person she had loathed to the point of grinding her teeth.

’Gao Neng saved me!’

’Not only did he save me, but now he’s going to fight the Dark Ghost Vine?!’

"Gao Neng... H-how can he be so powerful?!" Yi Qinglian’s spirit took a heavy blow. She felt guilty and filled with self-reproach, yet there was also a hint of resentment and anger. The emotions were so complex that she herself didn’t even know what she was thinking.

"Sister Ning’Er, Gao Neng... he’s so strong!" Fang Tangtang exclaimed from atop the Furious Giant Ape, her eyes wide.

Just then, Shen Ning’Er descended from midair.

Her Alloy Giant Dragon had been destroyed.

So she naturally landed on the Furious Giant Ape.

"Tangtang, do you have any Seed Burst Pills left?" Shen Ning’Er asked the moment she landed.

"Yes, I have four left!" Fang Tangtang nodded, immediately pulling out four Seed Burst Pills and handing them to Shen Ning’Er.

"Okay." Shen Ning’Er grabbed them and swallowed all four Seed Burst Pills in one gulp. Then, she took out a small, white jade bottle filled with dew.

"Sister Ning’Er, what are you doing?" Fang Tangtang cried out, startled.

"Tangtang, go hide. Get behind Shaximo and the others." With a wave of Shen Ning’Er’s hand, the Furious Giant Ape leaped and landed in front of Shaximo’s group.

"Sister Ning’Er, don’t tell me you’re going to..."

"ROAR!!!"

A beastly roar erupted.

Then, a golden light began to shine from Shen Ning’Er’s hands.

A large amount of golden liquid gushed out.

It was all gold!

Most importantly, as the gold poured out, it completely coated the Furious Giant Ape, causing it to grow larger and larger.

In the end, the entire Furious Giant Ape stood a full two hundred feet tall.

"ROAR!"

The Furious Giant Ape let out another bestial roar.

Its two giant arms beat against its chest, producing a metallic clang.

Naturally, Fang Tangtang was sent behind Shaximo and the others during this time.

As for Shen Ning’Er, she slowly faded into the Furious Giant Ape’s body, as if she were ’fusing’ with it.

"It’s Materialization Fusion!!!"

"She’s only sixth-rank!"

"How is that possible?!"

Everyone who witnessed this was utterly shocked.

At the same time, the Furious Giant Ape’s eyes, originally red, turned black—just like Shen Ning’Er’s.

Most importantly, a massive, silver-white spear materialized in the Furious Giant Ape’s hand.

A Furious Giant Ape.

Wielding a long spear.

How shocking was such a scene?

Because with the appearance of the Furious Giant Ape, there were now three colossal monsters on the battlefield.

The Dark Ghost Vine was the tallest, standing a full one thousand feet high. Next was Gao Neng’s materialized Flying Earth Dragon, which was several hundred feet long.

And finally, there was the Furious Giant Ape.

It stood two hundred feet tall.

Even so, as the three behemoths stood in the center, everyone present unconsciously took a step back.

"SKREEE!" the Dark Ghost Vine shrieked again.

"ROAR!"

"ROAR!"

The Flying Earth Dragon and the Furious Giant Ape charged forward as well.

In midair, Li Tiannan and the Sword Elder exchanged a look, their eyes filled with an undisguised, complex emotion.

’The new generation is already surpassing the old.’

’But at least...’

’The old generation can’t be left to die on the shore just yet.’

"Elder Jian, time to risk it all!" As Li Tiannan spoke, a ’tear-like’ liquid streamed from his eyes. The liquid was a deep blue.

If one looked closely, it wasn’t liquid at all.

It was lightning.

Liquid formed from pure lightning.

"If we’re risking it, we’re risking it. You think I’m afraid?" The Sword Elder’s gaze sharpened in turn. A phantasmal image appeared around his body, and it quickly solidified.

In a near instant,

the Sword Elder transformed into a ’giant’ wreathed in Spiritual Power.

Though not as large as Gao Neng’s Flying Earth Dragon, its sharp aura was like that of a supreme divine weapon capable of piercing the very heavens, inspiring awe and fear.

"Kill!" The Sword Elder was the first to charge down.

"SKREEE!" The Dark Ghost Vine lunged at Gao Neng.

"ROAR!" Gao Neng stood atop the Flying Earth Dragon. The dragon’s two massive scythe-arms slashed forward, meeting the Dark Ghost Vine’s giant tendrils.

"BOOM!"

A tremendous crash echoed.

Streaks of lightning flickered.

As the Flying Earth Dragon attacked, Gao Neng unleashed his Thunder God Domain Battle Skill, filling the hundred-meter radius around him entirely with lightning.

"Block it!" Gao Neng’s eyes were pure black, without a single trace of light.

Just then, the Furious Giant Ape, now fused with Shen Ning’Er, also made its move.

It leaped up fiercely.

The silver-white spear shot forward.

Carrying the force of a hurricane, it thrust straight toward the giant vine attacking Gao Neng.

"SHHNK!"

A single thrust.

A small hole was actually pierced through the giant vine.

The immense force even caused the Dark Ghost Vine’s body to sway back slightly.

’This is a ninth-rank evolved creature!’

No one could believe it.

Shen Ning’Er’s spear thrust had actually forced back the ninth-rank evolved creature.

At the same time, the Sword Elder’s attack landed.

"SLASH!"

A full three giant vines were severed in a single strike.

"CRASH!"

"CRASH!"

The severed vines crashed to the ground.

They crushed seven or eight of the smaller withered vines on the forest floor.

On the ground, Shaximo, Wei Ya, and the others watched the scene, their faces growing pale.

’What a battle this is.’

’A peerless battle between the Strongest and a ninth-rank evolved creature.’

’And most crucially, Gao Neng and Shen Ning’Er are actually able to take part in it.’

’They’re only sixth-rank!’

But even so, they had made their mark on this peerless battle, even if they had only managed to block a single one of the Dark Ghost Vine’s attacks by combining their strength.

But that was more than enough.

Because this battle would undoubtedly be recorded in the annals of the Human Alliance.