Chapter 48: The Appearance of the Thorn Demon

The Fallen Chancellor sensed something was wrong. He grabbed the middle-aged tribesman he had captured and held him in front as a shield. Bullets whizzed past, striking the tree trunk behind him, and sending splinters flying.

Jack was the first to charge out. His arms transformed, covered in rough bark, sprouting over a dozen barbed vines that lashed out like whips, creating a sharp whistle in the air.

The scythe swung horizontally, severing the vines with a swift slash.

As the Fallen Chancellor prepared to counterattack, the vines that had fallen into the soil suddenly took root and sprouted again, their thin tendrils winding tightly around his ankles.

Jack followed up with a powerful kick!

Bam!

The Fallen Chancellor took the blow to his shoulder but stabilized himself by planting his scythe into the ground. He then raised his right hand to block an incoming punch, and his throat moved as he spat out a glob of saliva!

Jack was shocked and quickly dodged to the side.

However, his arm was splashed by the saliva, and his cold-weather suit started to corrode rapidly.

Acid!

Even his skin was corroding, but fortunately, his wood attribute had self-healing capabilities.

The Fallen Chancellor raised his head, his half-rotten face glaring at him.

“Jack, it's you!”

He spoke in a chilling tone.

Jack looked up, shocked. “Dominic! Why is it you?”

The officers were swiftly taking out the Necro Cultists. Each of them was a second-tier soldier, making the battle almost effortless. The fight was nearly over, as there were only about twenty Necro Cultists present.

Hearing the conversation, they turned their heads in surprise.

Everyone was taken aback because this Necro Cult leader seemed familiar.

Despite his half-rotten face, the other side was very recognizable.

He was once a high-ranking officer in the military. Having reached the limit of his cell division, his lifespan was short, so he applied for retirement.

They hadn't seen him in years and now found him here.

“What’s so surprising? Isn't it normal for me to be alive? Moreover, I’ve become younger and stronger. Although my rank can no longer increase, the immortal power both destroys and strengthens me, granting me a new life.”

Dominic laughed. “Why don't you all convert? In the Akashic Records system, there’s no future for you. How much longer can any of you live?”

He paused. “Jack, you’re reaching your limit too, aren’t you?”

Jack’s expression darkened, and he was about to charge forward when a glob of thick saliva flew at him.

Spit!

A large amount of acid came his way, and Jack leaped aside to avoid it.

The officers shouted, “Soldiers, eliminate these cultists!”

They needed to prioritize taking down the strongest enemy!

But just then, there was a rustling sound from the underbrush, and rotting heads appeared, grinning eerily as they fearlessly charged forward.

Damn it, these cunning Necro Cultists had an ambush!

Jack was desperately dodging the acid, roaring in anger,

“What are you waiting for?”

Dominic was taken aback and suddenly turned around.

Someone had jumped down from a giant tree and punched him!

Bam!

Dominic caught the punch but was shaken by the immense force.

Beast-like breathing and heartbeats.

Mike’s eyes glowed faintly gold.

Holy Berserk Syndrome, no wonder!

“I despise you so-called geniuses the most!”

Dominic said coldly, “Die!”

He swung his massive iron scythe down hard!

Mike squinted his eyes and raised his hand to block!

A muffled clash of metal echoed, and the force made Mike step back.

Dominic crazily swung his scythe again, the blade flashing like a tide!

Facing such an assault, Mike could only defend passively, raising his right arm to block each powerful strike, the sound of metal clashing filling the air.

This was the difference in ranks.

The Fallen Chancellor was also second-tier!

The issue was, he was a top-tier soldier providing cover.

Jack, however, stood by, seemingly stunned.

It was clear he hoped the boy would be killed by the scythe.

Bam!

The final strike fell, the massive scythe hitting the boy’s right arm again.

But no matter how much force was applied, it could not make any headway!

“What’s so hard?”

Dominic was taken aback. The sheer defensive power reminded him of the Decaying Spectre. It had taken him ten seconds to deal with this little guy. If anyone had attacked him during this time, he would have been in a very passive position.

In reality, Mike had no protective gear; he relied solely on the hardening of his right arm.

No, strictly speaking, it was immortal power!

Sorry, you got distracted!

Mike seized the perfect opportunity. Violent electricity gathered in his right leg, granting him a burst of speed that closed the distance.

The electricity then converged into his right fist, and with a thrusting punch, it struck!

Amidst the sharp chirping of a thousand birds, Dominic’s abdomen took the hit, causing him to curl up like a shrimp, his body paralyzed by the electric shock. He had no inherent defensive power.

“Move aside!”

An icy female voice echoed through the forest.

Mike immediately dodged and then flipped a middle finger.

Boom.

Dominic was pierced through the heart by an arrow!

“The third realm, Victory Realm.”

He staggered, turning to see the firelight at the edge of the forest.

Intense flames engulfed him, turning him into a human torch in an instant.

He let out a horrifying scream of agony.

At the edge of the forest, Lisa stood on a tree branch, bow in hand. The burning arrow on the iron bow highlighted her wild yet alluring face, her eyes filled with fierce battle intent.

She should have acted directly.

But for safety, everyone had agreed she should observe the surroundings first to avoid any sneak attacks from behind.

This had taken quite some convincing.

With the strength of the third realm, her strike would be lethal.

Especially with Mike as cover.

Jack stepped back a few paces, “Target has been beheaded!”

His eyes showed a hint of regret.

Unable to use this opportunity to kill Mike, he had to wait for another chance.

Just then, the middle-aged man who had been bound by chains broke free, stumbling to his feet, “Run, run! Don’t go near him, he’s the host!”

Including Gucy, the surviving remnants all showed shocked expressions.

An elderly woman, obviously of higher status, emerged and spoke in broken Chinese, “Leave him! There’s an aberrant inside him! If you don’t run, it’ll be too late!”

At that moment, the burning Dominic let out a raspy voice.

“Sata, Abaluya! Kuhe, Salaruha!”

Immortal Faith, achieving eternal life!

His ceremonial robe was burnt to ashes, and a huge piece of flesh, like a heart, was implanted in his chest, throbbing violently, ready to burst out!

“The Thorn Demon is emerging!”

The middle-aged tribesman shouted.

Jack cursed loudly, being so close, why hadn’t these people said anything earlier?

Mike, on the other hand, was suddenly excited. How fortunate! Why hadn’t they mentioned this earlier?

With a crack, Dominic’s body was torn apart on the spot.

A demon-like, muscular black monster roared as it emerged, growing to nearly three meters tall in a short time. Blood dripped from its entire body, and the thorns on its back writhed madly.

Jack, being the closest, was grabbed by the throat!

The Thorn Demon, as strong as a giant, wielded such immense power that the officer couldn’t break free. He could only futilely grow vines to wrap around the thick arm.

But it was useless.

“Quick, help, help!”

The officers, having slaughtered the Necro Cultists in front of them, shouted.

Yet Mike appeared stunned, sitting motionless.

A burning arrow flew in!

The Thorn Demon’s ferocious face twisted in anger, the thorns on its back spread like wings, shielding its back and letting the arrow explode!

Boom, with a loud bang, the thorns on its back turned to charcoal.

But its body remained unscathed.

In an instant, sharp blackthorns grew again, restoring its wings!

Meanwhile, Jack’s eyes were rolling back from being choked!

“Damn it!”

Lisa cursed.

With teammates present, she couldn’t unleash her full power.

A full-power strike could kill the Thorn Demon.

But the entire area would turn to ashes.

In a critical moment, the elderly woman from the tribe led her people in prayer, “May the great Genesis Nest calm your fury, may your incarnation on earth show mercy! Sata, Abaluya! Kuhe, Salaruha! Sata, Abaluya! Kuhe, Salaruha!”

These people took out iron hammers and golden gongs, beating them rhythmically.

Mike was shocked.

What the hell, are they holding a funeral for Jack?

And here comes another stroke of luck.

However, the next moment, he understood.

The rhythm the tribespeople were drumming carried a unique cadence.

At the moment this unique rhythm sounded, the Thorn demon let out a furious roar. The Dark Matter covering its body showed signs of crumbling and disintegrating. Even the thorn wings on its back began to fall off inch by inch, losing the terrifying majesty they had moments ago.

Mike keenly noticed that the frequency made him feel very uncomfortable. Even the Dark Matter on his right hand was restless.

The hardened covering on his right arm trembled slightly, but it did not dissipate!

When the Thorn demon roared in pain, Jack finally found his opportunity.

Countless vines sprouted from his neck, forcibly prying open the monster's arm.

As he rolled and fled, the burning arrow came whistling once again!

With a crack, the arrow tore through the monster's back.

The Thorn demon's spine exploded, revealing charred flesh and a sinister backbone. The massive injury made it roar in pain as it staggered a few steps and then turned to lock onto the woman in the forest.

Then, like a raging bull, it charged!

"Protect Major Lisa!"

The officers drew their swords and formed a formation, tightly surrounding the Thorn demon.

"What the hell? Are we playing Monster Hunter?"

The drumming and gonging gave Mike's headache, but he still pushed forward. The Dark Matter on his right hand was eager, as if it had seen the most delicious food.

The next moment, whether it was an illusion or not, the Thorn demon lifted its head, its demonic face showing a sinister smile.

That smile seemed to come from hell.

Lisa's eyes were cold. She saw the corpses in the jungle wriggling as if something huge was about to burst out of them.

There was not just one aberrant!

The soldiers' faces changed drastically.

Mike was ecstatic!