551: Chapter 551 Each Shows Their Unique Skills, Taking the Unconventional Path

Screech—

The butterfly knife and the dagger clashed, striking flying sparks.

“Then you go die first!”

Black Mamba missed his strike but didn't retreat; instead, he flipped his wrist.

The dagger slid down along Feiying's blade, executing an insidious move: "Blade Deflection Throat Slit".

“You're the one who's going to die first!”

Feiying retorted, his eyes suddenly lighting up.

He leaned back slightly and flicked his butterfly knife upward, using a standard "Reverse Blade Counter-Slash" to forcefully deflect the other's attack.

Immediately after, he slid forward, closing the distance.

Although he couldn't see Black Mamba's physical body, relying on his years of combat experience on the edge of a blade, he launched a blind assault toward the air currents and the flashing blade light.

The two instantly became entangled in a fierce struggle, the sharp blades in their hands turning into a sky full of cold light, with every move aiming straight for vital spots.

The sound of clashing metal was as dense as raindrops. Every exchange was fraught with danger; the slightest slip-up would result in blood splattering on the spot.

On the other side of the battlefield.

Fire Dragon, crouching on top of the water tank, was not idle either.

His eyes were crimson, and the two balls of orange-red flames in his palms had already expanded to the size of basketballs.

The high temperature scorched the surrounding air, making it crackle and distorting the line of sight.

Just as he locked onto his target and raised his hands, preparing to hurl these two highly explosive fireballs into the center of the Illuminati's formation...

“Bang!”

A crisp gunshot rang out first.

Hawkeye held the heavy sniper rifle like a statue, the muzzle spewing deadly fire.

The bullet shot out of the chamber, drawing a high-speed arc in the air as it flew straight for Fire Dragon's forehead.

Although Fire Dragon was not a physical enhancer, as a battle-hardened mercenary, he had a beast-like intuition for danger.

At the instant the gun fired, he forcefully twisted his waist and lunged to the side, leaping down from the top of the water tank.

The two fireballs in his hands turned into two crimson arrows, whistling to meet the bullet that had curved almost at the same time.

“Boom!”

The first fireball collided with the bullet in mid-air, exploding into a brilliant firework.

Under Fire Dragon's control, the other fireball bypassed the smoke and charged straight at Hawkeye's face.

Seeing the flames about to engulf him, Hawkeye remained calm, displaying an astonishing agility that belied his identity as a sniper.

Holding the modified sniper rifle that weighed dozens of kilograms, he executed several consecutive tactical rolls on the ground, his movements as light and agile as a nimble civet.

“Boom!”

The fireball exploded where he had been standing just moments ago, sending gravel flying.

Hawkeye had already perfectly evaded the blast radius.

Before he could even fully stabilize his stance, the sniper rifle in his hands was already propped against his shoulder again.

Bolting, chambering, aiming.

The movements were fluid and seamless, without any hesitation.

“Bang!”

Another shot was fired in rapid succession.

However, because of the high-speed evasive maneuver he had just performed, Hawkeye was slightly distracted, causing this shot's accuracy to be slightly off.

The arc drawn by the bullet in the air was not tricky enough, and it grazed the outer side of Fire Dragon's shoulder.

“Clang!”

A bullet hole was left on the water tank behind him, and a stream of water instantly gushed out with a splash.

Fire Dragon was driven into a corner by this sniper fire that clung to him like a shadow, and he likewise had no time to make adjustments.

The flames in his hands were either forced to intercept the flying bullets or missed because he was too busy dodging, crashing onto the concrete ground and kicking up a shower of sparks.

The two of them kept moving and shooting while simultaneously evading and countering.

Both were intent on seizing the initiative, trying to disrupt the other's offensive rhythm and suppress them under their own firepower.

Though it seemed like a long-range exchange, the danger involved was even greater than the close-quarters combat between Feiying and Black Mamba.

As for Panghu, who had just dodged the sneak attack from behind, he had already rushed to the front of the iron cage.

The Masked Man watched this coldly, appearing exceptionally calm.

He didn't make a move but simply raised his hand to point at Panghu, commanding the muscular monster standing in front of the iron cage:

“Daxiong, tear this guy apart for me!”

Receiving the battle signal from his leader, the red light in Daxiong's eyes surged, and his mouth split into a cruel curve.

He let out a roar that shook the rooftop, his massive body squatting slightly.

Then, like a starting chariot, carrying matchless kinetic energy, he crashed toward Panghu.

“Come on!”

Instead of being startled, Panghu was delighted. He roared, his muscles engorging with blood and expanding.

He seemed to grow a size larger as he charged head-on without dodging.

“Thud—”

The two mountains of flesh collided violently once again, the dull, heavy impact even drowning out the surrounding gunshots and explosions.

This time, however, Panghu felt a massive force strike him. Losing his footing, he was knocked back three or four steps.

He gasped, inwardly alarmed.

Why did this guy suddenly go wild? His strength is even greater than before!

Panghu shook his slightly numb arms. With a roll of his eyes, he didn't continue to hold his ground but turned and ran, taunting:

“Hey big dummy, didn't you eat? Come chase your grandpa!”

“Roar!”

Sure enough, Daxiong was enraged and chased after him with heavy steps.

At this point, three members from each of the Illuminati and the Blood Thorn Mercenary Group had entered the fight, battling in pairs.

Only Old Chen, acting as support, and the Blood Thorn leader, the Masked Man, had not yet directly engaged.

Old Chen was relying on his ability to locate sounds to continuously feed coordinates to Feiying, assisting him in killing Black Mamba, who was hidden in the air.

Suddenly, the hairs on his body stood on end as he felt an extremely cold gaze fall upon him.

Old Chen quickly took a step back and abruptly turned his head.

He saw the man wearing the clown mask staring intently at him across the chaotic battlefield.

That feeling was like being targeted by a venomous cobra, making his skin crawl.

Just then, a cry of pain came from not far away.

It turned out that Fire Dragon had finally revealed a flaw during his frequent evasions. His thigh was hit by one of Hawkeye's bullets, blood flowing as his steps stumbled.

The Masked Man's gaze was instantly drawn to the battle there, his eyes suddenly turning sharp.

He raised his hands and clawed at the air with his fingers.

An invisible wave of telekinesis surged forth.

“Whoosh!”

A rusty steel pipe nearby flew up into the air, tearing through the atmosphere like a javelin as it shot straight toward Hawkeye, who was still aiming.

“Hawkeye, watch your head!”

Old Chen's eardrums vibrated violently. The moment he sensed the direction of the telekinetic surge, he immediately shouted a warning.

Hawkeye reacted extremely fast. Without even looking, he lunged to the side holding his gun and rolled on the ground.

“Clang!”

The steel pipe, accelerated by telekinesis, grazed his scalp and flew past, plunging deep into the concrete ground with terrifying kinetic energy.

The tail end vibrated violently on its own, emitting a buzzing hum.

Had he been half a second slower, his body would probably have been impaled.

However, before Hawkeye could even breathe a sigh of relief...

A wave of scorching heat immediately rushed at his face.

It was Fire Dragon, who, enduring his leg injury, seized the gap when Hawkeye's old momentum was spent and his new momentum had not yet formed, raising his hand to fling a basketball-sized explosive fireball.

Hawkeye's pupils contracted. Unable to stand up in time, he forcefully exerted power from his waist and abdomen, rolling again on the gravel-covered ground.

“Boom!”

The fireball exploded by his feet, the shockwave blasting him away and slamming him heavily against the guardrail wall.

“Cough, cough...”

Clutching his chest, Hawkeye was about to struggle to his feet.

“Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!”

Three more sharp whistles rang through the air.

Another three steel pipes rose into the air under the Masked Man's control, whistling forward in a triangular formation, completely sealing off all of Hawkeye's possible evasion routes.

This time, he had almost nowhere to run.

Standing in the distance, the Masked Man's eyes were indifferent as he gently pressed his finger down, as if merely crushing an annoying bug.

He was clearly unsatisfied with the performance of his subordinates and intended to take action himself to eliminate Hawkeye, the most threatening opponent, first.

He didn't even spare Old Chen another glance.

In his eyes, this middle-aged man in an old jacket was just a support personnel who could call out coordinates, posing no threat at all.

Seeing this, Old Chen's heart pounded wildly, knowing his combat ability was weak.

If Hawkeye died and Fire Dragon was completely unleashed, the Illuminati's defensive line would collapse in an instant.

Numerous thoughts flashed through his mind, but in reality, it was only an instant.

Old Chen grit his teeth, a hint of resolve flashing in his weathered eyes.

“I'll risk it!”

He took a deep breath, his chest puffing up high as he instantly mobilized all the energy in his body to gather at his throat.

Then, he opened his mouth wide toward the Masked Man.

“Hah—”

An infrasound wave, undetectable by the human ear, rippled outward.

The dust along the way was instantly shattered into powder, as if forming an invisible giant wave that slapped hard against the Masked Man.

The Masked Man, who was about to deliver the killing blow, suddenly swayed.

He felt as if countless flies had been stuffed into his brain, buzzing loudly.

The telekinesis that he had previously commanded as easily as his own limbs instantly fell into a slight disarray.

The three steel pipes flying toward Hawkeye paused slightly in mid-air, their Flight paths shifting as a result.

Hawkeye was no ordinary person either, seizing this fleeting opportunity.

Relying on his formidable physical fitness, he executed a dive roll on the spot, quickly diving behind a nearby water tank.

“Thud! Thud! Thud!”

The steel pipes grazed Hawkeye's body, all of them embedding into the wall and kicking up a shower of gravel.

The power was astonishing, yet they failed to injure the actual target.

The Masked Man stabilized his mind and slowly turned his head.

For the first time, those deep eyes beneath the mask looked seriously at the unremarkable middle-aged man.

“A sonic attack?”

He tilted his head, a hint of surprise in his tone:

“It seems I'll have to crush you, this noisy fly, first.”

Old Chen quickly retreated to Hawkeye's side, leaning against the cold iron sheet of the water tank, panting heavily.

Hawkeye held the sniper rifle with both hands and exchanged a glance with him, instantly understanding each other.

The two of them pressed close to the left and right sides of the water tank, intending to use the cover for protection and team up once again to deal with the Masked Man, their greatest threat.

For a moment, the entire rooftop was in utter chaos.

Flames exploded, blades flashed, and roars intertwined with the sounds of gunfire, both sides locked in an inseparable, fierce battle.

No one noticed.

Just as the Illuminati and the Blood Thorn Mercenary Group were fully invested in this intense melee...

At the eastern edge of the building's rooftop...

A dark figure lightly scaled the guardrail wall, landing soundlessly on the concrete ground.

The person wore a black hooded sweatshirt, with the hood pulled down very low, obscuring his face.

His movements were as light as a ghost's, and not a single sound could be heard when his footsteps landed.

It was as if he had originally been floating hundreds of meters in the high sky and had only snuck into this battlefield now under the cover of the melee.

He nimbly stepped over the corpses on the ground, quietly advancing along the shadows of the water tanks and exhaust pipes.

Ultimately, he stealthily made his way to the iron cage beneath the lightning rod's base without anyone noticing.

Inside the cage, Shen Wei's consciousness had originally been blurred from pain, leaving him in a semi-conscious state.

However, his years of developed intuition allowed him to keenly sense a hint of abnormality.

That feeling was like a beast quietly encroaching upon his safe distance.

Shen Wei struggled to lift his heavy eyelids.

In his blurry vision, a pair of dark sneakers abruptly appeared before him.

His gaze moved up from the shoes along the body, freezing on the face that was mostly obscured by the shadow of the hood.

Although the light was dim, those eyes were exceptionally bright, faintly gleaming with a golden light.

Shen Wei's heart skipped a beat, and he widened his eyes again to look closer.

Yes, absolutely correct!

It was the young man he was familiar with, Fang Cheng!

An unbelievable glint instantly burst from Shen Wei's cloudy, old eyes. His lips trembled, and he was about to subconsciously cry out.

“Shh...”

Fang Cheng raised his index finger, gently pressing it against his lips, making a shushing gesture.

Shen Wei's throat bobbed, and he forced the cry of surprise back down his throat.

A sudden surge of wild joy welled up in his previously dead heart.

Fang Cheng didn't waste any words, nor did he look for a key or keyhole.

Instead, he squatted directly down, reached out with both hands, and grabbed two solid rebar rods, each as thick as a thumb.

Immediately after, the muscles in his arms bulged slightly.

“Creak—”

With a low groan of metal, the hard steel rebar acted as if it were made of plasticine.

In Fang Cheng's hands, they were actually bent and twisted to both sides at will.

The entire process did not produce any overly harsh, sharp noises; his perfect control of force allowed the metal deformation to be completed in silence.

The intense combat atmosphere on the rooftop served as the best cover for this rescue.

In just two or three seconds, the sturdy cage was forcefully torn open, creating a gap large enough for an adult to pass through.

Shen Wei watched this scene dumbfounded, his heart pounding violently.

At this moment, he truly realized what kind of terrifying, monstrous strength this young man possessed, far exceeding his previous imagination.

In the adjacent cage, the young men and women who had been shivering, along with the ten-year-old child, all widened their eyes in shock.

Their faces were filled with terror mixed with a sliver of hope, and they opened their mouths to call for help.

Fang Cheng turned his head and swept a cold glance over them.

He raised his index finger again, making a shushing gesture, and then pointed to the intense battle behind him.

The meaning was clear: if you want to live, shut up and wait.

Spurred by Fang Cheng's cold gaze, the few of them immediately covered their mouths in fear and nodded desperately.

Regardless of whether they understood or not, Fang Cheng quickly bent down and crawled into the cage, grabbing Shen Wei by the arm to support him as he helped him out.

“Bear with it.”

Fang Cheng whispered in his ear, then supported Shen Wei, who had a broken leg.

Using the cover of the shadows once more, they moved toward the eastern side of the rooftop where he had just climbed in.

Shen Wei endured the excruciating pain of his broken bone, cold sweat pouring down, but his heart was filled with confusion.

This way is a dead end!

The rooftop entrance is in the opposite direction, blocked by those bandits, so we can't get through.

But going east leads to the open air. Could there be a fire escape going down?

Before he could figure it out, the two of them had already arrived at the guardrail wall at the edge of the rooftop.

The wild wind raged here, blowing painfully against their faces.

Without any hesitation, Fang Cheng stepped onto the edge of the wall with one foot and actually stood straight up on it.

Shen Wei subconsciously looked down and couldn't help but gasp:

“Hiss—”

Beneath his feet seemed to be a dark abyss. The height of over three hundred meters made the cars on the ground look as tiny as beetles.

Dizziness instantly washed over him, and Shen Wei's legs went soft, nearly causing him to slump to the ground.

“Mr... Mr. Fang, are we going down from here?” (End of Chapter)