Zero, a do-or-die situation

Five minutes had passed. The duration of the bloodline activation device had ended, causing Ayan's power to plummet. The Dark Demon Dragon seized this perfect opportunity and launched a continuous barrage of attacks, leaving Ayan with no power to fight back.

"My dear brother, is this your trump card?"

"Completely useless."

The Dark Demon Dragon used a headbutt to smash A Li from the sky down to the ground. Its golden, slit-pupiled eyes scanned the surroundings.

"Now, there is finally no one left to get in the way."

The Dark Demon Dragon roared at the sky, "Dark Destruction!"

A black sphere over a hundred meters wide appeared above Tianfeng City. This was the SSS-rank Skill, Dark Destruction.

The damage from Dark Destruction was terrifying; if the Dark Demon Dragon successfully released it, at least one-third of Tianfeng City would be destroyed.

Dark Destruction was powerful, but its casting time was extremely long, requiring a 20-second chant. During this period, the Dark Demon Dragon could not perform any other actions. If there were strong enemies nearby, releasing Dark Destruction would be tantamount to suicide.

Unfortunately, Ayan, the only one capable of threatening the Dark Demon Dragon, had lost the ability to act.

Other Professionals in Tianfeng City rushed over upon hearing the news, but they couldn't even break through the Dark Demon Dragon's defense. Even if they came, it would be of no avail.

"Such powerful might!" Lin Yandong's expression was grave. "If he successfully releases it, Tianfeng City will be destroyed."

"We must stop him."

Lin Yandong scanned the surroundings, seeing the young faces of the Professionals around him, and made a difficult decision.

"Everyone, charge with me!"

"Stop the Dark Demon Dragon from casting its magic!"

"Tianfeng City is our home; we absolutely cannot let him destroy our home!"

Doing what one knows to be impossible is not the action of a wise man, but many times, there is no time to worry about such things. Reason tells people what they can and cannot do, but like these Professionals before him, even if they had conflicts of varying degrees and were often at each other's throats, in the face of major issues, everyone's actions were surprisingly similar.

"President Lin, don't you worry."

"There isn't a coward among us."

"Why don't you think about what you'll treat everyone to tonight?"

"How about dragon meat?" Lin Yandong laughed heartily. "Today we'll slaughter him, and tonight I'll treat everyone to dragon meat."

Slay the dragon! Hearing those two words, everyone's reason temporarily vanished. Even a level 30 Professional couldn't help but harbor a thought: what if? What if my attack actually has an effect?

Lin Yandong gave the order, "Everyone, advance!"

The battle began, and the Professionals fell collectively silent. Sometimes, silence is also an answer.

They gripped their weapons tightly. If they retreated, they might live, but they would spend the rest of their lives in agony and torment. If they moved forward, the result was clear: nothing but death. Yet, no one chose to retreat.

The Dark Demon Dragon saw the group of Professionals led by Lin Yandong. Its eyes held mockery.

"Mayflies shaking a tree, ridiculously overestimating yourselves."

"Attack me to your heart's content. This might be the closest you ever get to me in your entire lives."

The Dark Demon Dragon's defense and magic resistance were incredibly high. Unless it was true damage, it was impossible to break through. When an arrow shot by a level 45 archer hit the Dark Demon Dragon's thick scales, it made a *ding* sound and fell to the ground, not leaving even a trace.

"Hahahaha!"

"Ants, enjoy the final highlight of your lives."

Ten seconds remained until the chant for Dark Destruction was complete. By then, the group of Professionals led by Lin Yandong would be wiped out without a trace.

At this very moment, there were people who could interrupt the Dark Demon Dragon's chant: Adams, Ibel, and Uesugi Bin. These three were all level 60 Professionals. Although their strength wasn't top-tier, they could still manage to interrupt the Dark Demon Dragon's spellcasting.

However, once they interrupted the Dark Demon Dragon's spellcasting, they would have to face the enraged Dark Demon Dragon. There was a high probability that the three of them would be torn to shreds on the spot by the enraged Dark Demon Dragon. Such a self-sacrificial act would never happen with the three of them.

If they were within their own borders, they might have considered it. But they were currently standing on the land of Xia Country. It was already decent enough that the three of them didn't kick them while they were down; expecting them to sacrifice themselves to save the Professionals of Xia Country? Sorry, they weren't that noble.

Watching the black sphere in the sky grow larger and larger, a trace of despair appeared on Lin Yandong's face.

"Is there... really no way?"

"Is Tianfeng City really going to be destroyed?"

"I haven't even seen brother Lin Yuan lead Tianfeng City to greatness yet; I'm really unwilling to let it end like this."

Under Lin Yandong's leadership, the Professionals launched desperate attacks at the Dark Demon Dragon. They would absolutely not give up until the very last moment.

Adams and the other two had already retreated to a very safe position, waiting for the Dark Destruction to end before deciding whether to stay or leave.

At this moment, the Dark Demon Dragon's contempt, Mu Tianxing's helplessness, the death throes of the Tianfeng City Professionals, and the cold, detached observation of Adams and his companions formed a perfect portrait of life.

In a corner that no one noticed, Ling stood beside Ayan. Just a moment ago, Ling had released a healing spray for Ayan, slowing down Ayan's injuries. After Ayan improved slightly, Ling raised its head and looked toward the sky.

"Weapon module damaged, energy disruption beam cannot be enabled."

"Body energy insufficient, cannot activate super overload mode."

"Analyzing optimal solution..."

"Solution analysis complete. Currently, there is one and only one solution."

"Use the energy surge spark source to forcibly activate Tier 7 combat power. Consequence: extensive damage to the chassis."

After the optimal solution appeared, Ling took two steps to the left and inserted one hand into the ground, where the villa's power substation was located.

"spark source fully activated, initiating energy surge!"

Ling clenched its fist tightly, and terrifying electric currents instantly surged into its body. In that instant, Ling mobilized the entire energy supply of Tianfeng City for its own use. It still wasn't enough; the energy required to recover to Tier 7 was immense. Complex data streams flashed through Ling's eyes as all the backup energy stored underground in Tianfeng City was drained dry.

*Zzzzt!* Crackling electric arcs exploded around Ling's body, and the chassis showed faint signs of melting. Because the commotion caused by Ling was so massive, everyone's gaze was drawn here.

The Dark Demon Dragon saw Ling, who was wrapped in electric arcs, and a sneer flashed across its mouth.

"Piece of scrap metal, you're about to melt and you're still putting up a death struggle."

Ling pulled its arm out from the ground, its right fist wreathed in terrifying electricity.

"A death struggle?"

"I prefer to call it a desperate fight to the death."

Ling took a step forward, its voice calm and firm.

"As long as I am still alive, no one can destroy a single blade of grass or a single tree here."