297: Chapter 291 One Hundred Million Bounty

In the blink of an eye, three days passed.

[Entering combat space...]

A cold system prompt sounded in his ears, and the scenery before him twisted and changed.

When his vision cleared, Song Yang was already floating above a vast, boundless primeval forest.

Beneath his feet were layers of green canopies, like an endless ocean; in the distance were majestic mountains, with several pterosaur-like creatures gliding past the peaks.

Opposite him, a burly figure floated quietly.

It was Kuike.

His attire today was slightly different from the photos in the files.

On those two metal arms, the previously empty interfaces were now fitted with two hideously shaped energy blades.

The blades were about a meter long, dark red all over, with light shimmering on the surface.

Kuike's gaze fell on Song Yang, sizing him up from head to toe.

The young man before him looked very ordinary, without any exaggerated physical modifications, holding an unremarkable black spear in his hand.

This formed a sharp contrast with his terrifying combat record.

"I've seen your data," Kuike spoke first.

"A remarkable newcomer."

Song Yang did not respond, only holding his black spear horizontally in front of him in a starting stance.

His attitude was clear: talk was useless; let the truth be seen on the battlefield.

Kuike didn't seem to mind his silence and continued on his own.

"I come from Kratos IV, a heavy industrial planet with a harsh environment and meager resources."

"For the people there, the only way out is to become gladiators, using blood and lives to trade for the resources our home planet needs to survive."

He raised his dual blades.

"I swore an oath to lead my planet to earn a place in the Federation. Therefore, I must win this match."

Song Yang looked up, staring at his opponent.

"I also have a reason why I must win."

To survive in this cruel universe, he could not afford to lose either.

"Very well."

Kuike nodded, wasting no more words.

The air beneath his feet suddenly exploded into a ring of white vapor, and his entire being turned into a black Afterimage, charging violently toward Song Yang.

He was so fast that he even left a series of sonic booms in the air.

The hundred-meter distance was covered in an instant.

Kuike raised the energy blade on his right arm high and, carrying the momentum of ten thousand tons, slashed down at the head.

The tip of the spear met the blade, exploding into a cluster of blinding sparks.

The strike failed to land, but Kuike's offensive did not pause for a moment.

Like a tireless war machine, his dual blades danced like the wind, turning into an airtight red net of blades that completely enveloped Song Yang.

Cleaving, hacking, parrying, slashing...

Every slash was as fast as lightning, and every strike contained terrifying destructive power.

Song Yang's figure constantly dodged and parried amidst the storm-like attacks.

His spear turned into a black barrier, precisely intercepting every lethal attack.

In the bar, Kuike's companion was watching the match on a public screen, smugly taking another swig of wine.

"See that? That's Kuike! That's the strength of Kratos's strongest gladiator!"

"That greenhorn is being completely suppressed! He doesn't even have a chance to strike back!"

"Within thirty moves, he'll be hacked to pieces by Kuike!"

Inside the combat space.

Kuike's offensive grew increasingly fierce, a sinister grin appearing on his face.

He believed he had already figured out his opponent's depth.

Good speed, exquisite technique, but the strength was too weak.

In the face of absolute power, any technique was futile.

"It's over!"

Kuike roared, crossing his dual blades and shearing forward with all his might.

This was one of his ultimate moves, "Decapitating Shears," capable of tearing through any defense.

However, at the very moment the dual blades were about to close, Song Yang, who had been on the defensive, made a move that caught him off guard.

Song Yang did not retreat; instead, he took a step forward, his body spinning like a top as he circled to Kuike's side.

The spear in his hand pulled back with the momentum and then suddenly thrust out.

This thrust was fast, accurate, and ruthless!

Without a single wasted movement, all his power was concentrated on the tiny tip of the spear.

Alarm bells rang in Kuike's heart; he wanted to pull back for defense, but the distance was too close.

He could only watch helplessly as that black spear shadow rapidly enlarged in his pupils.

The spear pierced through Kuike's chest without any resistance.

Kuike's movements came to a screeching halt.

The smile on his face froze, replaced by a complex mix of emotions: shock, unwillingness, but mostly a sense of relief.

"I lost..."

Before his voice faded, his body began to turn transparent, then transformed into countless blue data light spots, dissipating with the wind.

[Combat ended. Winner: Song Yang]

[Promoted to the next round]

The surrounding scenery receded like a tide, and the arena composed of data light spots collapsed instantly.

Kuike's final words and that complex expression flashed through his mind.

A gladiator fighting for his home planet deserved respect.

But on the battlefield, there is no right or wrong, only life and death.

Just then, the personal terminal on his wrist emitted a soft notification sound.

Song Yang raised his hand to look; an encrypted message popped up, sent by the Law Enforcement Department of this planet.

He clicked it open.

[Law Enforcement Department Security Notice]

[Respected citizen Mr. Song Yang, it has been confirmed that due to your heroic actions in annihilating a secret Star Pirate base recently, you have been placed on the high-risk bounty list by the "Star Pirate Alliance."]

[Bounty amount: One hundred million star coins (Alive or dead).]

[Notice: This bounty has been released across major underground networks and Bounty Hunter Guilds, which may bring unpredictable risks to you.

The Law Enforcement Department suggests you reduce outings in the near future and consider hiring a professional security team. If needed, you can contact us at any time.]

Song Yang's fingertip paused on the screen.

He stared at that long string of "zeros" following the number "one" and remained silent for a moment.

One hundred million star coins.

For the vast majority of people, this was an astronomical figure.

Many Stellar Rank powerhouses who had roamed the universe for thousands of years might have a total net worth of less than one million star coins.

One hundred million was enough to make countless desperadoes take risks and enough to make many people abandon their principles and bottom lines.

From the moment the bounty was issued, he would become a walking treasury on this planet and even in many parts of the entire Federation.

Stealthy spying and overt assassinations would likely follow one after another.