Chapter 1178 - 582: Arrival (Part 2)

Almost instinctively, he raised his silk-wrapped arm to use the gray-black straight sword to block the golden stone spear blade striking toward his chest.

Yet in his pitch-black eyes, there was no sign of the panic and confusion that should typically manifest under such a dense onslaught from the enemy.

The innate strong mental quality allowed Xia Nan to maintain a composure and calmness far beyond ordinary people, even in such a dangerous situation.

Sensitive intuition and inspiration were what enabled him to grasp the most crucial point in the fast-paced, fierce battle.

Right now, what poses the greatest threat to him?

Is it this Fishman Commander entangled in combat with him?

Too superficial, certainly not possible.

Is it the Fishman Priest located at the rear of the battlefield, managing the overall situation while casting spells?

Somewhat threatening but not the greatest.

What truly might lead him, even with all cards on the table, into a dead end, turning the situation on the battlefield instantly upside down with no chance of reversal... is the unknown entity that Fishmen are about to summon through the Sacrificial Ceremony!

In the past few months in the Southern Islands, the experiences of battling with Sha Hua Fishmen have made Xia Nan aware that these sea rats conduct sacrificial ceremonies to summon such powerful shark beast monsters that aren’t even recorded in the Monster Encyclopedia.

Previously, ordinary villagers without special powers were used as sacrifices, and even the altar was simply a stone platform made of sea rocks.

Yet the monster summoned could wipe out an entire team of Professional Level adventurers.

Now, the Sha Hua Fishmen are going all out.

Not only did they rarely collaborate with "Algae Scale" Dodd, the adventurer, they also sent such a scale of Fishman forces.

Surely, it can’t just be for a shark beast of that level.

It is foreseeable that if their Sacrificial Ceremony truly succeeds.

With such a towering giant altar on the shore, using the bodies of numerous professional adventurers, including Dodd, who has already touched the threshold of "Transcendence," as sacrifices.

The strength of the possible summoned monster would be overwhelmingly exaggerated.

By then, fleeing wouldn’t even be possible.

The ritual must be stopped!

However, hindered by the Priest Uek, even Xia Nan, who is currently the closest to the altar, can’t get near it shortly, and can only watch helplessly as the pile of corpses used for sacrifice, under the effect of rune patterns, transform into clusters of glowing blue light, converging in the void atop the altar, gradually forming a gigantic, menacing humanoid silhouette emitting an extremely dangerous aura.

What should be done?

No room for thought, and in the very next moment such ideas surged up from within, Xia Nan’s body moved instinctively.

Ang——

Suddenly exerting force from his feet, a faint wolf head phantom appeared on his body’s surface.

Yet due to the sticky silk winding around him, it was hard to displace and charge forward.

But clearly, judging from Xia Nan’s exerting movement, this wasn’t his aim either.

Only taking one step forward, utilizing the Full Level [Teeth Hunting] battle skill technique, accompanied by a high-pitched wolf howl, a fierce black gale instantly surrounded his body, severing part of the silk originally covering the surface.

Thereby gaining some mobility.

Xia Nan could certainly seize the chance to continue exerting, using [Teeth Hunting] to forcibly break free from the web’s constraint.

But those pitch-black eyes, in that instant, looked toward the altar in the distance flickering with glowing blue light.

"No time."

He knew perfectly well the fastest speed he could burst to.

Xia Nan judged on the spot, even if he broke free from the web now, charging in full force, it would be difficult to reach the altar before the ceremony was entirely completed.

So...

Thoughts flashed through his mind instantly.

Once again his body turned, blocking the Fishman Commander’s fish spear coming from the side rear.

It can be observed distinctly, compared to before, the block was not as solid, and the sword blade was even faintly pressed down by the fish spear.

The reason is that now, only Xia Nan’s right hand grips the sword hilt.

His empty left hand, taking advantage of the moment when both parties were locked in a stalemate, tightly gripped the long shaft of the fish spear from the side.

Suddenly shifting his weight backward, the force originally pushing against the spear blade abruptly withdrew, and the left hand gripping the fish spear shaft abruptly exerted pulling force inward.

The instant shift in the direction of force caught the Fishman Commander off guard, and he was nearly yanked into Xia Nan’s embrace.

Meanwhile, Xia Nan twisted his waist and abdomen, sidestepping.

Just as the two brushed past each other.

The black-haired youth suddenly raised his leg, and toward the Fishman Commander’s soft abdomen, executed a powerful knee slam imbued with [Heavy Tide].

The force was so great that even with the Fishman Commander’s bulky body, he was bent into a shrimp-like posture.

Such a heavy blow momentarily muddled his consciousness, and his originally tightly gripped weapon hands momentarily loosened.

Seized by Xia Nan with one hand.

Ignoring the Fishman Commander rolling in pain on the ground beside him, Xia Nan swiftly turned around.

His right hand still grasped his straight sword [Ash Fall], the left hand holding the Commander’s fish spear now raised high above his head.

His right leg suddenly stepped forward, yet the body’s center of gravity shifted backward along with the upper body slightly leaning back.

The left arm bent, sourcing strength as the fish spear in hand subtly distorted the surrounding air, the surface converging with reddish-brown force field energy.

In his pitch-black eyes, reflected the rapidly condensing glow atop the altar.

Aiming, storing force, releasing power, the entire set of movements was completed in one fluid motion.

"Screech!"

Accompanied by a piercing sound of the spear breaking through the air.

That fish spear seized by Xia Nan shot forward, transforming into a red and blue intermingled virtual shadow, soaring toward the altar.

"Gargle!!!"

Witnessing Xia Nan bravely enduring the spiritual damage, breaking free from the web constraint, capturing the Commander’s fish spear.

Uek, with fish eyes flashing white light wildly, instinctively blurted out a vulgar remark in Sha Hua Fishman Language.

Magic Power surged toward the Magic Wand as if free of charge, attempting to halt the spear shooting at the altar.

"Whoosh!"

Suddenly, from the side air, a high-frequency sound of breaking through the air emerged.

With a slight sense of danger surfacing in his mind, Uek instinctively tilted his head.

In the next second, a silver-white arrow formed of pure energy shot past his cheek, leaving a thin wound.

Following the direction from which the arrow came, on a reef close to the coast at the field’s rear.

Sarisa tightly gripped her metallic stringless longbow, fingers left with residue of shimmering glow post-shot, stray hair damply stuck to her cheeks.

This "Algae Scale" Dodd’s biological daughter had been seeking opportunities since the battle began.

Though her Silver Vein Longbow didn’t require a bowstring and arrow, each shot consumed much more Stamina than normal bows and arrows.

Hence she hadn’t squandered precious attack chances on ordinary Fishmen but hid amidst adventurers awaiting the right opportunity.

Until just now, seeing Xia Nan’s movements from afar knowing the moment had come, she sought out a higher position she’d marked in advance, drawing her bow to shoot.

It didn’t inflict any substantial harm on the aged Fishman Priest.

But more critically, even just grazing the cheek, causing a minor cut.

It nonetheless interrupted Uek’s spell casting.

Leaving him with no choice but to watch that fish spear, imbued with special power, shoot forward leaving a fading afterimage in the air, whirling onto the altar’s top.

Explosion.

"Boom!!!"

The reddish-brown force field energy erupted like fireworks in daylight, gushing outwards colliding violently with the glowing blue mass, producing an ear-splitting roar.

An invisible shock wave swept the surroundings, the towering altar collapsed layer upon layer, coral and sea rock debris turning into colorful dust soaring skyward.

The magic particles originally vibrating fiercely in the air due to the nearing success of the ritual now became calm once more.

"Succeeded?"

Breathing slightly labored, Xia Nan fixed his gaze firmly on the altar’s ruins direction, his pitch-black eyes seemingly able to penetrate the scattered dust, seeing within.

As if responding to his inner thoughts.

In the next moment, a terrifying screech filled with violence and cruelty transmuted into a tangible sound wave from within the smoke expelling out from the depths of the altar.