Chapter 39: A Passionate Exchange of Fire!

Dave: ???

He had absolutely no idea what was going on.

But it no longer mattered. At this moment, the epicenter of the battle was clearly only between Luo Xiu and Tasanya.

Tasanya could no longer suppress the fury in her heart. Her gaze swept back and forth across the people present, calculating how much time it would take to slaughter them all. The memory of the last time Luo Xiu threatened her with the Thorn Shield was still fresh in her mind. Even if this group of guards likely didn't know what the Thorn Shield was, she would leave no survivors. She had to bury this secret forever.

Luo Xiu saw through her thoughts. A black broadsword appeared in his hand, and he stepped forward with a smile. "It's been so long, yet you're still thinking about someone else? That won't do, Tasanya."

"Leila, take them all away!"

Boom!

Luo Xiu stomped his foot, his figure shooting forward like a heavy medieval cannonball, leaving only a cloud of dust in his wake. In an instant, he reached Tasanya and delivered a heavy, sweeping strike with his sword!

Seeing this, Tasanya had no intention of dodging. A cruel smile appeared on her face. She couldn't fathom what gave Luo Xiu the confidence to go toe-to-toe with her in close combat. How utterly foolish! As the blade descended, she confidently threw a punch, already imagining Luo Xiu flying backward.

But the terrifying force transmitted from the sword’s edge caused her expression to change abruptly.

Boom!

Tasanya’s knees buckled, and she stumbled back several steps. She stared in shock at the shallow cut on her fist. It was a clean slice from the blade, and the blood hadn't even begun to seep out yet.

How is this possible?!!!

She had actually lost to him in raw strength!

"ROAR!!!" This setback made her scream in frustration; she couldn't accept such a result.

Little did she know that Luo Xiu was equally shocked. He hadn't expected his full-force strike to leave such a shallow wound. He had known this dragon-woman was physically formidable, but not to this extent. She was even tougher than a Goblin Priest.

An increasingly enraged Tasanya let out a roar, her body igniting with a layer of intense, crimson flames. It was the same technique she had used to catch Hill’s arrow earlier. She stomped hard on the ground, closed the distance to Luo Xiu in a flash, and unleashed a devastating punch.

Luo Xiu took a deep breath and swung his sword with all his might to meet her fist!

Clang!!

The dark gray blade collided with Tasanya’s fist, producing a sound like metal striking metal!

Another shallow cut appeared on Tasanya’s fist, but she didn't retreat. The flames covering her knuckles erupted, swallowing the blade. Luo Xiu saw his sword glowing red from the heat; he had no choice but to pull back. He feared that if he didn't retract the blade, his broadsword wouldn't withstand the tempering of Tasanya’s flames—it would be bent out of shape by her fists just as a blacksmith would work iron.

Seeing Luo Xiu retreat, fury surged in Tasanya’s eyes, and she pursued him relentlessly.

"Kill! Kill! Kill!!!"

She roared, her eyes bloodshot, desperate to vent all the pent-up frustration of the last few days. Since the day Luo Xiu left, she had tracked his scent into the Sunset Jungle, but the smell soon mingled with the stench of goblins, making it impossible to track. She had spent an unknown number of days in the jungle, eating poorly and barely sleeping, living in misery.

Whenever night fell, she would recall the life she had before meeting Luo Xiu. Back then, she lived in luxury, free and unrestrained. Pedestrians would bow as she walked by, and if she was in a bad mood, she could find someone to play a game of "pop the head."

Why?! Why had it turned out like this?!!

The extreme pain in her heart finally transformed into rage toward Luo Xiu.

"I'll kill you! I'll kill you! I'll kill you!!!"

Tasanya was like a madwoman, her fists raining down like a storm. Luo Xiu could only fight while retreating, his body shifting constantly. In truth, he could feel that his own strength was slightly superior, but to prevent his weapon from being destroyed, he didn't dare let the blade remain in contact with her flames for too long. Even so, he could feel his broadsword gradually taking damage.

He finally understood the significance of the "Constitution" stat. His strength was greater than Tasanya’s, but he couldn't clash fists with her directly—that was the difference in constitution. In the end, he just didn't have enough points. If he had enough, he would max out Strength, Agility, and Constitution, turning himself into a living weapon!

With this realization, his desire for points reached its peak.

As Tasanya’s fist clashed with the black broadsword once more, Luo Xiu made the blade disappear and stepped back. Caught off guard, Tasanya’s fist struck the ground.

Boom!

Everything combustible on the ground was ignited instantly, erupting into a towering inferno! The firelight flickered, painting the sky red. Tasanya looked up at Luo Xiu with a vicious grin, believing her tactics had succeeded. That damn bastard was afraid of damaging his weapon and had to put it away. And once he was unarmed, she would—

Tasanya’s pupils trembled violently.

Opposite her, Luo Xiu was holding a thick, tree-trunk-sized Goblin Priest staff in both hands, offering her a slight smile.

Then, he swung it down with all his might!!!

Tasanya tried to dodge, but the range of the thick staff was clearly much greater than the broadsword. Luo Xiu changed his strike from a smash to a swing, landing squarely on Tasanya’s arm.

Thud!

Following a deafening sound, Tasanya staggered. Seeing this, Luo Xiu stepped forward, raised the staff high, and brought it down on her head like a club!!!

Tasanya couldn't dodge in time and had to block with both hands!

BOOM!!!

Under the intense collision, Tasanya felt her body sink, her blood and qi roiling. Luo Xiu didn't stop; he kept swinging the staff like a game of whack-a-mole, strike after strike!

Tasanya’s body was actually being driven deeper into the ground with each violent blow. She wanted to fight back, but her strength was inferior to Luo Xiu’s, and in this position, she lacked the leverage to generate power. She could only endure the beating in humiliation.

One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten strikes!!!

"Ahhhh!!!"

Tasanya’s arms were dripping with blood, and she felt utterly humiliated. This shame, mixed with the frustration of the past few days, combined with regret, unwillingness, and anger, finally exploded in her mind!

It drove her into a state of total madness!

She wanted Luo Xiu to die. She wanted him to die!!!

At this moment, that was the only thought in her mind.

A deafening roar of a dragon resonated within her body, and she felt the blood in her veins burning like raging fire. A massive, crimson dragon phantom descended from the sky, roaring as it merged with her, and a force of pure destruction erupted from her body.

Luo Xiu felt a terrifying power erupt from beneath his staff; he was sent flying backward, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth.

Tasanya’s eyes had turned entirely red. She stared at Luo Xiu, then unleashed a world-shattering punch!!! A giant phantom dragon claw swiped viciously toward him!!!

This was her ultimate strength!

She would make Luo Xiu die!!!

But Luo Xiu, lying on the ground, smiled—a very happy smile. He looked at the berserk Tasanya, and two lines of text flashed in his eyes:

[Emotional State: Extremely, extremely angry]

[Mental State: Extremely, extremely chaotic]

People always forget many important things when they are angry, for example—

Luo Xiu channeled the power of his blood, and a familiar red light barrier appeared around his body.

Then, the dragon claw struck down!!