Invincibility starts when I see the BOSS health bar.

Chapter 982 Battleground
Cluck cluck—!

A piercing, inhuman scream tore through the night, like the dying cry of a rooster being strangled.

With that strange cry, a blurry figure flashed past the shadow monkey at an incredible speed, leaving only a fleeting afterimage and a faint, sweet, fishy smell in the air.

That's the Enchanting Chicken from the "Twelve Generals".

Her movements were unpredictable and her attacks were cunning and ruthless. In terms of strength alone, she was already considered top-tier in the ordinary martial arts world, enough to establish her own sect and strike fear into the hearts of countless people.

But the word "ordinary" seems so pale and powerless at this moment.

Tonight, they will face an existence that transcends the boundaries of the "ordinary".

Shadow Monkey suddenly raised his hand and wiped away the blood that kept overflowing from the corner of his lips with his knuckles. The blood had an abnormal dark color.

His face was so solemn it was almost dripping with water, and his gaze was as sharp as a hawk's, fixed intently on what lay ahead.

Everywhere you look, the scene is horrific.

The "slaves" that the organization had painstakingly cultivated and brought into the organization had now mostly fallen, their broken bodies silently testifying to the cruelty of the battle.

The surviving slaves are operating in a strange yet harmonious way.

Between them, a tangible chain of purplish-blue material linked them together, forming a slowly rotating, shimmering array of star rings.

This star ring is not an inanimate object; it pulsates, like a strange life form with a shared heartbeat.

This is the terrifying result of years of secret research by the organization.

Each of the Venerables is a unique believer, and their abilities also differ.

Through this special "chain star ring" connection, their power is no longer an isolated entity, but can generate a unique resonance and amplification, converging the power of all the lords and slaves like rivers flowing into the sea onto a specific individual, thereby unleashing a terrifying effect several times, or even ten times, greater.

At this moment, Shadow Monkey, as the on-site commander, did not hesitate to activate the ability of "Slave No. 3" to bind and imprison it!
And this power is amplified to its extreme through the star ring channel!
Om-!
The space groaned under the strain.

Chains of energy, shimmering with an ominous bluish-purple light, appeared out of thin air. They seemed to possess their own life, precisely binding, entangled, and imprisoned most of the enemies on the field.

Normally, with only the power of the Third Venerable Slave, such a restraint would likely be impossible for any of the experts present to maintain for even a moment; it would be as fragile as paper, breaking at the slightest provocation. But now, with the combined power of dozens of Venerable Slaves amplifying the restraints, each chain became incredibly strong, the runes flowing across them shimmering with a suppressed power, successfully pinning a large number of soldiers firmly to their spots.

The situation became clear in an instant.

Those who can easily break free of these reinforced chains are the real tough opponents that require the twelve generals to personally engage in a full-scale battle.

And those who can't even break free... are nothing more than lambs to the slaughter, to be cleaned up and wiped out at any time.

however……

Shadow Monkey's gaze swept past the fierce and chaotic battle before it, piercing through the billowing smoke and swirling energy, finally landing at the very back of all the enemies.

There, a figure dressed in a wide black robe stood motionless like a rock from beginning to end, as if the bloody battle surrounding him had nothing to do with him.

All his men were fighting desperately at the front, the sounds of metal clashing, roars, and screams rising and falling, the battle was reaching its climax, yet he was shrouded in an eerie silence, not even the hem of his robe fluttering in the night wind.

That extremely calm, even indifferent, demeanor was a deep-seated arrogance that showed he didn't take the encirclement and attack targeting him seriously.

Seemingly finally sensing the shadow monkey's focused, inquisitive, and wary gaze, the black-robed man made his first subtle movement since the start of the battle. He slowly raised his head, the shadow of his hood deep and unfathomable, as if concealing endless void.

A voice, calm and undisturbed yet carrying an invisible weight, slowly spread out, clearly reaching the Shadow Monkey's ears, even drowning out the noise of the scene.

"Who sent you?"

The shadow monkey felt its heart clench as soon as it was looked at, as if it were being gripped tightly by an invisible, cold hand. An indescribable, immense pressure descended upon it, almost freezing the blood in its body.

He forced every muscle in his body to tense, fighting against the suffocating pressure, and squeezed out the answer, word by word, through clenched teeth:

"A dead man doesn't need to know so much."

Despite his strong words, Shadow Monkey was as clear-headed as a mirror.

He is no match for this man!
Previously, Fulong had fought against him, and not only was he defeated and forced to flee, but his power was also sealed by some strange means and he has been unable to recover it to this day, leaving him practically crippled.

Although Shadow Monkey is quite strong, it is only on par with Floating Dragon in its prime.

The black-robed man before them possessed unfathomable strength.

"Quite the boast."

Upon hearing this, the man in black robes not only did not get angry, but instead seemed to have heard some boring joke. His tone remained calm and even slightly amused.

"Drink——!!"

Just then, a furious roar, filled with extreme rage, exploded like a thunderclap in a dry land!
It's Pang Zhu, one of the Twelve Generals!

He seemed to have suffered a setback in his head-on confrontation with his opponent, falling into a disadvantageous position, and his ferocity was fully unleashed.

Suddenly, he let out a deafening roar, and his already massive body, as big as a small mountain, expanded wildly like an inflating balloon, his muscles bulging, and his bluish-black skin gleaming with a metallic sheen. In an instant, he transformed into a mountain of flesh several meters high, exuding a terrifying aura!

His internal energy was circulating wildly, and the ancient demon bloodline he inherited roared as if boiling, all in order to maximize the power of his next attack.

Human Bomber! This is his trump card, and he would never use it lightly unless he was pushed to the limit.

The effects were immediate, even terrifying!
“Ahhhhh——!”

Pang Zhu's opponent, a prince's guard of equal strength, only had time to let out a series of desperate and shrill screams before being brutally crushed by the enormous "flesh bullet" covered with hard, steel-needle-like bristles and thick skin!
The immense impact and suction force caused the guard to cling to the surface of the giant boar's rapidly rolling and crushing body like a piece of sticky taffy. With each violent roll and ramming, the guard was repeatedly and violently crushed onto the hard ground.

At first, one could hear the sickening cracking of bones and the guard's heart-wrenching screams, but after only a few moments, all that remained was a series of chilling, muffled thuds, with no further signs of life.

The giant boar finally stopped its frantic rolling, its massive body returning to human form. It was panting heavily, sweat pouring down its face; clearly, the attack had taken a heavy toll on it. It turned its thick neck to look in the direction of the shadow monkey, its eyes a mixture of exhaustion and a hint of smugness, as if it were seeking credit.

This operation involved almost the entire force of the twelve generals, making their lineup undeniably formidable.

However, before they could even touch the hem of the Seventh Prince's robes, the main target of their operation, they were met with layers upon layers of unexpected and tenacious resistance.

It can only be said that, as expected of the highly respected Seventh Prince of the Great Xia Dynasty, the number, strength, and depth of the talented individuals he has recruited far exceed their prior estimates.

Most of the experts who were in the public eye had been temporarily restrained by the enhanced binding chains used by the slaves.

The real trouble lies with these formidable figures who lurk in the shadows and suddenly appear. Each of them possesses extraordinary strength, forcing the twelve generals to reveal themselves and unleash their full power in the fight.

However... as long as the twelve generals are determined, pay the corresponding price, truly unleash their power, and get rid of these troublesome guards, it is not an impossible task.

Just like Pang Zhu, once it undergoes deep demon transformation and unleashes its matching ultimate skills, it can instantly turn the tide of battle and defeat its opponent with overwhelming force.

Ultimately, their operation was largely due to favorable timing and location.

According to intelligence, the Seventh Prince's guards on this trip away from the palace were far weaker than when he was in the palace, and could be described as "weak".

Therefore, although the resistance encountered so far is intense, it is still within the range that the organization anticipates and that the Twelve Generals can accept and handle.

But His Majesty has issued an unquestionable order: to retrieve the head of the Seventh Prince, Hei Tianxia, ​​at all costs!
Simply repelling or even killing these guards is far from enough!
The real target, from beginning to end, has only been one: the black-robed man who has never laid a finger on her.

“I am somewhat curious,” Seventh Prince Hei Tianxia said, seemingly because of the death of yet another capable subordinate. A very subtle, almost imperceptible ripple of impatience finally appeared in his usually calm expression. “Where do you people get the courage to come looking for trouble with me?”

Is he about to make a move?!

This thought, like a cold, venomous snake, suddenly darted into the Shadow Monkey's mind, instantly making him feel a bone-chilling cold rush from his tailbone straight to the top of his head!
A strong sense of crisis made him immediately stop hesitating and roared, his voice even distorted with urgency: "Stop holding back! Activate your demonic transformation, finish this battle quickly, and eliminate our opponent!"

Demonization comes at a price.

Burning life potential accelerates the erosion of the mind by demonic bloodlines, and may even cause irreversible physical mutations...

Even the organization's twelve generals are already burdened with a very high degree of demonization, so they are unwilling to use this last resort unless absolutely necessary.

But at this moment, His Majesty's orders are paramount! Even if it costs everyone's lives tonight, the mission must be completed!

“Then… transform into a demon!” A hoarse voice responded first, with a resolute tone.

"Demonization!" A deep roar came from another direction, filled with the pleasure of releasing pain and power.

"Demonization!!!" More roars resounded from all parts of the battlefield, as if demons were awakening, announcing the official start of the slaughter feast!
Pai Digui, one of the Seventh Prince's elite guards, was trembling with fear.

He was originally entangled in a fight with an opponent who was strangely shaped and had a huge horse head.

The opponent's swordsmanship was unparalleled and bizarre. The arc of the crescent-shaped blade was cunning and ruthless, repeatedly adding new wounds to his body, and the blood almost soaked through his clothes.

But with his fierce determination and rich experience, he managed to barely maintain the situation and even gain a slight advantage.

During a lull in the fighting, his gaze swept over the opponent's grotesque, inhuman horse head, especially the unusually prominent, writhing, bluish-black veins on its neck. He was secretly horrified and contemptuous: "Overly demonized...it's already a monster, half-human, half-demon..."

But... at that very moment, just as he was parrying the opponent's slash with all his might, he saw the horse-faced man suddenly split open his mouth, reaching all the way to his ears, revealing two rows of chillingly white teeth, and clearly, with a fanatical, ritualistic air, utter two words:
"Demon Transformation!"

boom! ! !
A ferocious aura, ten or even a hundred times more terrifying than before, erupted from the horse-faced man's body without reservation, like a volcano that had been dormant for ten thousand years suddenly erupting, or like a prehistoric beast awakening and roaring.
A substantial, dark red shockwave suddenly spread out from its center, whipping up sand and stones from the ground. Even Pai Digui was forced to retreat several steps by this force before he could barely stand.

Pai Digui's eyes widened instantly, his pupils contracting sharply from extreme shock, almost bursting open!

That muscular, veiny, demonic form he looked like just moments ago… wasn’t even his true demonic form? Now… this is it?! What about before? Was that grotesque appearance… just his normal state?!

And his companions were also... their auras were surging wildly, and their forms were undergoing even more inhuman and terrifying changes!
These guys... these guys are not traditional demon warriors at all!
While traditional demon warriors become powerful after demonization, they are always accompanied by a kind of uncontrolled rage and chaos.

And these people before us... their bodies seem to have undergone some kind of precise and terrifying transformation. Every change seems to be for the purpose of more thoroughly and efficiently matching and unleashing the power of the demon bloodline, presenting a cold, efficient, and chilling abnormal form!
This is a monster... highly specialized for killing!

"brat."

The horse-faced man, now fully transformed, emitted a hoarse, muffled sound, like a broken bellows.

His lower body underwent a dramatic transformation, turning into a more robust horse-like body covered in dark scales, becoming a true centaur!
With a casual flick of his right hand, a halberd seemingly made of congealed blood and shadow, carrying a strong stench of blood, "drilled" out from the flesh of his palm. The tip of the halberd gleamed with a deadly cold light, pointing directly at Pai Digui.

"That warm-up was really enjoyable. Now... let's begin the second round!"

Pai instinctively gripped the longsword tightly, his knuckles turning white from the excessive force.

He had already activated his ultimate demonic transformation state to barely manage to fight his opponent to a draw in his "normal" state!

Only now did the opponent truly reveal its complete form after its demonic transformation, and the difference in strength... was already an insurmountable chasm!

(End of this chapter)