Matt spun around sharply, ready to destroy whoever dared approach.
Ethan's heart skipped a beat. He hastily grabbed a stone from the ground, unsure of what next to do.
Just then, a bird swooped down, and Matt's face twisted in rage. He caught the bird and tore it apart with his bare hands.
Ethan's breath hitched. He thought, "I might have sealed my fate. Matt is at level nine of the Energy Realm. He's leagues ahead of me. I don't stand a chance against him."
At this point, Lin Wei, who was already awake and aware of the impending danger, began to cry with savage force.
Matt grabbed Lin Wei and began tearing at her clothes.
"You'll have to deal with her before you can deal with me!" Matt sneered.
Hidden behind a tree, Ethan braced himself as he watched Lin Wei trying to resist.
Of course, every woman will resist in horror and fear.
However, Matt and Lei Wei's energy is close as Lei Wei is at level 7 energy gathering.
As soon as Matt was about to undress her completely naked, Lei Wei, with a blinding flash, light exploded from her hand, striking Matt's arm. The force sent him crashing to the ground with a cry of pain.
Ethan watched in stunned silence as a bleeding wound appeared on Matt's arm. Blood flowed freely, staining his clothes and pooling on the ground.
"A secret weapon?" Ethan thought, his eyes widening as he recognized the sword-shaped object in Lei Wei's hand. "How can she have such a powerful weapon?"
Matt, clutching his wounded arm, coughed up blood. Pain and disbelief filled his face as he stared at Lei Wei and the weapon she held.
Just moments ago, Lei Wei had seemed like easy prey, a lamb to be slaughtered. Now, she had turned the tables, dealing him a blow he hadn't anticipated.
Lei Wei ran her fingers over the weapon with a satisfied smile. "It's powerful," she said. "But sadly, this was its last use."
The weapon had reached its activation limit. Lei Wei had aimed for Matt's chest but had only managed to strike his arm. If she had hit her target, Matt would be dead. Luck had spared him this time, but Lei's calculated risk had still paid off.
Matt was stunned that Lei was to possess such a treasure. Shock filled his eyes; he had never imagined her would have such an artifact. He had considered her a junior in the Energy Gathering Realm.
Struggling to her feet, She faced Matt.
"Look at you!" Matt taunted. "Did you think you could just walk away? I've confined your vital energy. You got lucky, but now you'll pay!"
Matt took out a ring and swallowed it. Ethan's eyes widened as he recognized it as a tool for storing items.
Bella, taking out another sword-shaped weapon from her own Space Ring, braced herself. She had no intention of giving up without a fight.
Matt's internal organs were damaged by the weapon's powerful energy, but he refused to back down.
"You're mine now!" Matt snarled.
"Stay away!" she cried as Matt approached her like a predator closing in on its prey.
"Thousands of insects Biting Heart!" Matt roared. Black energy coiled around his hand, transforming into countless hissing insects.
Lei wei, realizing she had no way to defend herself, closed her eyes in despair. Tears streamed down her face.
"This is my chance!" Ethan thought.
He activated his martial art and charged at Matt.
Matt turned just as Ethan launched himself forward. "What's that?"
Assessing Ethan, Matt smirked. "Aren't you dead, you Level one of the Energy Gathering Realm? How dare you interfere?"
Lei Wei hesitated. "Am I still alive?" she wondered, slowly opening her eyes.
"You've just made a grave mistake," Matt growled. "Interfering in matters beyond your understanding. You'll regret this."
"I won't let you hurt innocent people," Ethan declared.
"Ethan!" Lei Wei called in worry, feeling hope as someone finally came to defend her.
Matt began gathering his energy for another attack.
Ethan clenched his fists, His body trembled slightly, but his resolve remained firm. He knew he was no match for Matt in raw power, but he couldn't stand by and do nothing.
Matt sneered at Ethan, his wounded arm still dripping blood. "You think you can stop me? You're nothing but an insect beneath my feet."
Ethan didn't respond. He knew his energy was no match for Matt, but strategy. He needed to be able to overpower Matt somehow if he handled the situation well.
Ethan clenched his fists, His body trembled slightly, but his resolve remained firm. He knew he was no match for Matt in raw power, considering that he doesn't have any cultivation world, but he couldn't stand by and do nothing.
Matt sneered at Ethan, his wounded arm still dripping blood. "You think you can stop me? You're nothing but an insect beneath my feet."
Ethan didn't respond. He needed to outmaneuver Matt, to find a way to exploit his injuries and his arrogance.
Ethan was no seasoned cultivator—only his wit and the knowledge from his past life. But if there was one thing he had learned from years of toil, it was how to think on his feet.
Ethan's body was shaking, but he tried to stand tall as Matt closed in. "You think you can beat me? You barely made it out last time."
Ethan clenched his jaw. "I was beaten. But that was the old me. You're dealing with someone new."
Matt laughed, tightening his grip on his arm. "Someone new? What are you going to do—die slower?"
Ethan didn't flinch, but his legs were weak. "You beat me before because you didn't take me seriously. Big mistake."
Matt's grin faded, and he lunged at Ethan. Ethan barely managed to sidestep in time, his body moving slower than he wanted. He grabbed a sharp piece of debris from the ground and swung it at Matt's side. The hit landed, and Matt staggered back, growling.
"Is that all you've got?" Matt hissed, wiping the blood from his wound. His eyes were full of anger now.
Ethan, by now, could have summoned the little cultivator energy that he had to finish off Matt, but he had none at the moment.
Matt stepped forward, in disgust "You're pathetic."
Ethan's heart raced, and his heart felt foggy. He knew he needed to do something fast.
Matt sneered at Ethan, still clutching his bleeding arm. "You're just an insect."
Ethan didn't respond, but his mind raced. I have to outmaneuver him. If I wait for the right moment...
He took a deep breath, looked at Lei Wei, who was standing looking all so worried at the spot, and blinked at her to summon her energy within.
Matt suddenly turned and ran, leaving Ethan stunned. Lin Wei, fighting back, struck him with a blast of light, wounding his arm. He staggered, glaring at them and uttering "This isn't the end"