World of Rules

13: Battle

...

The old man from the Han family stood firm, his icy gaze fixed on the two men before him. His expression was as cold as the aura surrounding him, devoid of the slightest hint of mercy.

"You dare trespass on Han family territory?" he said in a calm voice, though the fury beneath it was unmistakable. "Do you really think you'll leave here alive?"

Neither the Lian family head nor the Mu family head responded. There was no need for words.

In the next instant, battle erupted.

The old man from the Han family lunged at the Lian family head with blinding speed. As he moved, a wave of ice surged around him, sweeping through the air with deadly cold.

In response, the Lian family head stomped the ground, and in an instant, rocks exploded beneath him, forming a solid earthen wall that intercepted the first icy assault.

CRASH!

The ice shards shattered against the stone barrier, but before the Lian family head could regain his balance, icy arrows shot from the old man’s hand, piercing through the air like lethal meteors.

Raising his hand, the Lian family head summoned more rock to shield himself, but upon impact—

BANG!

The rock barrier crumbled, sending shards flying in all directions. Yet, the attack did not end there. With a wave of his hand, the Han elder conjured another surge of ice that solidified midair before transforming into massive crystalline spikes, each one gleaming with a deadly sharpness.

The Lian family head was no slouch. Planting his feet firmly on the ground, he channeled his power, sending jagged stone blades bursting upward, colliding violently with the incoming ice.

BOOM!

The ground trembled, the ice cracked, but the old man did not falter. Another flick of his hand, and this time, an eerie cold mist spread across the battlefield, veiling everything in an endless blizzard.

"You won’t escape so easily."

While the clash between these two titans raged, the Mu family head found himself facing two opponents at once.

"Who sent you?" one of the Han family warriors shouted as he lunged, his dagger coated in frost, aiming for a lethal strike.

But the Mu family head did not back down. Instead, he raised his hand, and in an instant, a crimson flame erupted, swirling around him like a fiery shield.

HISSS!

As soon as the icy blade touched the flames, the frost melted away, completely nullifying the attack. But the second warrior was already in motion.

A lightning-fast strike!

In a blur, he appeared behind the Mu family head, his sword descending from above like a falling star.

SLASH!

The Mu family head sidestepped, but the blade grazed his shoulder, leaving a deep wound that spilled hot blood onto the frozen ground.

"You’re resisting?" one of the Han warriors sneered, raising his hand as a wave of ice surged toward him. "Tell us—who sent you?"

Exhaling sharply, the Mu family head suddenly thrust his hand forward.

A ferocious flame burst forth, surging ahead like a fire dragon.

"If you want answers, come take them yourself!"

BOOM!

Massive ice chunks rained down upon him, exploding upon impact and sending him staggering backward.

SLASH!

A deep wound opened along his left side, and steaming hot blood spilled out—only to freeze instantly under the relentless frost.

The Lian family head’s gaze darkened as he looked at the tablet in the old man’s hand.

"The Formation Tablet..."

This was the Han family's secret treasure—

BOOM!

On the other side, the Mu family head battled his two opponents. Sometimes, his flames overwhelmed the ice; other times, the ice smothered the fire. The battle was evenly matched, but it was clear—his opponents fought in perfect synchronization, pressuring him relentlessly.

SLASH!

Another wound opened on his arm, but instead of retreating, he glanced toward the other fight, where his ally was struggling.

He couldn't let this continue!

Suddenly, flames exploded from his body, and he charged forward, launching a massive fire attack.

BOOOOM!

His two opponents retreated, throwing up defenses. But when the smoke cleared—

He was gone.

"What?!"

In the next instant, the Mu family head appeared behind the Han elder!

A blazing fireball!

In his hand, a massive fireball radiated enough heat to melt iron.

"You—!"

Before the old man could react—

BOOOOM!

The fireball struck him directly!

"AAAAARGH!"

A pained scream filled the air.

His left hand was completely burned, and the Formation Tablet shattered into pieces, disintegrating into frozen dust.

With the tablet’s destruction, the eerie cold dissipated, and warmth returned to the battlefield.

But this... was not the end of the fight.

This was only the beginning.