Chapter 040: The Fire Rats’ Doomsday, Tumult in a Sea of Flames!

"Uncle Yu, are you alright?" Gu Xiaoyuan asked, her voice laced with concern.

Yu Le's body temperature was rising again, but the cooling conversion device that had been suppressing his internal fire was currently occupied.

"I can still hold on. Do you think Captain Geng and the others can take down that Fire-Maned Demon Rat?"

"They can. Believe in them!"

There was Fang Wensheng, a fourth-tier Iron Bone realm fighter with minor injuries; Geng Xiao, a third-tier Iron Bone realm fighter; Su Chi, a second-tier Iron Bone realm fighter who had lost a leg; and Ling Xiao, a ninth-tier Rock Realm sniper.

Although the Fire-Maned Demon Rat, which had been backed against the conversion device, outmatched them in both rank and physical state, the team had an advantage. Even Geng Xiao and Ling Xiao, who appeared to be in peak condition, had already been through a grueling battle. The Fire-Maned Demon Rat’s flames dealt massive damage, and once combined with the dark force released by a creature of the Five-Bone realm, it was lethal to anyone hit.

Yet, this battle showcased the superiority of human intellect. The Fire-Maned Demon Rat was not unintelligent, but its wit was merely on par with an average human, and its environment had never required it to develop complex strategies. Its fighting style was purely instinctual.

Geng Xiao and his team, however, were seasoned Demon Hunters. They had hunted countless beasts and were intimately familiar with the habits and combat patterns of monsters. By coordinating their strengths against a powerful foe, they could prevent the beast from utilizing even seventy percent of its true power.

Their tactics were simple: Ling Xiao occupied the high ground to harass the creature, forcing it to move while interspersing his attacks with various types of ammunition to weaken, control, and pierce its defenses. He played with his Frost-Congealing Rounds, Flash-Bang Rounds, and Bone-Piercing Rounds with masterful ease.

As the secondary attacker, Geng Xiao acted as the tank. Beyond the exquisite armor visible beneath his combat suit, he was a gifted user of fire-attribute Life Martial Arts. Being a fire-wielder himself, he had higher heat resistance and a keen eye for the trajectories of fire-based abilities. Whenever the Fire-Maned Demon Rat attempted to go berserk, he provided early warnings and used the power of his Blazing Fist to deflect the onslaught. Even at his worst, the residual energy wasn't enough to inflict fatal wounds on him or Fang Wensheng nearby.

Under these circumstances, Fang Wensheng launched unrestrained attacks. His mysterious-grade Life Martial Art was the "Thunder-Striding Hand," an energy-based ability that allowed him to control thunder in his palms with explosive power. If not for the fear of his lightning-based damage, the Fire-Maned Demon Rat—which held a rank advantage—would never have stayed huddled near the conversion device. Fang Wensheng was the only one capable of dealing truly fatal blows, and the rat was deeply wary of him.

However, thanks to Ling Xiao’s distraction and Geng Xiao’s defense-breaking maneuvers, the rat's attempts to focus its full offensive power on Fang Wensheng were thwarted time and again. Even Su Chi found opportunities to land a kick or two, hitting and running.

After several rounds of entanglement, the flames on the Fire-Maned Demon Rat were no longer as brilliant as they had been at the start. Its breathing grew heavy, and its movements became sluggish. It was clear that its condition was dire; the two teams had effectively treated it like a boss and whittled it down to a sliver of health.

"Great opportunity! Brother Geng, let’s finish it together!" Fang Wensheng decided, launching a final charge at the Five-Bone demon rat.

Geng Xiao frowned but did not refuse. One wielding claws and the other fists, Fang Wensheng gathered two lightning needles in his hands.

"Thunder Seal: Piercing!"

Fang Wensheng successfully drove a lightning needle into the rat's body. The creature roared, raising a claw to gather its remaining fire energy and swiping at Fang Wensheng.

"Brother Geng, help me!"

Geng Xiao did not stand idly by, his Blazing Fist striking from behind. "Blazing Fist: Flame Cone!"

The rat's raised claw was blasted back by the power of Geng Xiao’s fist. Using fire to extinguish fire, the flames on the rat’s arm were completely snuffed out, and the limb went limp.

"Thanks, Brother Geng," Fang Wensheng said, his voice sounding sinister.

In the next moment, Geng Xiao’s eyes sharpened. Fang Wensheng did not use the lightning needle in his left hand to finish off the dying rat; instead, he aimed it directly at Geng Xiao’s neck.

"You scoundrel!"

Geng Xiao was not caught off guard—he had been wary from the start. He leaned back, using his chest armor to block the needle. However, the residual lightning surged across his armor, causing him to cry out in pain as his body spasmed for a brief moment.

Just as Fang Wensheng moved to strike again, a shrill screech echoed from above. "Owl-Eagle Piercing Shot!"

This was the most powerful attack Ling Xiao could unleash from his Owl-Eagle crossbow, a shot he had once used to slay a demon beast of the Iron Bone realm. Almost the moment Fang Wensheng aimed his needle at Geng Xiao, Ling Xiao had pulled the trigger.

Before Fang Wensheng could land another blow on Geng Xiao, he was struck squarely in the back by Ling Xiao’s shot. The force was immense, shattering the back of his armor and sending him flying through the air.

"Captain Geng! Captain Fang!" the two vice-captains, Han Yuesu and Su Chi, shouted simultaneously. But before they could assess their captains, the Fire-Maned Demon Rat—injured by Fang Wensheng’s needle and crippled by Geng Xiao—erupted into a frenzy.

Its target was not the captains, but Han Yuesu, who was on the verge of fully cooling the conversion device!

In that instant, everyone’s gaze followed the flash of fire. Han Yuesu, having exhausted her ice energy and now utterly weak, could not possibly dodge the incoming beast. She stood frozen, staring blankly as the Fire-Maned Demon Rat loomed larger in her vision.

"Yu Le!" Gu Xiaoyuan cried out in alarm.

Yu Le leaped down the stairs, gripping his Fulong Fishing Rod, which was rapidly thickening and enlarging. In the blink of an eye, he appeared in front of Han Yuesu and struck the rat with his staff. Yu Le’s body burst with blood as the impact occurred; amidst the rat's furious roar and surging waves of fire, the Fulong Fishing Rod was sent flying into the air. Yu Le himself was sent hurtling backward, colliding with Han Yuesu as they both fell into the distance, their fates unknown.

Chaos reigned. When the flames subsided, the Fire-Maned Demon Rat had reclaimed the conversion device. However, everyone noticed its state was critical; a deep gash had opened on its head, blood mixed with fire dripped from it, and its eyes were glazed. It was clearly about to collapse.

The rat made a final, desperate attempt. It pressed a single claw against the nearly cooled conversion device, greedily absorbing the energy converted from the fire-attribute demon core inside. As cracks spread across the device, the fur on the rat’s body ignited, and it transformed into a living fireball.

Roar!

Waves of angry bellows echoed, venting the rage of being beaten and wounded by the crowd.

"No, it’s going to self-destruct! Everyone, scatter!" Gu Xiaoyuan’s face turned pale as she scrambled backward. Those who could still move followed suit, even Fang Wensheng, who ignored his injuries and fled in a panic.

BOOM!

The Fire-Maned Demon Rat released all its own fire energy along with the power it had stolen from the conversion device. The hub of the gas plant turned into a sea of fire, and everything in the vicinity was swallowed by the flames.

After three minutes of roaring fire, the battlefield finally grew quiet.

Gu Xiaoyuan’s voice rang out: "Is everyone alright?"

From a pile of debris, a figure wobbled to their feet.

"It seems victory belongs to me alone."

It was Fang Wensheng.