Chapter 1381 The Risk and the Reward

The moment the pitch-black chains bound the Hell Demon, he roared and activated his Limit Break skill, instantly breaking free. His staff instinctively swung, unleashing Ice Ring.

A wave of icy air began to spread in all directions.

However, the icy air failed to stop the sudden attacker, who instead closed the distance.

A streak of azure light flashed.

The Hell Demon couldn't immediately use Blink and vanished from the spot, reappearing twenty yards away in the corridor.

Only then did he identify his attacker.

It was a man in a black cloak, his face hidden beneath a hood, revealing only a pair of jet-black eyes. Silver flames flickered within those eyes, sending chills down the spine. Despite the man's presence, he felt almost nonexistent, his senses failing to detect any tension or threat.

"Who are you?" The Hell Demon immediately recognized that the newcomer's strength was on par with his own, and a hint of apprehension flickered in his eyes.

Had he not been intimately familiar with the surroundings and detected the sudden appearance of the chains and the figure, he might already be dead.

Inside the private room, Qi Lian was dumbfounded.

She had never seen such a foolish expert.

She couldn't believe someone would dare to kill the Hell Demon here.

Putting aside the Hell Demon's own capabilities, this was the main base of Return of the Kings, and the arena was guarded by NPCs even more formidable than those on the streets of Holy City—all level 200. Attacking the Hell Demon here was simply courting death.

However, the Oracle Qi Lian quickly recovered and began casting spells, swiftly providing cover for the Hell Demon.

In Qi Lian's eyes, this foolish expert was none other than Shi Feng himself.

Shi Feng was well aware of the immense risks involved in taking action in the arena, but that was precisely why the chances of success were higher.

He had chosen the narrow corridor on the second floor, a disadvantageous location for magic-based classes. This offered a better chance of success compared to attacking the Hell Demon on the streets or in the wilderness.

Moreover, the arena's NPCs were all stationed in the main hall on the first floor. It would take at least ten seconds for them to notice his actions and reach the corridor on the second floor—much slower than if he had attacked on the streets.

"You won't talk? Then die!" Seeing Shi Feng's silence, the Hell Demon began chanting a spell, launching several Ice Arrows at him.

Within the arena, he held an absolute advantage. Although the terrain was unfavorable, he didn't need to defeat Shi Feng; he only needed to stall for time until the NPCs arrived, which would end the battle.

He didn't believe that Shi Feng alone could kill him quickly. Moreover, with the boost from the ancient book, he feared no direct confrontation, even with those old monsters, let alone a madman.

The Ice Arrows passed through Shi Feng's body, slamming into the wall and creating a patch of white frost.

The Hell Demon's expression darkened. He sensed someone behind him. However, Shi Feng had not revealed any killing intent, and even though the Hell Demon had long reached the Void Realm, he was still a step too slow in detecting Shi Feng.

At such close range, coupled with his delayed reaction, and the fact that he had already used several life-saving skills, dodging was impossible.

Just as the Hell Demon was about to use Ice Barrier for protection, Shi Feng drew Abyssal Blade and unleashed Blade Liberation and Chop at the Hell Demon's back.

The neural pressure from Abyssal Blade was already extraordinary, but using the skill amplified it several times. Ordinary players would likely suffer a brain freeze and be paralyzed with fear, unable even to stand. For experts like the Hell Demon, although it wouldn't cause a complete freeze, it would dull his mind, slowing down his body and brain.

Although the mental pressure affected everyone, Shi Feng had used the power of Soul Flame before activating Abyssal Blade, keeping his mind exceptionally calm and clear. Under the Soul Flame's power, the neural pressure felt like a gentle breeze, having no effect on Shi Feng.

The Hell Demon was already a step slow, and this momentary hesitation allowed Abyssal Blade to cut through the Oracle's magic defense shield and the Elementalist's Ice Shield, striking his body before he could cast Ice Barrier.

The power of Blade Liberation doubled Shi Feng's Strength and Agility. Even though Shi Feng's attributes had been weakened, the amplified attack power was still considerable.

Despite the damage absorbed by the magic defense shield and Ice Shield, the critical strike from Chop still inflicted 13,418 points of damage on the Hell Demon. With only 11,000 HP, it was enough to devour all of the Hell Demon's life.

"Just who...are you?"

The Hell Demon watched his HP plummeting and turned his head, staring with resentment in his eyes. If he had used Ice Barrier from the start, he could have waited for the NPCs to arrive. He had underestimated his opponent's strength because he was in the arena. Despite his regret, the Hell Demon finally fell to the ground, dropping a piece of equipment and an old book.

Inside the room, Qi Lian's gaze toward Shi Feng was now solemn, devoid of her previous contempt.

Everything had happened too quickly.

She couldn't believe the Hell Demon had died so easily, without even using Ice Barrier. No one would believe it if she told them.

But it had indeed happened.

While killing the Hell Demon in the arena seemed foolish, the foolish ones were her and her companion, completely forgetting that an expert of this caliber would have some means to act recklessly.

Moreover, the sudden mental pressure was terrifying.

Even at a distance, it had made her mind blank. If she had been within melee range, it would have been a certain death.

Experts were experts because of their quick reactions, but that mental pressure had slowed her thinking...

In a clash between experts, a moment of hesitation could be fatal, let alone a blank stare.

"Just who is he?" Qi Lian stared at Shi Feng in his black cloak, comparing him to the famous experts in God's Domain. However, none of them possessed the same cold and ethereal aura as the man before her, as if he were an emotionless machine.

While Qi Lian was pondering Shi Feng's identity, Shi Feng quickly collected the equipment and the ancient book dropped by the Hell Demon. Then, he used Spatial Transfer and quietly left the arena.

After Shi Feng's departure, a team of level 200 guards carrying long spears arrived at the scene.

However, the only people in the corridor were the Hell Demon lying on the ground and Qi Lian in the room.

Shortly after the guards arrived, some curious players, drawn by the commotion, also arrived at the scene.

When they discovered the Hell Demon lying on the ground, none of them could believe it.

The Arbitrator of Return of the Kings, the great Hell Demon, had been killed in the arena...

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