Kuyi Tulan signaled Hector to continue. He still felt that relying solely on the Sharkmon and flames wouldn't be enough to topple their Alchemy Workshop's Golden Seats.
He felt that there must be some kind of secret technique involved. Otherwise, by commonly known rules, their Alchemy Workshop's Golden Seats should have been able to handle it.
The Sharkmon just devours Spirit Power, and flames are nothing but unbearably hot. Alchemists have a hundred ways to create new defenses to fend off these attacks. To the Golden Seats, these were minor threats.
However, things were not as he imagined. His Alchemy Workshop was not as strong as he thought. Three Golden Seats dealing with two people from the Sol Family gained no advantage, and one was even injured. If it weren't for Milo's Exchange Beast, these Golden Seats might have changed hands today.
"Do tell me, how did a single Sharkmon and a cluster of flames manage to defeat you?" he asked.
"Sir, that was not just any Sharkmon." Hector's face was grave as he struggled to utter a few words he was reluctant to mention.
"Was it a tamed Sharkmon?"
"Yes, sir."
"No wonder. I've only seen this ancient taming art in Scholars' books before. Apparently, to tame a Sharkmon, one must nourish it with Spirit Power. Once it has been nurtured to a certain extent, the Sharkmon will gain human-like intellect and become very obedient." Kuyi Tulan's eyes sparkled with anticipation, as he seemed to have already claimed this Sharkmon as his own.
Dastan, trapped inside the Golden Cage, fell silent. He knew that the more he spoke, the more information about the Young Family Leader would be revealed, so he tried his best to control himself.
Kuyi Tulan's earlier provocations must have been deliberate, Dastan thought. That man must have seen through my personality and intentionally provoked me, making me reveal information inadvertently. If I hadn't lost my temper just now, Kuyi Tulan wouldn't have been certain that their adversary was the Young Family Leader of the Sol Family. In that case, their subsequent battles with Young Master Stan would have been filled with suspicion, which would have given Stan an advantage. But now... my impulsiveness seems to have shattered all of that...
Dastan narrowed his eyes, slowly recalling the preceding scenes. Maybe it was my appearance that provoked Young Master Stan, or perhaps it was something else. In any case, Young Master Sol was the very picture of rage.
Anger led to drastic changes. Connected by blood and Spirit Power, the tamed Sharkmon also instantly underwent an evolution. This evolution released a powerful shockwave, causing the three Golden Seats of the Alchemy Workshop to retreat.
Alchemy could instantly create a defense, but reacting in such a short period was no small feat. To demand the instantaneous composition of an Alchemy Equation for an alchemical exchange was truly a tall order.
Joela, Brad, and Hector had no effective countermeasures when faced with this evolved shockwave attack. But they were, after all, Golden Seat holders, so fear did not show on their faces. They responded instinctively, step by step, according to their own rhythm.
Brad's attacks were temporarily ineffective, and Hector couldn't use his soft techniques, so they could only rely on Joela's robust Diamond Defense Shield.
But the flames—the dancing, moving flames—didn't offer them any respite. The fire rained down, gradually turning into strips of fire, which then transformed into columns of fire, blasting directly at Joela's Diamond Defense Shield.
That wasn't all. Dastan, wielding his broadsword, began darting around underground. This was his unique Stealth Ability; relying on it years ago, he had managed to assassinate the marching commander of the Mantai Empire on the battlefield without anyone noticing. This time, he intended to offer this skill to the Alchemy Workshop, even though Joela had once been a good friend of his...
Dastan's steel blade fiercely struck the flame-blasted Diamond Wall. CRACK! The mighty Diamond Wall shattered.
The evolved Sharkmon became more flexible, now carrying the flames on its back as it continued to fiercely attack the three from the Alchemy Workshop.
The flame-enhanced Sharkmon transformed into various shapes. Its attacks were highly diversified, featuring close-range knives, swords, hammers, and axes, as well as long-range bows, crossbows, cannons, and muskets. This combination of near and far attacks relentlessly pushed the three Golden Seats back.
"This isn't going to work! We need to defeat Stan Sol, the one behind these two monsters, first. Only then can we escape this situation," Joela said from behind her Diamond Defense Shield.
The others agreed with her. Unfortunately, none of them could step forward to fight under such a ferocious assault. They couldn't approach Stan Sol without first getting past the Sharkmon and the flames.
Moreover, Dastan kept harassing them. Dastan's attacks were even more lethal than the flames, completely scattering their defensive formation. Joela had no choice but to confront Dastan alone, while Hector and Brad were forced to engage the Sharkmon and the flames.
Unable to get close, Brad couldn't unleash the power of Berserk. Although he held many Berserk Alchemy Equations in his hands, he could only watch helplessly as their opponents attacked relentlessly, unable to get near.
"I'll try to exchange for elasticity!" Hector shouted to Brad. "I'll launch you toward Stan Sol! I'll hold off these two monsters!"
Hector formed a Spirit Power Alchemy Equation, and his entire arm instantly transformed into flexible tendrils. FWOOSH! FWOOSH! FWOOSH! Like drawing a bow, he shot out numerous Spirit Power pellets.
However, the Sharkmon and the flames weren't scared. After all, they weren't truly alive, not even sentient beings; they were merely entities imbued with Spirit Power, like avatars...
Of course, Hector was merely bluffing. His true aim was to catapult Brad, nearly invincible in close combat, toward Stan Sol.
Dastan sighed. Thinking of that scene, he felt a surge of gratification; he had never imagined that the Young Master of the Sol Family would mature so quickly.
Hector had succeeded in his aim, but the arm he had exchanged was consumed by the flaming Sharkmon.
Once the Sharkmon bit into the Spirit Power-infused arm, it refused to let go. Hector's Spirit Power gradually began to drain away...
Seeing this, Brad, soaring through the air, was filled with rage. He roared, leveling up his Berserk once more! In an instant, his entire body was bathed in a yellow glow. His golden fist, like a cannonball, shot toward Stan Sol.
Even now, Dastan couldn't help but tear up recalling that scene. It had been many years since anyone from the Sol Family had achieved such a technique!
Incomplete Moon!
The part of Stan Sol's body Brad had struck instantly vanished, leaving an incomplete, floating figure.
Brad, unable to stop his momentum, crashed into a large rock. The rock instantly shattered, emitting waves of hot steam.
This scene astounded everyone present.
"Is he even human?!" a few onlookers exclaimed in shock.
"He is! Of course, he's human!" Baharo, who was protecting Hustace, was ecstatic. "This is the highest realm pursued by Hunters! This is the greatest power bestowed upon us by the moon!"
"Incomplete Moon!" Dastan also cried out in astonishment. "This is the ultimate technique aspired to by every ancient Hunter on the continent!"