The burly man sneered, taking a heavy step toward Di Ruqing.
Each stride brought him closer—closer to his prey.
Suddenly!
The pale-faced Di Ruqing moved.
It was as if she were making one last desperate stand.
Tap. Tap!
In the blink of an eye, she lunged toward the man, her left fist turning into molten magma.
With a fierce cry, she drove her fiery punch straight toward his abdomen!
"Too slow, little girl from the Di family!"
"If I hadn't underestimated you earlier, you'd never have landed that hit!"
The man laughed cruelly, his arm shooting out like lightning.
Before she could react, his massive hand clamped around her untransformed arm.
The speed was terrifying—Di Ruqing couldn't even flinch.
He gripped tight.
She struggled to wrench her arm free—but her strength was nothing compared to his.
Her resistance made his arm tremble slightly, nothing more.
"Useless! Useless! Completely useless!"
The cultist's grin twisted wider.
"So what if you're a Natural-Type user? Even if you were destined to become a Rank 7 master someday, right now you're just an insect under my heel!"
His breathing grew heavier, face flushed with excitement.
"Don't worry, I won't kill you yet. Not until the Elder arrives—not until your fruit power belongs to me—AAAAAAAHHH!!!"
His words turned into a scream.
A searing agony shot through his arm.
He looked down—only to see Di Ruqing's entire left arm blazing like a living volcano!
His hand, which gripped her, was already charred and smoking.
The flesh sizzled, blood and burnt meat mingling into a grotesque sight.
"Damn it! Damn it! You little brat!"
He roared, veins bulging on his forehead.
"You dared to hold back! Against a Tier-4!? You've already learned to fully magnify your arm and still thought you could toy with me—AAAAAHHHHHH!!"
A new pain struck.
This time, it came from below.
A pain that transcended the flesh—the pain of shattered eggs.
"AAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!"
Blood filled his eyes as he staggered, shrieking like a wounded beast.
"You damn little witch! You're dead! DEAD!!!"
In his rage, he kicked out violently.
Normally, Di Ruqing could have easily dodged such a clumsy attack.
But now—she was completely drained. Her body refused to respond.
"Ugh—"
Her soft cry escaped as the kick sent her flying, crashing heavily into the ground several meters away.
"Damn you! Damn you! You filthy brat!"
The man's face contorted with fury, his ruined hands trembling as he staggered forward.
Blood dripped from his pants. His every step radiated hatred.
Crunch… crunch… crunch…
He stopped before Di Ruqing's crumpled form.
"I won't kill you quickly."
"I'll make you understand what happens when you anger me."
"I'll break your fingers, one by one… your arms, your legs… until you beg for death."
His voice rasped like a demon's whisper, his eyes gleaming with sadistic pleasure.
"And when you're at your limit—when your screams fade into despair—the Elder will come and take your fruit power… and I'll become the new Magma wielder."
Each word dripped with madness.
Di Ruqing trembled uncontrollably.
She was only eighteen.
Exhausted, bleeding, terrified.
Tears welled in her eyes as she whispered weakly—
"Someone… please… help me…"
"Father… Daddy…"
Her heart cried in helpless despair.
The man threw his head back and laughed.
"Hahaha! Too late for that!"
He kicked her again, sending her crashing into a tree with a dull thud.
"Now you're scared? Too late! Way too late! Hahahahaha!"
Step by step, he closed in once more.
"Who… who will save me…"
Di Ruqing curled up on the ground, pale and trembling, watching death approach.
"Give it up! No one's coming! In Tong City, I am the king now! Hahahaha—"
But before he could finish laughing—
WHOOSH!!!
A violent gust of wind exploded from the left, tearing through the air.
"What—!?"
He turned his head—
Just in time to see a blinding kick wrapped in roaring lightning slashing toward him like a guillotine of thunder. ⚡
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