If the previous self-detonation of several hundred Armored Beetles was a sudden clap of thunder, it was still within the realm of comprehension.

Then, the black cloud formed by ten thousand Armored Beetles at this moment was a silent heavenly punishment announcing the arrival of the apocalypse.

The color drained completely from the face of the middle-aged man °• N 𝑜 v 𝑒 l i g h t •° who had survived in the alley.

He tilted his head back, his mouth unconsciously open, and a 'hissing' sound, like a leaky bellows, came from his throat.

What was that?

That was not a swarm of insects.

That was death itself.

That was living despair, swallowing the sky completely, unwilling to let even a sliver of light pass through.

Tang Qi and Maeda Hanami also looked up at this terrifying night sky, massive waves churning in their hearts.

Is this... the Hundred Changes Star Lord's true power?

Unlike the middle-aged man's trembling that originated from his Soul, Hasegawa Yama's half-closed eyes were now wide open.

There was no fear.

There was no retreat.

In those eyes, a nearly maniacal flame burned—the ultimate excitement of meeting a worthy opponent.

"Interesting..."

"Truly interesting!"

Hasegawa Yama grinned, revealing a set of white teeth, his smile wild and morbid.

"Come on!"

"Let me see just how strong you are!"

He proactively issued the challenge.

On the rooftop, the curve of Zhou Huai's mouth deepened.

He liked opponents with this kind of backbone.

Unfortunately, backbone couldn't change the outcome.

"As you wish."

Zhou Huai's voice was soft, yet it clearly reached the ears of everyone present.

He lightly uttered a single word.

"Go."

Buzz—!!!

The moment the command was given, the silent black cloud came alive!

Ten thousand insects beat their wings, the grating buzz converging into a torrent of destruction that instantly tore through the tranquility of the rainy night!

The black tide descended from the heavens!

"Wall of Windstorm!"

Hasegawa Yama let out a roar, swinging the katana in his hand upward.

A visible azure tornado erupted centered on him, shooting towards the sky!

The violent airflow swept up rain, rubble, and even the debris of the ruins, forming a gigantic Wall of Storms connecting heaven and earth.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

The first wave of diving Armored Beetles slammed fearlessly against the rotating Wind Wall.

The light from the explosions was like ten thousand sparks ignited within the storm.

Amidst the continuous roar, the violent shockwaves were completely shredded and neutralized by the tornado.

Hasegawa Yama stood within the eye of the storm, his clothes fluttering, his expression arrogant.

"Is that all there is?"

Zhou Huai seemed to hear his thoughts and chuckled softly.

"This is just the beginning."

As soon as he finished speaking, the swarm in the sky changed formation.

They no longer dove haphazardly but split into dozens of streams, like living black currents, launching attacks from all directions and various tricky angles toward the heaven-piercing tornado!

"One-Sword Style: Chaotic Wind Slash!"

Hasegawa Yama's eyes narrowed, and the katana in his hand turned into a blur.

Countless crescent-shaped azure Wind Blades shot out from the tornado, like the most efficient meat grinder, slicing all the approaching Armored Beetles to pieces in mid-air!

The flashes of explosions rose and fell, illuminating the entire night sky erratically.

Hasegawa Yama's strength was indeed formidable.

He was like an indestructible reef, remaining standing no matter how the black tide crashed against him.

However, there was no surprise on Zhou Huai's face.

Controlling Caesar, he stood with his hands in his pockets, as if watching a fireworks display unrelated to himself.

"Not bad strength."

His voice carried a tone of evaluation.

"Pity, you are not Wada Hirayama."

"Nor have you comprehended your own Domain."

"This is where it ends."

Hasegawa Yama could not hear his evaluation.

But he could feel his stamina and energy being consumed at an alarming rate.

Every Wind Blade, every time he maintained the Wind Wall, required energy consumption.

Yet the opponent's insects seemed inexhaustible.

Fine beads of sweat were already seeping from his temples, and his breathing grew heavy.

He couldn't continue like this!

A hint of determination flashed in Hasegawa Yama's eyes.

He abruptly shrunk the range of the Wind Wall, concentrating all his power onto a single point!

"As long as I kill you!"

He let out a roar, his entire body transforming into an azure streak of light, like a sharp sword piercing the sky, forcibly tearing open a path through the swarm, heading straight for Zhou Huai on the rooftop!

He bet correctly.

As long as he killed that blond kid, this nightmare would end!

He also bet incorrectly.

Because the moment he converted all his defenses into offense, a fatal flaw was exposed on his flank.

Dozens of Armored Beetles, like sharks smelling blood, accurately seized this opportunity.

They pierced right through the side of Hasegawa Yama's Protective Wind Aura, which had been condensed to the extreme!

Hasegawa Yama's pupils contracted sharply.

Damn it!

He wanted to dodge, but his old strength was spent, and new strength had not yet arisen.

It was too late.

Boom—!!!

The first explosion detonated near his right shoulder.

Immediately followed by the second, and the third... the flashes of explosion merged into one continuous light across his body!

"Ugh ah—!!!"

A tragic scream echoed through the night sky.

Hasegawa Yama's charging figure abruptly halted, and his Protective Wind Aura instantly collapsed.

His entire right arm, the one holding the sword, was blasted into a mist of blood by the consecutive explosions!

The residual shockwaves viciously slammed into his chest, tearing his combat uniform to shreds and exposing charred, bloody flesh.

He plummeted helplessly from mid-air, trailing thick smoke, like a bird with broken wings.

Crash—!

A massive sound.

A deep crater several meters in diameter was smashed into the ground, scattering rubble.

In the alley, there was deathly silence.

The sky-obscuring swarm had stopped attacking at some point, merely hovering quietly in mid-air, as if awaiting a final command.

"Mr. Ha... Hasegawa!"

The middle-aged man let out a mournful cry and scrambled toward the deep crater.

At the bottom of the pit, Hasegawa Yama was covered in blood and utterly wretched.

He propped himself up with his remaining left hand, struggling to stand.

His eyes no longer held the previous fanaticism and excitement; only the terror of surviving a disaster and the instinct... to flee.

He was afraid.

He was truly terrified. 𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖

However, a figure blocked the edge of the pit faster than the middle-aged man.

It was Tang Qi.

He looked down upon the mass of ruined flesh at the bottom of the pit, his gaze cold.

Hasegawa Yama looked up, and upon seeing that face, his pupils dilated with fear.

"D-don't kill me..."

He pleaded with difficulty.

Tang Qi did not speak.

He simply raised his foot and, using all his strength, viciously kicked Hasegawa Yama in the face.

"Bang!"

A muffled thud.

Hasegawa Yama's still somewhat handsome face instantly caved in, and he tumbled back to the bottom of the pit like a rolling gourd.

Zhou Huai's mental command was issued again.

The thousands of Armored Beetles hovering in the air seemed to receive some kind of guidance.

They transformed into a black Tornado of Death and silently poured entirely into the deep crater.

There was no violent sound of explosion.

Only bursts of fine, grating crackles that made one's teeth ache.

A moment later.

The swarm dispersed, gathering once more behind Caesar.

The deep crater was completely empty.

Aside from the scorched earth, there was no longer any trace that Hasegawa Yama had ever been there.

Not even a speck of ash remained.