With a single sword stroke, Xia Nan forced back two little gangsters attempting an ambush, and in an instant, unleashed [Gravity Control], adding a touch of gravity to Gerry.

The Pirate Leader, who had been relatively nimble moments before, suddenly halted, his expression shocked, seemingly bewildered by the invisible heavy pressure applied to his body.

The evasive maneuver he had begun naturally couldn’t continue, leaving him to forcibly hold his scimitar horizontally in front of him in an attempt to defend.

[Vortex Slash] + [Gravity Etching] + [Heavy Tide].

The classic triple combo.

A russet-colored sword light flashed through the air.

In a highly focused state, Xia Nan did not engage Gerry in a frontal sword clash but adjusted the landing point of the sword light skillfully, letting it fall as low as possible towards the hilt of his opponent’s sword.

This made it entirely impossible for such a strike to hit the opponent’s vital points.

Even the downward angle of the sword light gave Gerry an opportunity for a counterattack by momentum.

Rich in combat experience and keenly aware of this, the Pirate Leader assumed Xia Nan had made a mistake, immediately driving his scimitar to meet the sword light, aiming towards Xia Nan’s chest.

Trading blow for blow, Gerry would profit entirely.

His blade was going to hit a vital point directly, while the black-haired Adventurer’s deflected sword light at most would cause him slight injury, as long as he dodged a little...

Before the thought could complete a loop in his mind, a suddenly appearing russet force field energy barrier surrounding Xia Nan’s body brought Gerry’s thoughts to an abrupt halt.

— [Dead Line] Ring · Deflection Field!

In a defensive state, lured into a hasty counter, Gerry’s strike was not at full strength, so when the scimitar landed on the russet shield, the force on the blade was completely absorbed and deflected.

It was as if he had struck an exceedingly smooth and hard object, while ripples of energy spread across the surface of the russet barrier, the scimitar skated along its surface.

At the same time, the sword light unleashed by Xia Nan also landed on Gerry.

With just a gentle swipe.

Hiss—

Muscle tore, blood spurted.

The right hand gripping the scimitar was severed from the wrist, and fell to the ground under the momentum of the sword light.

"Ahhhh!!!"

Gerry cried out in pain instinctively, yet did not lose his combat resolve.

As the Boss of the Ebbtide Gang and a veteran expert with decades of adventure experience in the Southern Islands, how could he possibly give up life over such mere pain.

Despite his anguished screams, his feet forced powerfully, dragging his now overwhelmingly heavy body swiftly backward.

At the same time, his intact left hand, with four fingers bent and forming a tube with the thumb, lifted to his lips.

A purulent green liquid rapidly concentrated into the space of his left palm, seeming to be brewing some special battle skill.

Xia Nan’s assault was relentless as rain, with no intent to dodge.

Amid the echoing wolf’s howl, he advanced fluidly.

Meanwhile, the [Gravity Control] exerted over the opponent’s whole body was deliberately relaxed by him.

Just like a body that had returned to shore from the pool, absurdly heavy, like suddenly shedding weight after long training.

Gerry, known as the "Carrion Vulture," only somewhat accustomed to the gravity imposed by Xia Nan, suddenly felt his entire being light as if to float to the sky.

His balance instantly disrupted, his body involuntarily tilted backward.

Under the enhancement of [Teeth Hunting], Xia Nan closed the distance to his opponent in just one step.

The Snake Scale Arm Shield hammered down, striking directly onto his opponent’s face.

Interfering Gerry’s battle skill, and instantly shattering the venom that had gathered halfway before his lips, turning into a dark green viscous venom that splattered across the opponent’s entire face.

The Snake Scale Arm Shield, with its corrosion and toxin immunity effects, remained unharmed, and along with the shield strike, [Gravity Etching] and [Heavy Tide] took effect simultaneously.

The russet force field energy instantly crushed half the Pirate Leader’s face, breaking teeth and shattering the nasal bridge.

The already unstable balance of his body completely disrupted by the gravitational fluctuation, he fell on his back to the ground.

Without leaving the opponent even a single breath of opportunity.

At the moment "Carrion Vulture" Gerry’s back of the head collided with the ground.

The ash-black [Ash Fall] Straight Sword was already reverse-gripped by Xia Nan, as it plowed across, drawing a straight line amidst earth, rubble, and neck.

Scarlet blood gushed from the severed neck as if springing forth.

His features indistinguishable, the crushed head like a deflated ball, rolling in the light of the moon, rolling along the ground.