REINCARNATED AS A BUSINESS MAN-Chapter 177: UNEXPECTED STRIKE

The corridor was a cacophony of destruction as Darlington faced Franklin and his accomplices in a fierce battle. Each strike from Darlington sent shockwaves through the air, his movements precise and calculated as he parried and countered their relentless assaults. Franklin’s dark flames roared like a consuming beast, the middle-aged woman’s tattered robes billowed with a sinister wind, and the young boy’s deathly aura made each of his attacks a lethal threat.

For a time, Darlington held his ground, his immense power keeping them at bay. But the combined efforts of the three began to chip away at his momentum. A flicker of hesitation crossed his face as Franklin’s scorching flames forced him to dodge, leaving an opening that the boy exploited with a razor-sharp arc of dark energy. Darlington deflected it narrowly, but the impact sent him sliding backward.

Bob, standing a few feet away, clenched his fists. "He’s being pushed back!" he said, anxiety lacing his voice. His gaze darted between the chaotic battle and Hutton, who was leaning against the wall, still recovering. "Should I go help him? He can’t keep this up much longer!"

But Hutton shook his head, his expression calm yet resolute. "It’s not needed."

Bob furrowed his brow. "What do you mean, it’s not—"

Before he could finish, a scroll appeared in Hutton’s hand, seemingly materializing from thin air. The scroll pulsed with an electric blue glow, arcs of lightning crackling around its edges. The air around them grew charged, and the aura emanating from the scroll was overwhelming, like the wrath of a storm bottled within parchment.

Bob’s eyes widened. "A Lightning Convergence Scroll?" he whispered, recognizing the artifact instantly.

Hutton smirked faintly, his gaze never leaving the scroll. "This will be more than enough."

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Back in the fray, Darlington gritted his teeth as he narrowly dodged another coordinated attack. The pressure mounted with every passing second, and he knew he wouldn’t last much longer without intervention.

Franklin sneered, sensing his advantage. "You’re finished, Darlington! Admit it—you can’t take us all at once!"

But Darlington’s response was interrupted by a sudden surge of energy behind him. Everyone paused momentarily, their attention snapping to Hutton as the lightning-infused scroll in his hand unfurled itself, the inscriptions glowing brighter with each passing second. The crackling energy became deafening, illuminating the dim corridor in a blinding light.

Hutton’s voice was steady and commanding as he addressed the room. "You underestimated me once, Franklin. That was your first mistake. But this… this will be your last."

Before Franklin or his accomplices could react, Hutton raised the scroll high, the lightning swirling around him like a tempest ready to be unleashed.

The moment Hutton activated the Lightning Convergence Scroll, a deafening roar shook the air as a torrent of lightning, thick as an arm, rained down mercilessly upon Franklin and his accomplices. Each bolt struck with the force of a thunderstorm, the crackling energy ripping apart the corridor. Walls crumbled, the ceiling caved in, and the floor beneath them fractured like brittle glass.

Bob acted instantly, rushing to Hutton’s side and enveloping them both in a protective barrier of energy. The debris and residual lightning cascaded around them, but his shield held firm.

Darlington, a pillar of resilience amidst the chaos, summoned a protective aura around himself, deflecting the stray arcs of lightning as he braced against the destructive onslaught.

When the dust settled, the corridor was no more. They found themselves standing outside in the open, the stars above barely visible through the storm of dust and smoke rising from the ruins of Drake 9.

Bob lowered his shield and glanced around cautiously before turning to Hutton, who was leaning heavily on his knees, his breaths labored. "Did that do the job?" Bob asked, his voice tinged with both hope and uncertainty.

Hutton, visibly drained, wiped the sweat from his brow and tried to steady himself. The Lightning Convergence Scroll had taken its toll, his body trembling slightly from the sheer output of energy. "It should have," he muttered, though his tone lacked conviction.

Darlington stepped forward, his sharp eyes scanning the destruction, his posture tense. "Don’t let your guard down," he warned.

And then, from the haze of smoke and rubble, Franklin emerged. His clothes were tattered, his hair singed, and his expression twisted into a mix of fury and determination. Behind him, the middle-aged woman stumbled forward, her robes in shreds but her malicious aura still palpable. The young boy followed, his deathly presence dimmed but far from extinguished.

Bob’s shoulders tensed as his hand tightened into a fist. "Damn it…" he growled.

Hutton straightened, pushing through his fatigue, his gaze locking onto Franklin. "They’re still standing…"

Franklin’s battered form stood tall, his lips curling into a venomous grin. "You think some flashy light show would stop us?" he spat, his voice laced with venom. "You’ll need more than that, Hutton."

The middle-aged woman chuckled darkly, her voice raspy. "He’s exhausted now. This is our chance."

The young boy, his eyes glowing faintly, tilted his head. "It’s amusing how persistent they are. But they won’t last much longer."

Hutton wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and steadied himself. "You’re right," he said, his voice low but firm. "I don’t have another trick like that up my sleeve. But I don’t need one."

Bob stepped up beside him, his hazelnut hair falling into his eyes as his aura flared. "We’ll see who doesn’t last much longer."

Darlington cracked his knuckles, his own energy surging as he moved to stand between his allies and their enemies. "This isn’t over yet."

The tension thickened as both sides prepared to clash once more, the ruined battlefield setting the stage for an even fiercer confrontation.

The air tensed as both sides braced for the inevitable clash, but before a single strike could land, a massive fireball lit up the night sky. Its fiery glow reflected in everyone’s eyes, its sheer size and intensity impossible to ignore.

"What the—?!" Bob exclaimed, his gaze snapping upward.

Franklin and his accomplices froze, their focus shifting to the flaming orb descending rapidly toward them. Its heat was palpable even from a distance, and its roar drowned out all other sounds.

"No!" Franklin shouted, his confidence breaking as the fireball slammed into their position. The explosion was deafening, a wave of heat and force erupting outward, shaking the very ground beneath them.

Hutton, Bob, and Darlington shielded their faces, the shockwave nearly knocking them off balance. As the flames settled, the area where Franklin and his accomplices had stood was charred and smoldering, their forms barely visible amidst the smoke.

"Where the hell did that come from?" Darlington asked, his voice sharp and wary.

Before anyone could answer, a group of figures emerged through the dissipating smoke. Leading them was Ling Fei, her expression calm yet resolute, holding a scroll glowing faintly with residual heat. Behind her stood Vivian, Rebecca, Kenneth, and, surprisingly, Veronica, her face conflicted but determined.

Hutton’s jaw dropped. "You…?" He pointed to the scroll in Ling Fei’s hand. "Was that you?"

Ling Fei nodded, a faint smirk tugging at her lips. "You were taking too long," she replied matter-of-factly.

Rebecca folded her arms, a glint of satisfaction in her eyes. "We thought you could use a little… assistance."

Kenneth, standing tall and composed, simply added, "It seemed fitting to make an entrance."

Hutton’s shock gave way to incredulity. "That fireball… you sent that?"

Vivian grinned, leaning casually against Rebecca. "Teamwork makes the dream work, doesn’t it?"

Before Hutton could respond, Franklin’s voice broke through the moment.

"This isn’t over!"

All eyes turned to see Franklin and his accomplices rising unsteadily into the air, battered and bruised but still alive. Franklin’s face was twisted with fury and pain, his voice filled with venom. "You think you’ve won? You’ve only delayed the inevitable! We’ll be back!"

The middle-aged woman glared at them with seething hatred, while the boy, though visibly weakened, stared down at the group with an unsettling calmness.

With that, the three of them retreated into the darkness, disappearing into the night.

Bob exhaled sharply, tension leaving his body. "They’re gone… for now."

Darlington straightened, his eyes narrowing as he watched them vanish. "But not for good."

Ling Fei walked up to Hutton, her sharp gaze meeting his. "So, what’s the plan now?"

Hutton wiped the blood from his mouth, a weary but determined look on his face. "We regroup. This isn’t over… but neither are we."

But before he could even take a single step, his view began to darken slowly but steadily. Seeing this, Hutton eventually thought as he gave in to the darkness that has now enveloped his view. ’Damn it’

"Hutton!!" Both Vivian and Veronica exclaimed anxiously as they both rushed to Hutton’s side who obviously has gone unconscious. "Seems like that scroll has took away every last bit of strength in him. You guys tend to him, I will be monitoring the Harbingers movement and let you guys know that if there is something you should know" Darlington suddenly said while staring at Hutton who is now in the middle of Vivian and Veronica.

"No problem. Sorry for the trouble Mr. Darlington" Bob replied respectfully and he did a small bow of gratitude. "It’s fine" Darlington replied before he suddenly vanished from that area.