"Dīdā…"
Crimson droplets of blood descended, splattering the ground in a vibrant display of color.
Fang Li clutched his wound, desperately trying to catch his breath as he stumbled upon the dark-red Hayajiro. With each faltering step, he left a trail of blood in his wake.
His body burned with agony.
Pain coursed through his veins, relentless and unforgiving.
His stamina dwindled, draining away like a dwindling flame.
His power waned, gradually losing its grip on his weakened form.
It felt as if Fang Li could tangibly sense the ebbing of his life, a relentless torment that gripped him without respite.
Yet, even in the face of such dire circumstances, Fang Li's grip on the dagger remained firm, his expression chillingly serene.
But to call it serenity would be a misnomer.
For Fang Li, there was no real sense of life gradually slipping away.
Despite the ceaseless agony, which served as a grim reminder of his dire situation, his heart remained untouched by the specter of death.
Thus, Fang Li could analyze the present predicament with a state of mind that bordered on tranquility.
"The wound… seems impossible to fully heal…"
That was Fang Li's current reality.
And it was hardly surprising.
Though the Injury Recovery Potion possessed the ability to mend injuries, its effectiveness was limited to minor wounds. It proved utterly insufficient to mend such a grievous injury that seemed to cleave his body in twain.
Moreover, Fang Li had already exhausted three-quarters of the Injury Recovery Potion, with less than a quarter remaining. After partially closing his wound, its efficacy had dissipated.
Thus, while Fang Li's injury was no longer as critical as before, a grim gash still marred his chest.
"Is there no way to staunch the bleeding?"
Fang Li pressed his hand firmly against the wound, his palm already dyed a deep red.
A substantial loss of blood caused his vision to blur.
But that was not the worst of it.
"Look! There's blood on the ground!"
"Over there?!"
"Hurry! Catch up with him!"
"Be cautious! That monster surpasses even Chief Head's abilities!"
Amidst the clamor, a chorus of footsteps drew nearer.
Fang Li barely had time to react before armed Samurai burst onto the scene, their gaze fixated on the blood-soaked figure of Fang Li.
"————!"
The Samurai swiftly raised their Steam Guns in unison.
"Tch!" Fang Li clicked his tongue and swiftly sought refuge behind a nearby steam boiler.
"Bang bang bang bang bang————!"
In an instant, a volley of gunshots reverberated through the air.
"Clang clang clang clang dang————!"
Sparks erupted, and steel clashed, as the steam boiler bore the brunt of the gunfire.
Bullet after bullet from the Steam Guns rained down upon it, each leaving its mark and denting the metal surface.
But this was not unexpected.
Mumei's Steam Pistol had proven capable of penetrating a Kabane's steel heart membrane with multiple shots, showcasing the hunters' formidable arsenal against the Kabane threat.
Thus, it stood to reason that the Steam Guns wielded by the Samurai possessed a similar level of power. A barrage of shots could pierce the heart of a Kabane.
Given the potency of Steam Guns, one could only imagine the intensity of their combined firepower.
"Bang bang bang bang bang————!"
Amidst the relentless gunfire and unyielding assault, the steel boiler became a pincushion of bullet holes.
"Did they intend to shoot me through the boiler?"
Fang Li, concealed behind the punctured boiler, did not succumb to panic. Instead, a smile played upon his lips.
"Well then, allow me to lend you a hand."
With those words, Fang Li turned around, his ice-blue Mystic Eyes materializing. His dagger sliced through the air as he struck the steel boiler before him.
Empowered by the Mystic Eyes of Death Perception, even steel crumbled like delicate paper in Fang Li's hands.
With a resounding "Pū" sound, Fang Li's dagger sliced through the steam boiler in front of him, effortlessly cleaving it in two as if it were mere fur.
"Boom————!"
The entire steam boiler erupted instantaneously.
A deluge of steam gushed out, escaping from the severely compromised boiler.
In the blink of an eye, a thick cloud of steam enveloped the space, billowing like erupting smoke, swallowing the relentless Hunters' Samurai who had been firing their weapons.
"What?!"
"It's hot!"
"I can't see a thing!"
Panic gripped the Hunters' Samurai in an instant.
The steam shrouded the entire area, robbing them of their vision.
Within the expansive veil of white, aiming became an exercise in futility, causing the Samurai's ceaseless gunfire to come to a halt.
"Damn it!"
"Cease fire!"
"Be cautious, don't hit our own allies!"
Amidst the enveloping steam, the Samurai shouted in a frenzy.
No one had anticipated that the wounded beast would not only lose its threat but become an even more formidable adversary.
"Chī————!"
Suddenly, from within the blanketing mist of steam, a faint sound of space being torn asunder emerged.
"Pū chī————!"
Immediately following, the sickening sound of flesh rending echoed.
"AaahAaah————!"
Soon after, piercing screams resonated, their wails akin to those of a vengeful deity.
Those agonizing cries struck at the hearts of every Hunters' Samurai like a heavy hammer.
"Hey!"
"Who's screaming?!"
"What's happening?!"
"Speak up!"
The Samurai couldn't contain their inner turmoil, and they shouted in a state of panic one after another.
Yet, no response came from their comrades.
"Pū chī————!"
Another tear ripped through the air.
"AaahAaah————!"
The screams of the second Samurai reached the ears of everyone present.
This time, even the most oblivious Samurai comprehended what had transpired.
Without a shadow of a doubt, Fang Li had launched his counterattack.
"Fire… fire your guns————!"
Accompanied by the lament of one of the Samurai, panic gripped the ranks of the Hunters' Samurai.
"Bang Bang Bang Bang Bang————!"
In the next moment, amidst the vast expanse of swirling white steam, the resounding gunshots erupted once more.
And beneath the symphony of gunfire, the screams of the Samurai reverberated, one after another.
However, this time, the Samurai screamed not due to Fang Li's counterattack, but rather the indiscriminate shooting of their own comrades.
In a situation where aiming and target identification proved impossible, blind firing only resulted in innocent bystanders becoming casualties.
And this, precisely, was Fang Li's intent.
"Let them continue tearing each other apart here…"
Leaving behind those words, Fang Li's figure darted through the carriage's exit, vanishing amidst the scorching steam.
…