The vast expanse of the azure sea stretched as far as the eye can see.
Beneath the calm and tranquil surface, numerous figures laid dormant. Most of them stood at a towering height of 2.5 meters, adorned with thick, grayish-white skin, shark-like heads, and razor-sharp teeth.
They were the sharkmen.
A formidable marine race.
The sharkfolk were known for their ferocious and bloodthirsty nature, with significantly enhanced combat capabilities in marine environments. A gathering of several thousand sharkfolk formed an undeniable force that should not be underestimated.
Moreover, these were not ordinary sharkfolk warriors.
They were members of the Savage Shark Pirates.
As the name suggested, they were pirates of the sea.
The Azure Water Federation consisted of around 80% maritime territories, fostering a flourishing trade and commerce scene that naturally gave rise to countless pirates.
Although piracy was rampant in the Azure Water Federation, pirates generally avoided operating in close proximity to major powers or forces.
However, this location was merely a few hundred miles away from the city of Holy Tides. Setting an ambush here was extremely risky, yet these pirates seemed unconcerned.
Because they knew.
Their operation would not be disturbed.
These sharkfolk leaders not only served as the captain of the Savage Shark Pirates but also held high positions within the Holy Tides City Heroes Guild, boasting formidable power at the level of a Level 4 overlord.
"Stay sharp, everyone!"
"This is a big catch!"
"Completing this deal will yield profits for the next five to six years!"
Inspired by the words of the sharkfolk Hero, the pirate crew's eyes gleamed with greed.
Several merfolks among them, responsible for surveillance, opened their eyes.
"They're here!"
"Target confirmed!"
"It's Shui Yao! White Sands' ship!"
These merfolk were elders of the White Sands family, but they also held the identities of Heroes. At this moment, it was evident that they stood on the side of the Heroes and participated in the operation.
"Attack!" roared the sharkfolk Hero.
Thousands of sharkfolk surged forward like tightly stretched arrows, launching a swift assault. The merfolk guards were caught off guard, resulting in immediate casualties.
"What's happening?"
"Are these pirates?"
"How can there be pirates near Holy Tides City?"
The merfolk steward hastily protected Shui Yao and said, "Full speed ahead, get away from here, escape these damn sharkfolks. Once we reach the vicinity of Holy Tides City, we'll be safe!"
Before the ship's acceleration magical formation could be activated, water surged from all directions.
Shui Yao spotted the merfolk mage who casted this spell.
It was too late.
All six merfolk vessels were trapped by a massive barrier.
Her expression changed dramatically as she exclaimed, "You traitors!"
The merfolk steward seethed with anger, "Not only did you betray the family in a critical moment, but you also colluded with pirates to harm our young master. It's unforgivable!"
The merfolk were all filled with rage.
The White Sands family had treated these elders generously, yet they had committed such a despicable act of ingratitude.
One merfolk Hero laughed heartily and said, "Those who recognize the situation are the true heroes. The major families in Holy Tides City are already under the control of the Heroes guild."
"Now, if the White Sand family collapses, nearly half of Holy Tides City will fall into our hands!"
"The future lord of the city will also be one of us."
"How do you think we should choose?"
The other Heroes present displayed excitement.
With Holy Tides City's population of millions and its status as the largest commercial city in the Pale Moon Kingdom, if such a city were to be controlled by the Heroes, who could resist them in the future?
Dominating the entire region was within reach! The plan was nearing completion.
Now, the most important thing was to completely eliminate the obstacles posed by the White Sands family. After all, this family had a long history, deep roots, and enjoyed a high reputation and popularity in Holy Tides City.
The merfolk steward raised his staff and declared, "Even if it costs me my life, I will never let you succeed!"
He began to invoke an incantation, preparing to confront the traitors.
At that moment, a figure pierced through the deck at an astonishing speed, swiftly launching an attack. With a single claw, it struck the merfolk steward's heart.
"You have no chance!"
"Die!"
The shark Hero grinned wickedly and severed the steward's neck. The steward's head with its wide, staring eyes fell to the ground.
Shui Yao let out a cry of grief and fury, "No!"
Although the steward held a low position in the family, he had watched her grow up, and their relationship was akin to that of family members. Having him being slain before her eyes dealt a tremendous blow to the merfolk girl.
The members of the Savage Shark Pirate Crew were all powerful, and with the element of surprise and their overwhelming numbers, Shui Yao's merfolk guards fell one by one.
The outcome was clear.
The young merfolk heiress had no chance of escape.
The shark Hero taunted, "Now I have no problem telling you that I was also involved in the operation to kill your parents and brother. They were much more difficult to deal with than you, we paid quite the significant price."
Shui Yao, filled with sorrow and anger, exclaimed, "It was indeed you!"
The shark Hero laughed heartily, "After killing them, we conveniently blamed a Demon King whom we had never been able to defeat. As a result, we gained quite a few benefits."
Shui Yao gritted her teeth, "You will face retribution!"
At that moment, a merfolk Hero shouted, "Hey, stop fooling around and kill her already!"
"What are you babbling about?"
"Fuck off, I was about to finish her!"
"Retribution? Haha! Those are just words weaklings use to console themselves. I'd love to see what retribution looks like!"
"But you won't have the chance!"
The shark Hero struck several blows, shattering Shui Yao's magical barrier.
"What a pity."
"Such a beautiful woman."
"Going to die before I could have any fun with you."
The shark warrior expressed his regret, but he showed no mercy in his actions.
Facing against a formidable Level 4 overlord Hero, Shui Yao had no chance of victory. She watched as the icy blade was about to descend upon her.
It was over! She was doomed!
Shui Yao refused to accept it!
The deaths of her parents, brother, uncles, dozens of elders, and thousands of clan members, as well as the steward, had yet to be avenged!
By the grace of the Goddess of the Sea!
'If I can seek revenge! I'm willing to pay any price!'
In her heart, Shui Yao uttered a desperate prayer. And as if in response to the Goddess of the Sea herself, the blade suddenly halted before her.
"Who the hell are you?!"
The shark Hero was taken aback as he witnessed a figure even more imposing and robust than himself suddenly appear before him, effortlessly catching his striking blade.
And moreover.
He caught it barehanded.
"Aren't you curious about what retribution looks like?" Zhang Nu smiled and remarked, "I suppose it would resemble someone like me!"
The shark Hero grew furious, "Who do you think you are? How dare you interfere with our affairs! Do you even know who we are? Die!"
In that moment, a fierce surge of Qi erupted from the shark Hero's body.
Undeterred, Zhang Nu stood his ground, allowing the battle aura to strike him. As a result, he sustained minimal damage as the Adamantium Dragon Body deflected most of the attack back at his assailant.
-305!
The shark Hero let out a pained scream, his body thrown back ten meters, covered in scales-deep wounds. It finally dawned on him that this opponent's strength far surpassed his expectations.
"Who are you, really?"
"Why are you doing this?"
Zhang Nu extended a finger, saying, "Does a Demon King require a reason to slay a Hero?"
In the next instant, a bolt of thunderflame was shot forth.
The shark Hero's face contorted with fear as his body was pierced through instantaneously.
The shark Hero did not perish immediately. With eyes wide open, he stared in disbelief at the basketball-sized hole in his chest. He could not fathom how his mighty Level 4 overlord strength failed to withstand a single blow from his adversary.
A Demon King? This person was a Demon King?
How could there exist such an immensely powerful Demon King in this world!
If a Demon King of this magnitude were in the vicinity, it would be inconceivable for the Heroes guild of Holy Tides City to remain oblivious to it!
[You've slain a Level 4 Hero. Hero's soul +1! Skill stone +2!]
"The captain is dead!"
"With only a finger!"
"He dispatched the captain with a mere flick of his finger!"
Both the Savage Shark Pirate crew and the members of the Heroes guild were paralyzed by fear, desperately attempting to escape by plunging into the sea.
"Fleeing?"
"No one flees without my permission!"
Zhang Nu unleashed his domain skill.
Within a radius of one kilometer, centered around him, all targets vanished. Of course, they did not truly disappear, but were forcefully pulled into a unique realm, reminiscent of the depths of an abyss or the desolate corners of the universe.
Countless sharkfolk and merfolk Heroes were suspended in the empty void. These marine beings frantically waved their limbs, grasping for anything, experiencing the sensation of drowning for the first time.
"It's over!"
"He's a monarch!"
"This is the legendary monarch's domain!"
"We're doomed! We can't overcome a monarch like him!"
"Why are you all scared shitless? He's but one person! We have thousands! Attack! We cannot escape anyways! Let's fight till the end!"
"Right!"
"Charge!"
Realizing they had no way out, their desperation ignited a fierce determination to resist.
"Not bad for a band of pirates. Since it has come to this, let me show you my new technique!"
Zhang Nu activated his Evil God talent, the "Source of Corruption," depleting a significant portion of his life force. Countless crimson mists surged from his body, coalescing and swirling around him, converging into the form of a blood dragon.
In the next instant, the blood mist dragon surged forth. Combining its astonishing speed and teleportation, it swiftly pierced through the bodies of every individual present.
Initially, those impaled by the blood dragon displayed no immediate response, but soon abnormalities arose.
"What is this?"
"What is happening to my body?"
"No, please stop! Cease this torment!"
The people felt their bodies losing consciousness, their MP rendered useless. Subsequently, they witnessed their flesh decaying, overwhelming sensations of terror, agony, and despair engulfing their very souls.
All of a sudden, echoes of screams filled the void. Zhang Nu found it excessively noisy, thus, he manipulated time, accelerating it tenfold.
Although Shui Yao was drawn into the domain, she remained untouched by the onslaught of Corrupted Blood.
She witnessed the entire horrifying spectacle unfold. The Demon King merely emitted a crimson aura, undetectable by its magical fluctuations. Countless sharkfolks then fell victim to this aura, rapidly decaying from head to toe. Their flesh, weapons, and armor disintegrated into dust.
In mere seconds, thousands of lives vanished. Not a single speck of their fragment remained.
[You've slain a Savage Shark Pirates Crewmember. Gold +200!]
[You've slain a Savage Shark Pirates Crewmember. Gold +200!]
[You've slain a Savage Shark Pirates High-ranking Member. Gold +500!]
[...]
[You've slain a Merfolk Elder. Gold +120,000!]
Even Zhang Nu was astonished. He merely intended to test his new ability. He never anticipated that combining the Corrupted Blood skill with his domain would yield such remarkable results!
By converting his life force into Corrupted Blood and swiftly spreading it through his monarch's domain, he injected it into the bodies of his adversaries, launching a devastating assault with its corrupting and eroding effect. He never fathomed the potency of its corrupting effect. It persisted until nothing but remnants remained.
If the Eye of Death was a tool for instant boss slaying, then the Corrupted Blood proved to be an immediate and formidable force against these relatively weak to mid-tier units.