This factory had been abandoned for quite some years. The iron - sheet gate was rusty and mottled, with weeds growing all over the corners of the walls and along the roadsides. There were even wild rabbits scurrying around.
Kai hid about 800 meters away from the factory, carefully observing the surrounding environment.
"There's no electronic surveillance system."
"No defensive magic arrays, no traps...."
"It seems that quite a few people are looking for Maxwell Johnson, and he doesn't dare to act rashly!" Kai thought to himself.
If Maxwell Johnson had set up arrays around here, it would be like telling the City Defense Department that there was something abnormal here and inviting them to come and investigate!
The headquarters of the Fourth Demon Sect had been destroyed, the sect leader was severely injured, and the high - level members had suffered heavy casualties. Both their strength and morale had hit rock bottom.
Under such circumstances, the semi - paralyzed Maxwell Johnson was like a startled bird or a mouse hiding in the sewer, not daring to show the slightest sign of his presence.
In fact, Maxwell Johnson's choice was quite right.
This kind of abandoned factory in the suburbs was already rarely visited, and it wasn't a key area for searches.
If it weren't for Kai, Maxwell Johnson might really have managed to escape!
"Get closer slowly. If there's any abnormality, run immediately!"
Kai took out two items: the [Forbidden Magic Tome] and the [Skull of the Cerberus].
The former, after having its bloodline restriction lifted, could withstand a massive amount of magic damage and was Kai's greatest confidence for this trip.
The latter could provide Kai with 100 points of strength and constitution, causing his health bar to increase significantly out of thin air.
These two special items were carried by Kai at all times, and he activated their effects.
Before this, Kai had already stacked 30 layers of "Ready for Action" to ensure that his output ability was maximized.
Subsequently, Kai took out nearly ten scrolls and tore them open one by one.
"Levitation!" "Stealth!" "Focus Enhancement!" "....."
Lights kept shining on Kai, and layer after layer of buffs were added, gradually pushing his state to its peak.
This mage was clearly extremely powerful yet overly cautious.
"Disguise!"
After using the last scroll, Kai glanced at the time.
"18:28:46!"
"These buffs can last up to 30 minutes at most, and the shortest is 15 minutes. No matter what happens after I enter the factory, I must retreat after 15 minutes!"
Kai knew very well that while fortune favors the bold, one also needs to be alive to enjoy it!
Whether the gains are large or small, Kai must retreat within 15 minutes to ensure his safety to the greatest extent.
"Go!"
The countdown on the watch started to tick. Kai hunched over and rushed forward like the wind, leaving only afterimages in place.
"Wind - Treading Slash!"
Kai had previously set up several dummy puppets remotely, which were very well - hidden and specifically used for high - speed movement.
When Kai retreated, these dummy puppets would also be his best helpers for getting away!
In less than 10 seconds, Kai easily sneaked into the abandoned factory. He was only 500 meters away from Maxwell Johnson in a straight line.
"This guy is on the third floor."
In Kai's field of vision, through the concrete wall, he could clearly see the scene inside the room.
"What is he doing?"
Previously, when the distance was relatively far, Kai couldn't see more information.
In an abandoned office on the third floor, the decoration was unexpectedly luxurious. The entire office was surrounded by special materials, resembling a bank's safe!
In the middle of the office, there was a bed.
A man with a pale face was lying on his side, propping up his upper body slightly with his elbow on the mattress.
Maxwell Johnson!
The target of Kai's trip!
At this moment, in front of Maxwell Johnson was a display screen showing a gloomy and aged face, which bore some resemblance to Maxwell Johnson.
"The leader of the Fourth Demon Sect!"
The moment he saw the other person, Kai's pupils constricted slightly, and his breath caught. This was a War God - level powerhouse!
Sure enough, there were clues about tracking down the sect leader here with Maxwell Johnson!
Kai couldn't hear what the two were saying as the sound was blocked by the special materials.
[Generating subtitles....]
The Eye of Insight brought Kai another surprise.
True, he couldn't hear clearly!
But he could see!
[Maxwell Johnson: Dad, save me!]
Kai:..... This is really a unique translation style.
Obviously, what Maxwell Johnson said was longer and more euphemistic, but after being simplified by the Eye of Insight, the meaning was very clear.
Maxwell Johnson wanted to survive.
The subtitles continued to refresh:
[The Sect Leader: Stay calm. Don't panic. I'll run away first!]
[Maxwell Johnson: If you don't save me, I'll report you!]
[The Sect Leader: You little brat. If you dare to report me, I'll kill you!]
[.....]
What a loving father - son relationship.
Kai couldn't help but sigh.
This family, no wonder they defected to the Demon God.
Morality meant nothing to them, like used toilet paper.
When running away, they showed their true colors, like drowning people, each trying to step on the other's shoulders to escape.
"A minute and a half has passed!"
Kai watched this family drama of father - son arguing while calculating the time.
The argument between Maxwell Johnson and the sect leader didn't last long.
Finally, the sect leader made a compromise.
[The Sect Leader: I'll activate the Abyss Plane teleportation array for you, send your soul to the Abyss Plane, and when I reach the Abyss Plane, I'll help you recreate a physical body. How about that?]
Maxwell Johnson fell into silence and didn't reply immediately.
Abandoning his physical body would have a great impact on his future strength.
However, since he was now semi - paralyzed and needed a huge amount of resources to recover, recreating a physical body seemed to be a viable option.
[The Sect Leader: Hurry up. The pursuers are almost here. If it's too late, I won't be able to help you, and we'll all die!]
Ultimately, Maxwell Johnson made a decision and nodded, agreeing to this plan.
However, he also had his concerns.
[Maxwell Johnson: The teleportation array to the Abyss Plane takes a long time and makes a lot of noise. What if it attracts the powerful ones from the City Defense Department?]
Although Maxwell Johnson was a paralytic with only the strength of a second - rank warrior, he was very meticulous in his thinking and wouldn't act rashly without considering the consequences.
If the City Defense Department noticed the commotion here and interrupted the teleportation array, Maxwell Johnson would be sending himself to his death!
[The Sect Leader: It doesn't matter. The safe - house you're in can not only withstand damage of hundreds of billions, but it can also block the noise of the teleportation array. They won't have much time to react!]
With these words from the sect leader, Maxwell Johnson felt much more at ease.
[Maxwell Johnson: Dad, then what are we waiting for? Hurry up and do it!]
Just a minute ago, Maxwell Johnson was still threatening to report the other party, but now he could affectionately call him dad.
His thick - skinnedness was at least S - class!
The sect leader didn't care about these details either. He cast spells from a distance, and the pre - arranged magic arrays were activated one by one, flickering with an evil light, attempting to connect to the Abyss Plane.
Kai, who had been observing secretly, changed his expression at this moment.
"Should I retreat?"
Kai didn't expect that he would run into Maxwell Johnson trying to escape. What a coincidence!
Even if he reported Maxwell Johnson now, it would be too late.
Once the teleportation array was activated and Maxwell Johnson entered the Abyss Plane, there would be no chance left.
Just as Kai was hesitating, a note appeared on the magic array beside Maxwell Johnson:
[Abyss Sacrifice Array]
[After communicating with the Abyss Plane, sacrifice a large number of treasures and the souls of blood relatives to summon the arrival of a powerful monster!]
"Whoa—"
Kai's body stiffened slightly. A chill rose from the back of his head, and his expression became even more solemn.
This wasn't a teleportation array!
It was a sacrifice array!
The sect leader had no intention of saving his son at all. He was going to sacrifice Maxwell Johnson!
What a truly "loving" father - son relationship, a "harmonious" family!
Kai made a prompt decision. His figure shot out, and in the blink of an eye, he rushed to the third floor.
"I must stop the sacrifice!"
"Whether Maxwell Johnson lives or dies doesn't matter. The sacrifice must be interrupted!"
Before rushing to the third floor, Kai looked back. Aurora City was gradually being covered by the night.
This was the suburbs, with a sparse population, but there were still many people living here. It was only a few dozen kilometers away from the bustling city center!
If a terrifying monster were to descend... the consequences would be disastrous!
And the only one who could stop all this from happening was Kai!
"Got to be fast!"
Kai rushed to the third floor like an arrow and reached the outside of the office where Maxwell Johnson was.
"There's still one minute until the sacrifice array is activated!"
The entire office had been turned into a fortress, extremely solid.
Maxwell Johnson's father, the leader of the Fourth Demon Sect, had clearly prepared well in advance!
His plan wasn't hard to guess. By sacrificing to open a passage to the Abyss Plane and summon a terrifying monster, he could please the Demon God he served.
At the same time, the chaos caused by the monster's arrival would allow the sect leader to escape in the confusion!
Kill two birds with one stone!
The only price to pay was his semi - paralyzed and useless son.
This was a pre - arranged trap, which was officially activated only when the leader of the Demon Sect was in trouble today!
"Even a tiger doesn't eat its cubs. This leader of the Demon Sect is not only inhumane but also worse than a beast."
While despising the leader of the Demon Sect, Kai looked at the office in front of him. A light - blue defensive barrier blocked his way.
[Can withstand 120 billion damage]
Kai had stacked 30 layers of "Ready for Action," with a nearly 1.1 billion - fold bonus.
Kai's current intelligence attribute was 285 points. The Lightning Bolt could cause (50 + 1 * intelligence) points of lightning damage, plus a 15% damage bonus from the Force of Nature Staff.
That meant a single Lightning Bolt could cause 386 points of lightning damage!
If the 1.1 - billion - fold bonus from "Ready for Action" was counted, it would be as high as 400 billion damage!
Kai could easily break through this defensive barrier!
"Calm down. After breaking through this barrier, there will be other opponents ahead. Even Maxwell Johnson himself has the combat power of a second - rank warrior!"
Kai knew very well that he was in a race against time, and his life hung in the balance.
When he chose to step forward, there was no turning back!
Since he could only charge forward, Kai also wanted to survive!
"Using the Lightning Bolt is a one - shot deal. The layers of 'Ready for Action' will be cleared completely. If there's another battle, I'll be in danger!"
Instead of choosing the Lightning Bolt, Kai chose another skill: Praise to Goddess of Luck!
[Praise to Goddess of Luck（LV1）]: Cast Praise to Goddess of Luck on oneself or an ally. Normal attacks deal an additional 20 points of lightning damage, and magic attacks deal an additional 25 points of lightning damage.
With a 15% bonus from the Force of Nature Staff and a 1.1 - billion - fold stack from "Ready for Action," that meant normal attacks would deal an additional 25.3 billion damage!
Magic attacks would deal an additional 31.6 billion damage!
Duration: 30 seconds!
"Resolve all battles within 30 seconds!"
Kai pursed his lips, raised his staff, and started to sneak forward.
"Praise to Goddess of Luck!"
Infinite lightning power surged onto Kai. He felt that every move he made possessed a terrifying power beyond the ordinary. With a simple gesture, he seemed to be able to easily destroy the world!
Not wasting a single second, Kai's staff struck the barrier.
-25.3 billion!
The barrier trembled violently, and tiny cracks appeared on it.
Accompanied by the trembling of the barrier, Maxwell Johnson in the office clearly noticed the abnormality outside.
"Damn it. Is it the people from the City Defense Department?!"
"How could they be so fast?!"
He angrily looked at his father and roared, "Old man, didn't you say you could cover up the noise?"
"What's the hurry!"
On the screen, the leader of the Demon Sect had a serious expression and scolded,
"You have no self - control at all. This safe - house was built by me personally. It can withstand more than 100 billion damage. Even if a War King comes, it can hold them off for more than a minute. By then, the array will be completed!"
The sect leader's words were like a reassurance pill, making Maxwell Johnson feel much more at ease.
However,
The violent trembling didn't stop. Instead, it became more and more intense!
Dong—
Dong—
It was as if a god was beating a drum. Countless spider - web - like cracks spread across the barrier, just like a fine porcelain that had been shattered, ready to break at the slightest touch.
"Can this really hold for a minute?!"
Maxwell Johnson shouted in horror, waving his hands wildly, in a state of extreme panic.
Boom—
With the final blow, the barrier completely shattered into powder. The barrier that could withstand hundreds of billions of damage was broken in less than five seconds, as if it were made of paper!
"He's coming in!"
Maxwell Johnson roared like a trapped beast in a desperate situation, seeing no hope of survival.
From the smoke and dust, a figure rushed out.
Only one person?!
Maxwell Johnson raised his hands high and shouted with all his might, "I surrender! Don't kill me. I'll say anything!"
"He forced me to do it. I didn't want to betray the human race. It was that damned old man who forced me!"
It didn't even take 15 minutes. Maxwell Johnson surrendered as soon as he saw Kai.
Kai gave him a disgusted look, and the contempt in his eyes was self - evident.
A piece of information popped up above Maxwell Johnson's head:
"Fun fact: The leader of the Fourth Demon Sect was once a meritorious War King of the human race until his son led him to depravity."
The phrase "loving father - son relationship" was vividly demonstrated in this family in a rather ironic way. The son betrayed the father, and the father betrayed the son. They turned against each other in a most tragic way.
Kai didn't waste any time and raised his staff.
"Lightning Bolt!"
With the boost from "Praise to Goddess of Luck," the Lightning Bolt flashed with the power of destruction and struck towards Maxwell Johnson.
Boom—
The Lightning Bolt hit a blue ripple and was canceled out.
"Hurry up and save me!"
Maxwell Johnson's expression was one of desperation, realizing that his attempt to stall for time had failed!
Everything he had said before, whether it was surrendering or cursing his father, was to buy time so that he could be teleported away!
But the other party didn't fall for it at all!
The attacks were deadly right from the start, aiming to kill!
If it weren't for the special item Maxwell Johnson carried with him that withstood a fatal blow, he would be dead by now!
"Almost there. Hold on for another 45 seconds!"
On the TV screen, the figure of the Demon Sect leader flashed by, followed by a terrifying explosion.
Apparently, there was a battle going on at his end too, and his situation was far from good!
"Why hasn't the passage opened yet!"
The opponent's next attack was already being chanted!
Maxwell Johnson didn't have the courage to engage Kai in a head - on fight!
Kai had shattered a barrier that could withstand hundreds of billions of damage and destroyed a life - saving special item with one Lightning Bolt.
In Maxwell Johnson's mind, Kai's strength was at least that of a War King - level powerhouse!
Such a powerful being was simply beyond what Maxwell Johnson could handle, let alone fight head - on!
In fact, Kai was only level 10, a first - rank warrior.
If Maxwell Johnson had been a bit braver and rushed up to fight Kai... it wouldn't have changed anything.
With the 1.1 - billion - fold boost from "Praise to Goddess of Luck," Kai's output ability was comparable to that of the most top - notch War King!
Even if it was only for 30 seconds, it was enough!
"Lightning Bolt!"
"Lightning Bolt!"
Two consecutive Lightning Bolts shattered two more of Maxwell Johnson's life - saving items. For the first time, true despair appeared in Maxwell Johnson's eyes.
Maxwell Johnson roared in despair,
"I curse you. Whether your soul is in heaven or hell, I curse you. I'm willing to pay the price with my soul...."
Kai didn't give him a chance to finish.
"Lightning Bolt!"
The fourth Lightning Bolt rushed out with destructive power and struck Maxwell Johnson hard, ending his sinful life.
Boom—
Maxwell Johnson was blasted into ashes, leaving only a vague charred human - shaped mark on the ground.
As the sacrifice for the sacrifice array, the chain reaction caused by Maxwell Johnson's death directly terminated the array, and the sacrifice was interrupted!
The crisis was averted.
Kai let out a long sigh of relief.
On the other side of the big screen, as if sensing the commotion here, a sigh was heard.
After all, they were father and son. When a child dies, it's inevitable for a person to feel a bit sad.
Soon,
A venomous and hoarse voice came from the screen,
"Whoever you are, for killing my son, I swear to kill you!"
"Even if I fall into the endless purgatory, I'll drag you down with me. Remember this, this is the oath of a War God staking his life!"
The hoarse voice said word by word,
"I! SWEAR! TO! KILL! YOU!"