Ricky immediately initiated his six mutants and chaotic power, as the six types of runes evolved into
several passages. In an instant, he passed through one of the passages and appeared behind Michael,
unleashing the Chaotic Punch to hit Michael.
Faced with Ricky's intimidating strike, Michael hesitated for a second. He couldn't help but feel the
apprehension at the back of his mind, which told him he would sustain severe injuries if he didn't resist
the upcoming blow.
After he had refined the Life and Death Water's life and death powers, Ricky's cultivation level had shot
through the roof.
He could probably match any one-star middle spiritual emperor at the intermediate stage except those
who were ace geniuses at that level.
Thus, Michael had to give up attacking Claire, as he was unwilling to face such a lethal strike from
Ricky. He turned around and crashed against Ricky's Chaotic Punch with his black ice pillar.
After the collision, the sound of cracking resounded around them.
Michael's black ice pillar shattered into a thousand pieces at once, as the energy of Ricky's strike
dissipated quickly.
The round had ended in a stalemate.
Boom! Just then, Ricky's figure exploded and vanished into thin air.
Michael watched on in shock and confusion, as his opponent seemingly disappeared. It was not until
now that he sensed the truth—he hadn't been fighting Ricky's real body!
And he was right. It was Ricky's shadowy replica that had struck him.
Meanwhile, Ricky himself had entered the zone.
As Michael stood stock still, Ricky silently appeared behind him like a ghost.
Claire had won Ricky the first chance to assault Michael, and then Ricky took advantage of his
shadowy replica, which gave him another chance to take Michael by surprise.
Luckily, Ricky's attack did catch his enemy off guard.
That was why when Ricky swung at Michael with his Iron Justice Saber girdled with the chromatic
energy and chaotic power, the latter didn't have any time to do anything to defend himself. By the time
Michael noticed Ricky, it was too late.
In the next breath, Ricky's attack struck Michael head-on.
This strike didn't come from Ricky's shadowy replica but himself, which meant that it held a lot more
strength. If this one hit Michael, it could easily seriously hurt him, if not kill him.
And even if Ricky were in Michael's shoes, it would undoubtedly injure him badly even if he activated
the Ultimate Golden Body at the fifth level to protect himself.
Ricky thought there was nothing wrong with what he did.
After all, that was a natural occurrence in the martial world. It was either you died at your enemy's
hands, or you killed him first. Ricky was fully aware of that, so he knew that he would have to go to
great lengths if he was faced with a formidable foe.
Of course, Ricky had his own principles. He would never threaten his enemy using their family or
friends because he hated such dirty means.
However, if his enemy threatened him in that way, he thought that it would be justified to treat them the
same way.
As the blow crept closer toward Michael, he grew more and more flustered.
'Damn it! How could he be so strong?' he grumbled in his heart.
Although he was panicking, he tried to hide it. His determination to take down Ricky overcame the fear
that weakened his knees.
In a matter of seconds, black water flowed out of his body and submerged him entirely. This water
turned a dark yellow color and froze.
Ricky's strike struck the dark yellow ice, and a raucous sound of metal colliding rang out.
The force of the impact blew the Iron Justice Saber, the chaotic power, and the chromatic energy back.
Even Ricky couldn't escape its effects, as he was forced to step back too. In that instant, several cracks
emerged on the dark yellow ice and expanded quickly, and the ice shattered away in the next moment.
At the same time, Michael emerged out of the ice like a demon coming out from the underworld.
Blood spurted out from the corner of his mouth, and his clothes were ripped apart, exposing a blood
mark over his chest.
It looked like Michael had suffered some injuries, but they weren't that serious.
This proved that the dark yellow water had powerful defense properties.
"I can't believe this guy has such a strong defense. I think his black water grew even more powerful
once it turned dark yellow. What the heck is that dark yellow water?" Ricky murmured in a low voice.
"If my guess is right, I think that is the Dark Death Water," the Dragon Intent Grass revealed.
"What is Dark Death Water?" Ricky asked in confusion.
"Didn't you cultivate the fiendish power using your Devourer Zone? The fiendish power originated from
hell, and so did the Dark Death Water. The feminine icy and dark power actually fused and formed the
Dark Death Water. It can be divided into nine types, ranging from the first level to the ninth level.
The higher the level, the more powerful it is.
Once the Dark Death Water reached the ninth level, only the scorching sacred fire, peculiar fire, and
the Fire Dragon Extremity could resist it," the Dragon Intent Grass lengthily explained.
"I see. Can you sense at which level is Michael's Dark Death Water?" Ricky inquired curiously.
"It felt like it was at the second level, but I don't know if he can summon the Dark Death Water at a
higher level. Michael's dark power that the queen's will mentioned was the Dark Death Water.
Think about it. The Dark Death Water is a type of dark power, and it can draw energy from any
negative or dark things. The illusion causes pain and panic to any warriors it comes across.
Thus, the illusion power is the one providing energy for him," the Dragon Intent Grass clarified.
"In that case, illusions wouldn't affect Michael at all since he has the Dark Death Water. It's as if he has
a pair of Eyes of Heaven and Earth," Ricky said, nodding thoughtfully.
"I guess you can put it like that, but that's not entirely accurate. You know that all things in this world
mutually reinforce and neutralize each other, right?
Enough water can put out a fire, but if the fire is too intense, the water might evaporate instead. The
same can be said for the illusion power. If your illusion power is strong enough, you can use it to
suppress any kind of powers," the Dragon Intent Grass expounded.
"I understand now," Ricky replied.
He then turned his attention back on Michael, who was staring back at him with murderous intent.
"That's the Dark Death Water from the edge of hell, isn't it?" Ricky told him with a smirk.
"It seems that you are well-informed! I'm afraid I underestimated you.
Who could have known you were this strong?" Michael remarked.
"As I said before, no one would come here just to get themselves killed for nothing. Anyone who made
it this far would undoubtedly have some kind of trick up their sleeve. You are a smart guy, so you
shouldn't have made such a mistake.
Being too full of yourself can hinder you from taking others seriously, and that's why you have ended up
like this," Ricky responded.
"Is that so?" Michael murmured to himself. "Perhaps, you are right. You have taught me a lot by putting
me in this situation."
"Then, you should thank me," Ricky snarled back with a sneer.
"Ha-ha! Of course. I am so grateful that I will make sure to keep your corpse whole. In case you didn't
know, my initial plan was to tear you limb from limb," Michael confidently proclaimed.
"So you think you are in the position to show mercy right now?
You don't have any right to decide how I'll die,"
Ricky answered back just as boldly.
As the duo talked to each other, they activated their powers simultaneously and pushed them to the
extreme. It was evident that a fierce fight was about to erupt.
"Claire, get back!" Ricky warned Claire through telepathy.
"Okay. I'll leave him to you," Claire responded at once.
Although she was slightly worried, she decided to put all her trust in Ricky. At that moment, the power
of Michael's Dark Death Water increased once again. At the same time, his body began to
change.
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