Although Bates had asked the question, he himself was quite confident. He understand very well the habit of these bandits: Abuse the soft targets, fear the hard ones!
Even though the bandits might be able to kill all their targets, they would consider the cost-benefit ratio and if it was worth it! Right now, in Linley’s group, Bates was too powerful. Even Linley, Bebe, and Olivier could easily kill Gods. They were clearly a tough bone to gnaw.
To kill Bates and the others, the bandits would definitely lose quite a bit.
“It’ll definitely be fine. The bandit leader won’t be so foolish.” The God-level Fiend with green-hair, Tam [Tai’mu], had a rare smile appear on his face.
“We’ll definitely live.” A nearby short, muscular man also said in a low voice.
Aches’ eyes were filled with hope as well.
“If we can avoid battle, that would be best.” Linley said to himself. However, he didn’t dare to relax, continuing to stare vigilantly at the nearby bandits. Currently, Linley’s side had fourteen lucky survivors, all of whom were waiting for the reply from the enemy leader, Dimon.
The bandit forces were awaiting Dimon’s response as well.
“Second leader? Kill them or no?” The Highgod behind Dimon asked softly.
The bandits were somewhat unwilling to give up. The other side only had a few people, while they had thousands, thirty plus Highgods, and their powerful second leader. The enemy had killed nearly three hundred of the Gods. Were they to be allowed to leave, just like that? The bandits weren’t willing!
Dimon narrowed his eyes, staring at the distant Bates, and then glanced sideways at Olivier. “A Soul Mutate…”
Dimon was calculating while glancing at Bates. “This Highgod expert is clearly one who trains in the Laws of Darkness and specializes in speed as well as hiding his aura.” Dimon was very surprised as well, because he hadn’t discovered Bates had been hiding his power at first.
“The profound mysteries he is training in should focus in subterfuge and speed. His attack power should probably be somewhat lacking.” Dimon said to himself.
If the opponent was very powerful, there was no need for Bates to negotiate with him at all.
Thousands of people surrounded those ten-plus. All was silent. Everyone was waiting for Dimon’s decision. Then, very suddenly…
“Kill!!!” Dimon suddenly howled angrily.
The looks on the faces of Aches, Tam, and the other Gods immediately froze. Even Bates’ face changed.
“Attacking?” Linley frowned.
Dimon’s eyes were gleaming red, and he bellowed, “Brothers, all of you, charge together. Kill, kill them!”
“Kill!” First came the group of Highgods behind Dimon. At their fastest speed, they charged forward. Instantly, as waves bellowed, elemental behemoths appeared out of nowhere, and the Highgods either charged forward astride the heads of elemental pythons or were hidden beneath the foggy waves.
The combined attacks of over thirty Highgods…the aura alone made Linley feel it was hard to breath.
In unison, those thirty plus Highgod brandished their weapons, blasting out soul attacks. All sorts of half-translucent flashes of light shot out towards Linley’s group.
“Terrible!” Linley’s face changed dramatically.
These thirty-plus Highgods were less than a hundred meters away from Linley’s group. A soul attack moved much faster than a person. Everyone was only able to move very slightly. The combined soul attacks of these three Highgods were aimed at three people…
Bates, Boff, and Delia!
“Bang!” “Bang!” “Bang!”
“Careful!” In that dangerous moment, Linley, by Delia’s side, suddenly pulled her aside while also trying to move away.
“Bang!” “Bang!”
Even though he dodged as best as he could, six soul attacks still slammed onto Linley.
Thirty or so Highgods attacking three people. Ten soul attacks were aimed at Delia and Boff, while ten more were aimed at Bates. Linley dodged as best as he could, but six Highgod soul attacks still struck him!
“Bang!”
The six soul attacks directly entered Linley’s consciousness, smashing heavily against his soul-protecting Sovereign artifact. Like eggs smashing onto a rock, they shattered upon collision. These Highgods were all fairly weak Highgods, and so their soul attacks were quite rudimentary.
Only now did Linley breathe a sigh of relief.
“Linley.” Delia couldn’t help stare unblinkingly at Linley in worry.
“I’m fine.” Linley revealed a smile.
The six hundred years of training he had spent in the Amethyst Mountains, especially his absorption of so many amethysts and their soul essences, caused his soul-protecting Sovereign artifact’s flaw to rapidly heal. After six hundred years, the flaw had already a thin membrane appear.
Although it wasn’t as strong as the other parts of the soul-protecting Sovereign artifact, its defense was still excellent.
Linley wasn’t too bad off, but Boff and Bates were in trouble.
The bald youth, Boff, was also struck by several soul attacks. He directly crashed down from the skies, while at the same time, another Boff dressed in a black robe flew out. It was Boff’s divine God clone.
“Swish!” Bates was extremely fast.
Facing those ten soul attacks, he actually dodged the majority and was only struck by two. These two soul attacks caused Bates’ face to turn ashen. He didn’t have a soul-protecting divine artifact.
After all, even someone as mighty as a Seven Star Fiend wouldn’t have a soul much stronger than that of most ordinary Highgods. At most, their defense would be a bit stronger. If they took too many soul attacks head on, they would definitely be finished.
The big-bearded Bates glanced sideways at Linley. “This Linley…he really is hiding his power. He was hit by multiple soul attacks but he is fine. He really lives up to the name of being a descendant of the Four Divine Beasts clan.” Bates, having seen Linley’s Dragonform, had already guessed Linley’s status.
“Big brother!”
Nearby, a desolate cry.
Linley turned. It was one of the God-level Fiends who had come with them. That skinny, tall, silver-haired man, Wilburn [Wei’er’bo’en], was crying out in grief, his tears already flowing down.
What had happened was that although Bates had dodged the majority of the soul attacks, one of them had struck upon the unfortunate elder brother of Wilburn. How could Wilburn’s brother possibly withstand the soul attack of a Highgod?
What’s more, Wilburns’ older brother had fused with a divine spark to become a God. He immediately died.
“Wilburn should have a close relationship with him.” Linley saw how heartbroken Wilburn was, and he said to himself. At this moment, nobody went to console Wilburn. Linley immediately focused his attention on those Highgods.
“Haha, I didn’t expect you to have some ability.” Those Highgods laughed loudly.
“Brothers, let’s do it again.”