Infinity, The Arcade Age

Holding the faintly glowing scroll, Lei Dian wore a smug smile.

On the opposite side, Qin Ming's brows furrowed as his finger gently tapped the trigger.

"Where are your other two companions? Stop wasting time—bring them out."

"To kill you? I don't need that many people. Get them!"

With a flick of his hand, Lei Dian activated the scroll, commanding the resurrected BOSS Simon as he retreated.

The surrounding cowboys simultaneously pulled their triggers, unleashing a hail of bullets toward the staircase.

Bullets rained down relentlessly, bombarding Qin Ming, causing his body to shudder as he stumbled back.

Most bullets ricocheted off his body, unable to penetrate his defenses, with only a few managing to cause minor damage.

When the deafening gunfire ceased, Lei Dian and dozens of cowboys stared in shock at the bullet-riddled walls and the figure still standing at the staircase.

Though Qin Ming's clothes were riddled with holes, he remained upright, leaning against the wall, unyielding.

Before they could recover from their astonishment, a crisp sound echoed from above.

The next moment, Kasamoto Eri appeared, hanging upside down from the staircase with her legs hooked onto a wooden beam.

Her golden hair cascaded like a shimmering waterfall.

With a swift motion, she hurled a C4 explosive and drew her twin pistols, firing madly at the crowd below.

The airborne C4 detonated with a thunderous explosion, engulfing most of the hall in flames.

Amidst the screams, the bar's windows shattered, sending cowboys ablaze flying through the openings.

Even BOSS Simon was blasted several meters back, slamming into the bar counter.

Before he could rise, a sharp series of gunshots rang out.

Kasamoto Eri, still hanging upside down, fired relentlessly, pumping Simon full of bullets and severely injuring him.

Simon, a mere ranged shooter elevated to C-rank due to his numerous subordinates, stood no chance against Kasamoto Eri's targeted assault.

Having emptied her magazines, Kasamoto Eri released her grip, plummeting in a free fall.

Before her head could hit the ground, Qin Ming caught her mid-air, securing her safely.

With a firm flick, he set her down and ripped off his tattered cowboy jacket, raising his lever-action rifle to resume shooting as he advanced.

Though stunned by the explosion, Lei Dian, a seasoned fighter, quickly regained his composure.

Dodging the gunfire, he sprinted along the wall, launching a triangle kick aimed directly at Qin Ming.

...Only for his ankle to be caught mid-air by Qin Ming, who swung him around like a ragdoll and smashed him into a wall, sending him crashing through it and flying out.

Lei Dian tumbled across the floor, bracing himself with one hand as he skidded to a halt.

Staring in disbelief, he gasped at Qin Ming.

Not only was his defense absurdly high, but his reflexes and strength were monstrous too. What kind of freak was this?

And wasn't there supposed to be only one pursuer? Where did that terrifying woman come from?

Her combat power was far too overwhelming—she didn't even resemble a summoned creature!

In just a brief exchange, Lei Dian realized something was seriously off.

Initially, the trio hadn't taken their pursuer seriously.

Backed by their powerful warband, their growth speed and arsenal far outstripped ordinary adventurers.

They wouldn't fear even multiple squads chasing them simultaneously.

Still, the trio hadn't been careless. Upon reaching Green Town and killing BOSS Simon, they had carefully prepared a "special gift" for Qin Ming.

Using a resurrection item, they revived BOSS Simon along with his hundreds of subordinates.

Such overwhelming firepower and sheer numbers, paired with a well-laid ambush—this was guaranteed to be foolproof in the eyes of Lei Dian and his teammates. It should have been enough to easily eliminate any pursuer, regardless of their strength.

To maximize their gains, the other two members of the trio hurried to the second stage of the mission, aiming to take down the next BOSS for greater rewards.

Lei Dian stayed behind with BOSS Simon to spring the ambush.

Everything about the ambush was perfect, and the plan unfolded successfully. However, the outcome completely exceeded Lei Dian's expectations.

Watching Qin Ming charge out of the bar after smashing through the wall, lever-action rifle in hand, Lei Dian's eye twitched, and cold sweat broke out on his forehead.

This guy was a monster: overwhelmingly strong, absurdly durable, and despite slightly lacking in agility, his combat skills were terrifyingly refined.

What kind of super-beast had they provoked? Lei Dian couldn't even remember ever crossing paths with such a formidable opponent.

Realizing that Qin Ming wasn't someone he could handle alone, Lei Dian immediately contemplated retreating.

(69shu.com reminder: Chapter translated from the original)

Before he could act, a piercing gunshot rang out.

Qin Ming relentlessly closed the distance, firing one shot after another, forcing Lei Dian to seek cover frantically.

The moment Lei Dian found a place to hide, Qin Ming was already upon him.

Leaping over the rock, Qin Ming landed directly behind Lei Dian's cover.

Stunned by such a reckless move, Lei Dian's expression darkened as he roared and unleashed a fierce punch.

Electric currents crackled around his body, converging into a glowing orb at his fist—Rai Kou Ken, a signature move of Benimaru Nikaido from King of Fighters.

A blinding flash of lightning illuminated the battlefield.

Still mid-air, Qin Ming took the full brunt of the punch to his chest.

Electricity surged into his body, lighting him up like a human lightning rod, his skeleton faintly visible through his skin.

Gritting his teeth, Lei Dian poured every ounce of his spiritual energy into sustaining the attack, desperate to fry this powerful enemy to death.

Two seconds passed, but the expected instant kill didn't happen.

Instead, Lei Dian felt a sudden grip around his arm.

Ignoring the relentless lightning coursing through him, Qin Ming's muscles bulged as veins popped from his neck, his eyes wide with fury.

In his pupils, white flames churned and blazed fiercely.

Using the power of his bloodline, Qin Ming's white flames resisted much of the lightning's damage.

White fire crept along Lei Dian's arm as Qin Ming gripped it tightly and twisted hard.

Crack!

A sickening snap echoed through the air as Lei Dian's arm was twisted into a grotesque shape, bones shattered and mangled.

The excruciating pain forced Lei Dian to scream, abruptly halting the flow of lightning.

Still gripping the limp arm, Qin Ming yanked Lei Dian down, forcing him to bend under the pressure.

Standing tall, Qin Ming looked down at his opponent, white flames swirling violently in his eyes.

"Not a bad move... but you're far too weak."

(End of Chapter)