Rean and Roan passed through the two guy's defense faster than they could react and immediately attacked.
'Death Style, Third Form, Three Claws of the Dragon!'
Three Swords made of Light and Dark Light appeared, aiming for the critical points on their bodies. However, those guys were still geniuses of their own powers. Even if they weren't a match with their Initial and Middle Stage cultivation, they wouldn't die that easily, especially the one Roan was attacking. After all, Doren attacked Roan, giving him too little time to properly aim the Three Claws of the Dragon.
Rean hit two of his three claws but failed to land a killing blow. Of course, those two hits were still bad news for his opponent. As for Roan's opponent, he blocked one of the semi-real swords while Doren blocked another. In the end, Roan only landed one hit that was not at a vital part.
In the first exchange, no deaths appeared. Still, that was enough for Doren's group to understand what was going to happen. This will turn into a battle where no side will leave unharmed... or so they thought.
However, Doren had a foreboding feeling as he looked at Roan's face. There, he could swear that he saw a faint smile appearing. His Heavenly Wind Slasher connected, but it wasn't a clean hit. Roan had used that explosion of speed not only to attack but to also dodge Doren's attack.
Roan wasn't the only one. Rean also had an expression of ridicule aimed at the guy who dodged his fatal strike just a split second ago.
Their plan worked better than they thought. During that moment where they used the First Form of the Life Style, their enemies were so shocked that their full attention was focused on Rean and Roan. They only had enough time to hear the Spiritual Sense Message from Malaka and Kentucky's opponent.
'Behind!'
Unfortunately, they were too late. What Rean and Roan had used from the very start was the Fifth Form of the Death Style, Mirage Assault. However, they did not summon the clones until the very last second.
Two Reans and Roans appeared behind those Initial and Middle Stage Core Formation Realm cultivators just as they retreated to escape the real Rean and Roan's attacks.
'Death Style, Third Form, Three Claws of the Dragon!'
In that split second, another six dark and white swords of energy aimed at the back of each of them.
*Swish, swish, swish, swish, swish, swish!*
Their Spiritual Energy was useless against all six swords. Although the semi-real Rean and Roans only had 70% of the real ones' powers, their attacks weren't something that could be stopped with one's body alone. Heart, head, neck, if it was a critical point, the mirages hit it! However, Rean and Roan only aimed at those two guys, leaving Doren and Malaka's opponent out. Doren was at the Late Stage of the Core Formation Realm, so he might have reacted in time to avoid the blows, which wouldn't change the battle proportions. As for Malaka's opponent, he was the second Initial Stage of this group, so it wouldn't be too risky if he survived.
In the very first strike, the Initial and Middle Stage Core Formation Realm cultivators already perished. Only Doren and Malaka and Kentucky's opponent remained.
"Yo-you!"
Roan snorted as he recovered his equilibrium after dodging Doren's attacks. Roan had to pay quite a wealthy price to make the distraction plan work. After all, it was not like the clones could disappear from one's Spiritual Sense. Because of that, Doren's Heavenly Wind Slasher left a deep cut on his shoulder where the Wind Element was causing havoc. Still, Roan quickly controlled his Dark Element to destroy it. He also used Rean and White Star's Light Elements to heal his injury with the Life Style Second Form. It's just that the healing part would take some time due to the lack of Light Element in this place.
"Regretting now? Too late!"
They were the ones trying to extort their group's Spirit Stones using their higher cultivation. Indeed, Doren was the last person with the right to complain about the outcome of their actions.
Roan didn't even wait for his injuries to heal as he dashed at Doren. Rean, who had also killed his opponent, did the same thing. Of course, the four clones of the Mirage Assault also changed their target and pounced at Doren.
Meanwhile, on Malaka's side, her opponent was shocked by what happened to his two companions. Seeing his companions dying made him go crazy, increasing his pressure against Malaka and Kentucky even more.
"Die!"
He stomped his feet on the ground, releasing an enormous amount of Earth Element that made the ground under Malaka and Kentucky give in. Malaka tried to keep her equilibrium as Kentucky immediately opened his wings to take flight. However, that guy was waiting for that exact moment! Kentucky's movement was instinctual, so it gave the guy a small window to attack Malaka alone! He immediately used an Earth Movement Skill that allowed him to travel in the middle of the flying rubbles in a flash!
"You first, brat!"
Earth Element gathered around his spear as he unleashed his attack.
'Myriad Earth Spears!'
Not only did his own spear attack Malaka from the front, but three additional spears that were almost identical also came from under her as she tried to regain her balance.
'Death Water Style, First Form, Flowing Dragon!'
Without any other choice, Malaka could only use her attack in that situation. She could feel that although the spears coming from the ground had similar strength to the one in her enemy's hand, they weren't as dangerous. Those earth spears were firm, but they were there basically to distract Malaka with their higher number while her enemy landed the main attack.
Kentucky immediately noticed Malaka's situation as his body exploded with Black and White Flames. Kentucky then flapped his wings, disappearing from his position in a flash! Still, that wasn't fast enough to stop Malaka's opponent's attack.
Rean and Roan also noticed that, but they were surrounding Doren, trying to prevent him from escaping. Even if they gave up the attack right now, they would take even longer than Kentucky to arrive there.
In the end, Malaka's decision to block the spear head-on was right. The Dragon's Head of the Flowing Dragon Skill parried that enemy's attack. Malaka also did her best to use the opponent's force to rotate her body as much as possible, giving up the counter-attack that she could use with the Flowing Dragon. Thanks to that, the three additional spears still hit and passed through her body, but fortunately missed the critical points. Of course, Malaka was immediately severely injured because of that.
"Malaka!"
Rean was just about to move to help Malaka, but Roan immediately stopped him with a message through their Soul Connection.
'Stop! It's not over yet.'
Malaka's opponent didn't expect her to survive in that situation. After all, not only was she taken by surprise, her cultivation was also a lot lower than his own. Still, her injuries were not light, so he immediately turned around to give the final blow.
However, he didn't have time for it. Malaka's last desperate struggle bought Kentucky enough time to arrive!
*Creeeeeeeeee!*
The amount of Black and White Flames coming from his body made the cultivator immediately give up attacking Malaka at that moment. Instead, he decided that he might as well use the inertia to attack Kentucky as well!
"Dumb bird! You dare to attack head-on against a spear user with your Stage Two level?! Die for me!"
Earth Element and Spiritual Energy gathered once more around his spear as he used another one of his skills.
'Earth God Spear!'
As a single target attack, this one was even stronger than the spears that attacked Malaka!
*Boom!*
The spear and Kentucky's beak smashed against each other. Light, Dark, and Earth Elements exploded on both sides. Still, neither side was victorious in the exchange.
"What?!"
The energy of the attacks sent both Kentucky and the enemy cultivator flying backward. Sure enough, Kentucky's beak was as strong as ever! Even with the difference in cultivation, Kentucky was still able to bring his strength up to par with his opponent.
However, it wasn't over there. Right behind the guy, Malaka stood up once more! Fountains of blood came out of the three holes on her body, but she gritted her teeth and bore with the pain.
"Roan's punishments hurt much more!"
'Death Water Style, Second Form, Spinning Dragon Tails!'
The man was taken aback once more after seeing that. Because of the explosion of Spiritual Energy and the Elements, he was knocked with his back turned in Malaka's direction. All he could do was try to spin his body to defend Malaka's incoming attack. Unfortunately, he was in mid-air without any contact with the ground. He had just finished a powerful exchange with Kentucky, so he couldn't redirect his Spiritual Energy to bring out the Myriad Earth Spears that fast either.
*Bang, bang!*
Surprisingly, even in that condition, he was still able to defend against two of the strikes. However, he saw one thing that he couldn't believe. His spear... shattered after that! Rean's High-Level Equipment showed its prowess at this moment, more powerful than what Malaka's opponents had. Besides, Kentucky's attack just a moment ago didn't help with the situation either. In the end, the spear simply couldn't resist the pressure.
Malaka didn't try to be merciful this time. Her conditions simply didn't allow her to do so. Kentucky was sent flying away because of the previous strike. Rean and Roan were even further at the moment. If she didn't make sure to finish him here, she would definitely die since she couldn't do anything after that anymore.
*Bang, Crack, Crash!*
The first strike caved inside the man's heart. The second broke his neck, and the third crashed his head! It was instant death!
Malaka couldn't celebrate after that, though. That was because she passed out before the man's body could even hit the ground. The two fell on the floor together right after—one girl with severe injuries and one dead body.
