The Card Apprentice

Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

Sang Hanshui floated in mid-air. Centred on him, nothing could be seen within twenty metres of diameter.

With the Hitman as the focal point, all buildings within twenty metres of diameter were all bombarded and destroyed by him as dust and smoke flew up in the sky. It was as if a perfect sphere had been carved out from inside the building, with the broken parts of the building levels burnt black and giving off smoke.

Rafael looked at Sang Hanshui in mid-air in fear with an idle stare and rigid expression as sweat dripped down from his forehead without him even realising it. In his eyes, it was as if the mask that depicted an ancient fighter and suddenly been given life, with a blood-soaked weapon in hand and an aura of death - a spawn from hell.

"A card artisan assassin? Seems like you are under Faya's orders," said Sang Hanshui coldly as he stood in mid-air, proud and arrogant. In his right hand held an explosive projectile that covered fifteen metres diameter worth of range - this projectile was three times bigger than the previous one, displaying a dark red color, looking like a dark red light egg.

The surrounding was silent, with an occasional sound a broken boulders falling.

"It was initially more suitable for that attention-seeker to deal with a coward like you - I have no interest," Sang Hanshui's voice became even more chilling as the triangular eyes on his mask displayed snake-like focus. "However, since you are one of Faya's men, then die!"

He suddenly turned his head and swept the floor as his shadow disappeared on the spot. Three pitch black rays of energy blades intersected with the position he was previously standing without any signs!

Seeing the three black wave blades, Rafael then understood why he did not look the opponent's attack's energy body. Pure dark energy is able to morph into the dark without being detected. The opponent was actually the card artisan assassin!

Card artisan assassins are special card artisans that allowed one to change color and form. In certain degrees, it was extremely similar to the sniper card artisan snipers. However, compared to it, the cultivation of the assassins was even harsher and less humane - they had to go through many dark and twisted forms of training.

This card artisan assassin was undoubtedly powerful, with Rafael completely unable to find his opponent's position. As for the three strikes of black energy wave blades, he did not detect any energy fluctuations. He had no choice but to once again applaud the Hitman's strength, to be able to detect such energy movements!

Logically speaking, a ferocious warrior masked should be matched with a pair of fired up and violent eyes. However, as the pair of triangular eyes flashed a frost glow, the mask was presented in another style.

The combination of ferociousness, somber, frost and ruthlessness was alike a cold-blooded giant python lurking in the dark, hissing with a dark red, pungent tongue.

"Explosive projectile, sleet!"

Sang Hanshui shook his wrist slightly as the red explosive projectile was sent flying below his feet like a meteor dropping down from the sky! Its noise filled every corner in the surrounding, the deafening noise causing Rafael's expression to change as he seemingly subconsciously wanted to escape far away from the dangerous area.

Smash!

The deafening noise stopped suddenly, like an egg shell being smashed into pieces, a clear noise that was hard in the empty tower building.

The red explosive projectile flying at top speed in mid-air suddenly exploded open, with countless number of red lines thick as one's thumb shot out in all directions without any warning! The darkness was sliced open by the countless number of dark red flashes of light, creating a vibrant and elegant spectacle.

The red lines that filled the sky was uncountable. Rafael could not react in time as he watched on while a few of the red lines just scraped past his body, burying into the wall behind him. Facing the red line, the wall was as week as wet paper, instantly forming a few thumb-sized holes. The light shone from outside the building shone in from the holes, showing Rafael's pale, fear-filled face.

The card artisan assassin, who had been hiding in the dark, finally revealed himself, his body filled with holes as blood oozed out from the many thumb-sized wounds. Wearing a black mask, his expression could not be seen. From his eyes, however, it showed a hint of fear.

He could see it clearly - that was not some red line, but balls of thumb-sized red energy beads. The red lines were merely illusions caused by the speed that these energy beads were travelling at. He completely did not expect the opponent to be able to use explosive-type cards and such incredible techniques.

An unusual explosive card, and an unusual card artisan!

Card artisan assassins were all along the kryptonite of heavy handed fighters - little did he expect himself to be in such a sorry state! The assassin could taste bitterness in his mouth. Who exactly is this Hitman? His strength was definitely powerful enough to get him into the top one hundred of the Black Line Star Listing. A card artisan of this level was actually a subordinate of the White Commander…

He only realised now that they had heavily underestimated their opponent's strength, and there was little chance of changing anything today. In his heart, he immediately made a decision as he escaped without any hesitation!

"Thinking about escaping?" Sang Hanshui laughed mockingly, forming three explosive beads in his hand.

"Bomb: Tri-snake Entanglement!"

The three explosives shot out from his hand. Weirdly, they did not fly in a straight line, instead travelling in three curved lines, with one explosive towards the left, one towards the right and another one forming a high arc, flying past the head of the card artisan assassin.

Rafael, who had just finished collecting himself, looked at the three bombs nervously, with suspicions in his heart. It seemed that neither of these three explosives were targeted at the assassin.

What was the Hitman trying to do?

His eyes suddenly opened wide!

No, something is wrong! The bead that flew over the assassin's head appeared right in front of him, while the remaining two explosive beads flew towards his back - the three beads nicely surrounding the opponent!

Rafael also noticed another detail - the three explosives were all placed on the same level, forming a perfect right-angle triangle! The card artisan assassin was evidently right in the middle of the triangle.

Boom!

As the arcing explosive bead landed and reached the same level as the other two beads, it was as if a switch was flicked as all three bombs exploded at the same time!

All that was before the assassin's eyes was helplessness!

This is the end!

Having personally experienced the force of the explosives, he finally understood the motives of his opponent! The arrangement of these beads meant that as they exploded at the same time, they formed three attack waves that squeezed towards the center point at the same time. The only outcome was him being grinded into a pile of flesh mush by this giant blender!

As the giant explosive noise erupted, a gentle voice could be heard, "Flower World!"

Countless number of pink petals suddenly appeared from within the dark, dancing in the air in a dreamy, illusion-like manner. These small, thin flower petals were seemingly soft and weak, but instantly cut Sang Hanshui's Tri-snake Entanglement attack into countless number of minute pieces!

Tch, tch, tch!

The force may have been sliced and destroyed, but the smithereens of energy flow still cut up the card artisan assassin multiple times. He let out a grunt, but discreetly heaved a sigh of relief. He knew that he had escaped from the jaws of death today.

Even though there was no wind, the flower petals continued to dance and scatter around. A man wearing a bronze mask appearing in the middle of this flower shower.

Sang Hanshui's pupils instantly diluted!

He knew this man! He was the protector beside Lady Faya!

"You are a talent, to be able to utilise explosive beads to this level," Fang Shi's voiced travelled through the cold, bronze mask. The gentleness to his voice further added on to the chilling vibe that he gave off. "If you join Faya now, I shall spare you your life."

There was ten seconds of silence.

"Time is up. Speak your choice," Fang Shi's voice pierced through the dancing flower petals. The flurry of petals seemed to increase in numbers.

Sang Hanshui's sight returned to normal as he smiled lightly and said sarcastically, "Faya, tsk tsk, so scary! If I wanted to join anyone, I would have went to the Great Six. Faya is worth nothing! What I hate most about your Faya is all the dealings in the dark!"

The triangular eyes that had maintained its eager-like demeanor was suddenly filled with red as he unleashed a wave of violent aura. With an enemy as strong as that before him, he could only risk his life and fight!

Deep in the promenade, the flower rain blossomed without any wind, filled with killing instinct!

Xiaobo and the skinny man's attack speeds were extremely quick, too quick for others to look away, and too quick for the naked eye to follow!

A palm sized Orderly Wave Wheel formed and spiralled around Xiaobo, and a total number of thirty six wheels seemingly connected together by chains, forming a big circular wheel. The wheel gave one a weird feeling - it was like row of compasses lined up together, with the compass needles of each compass moving on their own accord in eye-dazzling fashion.

Such incredible speed!

Xiaobo was awe-inspired. The opponent's speed was extremely quick, and the light spear in his hand was also extremely strange. With a great offensive strength, the large circular wheel surrounding his body already showed signs of instability.

Here it comes again!

A ray of red light flashed by. Xiaobo let out a cold grunt, with the small Orderly Wave Wheels separating from the big circular wheel and appearing in front of him.

A brown light flashed across the two rows of Orderly Wave Wheels, forming into a brown energy wave sword. To call it an energy wave sword was perhaps not the most appropriate - due to it not having a blade edge, it was more like an energy board.

The skinny man pounced towards Xiaobo. With his mask down, he revealed an attractive contour at the corner of his mouth. Reaching out his feminine, pale and smooth fingers, he tapped on the rectangular energy board gently and shot it towards the skinny man!

Four Wheel Dragons!

Suddenly facing the rectangular energy board, the skinny man showed no signs of fear. Seemingly detecting the pungent smell, the red light spear in his right hand started to shake and twist with increasing intensity!

A gentle lift aimed the spearhead accurately at the rectangular energy board!

Dong!

As the two ultra-heavy weapons collided, it gave off a solemn and daunting noise!

The lifeless pair of eyes of the skinny man showed signs of emotion for the first time!

This seemingly unimpressive energy board carried an unbelievable amount of strength. Upon contact, the skinny man was able to detect the strangeness of it! His light spear was almost forcibly pulverised by this incredible amount of strength. Had he been hit by the brown energy board, he body would have been smashed into powder for sure!

The skinny man's branch-like right arm twisted the red spear body. With a light thud, the light spear in his hand suddenly collapsed, turning into a red, web-like energy body!

The red energy web wrapped itself around the energy board with lightning speed as his body retreated.

These extremely flexible and soft energy webs formed the perfect buffer!

After retreating continuously for ten metres, the skinny man finally stopped, and the energy board also stopped in front of him. It had already lost of its power. Reaching out his branch-like arms, he snapped the board and squeezed it into smithereens!

Raising his head, he looked at Xiaobo, the energy web in his hand forming into a light spear once again. A closer look would reveal that the light sword was slightly less bright than it was before.

The two men's glances once again clashed in mid-air!