"What... how is this possible? The Superpower Strike was repelled?!" Kong De's arrogant demeanor vanished, his face ashen.
To regain face, he had gone all out with his first move, and [Superpower Strike] was his most prized skill. This energy beam, seemingly ordinary, dealt immense damage. Yet, Zhang Chen had casually deflected it aside.
There was no point in continuing this fight. If his most potent skill was useless against Zhang Chen, any other skill would only drain his stamina to no avail. It would be better to conserve his energy and look for an opportunity to escape.
"If you have no other skills, I'll begin!" Zhang Chen said calmly.
[Blazing Radiance]!
A dazzling point of light erupted from Kong De's right hand, illuminating the surroundings in a blinding white, even more intense than sunlight. Taking advantage of Zhang Chen's temporary blindness from the flash, Kong De immediately bolted towards the plaza. He had no intention of ambushing Zhang Chen. Who knew how strong this guy truly was? If an ambush failed, he wouldn't even have a chance to escape.
"Is that all?"
However, after Kong De had run only a hundred meters or so, Zhang Chen instantly caught up, floating in mid-air and looking down at the fleeing Kong De.
"Damn it, [Blazing Radiance] couldn't even hold you for a second?! This is absurd!" Kong De glanced back and unleashed over a dozen energy beams, forcing Zhang Chen to slow down by a fraction of a second. He seized this moment to grab a five or six-year-old girl from the plaza and shield himself with her.
"Hey, let me go, and I promise not to reveal your strength to anyone else. Will that satisfy you?" Kong De held the girl tightly, nervously looking up at Zhang Chen floating in the air above him.
"If I kill you, you still won't be able to reveal my strength to anyone else..." Zhang Chen regarded Kong De as if he were an idiot. "Besides... I have no reason to hide my strength. What difference would it make if you revealed it?" Zhang Chen genuinely didn't understand what benefit Kong De's words offered him; his conditions were nonsensical.
"Heh, you don't actually think you're invincible just because you can beat me, do you!" Kong De sneered. "To tell you the truth, among the轮回者 (reincarnators) of my generation, I'm at the very bottom. Otherwise, I wouldn't have had to deal with those who possess dark red rings! There are countless powerhouses a hundred or even a thousand times stronger than me. You're strong, yes, but at best you're just middle-to-lower tier among those powerhouses!"
"If they learn of a new strong individual, whether it's to eliminate a competitor or to kill you for your crystal cores, they'll have every reason to hunt you down. I came here to capture slaves for those powerhouses to satisfy their endless desires! If I die, it means you newcomers refuse to submit to the Supremes, and what awaits you will be a new round of slaughter and enslavement!"
"Not only will you die, but your organization, your camp, everyone will perish. Your women will become slaves and suffer endless torment!" Kong De roared, his expression contorted in extreme ferocity. The girl wasn't enough, so he grabbed another woman by her hair, pulling her forcefully in front of him. He completely concealed himself behind her.
"What do you say? Let me take the slaves back, and I'll pretend today never happened. This is good for both of us!" Kong De proposed.
"Who are these Supremes you speak of? Are they very strong?" Zhang Chen asked.
"You don't even know the Supremes? And you dare to start a war with us? How laughable!" Kong De retorted. "Ask that busty woman of yours; she's definitely heard of the Supremes. They were the ones who nearly ended the apocalypse! Currently, the Supremes have established a dynasty based on our generation of轮回者 (reincarnators), a new human civilization! Submission to the Supremes is only a matter of time. The earlier you submit, the better your position might be. If you're late, all that's left is the position of a slave!"
As he spoke, Kong De suddenly had a flash of inspiration. "We are currently preparing to establish a king to rule over other轮回者 (reincarnators)! I was originally in contact with Clarence, but that guy turned out to be too useless to take on such an important role as king! But you are strong, and you are suitable. You should join us in dividing the resources of the apocalypse and enslaving the weak. After all, life is short, why not indulge yourself and do whatever you please?"
Zhang Chen ignored him and continued, "Are these Supremes you mention located in the seventh walled city?"
Kong De paused, then quickly asked, "You... you want to go to the seventh walled city?"
"Answer my question, are the Supremes in the seventh walled city?" Zhang Chen asked coldly.
"Let me go first, and I'll tell you!" Kong De tried to bargain.
But before he could finish speaking, he instantly began to float slowly upwards. His fingers, holding the hostage girl and woman, involuntarily released them. He remained in that paralyzed state, drifting slowly towards Zhang Chen.
"Don't play the hostage card, and don't bargain with me. Your only task is to answer my questions truthfully!" Zhang Chen commanded, staring into Kong De's eyes.
"I... I can't say... If I do, even if you let me go, the Supremes will kill me!"
"Incorrect answer. Final opportunity!" Zhang Chen said, then began to constrict his force field. Kong De felt an immense power tightening inwards, pressing against his skin as if to compress and crush every inch of his flesh. The pain was unbearable, worse than any torture.
"I... I'll tell you..." Kong De screamed. His skin, due to the capillaries bursting under the pressure of the force field, developed patches of bluish-purple bruises.
"Speak!" Zhang Chen released the force field, but kept Kong De suspended in the air.
"The Supremes are in his palace. There's abundant food there, and countless slaves. The palace is surrounded by monsters he has tamed!" Kong De gasped, blood spewing from his mouth as his body convulsed uncontrollably. "And it's guarded by the strongest thirteen-man guard. He is the most terrifying monster in this apocalypse!"
"Going to the Supremes' palace is undoubtedly a suicide mission for you!" As Kong De spoke, he suddenly began to cough up blood, his body trembling. Moments later, he dissolved into a wisp of green mist and vanished.
"Someone killed him remotely! There are others nearby!" Zhang Chen activated Absolute Vision and scanned his surroundings. Nothing. There were no unusual energy fluctuations. Zhang Chen closed his eyes again, expanding his sensory range. Soon, he detected a powerful energy core at the edge of the high wall, several kilometers away. Then, this energy core quickly disappeared. It was likely escape via spatial teleportation technology.
"Supremes... what the hell are they?"