A roar like thunder, carrying unparalleled fury and power, exploded from the edge of the plaza!
"Man!!!"
A tall and burly figure, like a maddened beast, charged furiously from the direction of the village with a violent aura!
With every step he took, the ground trembled!!
His muscled arms were covered in dark green scales, and lizard-like patterns appeared on the surface of his skin!
It was Elfman, who had received the power of the lizard!
He had finally arrived at the crucial moment!
Elfman looked at the tragic scene in the plaza—Gray, heavily wounded and spitting blood, Juvia, curled up on the ground in agony, and that mountain-like monster about to deliver a fatal blow to Juvia!
A surge of wild rage instantly overwhelmed his reason!
"You ugly brute!!"
"What are you doing to my comrade?!!!"
Elfman let out an earth-shattering roar!
His speed surged again!
Like a green lightning bolt!
He slammed into Kawarazu Seeker, who was about to strike the straw doll!
Bang—!!!
A dull, extreme thud!
Kawarazu Seeker was caught off guard, his massive body stumbled from Elfman's reckless charge, and the hand holding the straw doll was forced to release it, causing the straw doll to fall to the ground.
The fatal curse he was about to inflict on Juvia's heart was interrupted!
"Hmm?!" Kawarazu Seeker steadied himself, his small eyes narrowed as he looked at this sudden uninvited guest, a cruel and impatient expression on his face, "Another bug looking for death? Why are there so many troublesome guys today!"
"A man! I will never let you harm my comrade!" Elfman stood in front of the painfully curled-up Juvia, his arms covered in dark green lizard scales, muscles bulging, his gaze as firm as iron!
Elfman roared, his sharp claws on both arms glinting coldly, and he charged at Hua Yuan!
"Hour of the Ox Descends: Push Hand!"
Hua Yuan snorted disdainfully, his massive palm pushing forward with overwhelming force!
An invisible, immense force slammed into Elfman!
Elfman grunted, his charge abruptly halted, his feet plowing two furrows in the ground!
"Take Over: Leopard King's Speed!"
Elfman instantly switched his Take Over, his legs becoming slender and explosive, his speed suddenly increasing!
He transformed into a green afterimage, circling to Hua Yuan's side!
"Take Over: Iron Bear's Arm!"
His right arm instantly swelled, covered in metallic grey-black fur, and with immense power, he smashed it fiercely into Hua Yuan's ribs!
Bang—!!!
A heavy, dull thud!
Hua Yuan's body swayed slightly, the fat on his ribs rippling, dissipating most of the force.
"Tickling me?" Hua Yuan sneered, countering with a "Sumo Body Slam," his massive body crashing into Elfman like a mountain!
Elfman's pupils constricted, and he crossed his arms!
"Iron Bear Block!"
Bang—!!!
Elfman was sent flying back again, his arms numb, his blood churning!
The disparity in strength was too great!
As one of the Seven Kin of Purgatory, Kawarazu Seeker's physical strength and magic power far surpassed Elfman's current level!
"Hour of the Ox Descends: Hundred-Strike Palm!"
Hua Yuan pressed his advantage, countless palm shadows raining down on Elfman like a storm!
Elfman dodged and blocked frantically!
"Take Over: Lizard Tail Whip!"
A thick, scaled tail instantly lashed out, scattering a few palm shadows!
But more palm shadows slammed into him!
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Elfman was hit repeatedly, his scales shattering, blood spilling from the corner of his mouth!
"Take Over: Leopard King's Assault!"
He sped up again, trying to find an opening!
"Hour of the Ox Descends: Earth-Shaking Stomp!"
Hua Yuan stomped his foot!
The ground vibrated violently, and the shockwave momentarily stalled Elfman!
"Got you!" Hua Yuan's massive hand shot out like lightning, grabbing Elfman's right leg, which he hadn't had time to retract after using "Leopard King's Assault"!
"Oh no!" Elfman's face changed dramatically!
"Hour of the Ox Descends: Hell Wheel!"
Hua Yuan sneered, grabbing Elfman's leg and, like swinging a tattered sack, slammed him violently into the ground!
Boom! Boom! Boom—!!!
Three consecutive violent slams!
Large craters were smashed into the ground!
Elfman was dizzy, his bones felt like they were coming apart, and blood spewed from his nose and mouth!
"Useless!" Hua Yuan casually threw the limp Elfman onto the ground, spitting in disdain.
In less than ten rounds, Elfman, who was fighting with all his might, was completely defeated, severely injured, and unable to move.
Hua Yuan dusted himself off, his gaze sweeping across the scene, finally landing on Gray, who lay unconscious nearby from exhaustion and severe injuries.
"Deliora's power... is on this kid." He grinned, walking with heavy steps towards Gray.
"Though a bit weak, bringing him back to the Guild Master should suffice."
He bent down, as if picking up an object, and with one hand grabbed Gray's collar, easily lifting him up, then casually slung him over his broad, mountain-like shoulder.
Gray struggled weakly, only able to be at his mercy; the violent shaking pulled at his wounds, making him groan in pain, his consciousness growing even more blurry.
"Lord Gray..." In the distance, Juvia, almost unconscious, let out a faint moan.
Hua Yuan, carrying Gray, turned around contentedly, preparing to leave.
However, as he passed by Juvia again—
That trembling hand, covered in blood and dirt, once again, with the last shred of strength and will, shot out and tightly gripped his thick ankle!
"Don't... take... Lord Gray..." Juvia's voice was as faint as a whisper, yet it carried an undeniable resolve.
Kawarazu Seeker stopped, looking down at the stubborn hand on his ankle that had once again obstructed him; the patience in his small eyes completely vanished, replaced by an extreme cruelty born from repeated provocation.
"You truly are... seeking death!"
He lifted his foot, without any hesitation, and with terrifying force, stomped down again!
Crack—!!!
The clear sound of bone breaking rang out again!
Juvia's arm was broken again!
Water surged, and her arm reformed again, but the speed was noticeably slower, and the bloody color in the water was even more Rich.
"Oh? Still able to recover?" The cruelty on Hua Yuan's face turned into an excitement akin to discovering a new toy, "Interesting! So interesting!"
He seemed to have completely forgotten his mission, only wanting to enjoy this cruel "game."
He lifted his foot again, this time aiming at Juvia's head!
"No... don't..." Gray, on Hua Yuan's shoulder, let out a faint, desperate wail.
Bang—!!!
The massive foot stomped down violently!
Juvia's head instantly exploded!
Water mixed with blood splattered everywhere!
The next second, her head stubbornly reformed, but Juvia's face was ashen, her breath extremely weak, and the proportion of blood in the reforming water had already exceeded that of clear water.
"Hahaha! Fun!" Hua Yuan laughed excitedly, lifting his foot again!
Bang! Bang! Bang!...Again and again!
Explode! Reform! Explode again! Reform again!
Juvia's head was like a water balloon being wantonly abused; in each explosion and reformation, her vitality and magic power were rapidly draining away.
With each reformation, her consciousness blurred a little more, yet the hand gripping the ankle seemed to be welded in place, not moving an inch.
That tragic and persistent scene was deeply imprinted in the eyes of every conscious person present.
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