Marcia demonstrated her intelligence with a strategic move. Choosing to cut open the abdomen to reach the head could have startled the unconscious Predator, potentially putting herself in danger.
That was why opting to kill him outright was a sensible choice. However, she overlooked a critical detail-the vast difference in their strengths.
Taking down a grandmaster-level opponent, especially one with significant physical power, was no simple feat, even if they were unconscious.
With a swift motion, Marcia drove her sword toward the Predator’s chest.
Before the sword tip could penetrate more than half an inch, Predator’s reflexes kicked in. His muscles tensed instantly, exerting a powerful force that effectively trapped her sword in place.
“Hmm?” Marcia frowned and applied more pressure to push forward with her sword.
But to her surprise, it wouldn’t budge any further. Even more astonishing was that she couldn’t withdraw her sword.
She didn’t know that Predator’s muscles clamped around the sword tightly.
“What the…?” Her expression darkened.
With so many eyes on her, failing to deal with an unconscious opponent made her position in the Celestial Alliance questionable.
“Getting cold feet, huh? Need a hand?” Dustin sneered.
“Hmph! Save your taunts. We’ll avenge Elder Wood on our own!” Marcia said defiantly.
With steely resolve, she grasped the sword hilt tightly and used all her might to push it down.
Inch by inch, the sword made its way through the Predator’s muscles, and a trickle of blood marked its progress.
Unbeknownst to her, Predator sensed danger, and his eyelids suddenly twitched.
However, she continued to push her sword and drove it deeper into his chest.
Just as her sword tip was more than an inch into the chest, Predator frowned and suddenly opened his eyes.
Caught off guard, she jumped in fright. Predator roared furiously before she could even react and slammed his palm onto the sword blade.
The blade snapped, and the force of his strike toward her chest sent her hurtling backward.
Screaming and spitting blood, she flew through the air before crashing heavily to the ground. She couldn’t even get up due to the impact.
Pale-faced and terrified, she coughed up more blood and was severely injured.
Even though Predator was not in beast mode, and his strength was only at the late-stage grandmaster level, it was still no match for a regular martial artist.
If it hadn’t been for Predator’s weakened state, drained of internal energy, he would have pushed to his limit.
The force of that single palm strike was enough to flatten Marcia.
With another ferocious roar, the Predator surged forward. His eyes were ablaze with primal fury as he charged toward her.
His transformation had boosted his strength, but it came with a dangerous trade-off-the risk of losing his sanity, especially when wounded.
In such a state, he could become nothing more than a savage beast, even if he returned to human form.
At that moment, Predator was completely overtaken by his animal instincts. He viciously targeted Marcia, who had stabbed him.
“Elder Douglas! Help me!”
The cry for help echoed through the chaos as the injured Marcia pleaded for assistance. After all, her movements were hindered by her wounds.
“Don’t be reckless!” Quincy responded promptly after shaking off his momentary hesitation.
Stepping forward, he positioned himself protectively in front of Marcia. Then, he delivered a powerful strike toward the charging Predator.
Predator didn’t dodge but continued to charge forward relentlessly. As Quincy’s palm struck him, Predator’s claws sliced through Quincy’s flesh, leaving bloody gashes.
Quincy’s strike sent the crazed Predator flying more than 30 feet away.
Quincy was shocked, staggering back a couple of steps. Despite having the advantage, he had come dangerously close to being gutted.
He hadn’t expected Predator’s grip to be so strong that it effortlessly broke his defense. Even in his weakened state, Predator posed a significant threat to him.
The retreating Predator ignored everything, roared, and charged forward. But now, he began to target Quincy instead of Marcia, whom he deemed a greater threat.
“Insolent!”
“Daredevil!”
Suddenly, the members of the Sacred Wrym Summit sprang into action.
Two disciples in blue leaped from the crowd and attacked Predator-one from the left, one from the right.
Both in their thirties, they seemed ordinary but were exceptionally strong.
They were grandmaster-level fighters. Individually, they were on par with Quincy, but together, they were unstoppable.
The Predator roared, and his claws slashed toward the two disciples.
Undaunted, the two disciples in blue emanated a golden glow and blocked Predator’s attacks.
Then, they grabbed Predator’s shoulders and dislocated his arms. 2
With just two crisp sounds, Predator’s arms instantly dislocated, rendering them limp and powerless at his sides.
