Chapter 34: The Four Heroes of the Apocalypse? [Third Update, Recommendation Votes]

Five of the seven rushed at Luffy, the leader in the black robe among them, while the remaining two charged toward Ji Xiaozhi. In an instant, they were surrounded.

“Kid, is that sword in your hand the legendary Ebony Struck by Lightning for a Thousand Years?” the leader applauded, his gaze dark and sinister. Ebony Struck by Lightning for a Thousand Years—a sword renowned for vanquishing all manner of demons and monsters. No wonder he could destroy a resurrected zombie with just two strokes.

“That’s right, it’s made to deal with evil creatures like you,” Luffy replied calmly, holding the Thunderblade. Their reluctance to descend had been troublesome; now that they’d come down, they were no longer an issue. He could deal with them all himself.

“You’re just a second-tier weakling. Do you even know how powerful we are? Third-tier, two hundred and fifty times human strength—a single finger could wipe you out. You, at best, have two hundred and thirty times human strength,” the leader in black sneered at Luffy, already seeing him as a dead man. To be cautious, he’d brought four subordinates. Even if this kid was hiding his true power, escape was impossible.

Feeling smug at his own cleverness, he commanded, “Go! Finish him!”

With a swish, the four black-robed men instantly moved, charging at Luffy with their black swords. The leader also joined the fray, his black blade swelling to enormous size. As Luffy clashed with his minions, the leader’s cold blade swept down.

Whoosh—a gigantic blade sliced one of the black-robed men clean in half, then descended toward Luffy’s head.

Yet Luffy’s form vanished just before the black blade struck.

“Damn it, where did he go?” The leader landed, ignoring the fallen subordinate he’d just cut in two, scanning the surroundings in search.

“As their leader, you strike without caring for their lives. Truly evil—no wonder you belong to a sinister sect. You can go and die now,” Luffy’s voice echoed all around the leader, who had no idea where it was coming from.

“If you’ve got guts, come out! What’s the point of skulking around, playing ghost?” The leader’s words were bravado, but inside he was terrified. The scent of death pressed closer, almost suffocating him. Cold sweat drenched him. For the first time, he faced such a bizarre and powerful youth.

“Flameblade Flash,” came the boy’s voice, still youthful, as a black line shot past behind the leader.

The whole world seemed to turn black and white.

A single black line swept across the leader’s body; Luffy’s figure appeared in front of him.

Boom—red flames erupted from beneath the leader, shooting skyward.

In an instant, the leader was blasted into ashes.

The remaining three black-robed men stared, mouths agape, tongues frozen, their voices trembling with panic. “...Impossible...”

Luffy’s figure appeared before them.

---

In their eyes, Luffy strode forward like a god of fire, exuding a scorching aura.

One black-robed man collapsed to his knees in terror. “Please, spare me! I was wrong!”

Another, drenched in cold sweat and unable to stand, knelt as well, shivering and begging, “Mercy...”

The last one followed suit, kneeling. Only this way did they hope to survive, though they did not know what kind of person Luffy truly was.

Of course, he would not let such evil men live. There was only one word:

“Kill.”

Only by killing could peace be restored; only then would there be no chance for the tiger to return to the mountain; only then would satisfaction be gained.

With a single word, three heads flew off, blood spraying into the night.

The three blood-soaked bodies collapsed.

Hot blood spilled, then was washed away by rain.

Ji Xiaozhi had frozen the two black-robed men into ice sculptures. Luffy saw that Ximen Yu was covered in blood, though the rampaging zombie had been slain as well.

Lei walked over from the side, clearly having chopped the zombie into several pieces, his body covered in wounds.

Only Luffy stood there without a single scratch.

“Brother Long, you are truly mysterious and unfathomable. Not a scratch, and you wiped out those Evil Sect members, destroyed the zombies, and helped Ji Xiaozhi deal with hers as well,” Ximen Yu exclaimed with deep admiration, even changing his manner of address.

“Indeed impressive. I had trouble dealing with a single zombie on my own, but you handled everything yourself. I can’t compare,” Lei admitted, humbled.

Ji Xiaozhi came over. “You really are remarkable.” She had already forgotten the incident where Luffy glimpsed her undergarment—such things were forgotten in the heat of battle.

“We’re all tired. Let’s head back. If more Evil Sect members arrive, we won’t be able to leave,” Ximen Yu said, turning to leap toward a nearby building.

Crash—he slammed into a transparent barrier, letting out a miserable cry as he fell to the ground. No one caught him, but with his physique, he wouldn’t be hurt by such a fall.

“Damn, I forgot there’s a barrier. How do we get out, Brother Long?” Ximen Yu asked Luffy.

“Simple—we break the barrier. I can’t do it alone, but if everyone works together, it’ll shatter instantly,” Luffy said calmly, looking up at the barrier.

“That easy?” Lei was surprised, unsure how Long knew.

“Let’s try,” Ji Xiaozhi agreed, since Long had helped her twice just now—she felt she owed him her trust.

---

“Strike here,” Luffy said, pointing his flaming sword at a spot on the barrier he had identified as its weakest point with his Samsara Heaven Eyes.

“Everyone, pour your strength into this spot.”

He unleashed volley after volley of flame swords at the point.

Lei’s sword crackled with lightning as he hurled it at the designated spot, swift as thunder, putting all his strength into it.

Ximen Yu flung his jade flute, spinning rapidly, attacking the same point.

Ji Xiaozhi conjured an ice sword and shot it at the spot.

Four forces converged simultaneously.

Cracks began to form at the point, spreading outward.

Crash—the barrier shattered like glass and vanished.

“Amazing!” Ximen Yu admired Luffy even more.

Lei, the assassin, was speechless. This youth was extraordinary. Befriending him could only bring benefits.

Ji Xiaozhi felt the same.

“We four have faced life and death together; henceforth, we are friends. The Three Heroes of the Apocalypse shall become the Four Heroes,” Ximen Yu said with a smile.

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Author’s note:

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