135: Chapter 135 Shadow

Xia Xingchen inched closer to the chorus engine, his Bolter aimed at several of its power conduits.

He then pulled the trigger, and a single bolt successfully shattered one of the conduits.

The entire chorus engine faltered for a split second.

Seeing this, Xue Shatian quickly unleashed a psychic shockwave, blasting everyone away, before charging straight at Xia Xingchen without looking back.

Xia Xingchen reacted instantly, activating his armor's shock blast function. A powerful shockwave rippled out from his suit, immediately halting Xue Shatian's charge.

Once Xue Shatian regained his footing, he swiftly erected a Warp seal, completely sealing off the space shared by himself and Xia Xingchen.

"Now that it's just the two of us on the battlefield, let's have a real man's duel."

Xia Xingchen observed the space around him being completely isolated, preventing anyone outside from seeing in, and let out a soft chuckle.

"I actually have you to thank for doing me such a huge favor."

Xue Shatian paused, stunned by these words. Had this guy lost his mind from fear?

Is he really that hard to scare?

But the next moment, Xue Shatian sensed something amiss; black mist began to emanate from Xia Xingchen's entire body.

Then, the black mist, taking on a tangible form, quickly enveloped Xia Xingchen, writhing and coiling rapidly like the tentacles of Cthulhu.

Xue Shatian immediately guessed what it was: nanotechnology.

"Oh? I didn't expect you to possess nanotechnology. Honestly, you're the one who should join our Chaos."

Xue Shatian knew that the Empire strictly forbade artificial intelligence technology, and nanotechnology happened to cross that very red line.

"Join our Chaos. Only in the world of Chaos can your nanotechnology truly reach its full potential."

Xue Shatian coaxed Xia Xingchen, trying to lure him in.

"Otherwise, you'll be forced to use it in secret, forever living under the shadow of the Empire's surveillance."

Xia Xingchen heard this, but his eyes showed not even a flicker of temptation.

"I refuse."

Xue Shatian was taken aback by this reply.

"What did you say?"

"I refuse."

Xue Shatian truly could not understand why Xia Xingchen would refuse. He had to know that only within Chaos could one use any forbidden art without restraint.

Perhaps their paths were simply too different to ever align.

Seeing this, Xue Shatian said nothing more and immediately attacked Xia Xingchen.

Xia Xingchen immediately blocked the strike.

However, the immense pressure still forced Xia Xingchen to take half a step back.

"You are no match for me at all."

Xue Shatian said arrogantly as he closed in on Xia Xingchen.

The nanotechnology quickly repaired all the wounds on Xia Xingchen's body.

Xia Xingchen then stood up and said, without a hint of retreat:

"We'll only know after trying."

Xia Xingchen instantly condensed the nanomatter into the shape of a blade and lunged at Xue Shatian.

Xue Shatian merely reached out his hand, and the nano-spike shattered instantly as if it had struck titanium alloy.

"Not worth mentioning. Behold, this is the strength of a demonic body."

Xia Xingchen was not discouraged; he once again used nanotechnology to form a longsword in his hand.

Like a charging knight, he instantly swung the blade at Xue Shatian.

For a time, the two traded blows back and forth.

Relying on his nanotechnology, Xia Xingchen fought Xue Shatian to a stalemate.

Seeing this, Xue Shatian decided he was done playing with Xia Xingchen; he channeled powerful Warp energy to suppress him.

The twisted and unstable laws of the Warp suppressed Xia Xingchen's nanotechnology, preventing it from expanding.

The environment of the Warp directly distorted all physical laws of reality, causing Xia Xingchen's nanotechnology to fail when deployed on a large scale, forcing it to remain anchored to his own body.

"Something's not right."

Xia Xingchen quickly realized the problem: how could Xue Shatian wield such immense power, and even single-handedly carve out a pocket of the Warp?

This was simply something no mortal could achieve.

"No, are you really Xue Shatian? You couldn't possibly do all this. You haven't truly ascended to daemonhood; how could you be capable of this?"

Xia Xingchen looked up at Xue Shatian.

It was at this moment that Xia Xingchen noticed something wrong with Xue Shatian.

He saw that Xue Shatian's eyes were blood-red, and the shadow behind him had twisted and deformed into the silhouette of a gigantic demon.