Chapter 589 - 359: Tier Four Limit? Master Ma’s Terrifying Combat Power

Chapter 589: Chapter 359: Tier Four Limit? Master Ma’s Terrifying Combat Power

If Lin Qi hadn’t seen the conversation between Master Ma and King Arthur, he would have truly thought Master Ma was starting to run for it.

The performance was so convincing that even Lin Qi was taken in, to say nothing of MacLeod, the man at the center of it all.

He strongly suspected that Master Ma was a member of the Eastern Alliance.

As for the Highest-Level Mercenary Corps?

What kind of ridiculous name was that?

’Who did he think he was fooling?’

He had obviously just pulled the name of some random Mercenary Corps out of thin air to counteract the pressure he was putting on the Eastern Alliance.

’Just as expected of the Eastern Alliance. They’re masters of overt strategy, finding a way to break the stalemate in such a short time.’

But...

"Once you do something, you have to pay the price!"

MacLeod deliberately projected his voice so it would carry clearly. "Publicly attacking a core member of the Super Alliance in World City is an unforgivable crime. You must die today!"

He gave chase.

MacLeod immediately jumped into the deep crater Master Ma had created with his body, leaping into the underground pipes to pursue him.

Master Ma was fast, but MacLeod was faster.

In terms of their Prosthetic Bodies alone, Master Ma was a full tier weaker than MacLeod.

This was Master Ma’s greatest weakness.

Master Ma had made it less than five hundred meters before MacLeod caught up, and the two began to fight.

Those on the surface used their own methods to observe the battle unfolding in the pipes below.

Some used Prosthetic Body scanners; others sensed the clash of Will Power.

By combining multiple data streams, they successfully gleaned some details of the fight.

"That Mercenary is no match for MacLeod. MacLeod hasn’t even used the Sword in the Stone."

"Even the Gray Knight has to pay a price for using a Tier Five Extraordinary Item. His opponent is already a full tier weaker than him, perhaps even a tier and a half. Of course he isn’t going to use the Sword in the Stone."

"But why do I get the feeling that Mercenary’s Will Power is growing stronger?"

As the fight truly began, some of the Tier Four Powerhouses noticed something was amiss.

Theoretically, even though the Tier Four Third Stage was already considered an extremely High Level, there was still a massive gap between it and Tier Four Peak.

This was especially true for Physical Enhancement Type Extraordinary Professions like Martial Artists and Knights, where every minor stage advancement meant a massive increase in Prosthetic Body capacity.

In terms of actual combat power, a Tier Four Peak Knight was more than twice as strong as a Tier Four Third Stage Martial Artist.

And yet, judging by the combat data feedback, that Mercenary was somehow withstanding the Knight’s assault?

How was he doing that?

It wasn’t just the powerhouses from the two T0-level Mercenary Corps who noticed the strange turn of events; Lin Qi saw it with perfect clarity.

His Spiritual Vision was like 360-degree surveillance with no blind spots. Lin Qi could see not only their hand-to-hand combat but even the contest between their Will Powers.

At this very moment, MacLeod’s "Life Towards Death" Knight’s Will Badge shone like a blazing sun, blindingly bright within his Spiritual Vision.

Master Ma’s Will Power, on the other hand, was like flowing water. The blazing sun constantly eroded and evaporated it, yet it was endlessly self-renewing.

As his Will Power was continuously annihilated, even more would materialize out of thin air.

Throughout this process, Master Ma’s Will Power was continuously strengthening.

By now, it had even reached the level of the Tier Four Fourth Stage.

It was just a sliver away from reaching Tier Four Peak!

MacLeod watched Master Ma, his brow deeply furrowed. He, too, had realized something was wrong.

’How is this guy getting stronger the more I beat him up?’

MacLeod halted the rhythm of his attack and put some distance between himself and Master Ma.

"You sick bastard, why’d you stop? Scared?"

Master Ma’s voice sounded strange, as if air were leaking from his lungs.

As Lin Qi observed Master Ma’s body through his Spiritual Vision, he couldn’t help but feel a chill.

His Prosthetic Body was mangled, a gaping hole was blasted in his chest, and one of his arms was gone...

Short-circuiting arcs of electricity and streams of blood covered Master Ma’s body.

His gruesome condition would lead anyone to believe that Master Ma didn’t have long to live.

But as Master Ma’s opponent, MacLeod trusted his own senses more.

A person’s physical condition could be deceptive, but their Will Power never lied!

’This man’s Will Power is reaching a boiling point. If I keep this up, he might actually break through to the Tier Four Fourth Stage.’

"Who exactly are you? I’ve never heard of anyone like you in the Eastern Alliance."

MacLeod hesitated, debating whether to use the Sword in the Stone.

As soon as he used the Sword in the Stone, he would unleash a power that transcended the Tier Four Limit.

’At that point, no matter how mysterious this man’s methods are, if I kill him in an instant, he’s not going to come back to life, is he?’

"You don’t need to know. All you need to know is that you’re dead today!"

Master Ma’s words were tinged with emotion. Clearly, he had his own reasons for choosing to fight someone of a higher tier; it wasn’t just for some so-called mission.

With that, Master Ma recklessly charged forward to engage him once more.

MacLeod took a moment to assess Master Ma’s Will Power.

’It had barely reached the quantity of a Tier Four Fourth Stage, and it’s only a temporary boost. The quality is still limited to the Tier Four Third Stage.’

’For an opponent of this level, there’s no need to pay the price of using the Sword in the Stone before the World Peace Conference begins.’

’Fight!’

’I am the leader of the Round Table Conference, the Grand Knight Commander, the Gray Knight who symbolizes the power of death!’

’Why would I fear a man whose power is weaker than my own!’

The battle erupted anew, and the observers once again detected a flood of data.

...

Highest-Level Mercenary Corps Temporary Chat Window.

King Arthur: "Master, your condition is off! How are you getting stronger the more you get hit? To my naked eye, it looks like you’re about to be beaten to death, so how are you fighting more ferociously?"

Master Ma: "Find the right moment to strike. Don’t let him use the Sword in the Stone, whatever you do. I know you have a way."

King Arthur: "I can indeed influence the Sword in the Stone, but... Master, are you sure you won’t be beaten to death?"

King Arthur’s question received no answer from Master Ma.

The reason was that Master Ma had just taken a direct hit to the face from MacLeod. His Intelligent Brain was damaged, and he was temporarily unable to access the Highest-Level Mercenary Corps’ temporary chat window.

But King Arthur’s question was answered by someone else.

Capitalist: "Hasn’t Master Ma told you what his primary Martial Arts Will is?"

King Arthur: "I remember Master Ma’s Martial Arts Will allows him to temporarily boost his combat power. Isn’t that his primary Martial Arts Will?"

Capitalist: "You’re talking about his Combustion Will. Although the Master usually prefers to use that one, it’s not his primary Martial Arts Will."

King Arthur: "?"

Capitalist: "As we all know, Master Ma has some... peculiar little hobbies. While they’ve earned him much criticism in the Eastern Alliance, his primary Martial Arts Will was born from them. It’s called Suffering Will. It allows him to convert physical trauma into powerful Will Power."

Capitalist: "From what I know, if you beat Master Ma to the brink of death, his power can reach the Tier Four Limit."

King Arthur: "??"

King Arthur: "How come I don’t know this? Wait, how do you know?"

Capitalist: "Because the Master and I have fought before."

King Arthur: "??!"

Reading the messages in the Highest-Level Mercenary Corps chat, Lin Qi’s pupils contracted sharply.

His Spiritual Vision was locked onto Master Ma, and a look of absolute shock appeared in his eyes.

He was shocked by Master Ma’s true combat power, but also by what Capitalist had revealed.

’Those two had fought before!’

’And Capitalist had been able to beat Master Ma to the brink of death!’

’What did that mean?’

’It meant that Capitalist possessed, at the very least, the power of the Tier Four Limit!’

’The true strength of the Highest-Level Mercenary Corps was this incredible!’

’Two members with power at the Tier Four Limit!’

’Add to that King Arthur, who was Tier Four, and Jingang, a prodigy with a Talent for massive Prosthetic Body capacity.’

’Looked at that way, was I the weakest member of the entire Mercenary Corps, at least in terms of raw stats?’

Lin Qi fell silent, with no desire to participate in the Mercenary Corps’ discussion.

His gaze remained locked on the battlefield, silently watching the fight progress.

Suddenly, Lin Qi saw MacLeod make a move.

His hand was reaching for the Sword in the Stone on his back...