Infinity, The Arcade Age

Inside the tent, Qin Ming finally let go of his grip.

It wasn't out of guilt or newfound compassion for his fellow man.

He let go because there was simply nothing left to grab.

With a single Sonic Hand, he had severed Zhao Xiong's pride and joy. Tossing the bloody remains onto the ground, Qin Ming's bloodied hands clenched into fists as he glared fiercely at his opponent.

Zhao Xiong writhed on the ground, clutching his lower body, eyes and mouth wide open in a silent scream. His tongue lolled out, but no sound escaped his lips.

A vindictive man by nature, Qin Ming couldn't forgive anyone who crossed him. For Zhao Xiong to dare lay a hand on him, there could only be one outcome.

Besides, with Zhao Xiong's body as tough as iron, there was no better way to take him down swiftly than targeting his most vulnerable spot.

Not giving Zhao Xiong a moment to recover, Qin Ming stretched his arms wide, blood dripping from his fingers.

Sonic Hand—Charged!

Seeing this, Ghost Lady flipped herself up into a ready stance, arms poised at her sides.

Super Skill: Tyrant's Roaring Tiger Fist!

Boom!

A massive flaming wheel two meters wide and a blazing energy sphere of equal size smashed into Zhao Xiong's battered body simultaneously.

Already gravely injured, Zhao Xiong couldn't withstand such devastating attacks. With a single, gut-wrenching scream, his figure was engulfed in fire and destruction.

The tent erupted in a thunderous explosion, the force tearing the structure to shreds and flattening surrounding tents in its wake.

The commotion was too great to ignore. After all, Zhao Xiong, for all his size and strength, was still just a man. How could a person's demise cause such a spectacle unless it involved something catastrophic?

The sound of hurried footsteps followed, with soldiers rushing toward the source of the disturbance.

When they reached the tattered remains of the tent, they found a strange stillness within.

The only thing left was a headless corpse.

The body, lying on the ground as if cleaved nearly in half, was severely charred and grotesquely frozen in the pose of clutching its groin.

The soldiers exchanged uneasy glances. Those who recognized the corpse were struck with varying emotions—shock, fear, even schadenfreude.

Among them, some immediately ran to inform the commanding officer of the grim discovery.

Minutes later, in the war council tent, a hastily dressed Xiahou Dun arrived.

Standing in front of the mutilated remains, his face darkened.

Beside the corpse stood four towering men who bore strikingly similar features.

Crouching to inspect the body, Xiahou Dun's lone eye flashed with cold fury.

"Who did this?"

Zhao Ming, the eldest of the five Zhao brothers, took a deep breath before responding through gritted teeth.

"Those two newly appointed centurions!"

"Centurions?" Xiahou Dun's brow furrowed.

Staring down at Zhao Xiong's decapitated body, the anger in his expression ebbed, replaced by hesitation.

"Let me guess—Zhao Xiong tried to throw his rank around again and… pressed them too far?"

Zhao Ming nodded stiffly.

"Exactly that."

"Damn it!" Xiahou Dun roared, his boot slamming into Zhao Xiong's corpse.

"How many times have I told you fools? Stop stirring up trouble in the ranks! I warned him this would end badly, but he wouldn't listen. And now look at this mess! He forced their hand, and it got him killed!"

Fuming, Xiahou Dun lashed out at the corpse again.

The remaining four brothers bowed their heads, unwilling to defend Zhao Xiong's actions. Even they had to admit the circumstances of his death were too humiliating to justify.

As Xiahou Dun's anger subsided, he kicked over a table in frustration, then stood in silence.

The Zhao brothers exchanged glances. Zhao Ming hesitated before cautiously speaking up.

"General, those two who fled... what should we—"

"What are you standing around for?" Xiahou Dun snapped. "Your brother is dead! Are you just going to do nothing? Go after them! Take the cavalry and bring me their heads—along with Zhao Xiong's!"

"Yes, sir!"

The four brothers roared in unison, pivoting on their heels and storming out of the tent.

Moments later, the camp roared with the sound of mobilization. Three thousand cavalry were divided into four squads, surging out of the camp in pursuit of the fugitives.

The tent fell silent once more, leaving Xiahou Dun alone.

He glanced down at Zhao Xiong's headless body and shook his head grimly.

Calling over one of the elite Tiger and Leopard Cavalry, Xiahou Dun quickly scrawled a message and handed the sealed letter to the soldier.

"Deliver this to Li Dian before dawn. Inform him of what happened here. Zhao Xiong is dead, but the situation is under control. Tell him not to act rashly, no matter what news he receives."

"Yes, General!"

The soldier saluted, then departed swiftly.

Watching him leave, Xiahou Dun's gaze grew thoughtful.

Initially, his anger stemmed from Zhao Xiong's idiocy. To lose such a capable officer in such a foolish manner was both frustrating and embarrassing.

But as he calmed down, Xiahou Dun began to suspect there was more to the story.

How could two low-ranking soldiers have possibly killed Zhao Xiong?

Zhao Xiong wasn't just a brute. He was the second strongest of the Zhao brothers, surpassed only by Zhao Ming.

There had been others in the past who resisted Zhao Xiong's advances, yet none had managed to best him.

For him to be killed so quickly and without raising an alarm… something wasn't right.

Those two weren't ordinary soldiers.

Whether they were hidden talents or had more sinister motives, Xiahou Dun couldn't afford to take chances.

He would ensure Li Dian was warned, just in case someone used Zhao Xiong's death as a ploy.

Staring down at the charred, headless corpse, Xiahou Dun's lone eye narrowed.

"Zhao Xiong… I wonder, did you die from your own foolishness, or did you unknowingly shield me from a blade meant for my back?"