Bruce, ghostlike in his movements, relentlessly and violently attacked Sword Dragon. Each strike fiercer than the last, his power building upon itself. The vast room was filled with a dizzying array of afterimages as his hand-knife traced countless savage gouges in the surrounding space.

What a monster! Although Sword Dragon was pushing his physical limits, he still couldn't escape his opponent's lock-on. Essentially, Bruce was determined to take at least one person down with him, although this was obviously the worst-case scenario.

"Friend, can we talk?"

"Negotiations are possible, but we'll talk about sparing your life later." Bruce, aware that he was nearing his body's endurance limit, ramped up the pressure.

While Duolin wanted to intervene, she was wary of Bruce's reckless physicality. Her slender physique could not withstand Bruce's full-strength attack. Glancing at Sword Dragon, it was clear he was already struggling. His physical reflexes struggled to keep up with the opponent's movements. Barely managing to dodge a throat-lock sweep by leaning back, he barely had time to register Bruce coming down on him from above, his strike like a galaxy crashing down, aiming directly at the crown of his head.

"Damn it! I can't keep up." Sword Dragon tried to block the blow, only to be met with an irresistible indomitable force smashing against his arm. Accompanied by the sickening sound of bone shattering, his rib was cruelly crushed under Bruce's blow.

Sword Dragon, suppressing his pain, pulled off a series of awkward rolls and dives across the ground.

Fortunately, Duolin swiftly intervened, viciously kicking Bruce's back while his guard was down. Only such an attack could breach Bruce's defenses given his current state. His menacing aura felt like an invisible wall, making it almost impossible for Duolin to get close.

"Heh heh, good hit." Bruce's eyes flashed with a brutal light, his adrenaline making him forget the effect of the drug. As time went on, he hadn't noticed his movements becoming gradually slower.

As Duolin and Sword Dragon engaged him once again, Bruce was hit by a strong pang of regret. He had never used such a drug before, and only realized its effects too late. Despite the brief duration of its effectiveness, the side effects were sharp declines in physical condition over time.

Before the obvious side effects kicked in, Bruce suddenly withdrew. "Continuing the attack would just waste energy. Fine, let's talk."

"And if I said I've changed my mind?" Duolin asked with a smirk. Living on borrowed time, Bruce was merely bluffing. If he had tried to leave earlier, it may have been hard for them to keep him there, but life doesn't give you a second chance.

Yes, what if they changed their minds? Duolin's response left Bruce speechless. Since he had been found out, any attempts at deception would be fruitless.

No sooner had Duolin finished speaking than an unwelcome voice interjected. "This will be very inconvenient for me if you don't change your mind," Feng Yi announced as he stepped out of the shadows to stand at Bruce's side, clearly understanding that if they continued to delay, Bruce would be in danger. Rather than fighting two-on-one, it would be better to form an alliance.

The shocked ones were not Bruce, but Duolin and Sword Dragon. Seeing Feng Yi, they were as stunned as if they'd been struck by lightning. Duolin's brow furrowed deeply...this was a devilishly tricky situation; why did they have to run into such a difficult character now?

Left speechless, Bruce's mind was racing. From where did this person, who had just been fighting him, emerge? And why was he now on his side? "You... you are…"

"Who I am is not important. What's important is how we deal with the enemy in front of us."

Bruce suddenly laughed. Though unsure of the exact reason, as long as the man in black recognized Sword Dragon as an enemy, it indicated his stance -- the enemy of his enemy was his friend. They had crossed paths before, and knew they were evenly matched. With the sudden appearance of a reliable ally, even Bruce's heart skipped a beat. "Hmm, it seems we're friends now."

"We could say that for now. If we take them on alone, the chance of winning is not high."

Not high? That's an understatement. He had barely escaped with his life a moment ago. Rage bubbled up inside Bruce. Anyone who threatened his life should die, no matter who struck out first.

At this point Sword Dragon couldn't help feeling a little panic. Ignoring everything else, the biological Mecha was approaching, and the appearance of the man in black could disrupt his original plan. In other words, both Bruce and the man in black were insignificant. What mattered was the biological Mecha itself, which was the objective of his mission with Duolin.

If he had known this would happen, he wouldn't have provoked the man in black. Now his failed surprise attack had plunged him into a mess. "My friend, we may have had some differences in the past but…"

"Ah, I know what you want to say." Feng Yi waved his hand dismissively.

"Could you, my friend…"

Before Sword Dragon could even finish his sentence, Feng Yi suddenly struck out at Duolin, the closest to him. His knee seemed to come from nowhere, and even Duolin couldn't react fast enough. Her delicate body was sent flying like a cannonball.

They had been adversaries from the first moment they crossed paths. At first, Feng Yi had planned a surprise attack on the two, but they were facing him, so he had to boldly show himself to avoid appearing suspicious. Alternatively, a so-called surprise attack just needed the right timing and judgement to deliver a fatal blow.

"Duolin!" Sword Dragon was enraged and tried to rush towards Duolin, only to be quickly intercepted by Bruce.

"Get out of the way." Sword Dragon's eyes blazed red. His body charged like a war machine, knocking Bruce out of the way. Bruce was sent flying like a kite with its string cut, blood spurting from his mouth mid-air. He hadn't expected Sword Dragon to still have such terrifying strength in reserve. Of course, this was also closely related to Bruce's rapidly deteriorating physical condition.

Sword Dragon knew how dangerous the man in black was, his strength stronger than any of the others. Moreover, Duolin was naturally not a meat shield. That sucker punch could've potentially endangered her life. Without any further delay, he picked up Duolin and with three jumps and two leaps, disappeared into the gloom.

"Why aren't you going after them?"

"I don't answer to your commands."

Feng Yi took a deep look at Bruce, momentarily hesitating. Should he kill Bruce and then pursue the two? Only that way could he secure the Mecha. Was he really sure of now why Bruce, Sword Dragon and the others had come? Considering the Mecha, Feng Yi didn't move.

Ultimately he abandoned the idea of killing Bruce--everyone had different ways of dealing with things. On this Death Planet, no one would have known if he'd killed Bruce, even if he was the Pirate King. But Feng Yi wasn't a butcher. He didn't have a quarrel with Bruce, who was a notorious pirate, and it was not Feng Yi's way to simply kill him. Despite being raised on the Colonial Planet and being constantly indoctrinated by Lasso with the Ice Soul Heart, he remained untouched by the cruelty around him. This had always been his personal moral code.

"How foolish." Bruce's voice was calm. "Sword Dragon and that woman are not here for ordinary reasons. If we don't kill them now, do you think the Galactic Empire will let us go? They will silence us at all costs. You must understand, only the dead can keep a secret."

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