I Will Teach You How to Hunt Gods

Chapter 606 165: Hunt and Hunted (4.2K Words)_2

He adopted a stance reminiscent of martial arts, right arm raised before him, left arm reaching out in a hook.

"If you want answers, young lady, you'll have to defeat me here."

"If you can win, I'll tell you everything I know before death comes for me."

Hearing this, Yun You chuckled.

"In the end, it all comes down to the size of one's fists. Well, I don't mind."

"I can kill you and get the answers, I can't pass up such a good deal."

Saying this, she slowly moved her steps. Though her pace seemed slow, within just a few breaths, she concealed herself once more within the layered tenement buildings.

"Heh, Miss Wu Ming, I advise you not to underestimate me."

Shen Ye grinned.

"Because before my political career, I was a wilderness mercenary, specifically dealing with the mutant beasts, bandits, thieves in the wilderness forbidden areas for the Nest City Council, and... with fellow Apprentice Death Gods."

"Over ten years, I've completed 1974 missions, with the number of people and beasts dying at my hands no fewer than Hikamu or Yang Lie."

"And during that time, my mission completion rate was..."

"One hundred percent."

Speaking, Shen Ye slowly blended into the darkness.

Though he said he'd duel Yun You, he never mentioned this battle would be an unreserved, direct confrontation.

Given the Great Colosseum's arrangement of a complex dueling terrain, the two wouldn't foolishly stand and exchange blows.

They were both masters of "hunting," skilled assassins in concealing their presence.

Both would employ their most proficient skills to handle this life-and-death battle.

The duel commenced in this silent state...

...

Shen Ye had an excellent memory, able to recall texts and scenes with one glance, actively crafting a "3D" map in his mind.

However, the massacre occurred a year ago, and Shen Ye had only been to that block once, so he wasn't particularly familiar with the terrain.

Therefore, out of caution, Shen Ye didn't strike immediately, opting to first observe before heading to the district's broadest view and highest ground—the water tower.

Built fifty years ago, this tower counted as an old building, with fragile ladders and overall structure, speckled with rust.

Its view, however, was impeccable, offering sights of the district from all directions, and with railings blocking Yun You's observation, making it Shen Ye's choice.

This choice stemmed from his mercenary experience—a priority to occupy high-view spots wherever one goes.

This wasn't a fair duel but akin to a wild encounter, where first exposure meant falling behind, and early detection of the opponent meant gaining a substantial advantage.

Shen Ye's sharp gaze swept the surroundings, covering most of the district in under half a minute.

The area wasn't vast, barely over a hundred square kilometers, yet intricate with winding alleys coupling the main roads, totaling over ten thousand paths.

Under Shen Ye's aerial watch, the complex urban landscape didn't pose a challenge.

Soon enough, he spotted a blurry figure downstairs in a tenement building.

The figure was in the stairwell, seemingly resting against the wall.

The distance, spanning several kilometers with obstructive smoke and industrial debris, hindered Shen Ye from clearly seeing the figure's features.

Yet he faintly discerned its smooth long hair, approximately 1.5 meters in height, slim stature, near identical to Yun You's attributes.

The peculiar part...

The figure's hair appeared a strange shade of gray, uncertain whether a trick of the eye or a misjudgment.

Additionally, the figure barely moved.

Shen Ye watched her for a full three minutes; she only made slight gestures without any movement.

Intuitively, Shen Ye sensed this didn't align with Yun You's active demeanor.

Yet having identified the enemy, Shen Ye wouldn't squander this opportunity.

Still, he wasn't rushing headlong but choosing to probe first.

He clasped his hands, flames slowly seeping through his fingers.

Initially, they were insignificant sparks, but as time passed and he amassed force, the sparks transformed into a fireball, its color shifting from orange-yellow to brilliant blue.

Fire Manipulation, once regarded as a "high lower limit, low upper limit" ability among the Tuner Sequence.

The high lower limit denotes its notable power even in the hands of new Death Gods, thanks to the merciless nature of water and fire—more than lethal against mere mortals and ordinary mercenaries.

Conversely, the low upper limit implies limited development scope—essentially elevating temperature, broadening the destructive radius, extending duration—far from "versatile."

Thus among high-level Apprentice Death Gods, users of such elemental abilities are rare sights.

Yet Shen Ye disagreed.

In his view, flames were complex, ever-changing, with strong manipulative potential akin to rubber, malleable entirely by user intentions.

His years of battlefield experience enabled him to merge certain weapon characteristics, birthing his unique Fire Manipulation technique.

He dubbed it—Firearm Technique.

Increasing flame temperature maximally, reducing its range to a point, granting flames powerful armor-piercing ability and immense speed, forming the blue plasma "Sniper Style."

Endlessly expanding the destructive range, focusing on destructive power for siege purposes—the "Cannon Attack Style."

And finally, the "Melting Furnace Style."

With this technique, Shen Ye's combat prowess forcefully entered the upper echelons of Nest City Death Gods. Facing geniuses like Vitinya and Tang Jin, he wouldn't necessarily fall behind.

Even within Tier Four Apprentice Death Gods, his strength, if not top-ranked, is undoubtedly top-ten.

At this moment, he employed the Firearm Technique's first method, Sniper Style.

He treated his left hand as the bow and his right hand as the string, while the flaming spark at his fingertips, continually compressed, ultimately forming a plasma state arrow.

"I apologize."

Shen Ye murmured, his motions uninterrupted.

"But I must do this."

"I can't give away my life to you for nothing, nor do I believe you would reconcile with me, so..."

"I'll have to ask you to die."

With those words, he released his right hand.

Whiz—!

In an instant, the azure flame arrow transformed like a sniper bullet, tearing through the air, straight toward the distant tenement building.

Its temperature, surpassing ten thousand degrees, distorted the surrounding air, yet this didn't hinder its speed.

It flew, at over 30 times the speed of sound, directly piercing through the building, precisely hitting the figure leaning against the wall, predictably penetrating it.

Following that, the inherent impact shattered half of the tenement's walls, rampant flames swallowing the structure entirely.

Life's breath was no more.

"Will you die by this arrow?"

Shen Ye silently pondered.

He could confidently assure the arrow's power, against an unprepared opponent, could undoubtedly take away a Tier Four Apprentice Death God's life.

If Yun You was struck, survivor miracle aside, she'd be gravely wounded.

But Shen Ye felt things wouldn't be so straightforward.

Yun You's combat intelligence was exceptionally formidable. Facing Hikamu, she consistently ensnared him in her devised traps, holding her grip over the situation the entire time.

Could such a person truly fall prey to an assassination?

Shen Ye had doubts.

Reality proved his concerns right.

Immediately following his arrow's release...

A silhouette concealed in mist emerged behind him.

Here, the roles of hunter and prey never remained static...