Marvel: The other side of the double-passing door is Devouring the Stars

Chapter 383 The ending is already decided!

"Enough with the nonsense!" Rex roared, beginning to mobilize the energy within his body.

As a sixth-tier planetary-level martial artist, Rex's strength was not to be underestimated. His body suddenly became more agile, and his movements became even faster. The military knife in his hand swung, forming streaks of silver light.

"Wind Blade Slash!"

Several wind blades shot out from the saber, heading straight for Patton. This was Rake's signature move, which had proven effective in countless battles.

However, Barton was no pushover either. He roared, unleashing a burst of energy within him, and his warhammer began to flash red.

"Smash with a heavy hammer!"

The massive warhammer slammed into the ground with terrifying force, the shockwave shattering all of Rek's wind blades. Simultaneously, spiderweb-like cracks appeared in the ground, demonstrating the astonishing power of this strike.

The battle reached its climax. Both fighters fought desperately, unleashing a barrage of special techniques. Rake used his speed advantage to harass Barton relentlessly, leaving several wounds on his body; while Barton relied on his superior strength and defense, searching for an opportunity to deliver a fatal blow.

“Both of them are quite strong,” Rowan observed the battle, “but it seems Barton has better stamina.”

“Yes, while Rek’s attacks are sharp, they consume a lot of his energy,” Luo Feng nodded in agreement. “If the battle can’t be ended quickly, he might be at a disadvantage.”

Indeed, as the battle continued, Rick's movements began to slow, and his breathing became increasingly rapid. In contrast, Barton, though also somewhat tired, was clearly in better condition.

“It’s over,” Barton said with a cold laugh, raising his warhammer. “Rake, die!”

The warhammer crashed down on Rick with the force of thunder, and the latter no longer had the strength to completely dodge. Just as he was about to be hit, Rick suddenly made a crazy decision.

“Let’s die together!” he roared, ignoring the attack of the warhammer, his saber aimed straight for Patton’s heart.

"boom!"

The warhammer slammed heavily into Rex's chest, the sound of bones breaking clearly audible. But at the same time, the saber pierced Patton's chest, blood gushing out instantly.

The two men fell almost simultaneously, their blood staining the ground beneath their feet. A deathly silence fell over the entire camp.

“Rake, you madman!” Barton lay on the ground, his voice growing weaker and weaker, “You… you had already lost.”

"Cough cough. At least, at least we'll die together," Rick said, barely clinging to life. "That scale... nobody will get it."

Their life force rapidly waned, and they soon lost their lives completely. This duel, which arose from a fight over spoils, ended in a tragic mutual destruction.

Carl walked expressionlessly to the two corpses and coldly examined their condition.

“They’re all dead,” he said casually, as if stating a trivial fact. “It seems that scale will have to be handed over to the organization.”

As he spoke, he took the scale that had caused the dispute from Rex's stiff hand and casually put it into his storage device.

"Commander, should we bury them?" Old Wu asked.

“No need,” Karl replied coldly. “In the Forbidden Mist, the dead are only a burden. Gather the useful equipment and move on.”

The other team members began looting the equipment and belongings from the two corpses, their movements as practiced as if they were handling ordinary spoils of war. No one felt sorrow for the dead, and no one questioned the leader's decision.

Luo Wen and Luo Feng stood aside, their hearts filled with shock and fear. They had originally thought the Black Shark Mercenary Group was just an ordinary mercenary organization, but now they realized that it was a group of complete outlaws.

“Now everyone sees,” Carl turned to the remaining players, his voice laced with warning, “this is the consequence of violating team discipline. I don’t want to see similar disputes again, and anyone who tries to challenge my authority will suffer the same fate.”

Everyone bowed their heads in understanding, including Luo Wen and Luo Feng. In this situation, expressing any dissent would have been extremely dangerous.

“Very good,” Karl nodded in satisfaction. “Now pack up our gear and let’s continue. Today’s objective is to cross the spatial distortion zone and reach the outer perimeter of the ancient ruins.”

The team members quickly packed up their equipment, regrouped, and set off again. The two bodies were left behind in the mist, soon swallowed up by the gray fog, as if they had never existed.

“Now you understand,” Rowan whispered to Luo Feng as they walked, “we’re not facing an ordinary expedition team, but a group of inhuman killers.”

"It was indeed more dangerous than I imagined," Luo Feng said gravely. "That Karl was a demon; he sent two of his subordinates to their deaths for a single scale."

“Not only that, did you notice the other team members’ reactions?” Rowan continued his analysis. “Their complete indifference to their teammate’s death suggests that similar incidents occur frequently.”

"Then what should we do?" Luo Feng asked worriedly. "If we continue to follow them, we might become victims ourselves at any time."

“Now is not the time to break away,” Rowan analyzed calmly. “In the Forbidden Mist, acting alone is more dangerous than following them. The only thing we can do now is to keep a low profile and avoid causing any trouble.”

“You’re right,” Luo Feng nodded in agreement. “We must be even more careful and absolutely not give them any excuse to deal with us.”

The two continued forward with the group, but their mood had become extremely heavy. The bloody duel they had just witnessed made them truly realize the danger of this adventure, not only from the unknown threats of the Misty Forbidden Zone, but also from the cold-blooded and ruthless "companions" around them.

“Oh, right,” Rowan suddenly remembered something, “did you notice that the commander said at the end that the scale should be handed over to the organization?”

“Indeed, this shows that there is an even greater force behind the Black Shark Mercenary Group,” Luo Feng said thoughtfully. “It seems that the purpose of this expedition is not as simple as treasure hunting.”

“I have the same feeling,” Rowan nodded. “We need to be more careful; we might have already gotten involved in a much larger conspiracy.”

The following morning, the third day began in the Forbidden Mist Realm. After the shock of yesterday's bloody duel, the atmosphere within the group became even more oppressive and tense. Everyone carefully avoided any action that might provoke conflict, fearing they might become the next victim.

“Today we’re traversing a complex terrain,” Karl said, standing at the front of the group and surveying each person with a cold gaze. “According to the map, there’s a canyon area ahead, with complex terrain and even denser fog. To improve efficiency, we’ll split into four groups.”

Upon hearing the news of the division, both Luo Wen and Luo Feng felt a pang of anxiety. Dividing into groups meant less direct protection from the group leader, but it could also be an opportunity to escape surveillance.

“The first group, led by me and Lao Wu, will be responsible for exploring the main route,” Karl began assigning personnel. “The second group, led by Falcon, will be responsible for reconnaissance on the left flank. The third group, led by Viper, will explore the right flank.”

Falcon and Viper are both veteran members of the team, with strength around the seventh rank of the Planetary level. They've been especially cautious since yesterday's duel. "The fourth group," Karl's gaze fell on Rowan and Luo Feng, "is composed of you two newcomers, plus Iron Claw and Giant Bear."

Rowan secretly observed the two "companions" assigned to them. Iron Claw was a thin, middle-aged man with sinister eyes, unusually long fingers, and long nails that looked like real claws. Giant Bear, on the other hand, was a huge, bearded man who, although he looked kind, occasionally flashed a fierce light in his eyes, indicating that he was no benevolent person.

“Our fourth group will cover the rear and collect any valuable items we encounter along the way,” Carl continued. “All groups will maintain communication and call for backup immediately in case of emergency.”

"Understood, Commander!" everyone responded in unison.

“Very good. Now, each group, check your equipment. We will depart in ten minutes,” Karl gave the final order. “Remember, no one is allowed to act without authorization; violators will be dealt with according to military law.”

Rowan and Luo Feng joined Iron Claw and Giant Bear to check their equipment. On the surface, the four worked well together, but Rowan keenly noticed that Iron Claw and Giant Bear were looking at them with a strange expression.

"You're new here, aren't you?" Iron Claw asked in a shrill voice. "I've never seen you before."

“Yes, we were forcibly conscripted by the group leader,” Rowan answered truthfully. “We were originally independent explorers.”

“Oh, independent explorers,” the giant bear grumbled, “your equipment must be pretty good, right? After all, you can't come to the Misty Forbidden Zone alone without some resources.”

This remark alerted both Luo Wen and Luo Feng. Although it appeared to be just casual conversation, the probing intent was quite obvious.

“Our equipment is very basic,” Luo Feng replied cautiously, “just some basic exploration gear.”

"Really?" A hint of doubt flashed in Iron Claw's eyes. "But it's alright, we're all companions, we should share good things."

Ten minutes later, the four groups began to disperse according to the predetermined routes. Rowan's fourth group was responsible for the rear area, which was relatively safe, but also meant that they were far from the main force.

“Our route is as follows,” Iron Claw said, pulling out a map, “proceeding along this canyon and meeting up with the other teams at the designated location in about three hours.”

The four began their ascent through the canyon. The terrain was indeed complex, filled with strangely shaped rocks and bottomless fissures. The fog was thicker than elsewhere, reducing visibility to only a few dozen meters.

“This terrain is perfect for an ambush,” Rowan thought to himself. “If someone wants to make a move, this is indeed a good place.”

Sure enough, after walking for about an hour, Iron Claw suddenly stopped.

"What's wrong?" Luo Feng asked.

“The road ahead is a bit difficult. Let’s take a break and replan our route,” Iron Claw said, but his hand had already stealthily reached for the weapon at his waist.

The giant bear subtly adjusted its position, subtly surrounding Luo Wen and Luo Feng. Although the two veteran members' movements were concealed, they did not escape the notice of the well-trained Luo Wen and Luo Feng.

"It seems trouble is coming," Luo Wen quietly reminded Luo Feng through mental fluctuations.

“I sensed it too,” Luo Feng responded telepathically. “They probably intend to attack us.”

“Gentlemen, I have a suggestion,” Iron Claw suddenly revealed a sinister smile, “Since we’re a team, we should be open with each other. Take out your valuables and let everyone see them; that way, we can better allocate tasks.”

"What do you mean?" Rowan asked, feigning confusion.

"Stop playing dumb," the giant bear grumbled. "You two newcomers must have quite a few good things on you. Since you're companions, you should share resources."

“If you hand it over voluntarily, we can guarantee your safety,” Iron Claw’s tone became threatening, “but if you don’t cooperate, ‘accidents’ can easily happen in a place like this.”

The situation is now clear: these two veteran members intend to rob them. In this location, far from the main force, even if they kill someone, they can claim it was a monster attack.

“I understand,” Rowan nodded. “You want our valuables.”

“Smart,” Iron Claw sneered. “A wise man submits to circumstances. Hand it over obediently, and we might let you go home alive.”

"What if we don't pay?" Luo Feng asked coldly.

“Then don’t blame us for being impolite,” the giant bear cracked his knuckles, “In the Black Shark Mercenary Group, the weak have no right to possess treasures.”

“I see,” Rowan sighed. “It seems we have no other choice.”

“Good to know,” Iron Claw thought they were about to give in. “Hurry up and hand over the goods; our patience is running out.”

However, Rowan's next words took the two of them by surprise.

"When I said we had no other choice, I meant we had no choice but to kill you."

As soon as they finished speaking, Luo Wen and Luo Feng simultaneously unleashed their powerful auras. The stellar-level pressure instantly enveloped the entire area, instilling unprecedented fear in Iron Claw and the Giant Bear.

"This...this is impossible!" Iron Claw staggered back several steps in shock. "You're clearly only at the planetary level!"

"Who told you we're planetary level?" Luo Feng sneered. "We're just too lazy to reveal our strength."

Iron Claw and the Giant Bear exchanged a glance, both seeing fear in each other's eyes. They had thought these two newcomers were easy targets, but they had unexpectedly run into a tough opponent.

"Now that you've been exposed, you can't be left alive," Rowan's voice turned icy. "I didn't want to cause trouble, but since you've delivered yourself to my doorstep..."

"Wait! We can negotiate!" Iron Claw said hastily. "What happened earlier was a misunderstanding, we can..."

"It's too late," Luo Feng interrupted him. "From the moment you harbored evil intentions, the outcome was already predetermined."

Iron Claw knew that begging for mercy was useless, so he immediately drew his weapon—a pair of sharp claw blades. This was his signature weapon, which had torn apart the bodies of countless enemies.

(End of this chapter)