Hades, the Urban Legend

Chapter 524: Unusual

Master Yun Miao was stunned by the scene before her. Despite her rich life experience, having lived over sixty years, she had never seen anything like this.

That female shaman, by simply drawing what looked like "ghost symbols" to Yun Miao, could turn five previously outmatched brutes into warriors with an overwhelming advantage?!

Thinking it through, if the two sides were evenly matched, having a shaman on one side would mean they could instantly overpower their opponents!

"What is that shaman doing?" Yun Miao couldn't help but ask.

Yang Chen, enjoying the spectacle, slowly explained, "It's a totem. You can think of it as similar to the talismans used in Taoism, but instead of needing physical materials like cinnabar, the shaman uses her own spiritual power to draw them.

Totems can be considered a form of magic that enhances the physical abilities of those Jaguar warriors. Look at them now; their strength, endurance, and agility are completely different from before. Those Blue Storm superhumans can no longer inflict any effective damage on them."

Yun Miao understood. The Blue Storm members were already in a desperate struggle. If not for the fear of losing face in front of so many international observers, they probably would have fled by now.

"That woman can use sonic attacks, right? How could the sound waves be resisted?" Yun Miao wondered.

Yang Chen answered matter-of-factly, "It's not difficult. Sound waves stimulate the brain to control the nervous system. The shaman has now reduced the sensitivity of their nerves to the lowest point, so even if they're stimulated, they don't feel much. Simply put, those five men have become living machines."

Yun Miao felt a chill run down her spine. Could living machines really reach such a savage state?!

"Master Yun, look closely. The shaman is about to end the fight," Yang Chen said, raising his glass in a reminder.

At that moment, the female shaman's brown eyes suddenly turned blood red. She began chanting, and her hands swiftly drew a more complex symbol in the air than any of the previous ones.

As the blood-red totem flew towards the burly bald man known as Rhino, it merged into his muscular body, causing an immediate and dramatic transformation!

Before everyone's eyes, Rhino's upper body started to grow taller, accompanied by the sound of bones cracking. From his waist upwards, his chest, arms, and even facial muscles began to swell grotesquely.

In a matter of moments, Rhino, who was already about two meters tall, grew to a towering height of two and a half meters!

His tight black short-sleeve shirt was torn to shreds by his expanding physique, revealing bronze muscles that looked like they belonged in a Renaissance marble sculpture, but his form was more akin to a sci-fi movie monster!

The sudden transformation left the four Blue Storm members speechless, staring at the now monstrous Rhino in shock.

The other four Jaguar warriors stepped aside, watching the Blue Storm members with mocking expressions.

Suddenly, Rhino's eyes glowed a dazzling blood-red, and with a roar, he swung a fist the size of a soccer ball towards the nearest opponent, the tall Allen!

"Watch out!"

A middle-aged man from Blue Storm, who hadn't yet used his powers, shouted and extended his hands, forming a visible light-blue shield to protect his team from the savage punch.

"Bang!"

With a dull thud, the light-blue shield was dented deeply by the blow!

"It's an antiparticle shield. No wonder this guy hadn't used his abilities yet—it's quite powerful for defense," Yang Chen said with a sinister smile. "But they underestimated the power of the shaman's 'Bloodlust Spell.'"

Master Yun Miao thought Yang Chen would praise the strength of the antiparticle shield, but she was surprised to hear he considered it insufficient for resistance.

The next second, Yun Miao understood why Yang Chen said that.

The Rhino, empowered by the Bloodlust Spell, grinned savagely and didn't withdraw his blocked fist. Instead, he stepped forward.

"Bang!"

The fist pierced through the antiparticle shield, which could withstand rocket impacts, and struck Allen, who hadn't managed to dodge.

The punch, carrying an unknown amount of force, sent the seemingly robust Allen flying sideways. His entire body rolled through the air, with half his face grotesquely contorted from the impact.

Rhino's assault didn't end there. Before the other three could react, his fist swung again!

Whether it was speed, power, or precision, Rhino was unstoppable. The three Blue Storm members couldn't resist; each was sent flying, slamming hard against the walls! The room fell silent, save for the ongoing music. Everyone stared in shock at the monstrous Rhino, who single-handedly took down four seemingly invincible agents from Sam's Country.

"Is that the Bloodlust Spell?" Yun Miao asked, still processing the speed and power she had witnessed, realizing she might not have been able to evade or withstand it herself.

Yang Chen nodded, "Yes, the Bloodlust Spell is powerful. However, without the mercenary's robust physique, he'd have burst apart from the strain. So, if the Jaguar warriors are the body and flesh of a jaguar, the shamans are its brain."

"The shamans?" Yun Miao exclaimed. "Are you saying there are more shamans like that girl in the Jaguar group?!"

Yang Chen chuckled, "Master Yun, you're underestimating the Jaguar group. Their regular force numbers at least a thousand. How could there be only one shaman? There may not be many, but there are certainly more than you can count on two hands. It's because of the shamans that they dominate the Americas; otherwise, they would have been wiped out by the special forces of various government organizations long ago."

Yun Miao was deeply moved and finally sighed, "Indeed, foreign countries are full of hidden talents. Although our Flame Yellow Iron Brigade has been working hard to bring in new blood, it seems we are still too lax. When I return home, I need to have a serious talk with General Cai about increasing the number of new recruits for the Wild Dragon Reserve Team."

Yang Chen, uninterested in these matters, pretended not to hear Yun Miao's musings, fearing that he'd be roped into helping train them, which would be more trouble for himself.

The fight, which started quickly due to a verbal spat, ended just as swiftly. The Jaguars unexpectedly routed Blue Storm, leaving most observers stunned.

The Jaguars, with their bodies returning to normal, didn't linger in the nightclub. They followed the female shaman, heads held high, and left.

The four Blue Storm members, who had been incapacitated, only cautiously got up after their opponents had left and slunk out through a side door, earning jeers from many onlookers.

However, due to this fight, many organizations recalculated their plans for the contest over the "Death God's Sword." They realized that some opponents might not be as strong as they thought, while others might not be as weak as they appeared.

Yang Chen finished his whiskey and stood up, waving to Master Yun Miao. "Master Yun, I'm going to meet an old friend, so no one misunderstands that I'm being disrespectful to you."

Master Yun Miao's dignified presence exuded elegance. Yang Chen couldn't handle any misunderstanding that might arise from such a situation.

"Hmph," Yun Miao scoffed, giving Yang Chen a disdainful glance. Although she looked youthful, she was already of grandmotherly age and didn't concern herself with such misunderstandings.

Yang Chen leisurely walked around several large columns, passed the dance floor, and headed to a quiet corner near the stage. This area was relatively secluded, with few people around, given that there weren't many people on the entire ship.

In a cluster of round sofas, a dozen or so well-dressed men stood up as Yang Chen approached. Among them was Sauron, who had boarded the ship earlier, watching Yang Chen's arrival with the group.

As Yang Chen reached them, they all bowed simultaneously, greeting him in various languages from around the world.

Yang Chen gestured for everyone to sit down. "No need for such a fuss. I thought you understood my intention when you didn't come over earlier. Sauron, didn't I tell you to act as if you didn't know me?"

"Hades, I assumed your personal appearance meant you no longer wanted to keep it hidden," Sauron explained expressionlessly.

Yang Chen looked around, relieved that no one else was paying attention, and smiled. "You all know how many enemies I have. More than half of the organizations on this ship have grudges against me. If they knew I was here, it might not be dangerous, but it would be troublesome."

The group laughed heartily. After nearly two years, seeing Yang Chen again made them happy, reminding them of the exciting, enemy-making days they once shared.

Yang Chen sat among them, looking around at the familiar faces, feeling nostalgic. His tone softened. "I know it's been tough for you, Sauron, managing both Sea Eagle and Zero by yourself these past two years. But it seems everyone is doing well—less bloodshed, more camaraderie."

"Hades, Zero now handles only about a third of the contracts we did a few years ago. If it weren't for our assassins still being the best in the world, we wouldn't even be the number one assassin organization anymore. Most of us have transitioned to other trades, so naturally, things have changed," said a bearded Middle Eastern man, smiling.

"You're Abdul, right? Why the beard?" Yang Chen asked, suppressing a laugh.

Abdul was surprised and delighted. "Hades still remembers me. I'm honored. As for the beard, it's because I got married. My wife thinks I look better with it."

Yang Chen was pleasantly surprised. "Married? You're no longer an assassin?"

"No, I quit a while ago. I was tired of it. Now I'm just a regional representative for Zero. When you returned to Yan Xia, I threw my weapons into the Red Sea. Now I'm a father to a one-year-old," Abdul said proudly.

The stiff-faced Sauron said, "Although the profession of an assassin rarely ends well, thanks to your protection, Lord Hades, our assassins in Zero are generally not easily sought for revenge after retirement, as people fear your wrath. Many of them have even moved their entire families to the 'Forgotten Realms.' If you have time, Lord Hades, you should visit there. Old Ron has taken good care of the place, saying he's waiting for your return to give you a surprise."

Other members of the Sea Eagles and Zero also praised him, sincerely hoping that Yang Chen would visit soon.

Looking at the smiling faces of his subordinates, Yang Chen felt genuinely moved. He slowly took a cigarette from his jacket pocket, and someone immediately lit it for him. Taking a puff, Yang Chen said, "I really should find time to visit Old Ron and check on everyone's living conditions. Since I've publicly declared that area under my protection, I can't neglect it for years.

But what pleases me most is seeing that your faces are no longer as gloomy as before. Your eyes used to be empty and numb, but now they look warm. It seems my decision to return to Yanxia and stop strategic expansion was correct. Now, seeing you like this truly gives me a sense of accomplishment."

Listening to Yang Chen's words, everyone remained silent, smiling with deep understanding.

At that moment, Yang Chen felt something unusual. He frowned and looked at a neighboring sofa. Lying horizontally on the backrest was a stranger.

This was a white-haired man dressed in a blue sakura samurai outfit, with a cold and handsome face and slightly exotic almond-shaped eyes. His long white hair was neatly tied behind his head.

At his waist hung a hexagonal, wooden-sheathed samurai sword, which looked more like a decorative piece used by women compared to ordinary samurai swords.

What made Yang Chen find him unusual was that this guy had suddenly appeared there lying down, almost escaping Yang Chen's perception.

Seeing Yang Chen notice him, the white-haired man gave a sinister smile and pulled out a sake bottle from somewhere, clearly designed for sakura sake. He took a swig and sighed contentedly.

By then, others had also noticed Yang Chen's unusual behavior and followed his gaze, discovering the white-haired sakura samurai.

Instantly, everyone's hearts were in their throats. Why? Simple. Each person here was a top-tier mercenary or assassin, yet someone had managed to lie on a sofa among them unnoticed until now. This man was definitely extraordinary!