Infinity, The Arcade Age

As the soldiers charged forward, Qin Ming snapped out of his initial shock, spreading his arms wide.

In the next instant, swirling air currents shot forth, engulfed in roaring flames.

Two spearmen charging at the front were immediately cleaved in half by the Sonic Hand Slash, their shattered spears and lifeless bodies scattering across the ground.

Two more soldiers trailing behind were caught in the air currents. One lost an arm, while the other suffered a deep gash across his waist, their screams echoing through the forest.

The brutal scene brought the remaining soldiers to a sudden halt, their fierce expressions giving way to fear.

Before they could retreat, Ghost Lady made her move.

Instead of drawing her pistols, she clasped her hands at her sides.

A sphere of energy began forming in her palms, growing rapidly.

"Hado-ken!"

Whirrr!

A flash of light erupted as the white energy ball shot forward, striking one of the spearmen and blowing him to pieces.

It was her signature technique: Tiger Flame Fist!

In mere moments, three soldiers were dead, and three more were grievously wounded. The remaining soldiers, paralyzed with terror, turned tail and ran.

Qin Ming and Ghost Lady wasted no time giving chase, relentlessly launching attacks—Sonic Hand Slashes and Tiger Flame Fists decimating their fleeing foes.

However, before they could finish the job, the fleeing soldiers burst out of the forest.

One of the archers at the front began frantically waving his arms and shouting.

But before his cries could even echo twice, a cold gleam flashed through the air, and his head was severed cleanly from his shoulders.

Qin Ming had unleashed another Sonic Hand Slash to silence him. As he approached to check the body, he felt a sudden tug on his sleeve.

Turning, he found Ghost Lady staring ahead with a stiff expression.

Alarmed by her reaction, Qin Ming quickly followed her gaze. What he saw made his breath catch.

An endless sea of military tents sprawled before them, teeming with thousands of soldiers who had already stopped what they were doing to stare in shock at the intruders.

"Enemy attack!!!"

A shrill scream pierced the air, snapping the Wei soldiers out of their stupor.

In an instant, pots and tools were discarded as they reached for weapons, surging toward Qin Ming and Ghost Lady like a tide.

Realizing the gravity of their mistake, Qin Ming and Ghost Lady turned and bolted back into the forest.

The soldiers gave chase, loosing arrows and throwing spears as they pursued.

Ghost Lady ducked and weaved, desperately evading the barrage, while Qin Ming charged forward without a care, his hands in a chopping stance.

Arrows and spears struck his body only to bounce off harmlessly, deflected by his impenetrable defenses.

Ghost Lady gawked as two arrows struck Qin Ming square in the back of the head, only to ricochet harmlessly away.

Though the soldiers were faster, Qin Ming's extraordinary stamina and strength made up for his lower agility. In terms of endurance, he could outlast ten of them.

After a prolonged chase, most of the spearmen and archers fell behind.

However, a small group of dual-wielding swordsmen, their agility far superior, managed to catch up.

They were met with a fierce counterattack from Qin Ming.

With a single punch, one swordsman was sent flying, while another was grabbed by the leg and swung like a club to clear a path.

By the time the two finally escaped their pursuers, the unfortunate swordsman being used as a weapon had been reduced to a single, severed leg.

Sitting on the ground to catch their breath, Qin Ming and Ghost Lady tried to cool off, both drenched in sweat.

Qin Ming casually tossed the severed leg toward Ghost Lady, who recoiled in disgust and kicked it away.

After gulping down some water from a nearby stream, Qin Ming noticed ripples spreading across its surface. His brow furrowed.

"What's going on? An earthquake?"

Ghost Lady, still catching her breath, looked over. Her eyes widened in alarm.

"Not good! Cavalry!"

At the far end of the stream, clouds of dust rose as a unit of over a hundred cavalrymen charged down the slope, lances gleaming in the sunlight.

At the forefront rode two flag bearers holding massive banners, each emblazoned with the character Li (李).

Between them was a towering figure clad in heavy armor, standing over two meters tall. He carried a massive lance over two meters in length, and a crimson cape billowed behind him.

It was the Act I boss—Li Dian.

"Damn it!"

Seeing the overwhelming force bearing down on them, Qin Ming and Ghost Lady quickly turned and fled again.

But how could two people outrun a mounted unit?

Realizing the inevitable, Qin Ming shouted, "Into the water! Cavalry can't charge in deep water! Hurry!"

Ghost Lady immediately followed him into the stream, stopping at its center where the water reached their waists. There, they readied their weapons for defense.

Li Dian halted his charge at the riverbank, glaring at the pair with confusion.

Turning to his two lieutenants, he scowled.

"Who are they? Weren't we told the Five Tiger Generals were spotted?"

"Uh… perhaps the soldiers were mistaken?"

"Hmph! Wasting my time!"

Furious, Li Dian twirled his weapon and barked orders.

"You gave the false report. You deal with them! And make it quick!"

"Yes, sir!"

With that, Li Dian and a dozen of his closest guards wheeled their mounts and rode off, leaving the unfortunate lieutenant to face Qin Ming and Ghost Lady.

(End of Chapter)