Chapter 812: Swift Battle

“Huff… huff…”

Banner panted heavily. His already massive frame swelled even further under the effects of the gene serum. Veins writhed like snakes beneath his skin, his face flushed bright red, and his eyes flickered between feral and focused—like a beast on the verge of a kill.

In contrast, Blood Dragon remained composed. Though his body had also grown larger, his breathing was steady, his gaze calm. This quiet intensity made it clear: his strength was leagues above Banner’s.

Modified humans were classified into seven tiers based on strength and threat level: D, C, B, A, S, SS, and SSS. Lin Xiao had previously encountered modified humans like Shadow and Dark, both at the A-level tier.

The infamous Hades, leader of the Underworld, was an S-level. However, due to side effects from his modifications, he fluctuated between lucidity and madness, limiting his full potential.

Blood Dragon stood at the same level as Shadow—an A-tier modified human. But unlike Shadow, Blood Dragon had consumed a gene serum mid-combat, which pushed his threat to an even higher level.

Banner was weaker by comparison, but the serum had still granted him a massive power boost.

“Everyone, spread out!” Wang Xiao barked the order, her eyes flashing.

But she hardly needed to say it. Most of the security team had already retreated, wary of being caught in the storm that was about to erupt.

With heavy steps, Blood Dragon and Banner began to close in, flanking Lin Xiao from both sides.

Lin Xiao stood rooted in place, his expression calm, his eyes deep and unreadable. His arms hung naturally at his sides. Then, he inhaled.

The breath he drew in was deep and forceful, like an ocean tide rushing inward—sucking the air from the room.

Banner’s gaze twitched. He clenched his fists and was about to move, but Blood Dragon raised a hand to stop him.

“No need to interrupt. I want him to lose knowing he gave it his all.”

At that moment, Blood Dragon exuded total confidence. He believed no one on earth could match him.

As he spoke, Lin Xiao finished his breath. His chest expanded, and from deep within him came a rumbling sound—like mighty rivers crashing through canyons.

Eyes downcast in focus, Lin Xiao stood with his feet shoulder-width apart. Then, with a sudden twitch, his body shook.

Like a tiger shaking its fur.

Like a dragon coiling.

Like an eagle stretching its wings.

Like a bear shrugging off snow.

Bone-cracking pops echoed. Lin Xiao’s figure surged several centimeters taller. Muscles swelled, and his clothes stretched tight across his expanded frame. In seconds, the once-lean young man had become a small giant, nearly two meters tall, his body bursting with power.

A faint red mist drifted from his head. When he opened his eyes, his aura erupted like a volcano.

A sound like thunder roared in the crowd’s ears. Lin Xiao’s clothes rippled without wind, and his thick black hair spiked upward like steel needles.

Even from several meters away, everyone could feel the energy radiating off him. He was like a burning mountain—blazing, oppressive, unstoppable.

The entire hall fell into shock.

Even Blood Dragon’s expression shifted. A flicker of seriousness appeared in his eyes. “So this is martial power? Not bad.”

“To train external martial arts to this degree… is this guy even human?”

Xiao Zhan’s fists clenched involuntarily. His face contorted in frustration. He hated Lin Xiao—but more than anything, he feared him.

He had trained in external martial arts too. That’s why he understood just how terrifying Lin Xiao’s current state was.

No exaggeration—one punch from Lin Xiao would kill him.

The gap in power was absolute.

Xi Shangzhi, Xu Muchen, and the others exchanged glances. A bitter sense of helplessness welled up in their hearts. Lin Xiao was no longer someone they could even think of challenging.

Just recalling how they had gone out of their way to provoke him made cold sweat pour down their backs. They had been dancing on the edge of death without realizing it.

“Department Head is insanely strong!”

“What martial art is that? It looks unreal!”

The security members who had accompanied Lin Xiao were overjoyed. In stark contrast, those who had sided with Xiao Zhan looked like mourners at a funeral.

The stronger Lin Xiao was, the safer their futures—and their lives.

Shi Shaoyu’s eyes sparkled. He elbowed the middle-aged man beside him. “I told you! The Department Head isn’t even in the same league as those guys.”

“Don’t get ahead of yourself,” the man replied grimly. He looked back and forth between Lin Xiao and Blood Dragon. “Modified humans who’ve taken gene serum are monsters. You and I both know that. Our former squad leader died to one.”

“I still believe in the Department Head.” Shi Shaoyu’s tone was firm. “My gut says his real strength is far beyond this.”

As the crowd whispered, Lin Xiao exhaled softly. A stream of red mist shot from his mouth.

It wasn’t inner energy, but it was so concentrated it cut through the air like a sword, extending nearly two meters before fading.

Lin Xiao raised his hand and crooked his finger at Blood Dragon.

The meaning was clear: come.

Blood Dragon grinned darkly. He slammed his fists together with a crack and charged forward without a word.

Boom!

The floor beneath him cracked under the force. Blood Dragon launched forward like a missile, his massive frame blurring into motion.

In an instant, he was in front of Lin Xiao. He threw a massive punch—his fist, thick with scars, larger than a soup bowl—hurtling straight for Lin Xiao’s head.

Lin Xiao didn’t even flinch.

His right hand snapped upward like lightning. Inner energy surged into his palm.

Tiger Cannon Strike!

Fist met fist with an earsplitting bang. It was like two titanic warhammers colliding. The blast wave made the spectators’ eyes twitch and ears ring.

Lin Xiao’s feet embedded into the floor. His leather shoes burst apart. Cracks exploded out from the impact, splitting the ground like a spiderweb.

“Take another one!”

Blood Dragon roared. His muscles tensed as he withdrew his right fist. Without pause, he lifted his left leg and launched a vicious kick at Lin Xiao’s abdomen.

It was a brutal, dirty strike—precise and treacherous.

If Lin Xiao had been distracted, he would’ve been wide open.

But how many life-and-death battles had Lin Xiao fought? How could he fall for something so basic?

Without panic, he raised his left arm. Fingers curved like hooked claws. His nails extended. With inner energy pouring into his palm, it turned a bluish-black.

Eagle Claw Technique.

The hand shot forward like a shadow.

A dragon’s claw, silent and deadly.