Chapter 813: Empty Shell

With a sharp tearing sound, Lin Xiao seized Blood Dragon’s calf in an instant. A flash of cold light crossed his eyes. Without hesitation, his five fingers tightened—and lifted.

Blood Dragon felt an overwhelming force surge from Lin Xiao’s palm, as if trying to lift his entire body off the ground. His body jolted violently, and alarm bells exploded in his head.

“Let go!”

He growled, activating the strength in his core as he attempted to wrench his thigh free. At the same time, both fists slammed toward Lin Xiao’s chest.

But Lin Xiao’s strength exceeded all expectations. The saying goes, “an arm can’t beat a leg”—but that clearly didn’t apply here.

Despite Blood Dragon’s violent struggle, Lin Xiao’s grip remained unshakable. His fingers dug deep into the thick muscles, drawing blood as they left five gouging wounds.

Blood Dragon’s fists landed squarely on Lin Xiao’s chest.

Even with internal energy protecting him, Lin Xiao couldn’t completely absorb the impact. His feet slid backward, carving two deep grooves into the floor.

Yet his hand never let go.

Blood Dragon began to panic.

Why? Why didn’t that work? Even when I landed a hit… Is this guy even human?

The thought flashed through his mind in a fleeting instant.

Still, he didn’t give up. If anything, the repeated beatdowns only awakened the violence buried in his bones.

If hitting the chest doesn’t work, then I’ll go for the eyes and throat. Even if I lose a leg, it’ll be worth it to take you down!

As that thought surfaced, a brutal, bloodthirsty aura exploded from Blood Dragon’s body. Ignoring the leg trapped in Lin Xiao’s grip, he shaped his hand into a claw and lunged for Lin Xiao’s throat.

“Only now thinking of fighting back? You think that’ll work?”

Lin Xiao sneered coldly. Internal energy surged through his left arm, which instantly swelled. His skin turned steel-grey. An indescribable force erupted from within him.

He swung Blood Dragon’s massive body overhead and smashed it toward the ground like a sack of cement.

“No—!”

Blood Dragon’s pupils shrank violently. An overwhelming sense of danger flooded his mind. Instinct took over—he crossed his arms to protect his head, arched his spine to shield his core, and braced for the impact.

It was the right move—it lessened the damage.

A deep, dull thud echoed across the floor, shaking the entire building.

Blood Dragon’s massive body crashed down, shattering the tiles beneath him. Shards of ceramic flew outward like shrapnel.

Everyone watching instinctively sucked in a breath.

Xiao Zhan’s mouth twitched. His eyelids jumped. He felt as though he had been slammed down like that. Without realizing it, he took several steps back, completely distancing himself from Lin Xiao.

“Incredible… absolutely incredible…”

Shi Shaoyu was buzzing with excitement. His eyes burned with admiration as he stared at Lin Xiao.

“What terrifying strength… that’s beyond human limits.”

The middle-aged man beside him could no longer stay composed. His pupils dilated, breath quickened, and his chest surged with emotion.

“I thought he’d be in for a hard fight. But it’s clear now—those modified monsters aren’t even close to the new chief’s level.”

Wang Xiao’s lips were tightly pressed together, her beautiful eyes gleaming with light. Her hands—clenched into fists at her sides—betrayed how deeply moved she was.

For people like them, who had clawed their way through life-or-death struggles, the thing they respected most was power. Only by following the strong could they survive and win the battles to come.

And Lin Xiao had just proven: he was a man worth following.

Unaware—or unconcerned—with the shift in everyone’s hearts, Lin Xiao raised Blood Dragon again, ready for a second slam.

But then—a warning flared in his mind.

A gust of wind rushed from behind.

Banner had finally seized his chance. While Lin Xiao had been locked in battle with Blood Dragon, he hadn’t dared intervene. But now, the opportunity presented itself, and he launched his sneak attack with no hesitation or shame.

In his hands was a foot-long dagger, forged from refined steel. Its edge gleamed sharply, the blade tinged with a faint red glow—proof of the many lives it had taken.

Gripping the hilt with both hands, eyes brimming with murderous intent, Banner lunged for Lin Xiao’s waist.

With his raw strength, he believed he could stab straight through—even if Lin Xiao were made of iron.

Lin Xiao’s eyes turned cold.

He abandoned his finishing blow, released Blood Dragon’s leg, and pivoted away.

Eight Trigram Dragon Form. His figure flickered, vanishing like a ghost—only to reappear behind Banner a heartbeat later.

Banner blinked. Lin Xiao was gone.

But he didn’t panic. He snarled, planted his foot, stopped cold, and slashed the dagger behind him in a sharp arc.

Lin Xiao’s face remained calm.

His right hand flexed—Dragon Form to Eagle Form. His fingers extended like hooked claws, nails as sharp as steel. Veins bulged across the back of his hand. In an instant, it became a massive eagle talon, and he clamped down on Banner’s wrist.

Even though Banner stood over two meters tall after taking the serum—like a humanoid bear—Lin Xiao’s hand crushed his wrist like it was nothing. Banner couldn’t move an inch.

Lin Xiao stepped forward, knees bent, shoulders lined up—and unleashed explosive force.

Banner was like a sandbag hit by a freight train. He flew back, tumbled through the air, and crashed to the ground over seven meters away.

His dagger arm twisted unnaturally. The weapon itself clattered somewhere out of sight.

His face went from flushed to pale. Blood spilled from his mouth. His eyes still burned with hatred—but he no longer had the strength to stand.

It all happened in just a few seconds.

Right as Banner hit the floor, Blood Dragon kipped up from the ground and charged again—his rage boiling.

Fists flew. Legs followed.

He launched a furious barrage, sacrificing defense entirely. In mere moments, he threw dozens of blows—each strong enough to kill a bull.

But Lin Xiao blocked them all effortlessly.

He stood firm like a mountain. If Blood Dragon was a violent tide, Lin Xiao was the cliff it crashed against—unyielding, unshakable. No matter how many waves struck, they shattered.

“Why?! Why?!”

Blood Dragon roared mid-combo, frustration pouring from his throat.

“Why can’t I beat you?!”

“Because I’m stronger than you.”

Lin Xiao’s reply was flat and cold. His posture hadn’t budged. Even his clothes were barely wrinkled.

Blood Dragon had brute strength, yes—but it came from artificial modifications. His technique was crude. Compared to Shadow, his skill was even worse.

How could he possibly beat Lin Xiao?

Lin Xiao could’ve ended the fight at any moment. He’d let it drag out for one reason only: to make a statement—to the Security Division and everyone watching.

And judging by the looks on their faces, that statement had landed.

“I don’t believe it!”

Blood Dragon’s face twisted. His eyes were bloodshot. The serum’s side effects were setting in—his reason slipping away.

“I’m this powerful! How can I lose?!”

He threw another flurry of attacks—punches, kicks, even a low blow—but all were deflected or dodged.

Lin Xiao remained like a peak no one could climb. The difference in power was absolute.

“You really don’t understand what it means to be strong.”

Lin Xiao caught Blood Dragon’s fist, then launched a powerful kick into his abdomen, forcing him to his knees.

“You think brute strength and a tough body make you strong? What a joke.”

He looked down with calm, indifferent eyes.

“Power that comes from surgery, injections, shortcuts—you’re nothing but a cheap imitation. All bark, no bite.”