Keeping some distance apart, Jeff and As walked out the cove. At their level, the repercussion of their battle could easily copse this cove.


    Walking past the hunters, the two walked into the fog.


    One after another, the hunters shakily got up. In this normal atmosphere, they quickly recovered.


    Looking at Jeff''s back, some hunters'' gazes became determined. By the looks of it, Jeff had became their role model.


    More people looked at Jeff in awe and appreciation though.


    Some stood a little taller. It''s as if they were proud to be a hunter. Proud to have Jeff as their boss.


    Some smiled in satisfaction. At this moment, in this dangerous world, they felt a sense of safety.


    The S-ranks looked at Jeff with a mixed expression. Jealousy. Shame. Gratitude. They still remembered on how they treated Jeff. Even though Jeff was the president, they had never seen Jeff as their boss.


    Yet, now, Jeff was fending for them.


    One after another, the S-ranks sighed. At this moment, they''d totally given up their struggle for that spot.


    Whether it''s because Jeff had a big heart, or this was all calcted, Jeff had subdued their loyalty.


    "You people look like the Mission Machine had won already." As'' follower looked around with a yful gaze. "I''d be grabbing a pen right now. Before, mister As would have given you guys avish contract."


    "Now..." The dude chuckled and shook his head.


    "Are you mocking us, A-rank." An S-rank stared at this squad leader.


    Under the cold stare of three S-ranks, this dude started to sweat in uneasiness.


    "I am an internal security squad leader." The dude gritted his teeth and forced himself to stand taller. "Attacking me is the equivalent of attacking thew enforcement of sanctuary."


    "Ooh?"


    "Suuuree..."


    "Hmph."


    The S-ranks smirked and turned their gazes away.


    "You-" The A-rank widened his eyes.


    Seeing these careless replies, the A-rank started to sweat even more. Panting a little, this guy looked like he was experiencing quiet some unrest.


    Down the shore...


    In a moment, Jeff and As had reached the shoreline. They were about 150 meters away from the beach now.


    Jeff looked at As with a confused gaze. ''As should know that I have reached SSS-rank.''


    ''So where''s this guy''s confidenceing from? He thinks he has a certain win? Even being an SS-rank?''


    Jeff scanned As up down with his detection abilities on. ''Yeah... Just SS-rank.''


    ''Also. It''s almost like this guy came for a fight.''


    ''All of those threats beforehand were just an excuse, a set up.''


    ''His only business here is to defeat me in front of the hunters?'' Jeff raised a brow. He couldn''t be certain.


    "So. What gave you the confidence. Your new armor?" Jeff popped a staff into his hand.


    *Poof* *Tssss*


    As'' [Wrath]nce popped out of the armor''s waist. This weapon looked rather small in the hands of the big powered armor.


    "Correct." Pointing hisnce at Jeff, As'' mana exploded. His powered suit started to hum with an engine sound. The sound quickly got louder and sharper.


    The fog in the air was pouring into this powered suit now.


    Jeff squinted at this process. It''s quite simr to Lord Trample''s warhammer. Same process. But the effect here was on steroids.


    Glowing stripes started to appear on As'' armor. The glow quickly brightened up with color change.


    Red... Orange... Yellow... Cyan... Sky blue...


    TTOOooomm...


    A surging heat wave sted out of As'' powered suit. A hot wind brushed past Jeff.


    SSS-rank mana density reached!


    Around As, the water in the silt quickly vaporized. In a moment, As was standing in a cloud of steam.


    Back at the shore...


    Standing 150 meters away, with fog obstructing their view, the hunters could only see strips of glowing light.


    Yet, they could sense As'' mana with ease. Now, As was like a volcano about to erupt. A lethal threat that they couldn''t outrun...


    The faces of the S-ranks paled.


    Is this... the power beyond SS-rank? They couldn''t even bring up the will to fight back.


    Sensing this, the A-rank squad leader stood a little taller. Looking at the S-ranks, this guy opened and closed his mouth a few times.


    In the end, he chose to say nothing though.


    Back at the shoreline...


    As took a deep breath of pure satisfaction. "How about now, Jeff? Do you still wish to fight me? For those S-ranks who are not even working under you. Is it worth it?"


    "If you change your stance, everyone will understand." As rose his chin in pride.


    "Backing off from me, a fellow SSS-rank, there is no shame in that." As lightly shook his head.


    "Hmm..." Jeff smiled. ''How interesting...''


    If this was before the Lord Trample fight, there''s a chance for Jeff to reconsider the situation.


    But now... Jeff was half a step into Sage-tier!


    Now, he was at a whole new level!


    "No. I''ll pass." Jeff casually shook his head.


    "You''ll regret your choice." As'' gaze turned cold. "So be it."


    Pooft...


    Four missiles popped out of As'' back. Leaving trails of white fumes in the air, the missiles shot at Jeff.


    Sidestepping right and left, Jeff easily dodged those projectiles.


    A robotic extension popped out of As'' shoulder tes. Making a high-pitched humming sound, aser beam sted out like a water hose.


    Leaving a red trail in the ground, thatser sliced up at Jeff.


    A dash sideways.


    Bbrroooomm...


    The molten trail exploded.


    Being hit by the st wave, Jeff was pushed a few more steps sideways.


    Particles of ss started to rain down. Under the reflection of the molten ground, it looked like it''s raining red pixels.


    A white noise started to get louder and louder. Jeff''s vision became blurry for an instance. Jeff also felt a little sleepy. But just a little.


    Bttooomm!


    Like a ray of blue light, As shot towards Jeff. The ground under As'' afterimage exploded into a shower of dry sand.


    In air, hisnce started to radiate a blinding light.


    m!


    An explosion of mana.


    From the collision, a st wave bursted out. In a blink, that st wave had reached the shore.


    Like being hit by a truck, the hunters at the front were knocked up into the air. One after another, they crashed into the fallen hunters on the ground.


    Only the three S-rank hunters were remaining standing. Yet, their expressions quickly turned bitter. The power gap was simply too big.


    Back at the shoreline...


    Standing at the center of the crater, Jeff casually grabbed onto As''nce with one hand.


    With his other hand, Jeff lifted his staff.


    Bam!


    As kneeled onto one knee.


    Jeff''s staff had chopped 2 inches into As'' shoulder armor. A burst of sparks shot right out. The glowing stripes on As'' armor started to blink.


    Vrrrmmm...


    It''s the sound of an engine dying off.


    "Haarrraaaahh!" As tried to push up.


    DOoonnmm...


    Jeffnded a kick onto As'' chest armor.


    Drawing an arc in the air, Asnded onto his back. The collision brought up some silt into the air. After sliding back some distance, As finally came to a halt.


    The dude tried to get up from this dead armor, but he couldn''t.


    "Why..." As looked at Jeff in disbelief.


    "How?!" As''s pupils shivered in shock and confusion.


    "No! Arrggh! NOO!" In As'' view, Jeff''s figure gradually ovepped with Lord Trample.


    Looking at As, Jeff lightly shook his head. ''Well... Someone has to cool off. And that person sure ain''t me.''