章 182: "Tempest in the Wasteland: A Symphony of Flame and Steel"

The Wasteland of Death stretched endlessly before Raja, its barren expanse littered with rocks and the remnants of failed adventurers who had dared its challenges. A slight breeze carried the faint stench of blood, but Raja's focus was fixed on the menacing figure before him—the One-Eyed Dragon, leader of the infamous Black Dragon Bandits.

Raja stood firm, his Lunar Tempest Sword gleaming ominously in his hand, the pitch-black blade adorned with golden thunder markings that pulsed faintly like a heart. The One-Eyed Dragon sneered as he reached out to grab the hilt.

"What's so special about this shiny toy?" he mocked.

But the moment his hand closed around the sword, reality hit harder than one of Raja's punches. The immense Haki Will infused in the blade surged through the bandit leader's arm like a feral beast, fracturing and crushing it with a sickening crunch.

"Argh! What in the—" The Dragon's scream was cut short as the blade slipped free from his grip, flipping effortlessly in the air before slamming into his chest. The sheer force sent him hurtling to the ground, embedding half his body into the earth like a macabre garden ornament. Blood spurted from his mouth as fractures riddled his torso, leaving him unconscious and incapacitated.

The Black Dragon Bandits, notorious for their cruelty and arrogance, gawked at their leader's humiliating defeat.

"Did… did the boss just get one-shotted?" one whispered in disbelief.

"Shut up!" growled another. "We can still kill him!"

But even Black Dragon, the second-in-command, began to reconsider their options. His sharp eyes analyzed Raja, trying to decipher how someone so young possessed such monstrous strength.

Realizing that retreat would bring shame to their name, Black Dragon barked an order.

"Kill him! All of you! Now!"

The bandits, a mix of warriors between the fifth and tenth levels of the Spirit Profound Realm, charged like a frenzied tide. Raja sighed, raising his fist calmly.

"Guess it's time for a little wind work."

As the first wave closed in, Raja executed his Tornado Fist (竜巻拳, Tatsumaki Ken). His fist spun with incredible velocity, generating a whirlwind that tore through the bandits' ranks like a meat grinder. Weapons clattered uselessly to the ground as bodies were flung into the air, crashing back down like poorly aimed darts.

The surviving bandits hesitated, their courage evaporating faster than water in the Wasteland's heat.

But Raja wasn't done. Gripping his Divine Sword, he plunged it into the ground with a resounding crack. Phoenix flames erupted, encircling him in a fiery vortex.

"Let me introduce you to the Star Scorching Demon Lotus."

The flames expanded outward, forming a massive, lotus-shaped inferno that engulfed everything within a 20-meter radius. Bandits screamed as the fiery petals consumed them, reducing their once-feared gang to nothing but ash.

Black Dragon and White Dragon, the remaining leaders, stood frozen in terror, their eyes reflecting the blazing carnage. Without another word, they turned to flee, scrambling for their lives.

"Not so fast," Raja called, appearing before them as if he'd teleported. His sword rested lazily on his shoulder, but the murderous glint in his eye stopped the fleeing men in their tracks.

Both leaders drew their swords, infused with profound energy, and attacked in unison. Their blades clashed against Raja's Lunar Tempest Sword, but the young warrior's expression didn't waver.

"Tempest Breathing: Fifth Form—Quaking Storm."

A shockwave erupted from his swing, shattering the leaders' swords into fragments. The force sent them reeling, their wrists broken and their bodies numb from the impact. Before they could beg for mercy, Raja's sword descended with lethal precision, severing them both in one fluid motion. Their bodies collapsed in a gruesome heap, painting the ground with crimson.

The battlefield fell silent, save for the crackling remnants of the flame lotus. Raja surveyed the destruction with cold indifference, his expression unreadable as he cleaned his sword.

Nearby, Sun Zhou and Mu Xiaoling, former captives of the bandits, approached hesitantly.

"You… you saved us," Sun Zhou stammered, bowing deeply. "Thank you."

Mu Xiaoling simply stared at Raja, her expression a mix of awe and unease.

"Don't mention it," Raja replied curtly, his tone as sharp as his blade.

As they walked away from the smoldering ruins, Tsundere finally broke the silence.

"You kill without hesitation," she said, her voice tinged with curiosity. "Have you… done this many times before?"

Raja shrugged. "Plenty. Does it bother you?"

She folded her arms, glancing at him sideways. "Not really. You only kill scum who deserve it. If anything, I despise people who hesitate and show mercy to the evil."

Raja chuckled. "Funny. I seem to recall your… unique methods. Those victims of yours never left a trace."

Her smirk was all the confirmation he needed.

The group soon parted ways, and Raja ventured deeper into the Wasteland of Death. The terrain grew harsher, the air heavier with the presence of powerful profound beasts.

The first challenge came in the form of Armored Lizards, their rock-like scales shimmering under the sun. These creatures, equivalent to practitioners at the eighth level of the Earth Profound Realm, proved formidable.

Raja dodged their clumsy swipes using Shave, his rapid movement technique, and retaliated with precise strikes infused with Phoenix fire. The flames exploited their natural weakness, reducing the lizards to charred husks.

But just as Raja finished the battle, a series of howls echoed across the wasteland. He turned to see Ironback Blue Wolves, their powerful frames glistening with muscle. Each was as strong as a first-level Earth Profound Realm practitioner.

As he prepared for battle, more howls joined the chorus, and dozens of wolves emerged from the shadows.

"Well, this is inconvenient," Raja muttered.

Activating his Supreme King Haki, Raja unleashed an invisible wave of dominance. The weaker wolves collapsed instantly, their bodies lifeless before hitting the ground.

"Unusual," came a voice from within his mind. It was Jasmine, ever the analytical presence.

"The density of profound beasts here is abnormal. I suspect there's a divine beast nearby—something with an aura akin to your phoenix flames."

Raja smirked at her theory but tightened his grip on his sword, readying himself for the challenges ahead.

Refusing to be overwhelmed, Raja re-entered the wolves' territory, striking with precision before they could regroup.

"Sky Lion Slash!"

A single swing of his blade cleaved the earth itself, leaving a massive gorge in its wake and obliterating dozens of wolves. The survivors scattered, but Raja pursued relentlessly, his blade cutting through fur and flesh like butter.

For two days and nights, Raja battled tirelessly against wave after wave of Ironback Blue Wolves. His movements were efficient, his strikes deadly, but the relentless combat began to wear on him. He healed himself intermittently using medicinal powders and the Great Way of the Buddha, a profound technique that accelerated his recovery.

As Raja paused to catch his breath, a piercing cry shattered the stillness. He looked up to see a Fierce Storm Hawk, its massive black wings slicing through the sky. The bird dived toward him at breakneck speed, talons extended.

Raja raised his sword instinctively, ready to strike, but the hawk veered at the last moment, snatching the carcass of an Ironback Blue Wolf instead.

"Well, that's new," Raja muttered, lowering his sword.

The hawk regarded him briefly before taking to the skies, leaving Raja to ponder what other surprises the Wasteland of Death had in store.