I Aggressively Stack Steel of the Heart in the Knight Order

The two Dragon Hunters understood Reinhardt’s signal.

They took a long, hard look at the unfamiliar Imperial Knight, trying to burn his face into their memory, then slowly retreated.

Although Du Ma, who had betrayed the Empire and fallen into the Abyss, still retained some of the honor-bound traditions of a Dragon Hunter in his conduct, his heart had long been devoid of any honor.

The only thing that remained was, perhaps, the desire to fight and slaughter the strong.

He had intended to declare his power before Reinhardt, to display his might, and to relish in Reinhardt’s fear and awe.

But he never expected that this ant-like Imperial Knight would know about his narrow escape from death during his battle with Grand Governor Sedon.

Not only had his attempt to show off failed...

...but his sorest spot had been brutally exposed.

The excitement on Du Ma’s face instantly vanished. He took a deep breath, his cruel gaze fixed on Reinhardt. ”I will flay you amidst your agonized screams and offer your skin to the Slaughter Death Arena.”

Your skull will become my trophy.

”But before that, I need to kill those two Red Flame Sons first. If you want to die, you’ll have to wait.”

Hearing the footsteps of the two retreating, Du Ma turned to give chase, but he suddenly felt the impact of a heavy object on the back of his head, accompanied by the roar of an explosion.

He whipped his head around to see smoke curling from the muzzle of the weapon in Reinhardt’s hand.

A Blood Hand Bullet, powerful enough to blast through steel, merely left a bloody mark on the back of the traitor’s head.

Provoked once again, the scarlet flames in Du Ma’s eye sockets trembled violently. Completely ignoring the two fleeing Dragon Hunters, he strode toward Reinhardt like a shooting star, his right hand clenched into a fist, and threw a vicious punch!

Reinhardt, already a spent force, used what little Knight Power he had left to form a Morphic Armor defense. Even so, the incoming Iron Fist was like a high-speed locomotive, crashing head-on into his midsection!

A shockwave pierced his abdomen, crushed his internal organs, and exploded out of his back!

Like a kite with its string cut, Reinhardt was sent flying over a hundred meters! He crashed into a pile of corpses, bounced, and skidded to a stop.

At that moment, the cruel side of Flayer Du Ma the Fear Knight was laid bare, like the fangs of a rabid dog. All traces of the powerful demeanor he had shown earlier vanished from his every move.

As if venting his anger, he sent Reinhardt flying again and again with his punches.

He leaned down, pressing his face close to the fallen Reinhardt, and roared, ”Grand Governor? Which Grand Governor?! No one can withstand the Flayer’s power! No one—!”

BOOM—!

Another punch slammed into Reinhardt’s chest!

The terrifying force tore through his body and plunged into the earth, transforming into a violent tremor that spread out in all directions!

The mortals who had not yet fled and were witnessing this scene felt their eyelids and hearts jump with every heavy blow from Du Ma!

But as Du Ma’s Iron Fist descended once more, Reinhardt shot his right hand up and gripped his wrist tightly. Though the pain had already numbed his nerves, he still grinned, a large stream of blood flowing from the corner of his mouth. He looked Du Ma straight in the eye and taunted, ”Is that all the power you have? It feels like you’re just tickling me.”

The moment his words fell, the energy pack of his Avenger Power Armor roared to life. Reinhardt drew his Slaughterer’s Weapon, activated Imperial Technology·Super Charging, and five dark purple bullets infused with the properties of Morphic Armor howled from the muzzle, slamming into the left hand Du Ma raised to block.

Just as Du Ma was about to draw his Slaughter Knife and hoist Reinhardt onto the Steel Execution Rack to complete the flaying ritual, he suddenly realized that these bullets, which had seemingly no destructive power, were causing his body to feel sluggish and unresponsive!

Realizing this was a Special Ability of Knight Power, the rage in Du Ma’s heart burned even hotter. A surge of brutal fury welled up in his chest, making him wish he could hang Reinhardt on the rack and flay him alive that very instant!

This was because it was the first time he had ever faced an Imperial Knight who, even when a spent force, refused to meekly await death and dared to fight back!

And in Du Ma’s mind, Reinhardt’s actions were an utter contempt and mockery of his strength!

What infuriated him beyond measure was that this weak, pathetic resistance was actually working!

Because in the instant his movements slowed, hindered by the neurotoxin from the Morphic Armor bullets, Divine Emperor’s Fury flew into Reinhardt’s hand.

With a roar filled with ultimate fury, he made a final, desperate strike, thrusting at Du Ma’s abdomen!

But having already exhausted his strength, how could he possibly succeed?

Du Ma was enraged! His Steel Execution Rack knocked aside Divine Emperor’s Fury as he grabbed Reinhardt and slammed him viciously into the ground!

”Kneel! I want you to submit to this immense power—! Imperial Knight—!”

As Reinhardt fell, he used the residual energy flow from his Micro-Aikacia Nozzles to rebound forcefully off the ground. Spinning in mid-air, he unleashed a high roundhouse kick at Du Ma’s head!

His eyes wide with fury, he roared, ”Are you worthy?! Traitor—!”

”ROAR—!”

Driven completely berserk by Reinhardt’s repeated provocations, Flayer Du Ma abandoned all thought of his flaying ritual. Like an enraged bull, he relied purely on his Physical Strength to grapple with Reinhardt.

Every time their limbs collided, it created a staggering sonic boom in the air.

When Reinhardt was thrown to the ground once more, Du Ma lost his patience. He drew his Skinning Knife and strode menacingly toward Reinhardt, intending to end the fight for good.

Ghostly blue text from the system flashed across Reinhardt’s vision.

[All this unyielding struggle and resistance is the most perfect source of Spiritual Power for your Knight Power.]

[Your Knight Military Rank has been promoted.]

[Your Second Mighty Power·Bloodthirsty Madness has awakened a Domain Power: Great Annihilation.]

[Great Annihilation: Your Destruction Force Field manifests the true form of Vengeful Angels. Your physical condition is restored to its peak state. During combat, Mortal units and Low Tier Demons will be overcome with fear.

The destructive power of all your offensive Special Abilities and Combat Techniques is increased by 20%.

Duration: one minute. When the duration ends, your physical condition will revert to the state it was in before activating the Great Destruction Domain. Executing a powerful enemy that can grant you Heart Steel Layers will refresh the duration of the Great Destruction Domain.]

[This Domain Power has yet to be fully developed.]

[At this moment, a cruel laugh flashes past your ear: ’Hahahaha~’.]

As Du Ma’s massive, mountain-like form stood over Reinhardt, his Skinning Knife radiating a horrifying Demon Evil Power, he roared and brought it down with a brutal chop!

”Die! You ant!”

However.

It was not as he had imagined—crippling Reinhardt with a single blow and then savoring the insect’s screams and fear.

Instead, Reinhardt, still on the ground, shot his right hand up and caught the Skinning Knife, gripping it tightly.

An incomparably tyrannical Knightly Aura erupted from his body!

Reinhardt stared at Du Ma, his vengeful fury becoming tangible. His hoarse voice, wrapped in the Destruction Force Field, echoed across the entire battlefield!

”You think you can... kill me—?!”