The Alchemist's Nemesis is an Assassin?

The wind and snow intensified, and a blizzard seemed to have formed. The bodies of the recently deceased were completely drained of blood.

Bai Yi waited silently, offering no response. He appeared deep in thought, or perhaps lost, resembling the Bronze Alchemist when he first encountered the assassin.

Clang!

The wind and snow were suddenly cut through. Behind Bai Yi, a sharp blade was mere centimeters from his back.

The warrior in front of him wore a mocking expression. The alchemist was being cornered, and death seemed inevitable.

Zizi~

But then, a crackling sound filled the air as the dagger halted abruptly, less than thirty centimeters from Bai Yi.

Bai Yi's face, exposed to the freezing wind and snow, curved into a wild grin as he snapped his fingers.

Bang!

A violent explosion disrupted the storm, and the powerful warrior was hurled backward, crashing into a large tree.

Bai Yi turned calmly, holstering the revolver tucked into his clothes. He removed his left glove and, noticing the assassin in front of him preparing to escape the powerful electric net, waved his hand.

Hiss~

Green gas erupted from Bai Yi's hand, propelled by the shockwave of the explosion. It surged in the direction of the warrior, attaching itself to the assassin.

Zheng~

Bai Yi sidestepped, narrowly avoiding the assassin's dagger. A smile still lingered on his lips.

A buzzing sound, like the fluttering of wings, echoed in the air as a small silver ball materialized between them in the snow.

"Goodbye~"

Bai Yi waved casually.

The silver ball detonated in a burst of blinding white light, followed by an overwhelming wave of heat.

Boom!

A deafening roar erupted through the snow, and the shockwave sent the hem of Bai Yi's windbreaker flapping wildly.

The moment Bai Yi realized someone was ambushing him, he began preparing. As a scientist in a world of limited personal strength, he always prioritized his safety.

Once he determined that the enemy was beyond reasoning, Bai Yi had no hesitation in turning them into corpses.

Engaging in conversation with a hostile alchemist, who always carried a variety of gadgets, had been the worst and final decision these two would make.

Bai Yi turned his attention to the battlefield, raising his hand. Three small metal spheres appeared before him.

The central sphere expanded rapidly, instantly forming the structure of a gun.

The other two spheres shifted, attaching to the first. As the flames of the explosion dissipated, Bai Yi now held a one-meter-long Barrett.

This was the energy gun the quartermaster had mentioned—a highly advanced weapon. Its prototype was based on the Barrett, but the alchemy array's extraordinary power amplified its destructive capabilities by dozens of times compared to the Blue Star model.

Warriors below silver rank wouldn't stand a chance.

When the fire cleared, there was no assassin in sight, only a deep crater where he once stood.

Bai Yi was unfazed. Advancing to a higher level was a transformation—a leap in the very essence of life. While this explosion could obliterate dozens of regular people, it posed no threat to a transcendent being. It was simply to be expected.

Bai Yi turned to face the soldier, a smile creeping onto his lips. "See? The area around your eyes has already turned purple. Do you still have the strength to charge?"

A glint of crimson appeared in the warrior's eyes. He lifted his massive shield, gripping the bottom tightly, and let out a roar.

"Roar!"

Scarlet energy surged from his body. The shield, now resembling a giant battle axe, radiated intense power as the warrior's aura grew stronger.

"Berserker!"

Bai Yi's eyes narrowed. Berserkers were warriors who thrived on raw strength. When injured, they would enter a state of rage, suppressing pain to unleash even greater power. On the battlefield, they could turn an area into a slaughterhouse, fighting at their peak until their final breath.

The Berserker charged, his feet infused with special energy. Each step quickened, leaving a trail of destructive force in his wake.

An eerie sense of surveillance hung in the air. Bai Yi could sense that any wrong move could result in his death.

The smile on his face never wavered. Without hesitation, he raised the Barrett and fired.

Boom!

The deafening gunshot sent shockwaves through the surrounding area. The Barrett's barrel turned red from the intense heat as the alchemical bullet streaked toward the Berserker at unimaginable speed.

For this weapon, Bai Yi had focused entirely on ultimate destructive power, valuing sheer violent aesthetics over all else.

The recoil was so intense that Bai Yi was pushed back.

The Berserker's pupils contracted, and in a moment of clarity, he raised his battle axe to block the incoming bullet. The lethal sense of danger snapped him out of his rage.

Boom!

The explosion rocked the area. The Berserker felt his right leg go numb, stumbling forward as the immense force of the blast sent him tumbling.

As he rolled, he saw his right leg fly through the air, wide-eyed in disbelief.

The pain was excruciating, and the scarlet fury in his eyes faded. He clutched his severed leg as he continued to tumble through the snow.

"Ahhhhhh!"

The Berserker hadn't expected Bai Yi's attack to be designed not to kill, but to incapacitate him.

Zheng~

A sharp, high-pitched sound pierced the air as the shadow assassin closed in on Bai Yi. Less than a meter away, the situation seemed like a deadly exchange.

But in the next instant, a protective shield surrounded Bai Yi. It was a silver-level magic scroll, purchased at a steep price.

Though it pained him to admit, the mage's artifacts were undeniably more practical than those of other professions.

After all, while alchemists could build mechanical cities in the sky, mages constructed towers of magic. Both pursued their own truths, and the knowledge required for each was unmatched by any other profession.

Knowledge was power!

A crisp crack echoed as the assassin's attack collided with the shield. Bai Yi frowned. The assassin seemed to possess a specialty for breaking shields.

He was right. Bai Yi swiftly twisted to the left, anticipating the blow. As an alchemist, he had little fear of poison. He was prepared to trade injury for survival.

The dagger pierced through the magical barrier, striking Bai Yi's right shoulder.

A sickening "click" rang out as the force of the strike sent Bai Yi staggering. But, to his surprise, there was no pain.

Bai Yi blinked, realization dawning on him. **Mental Defense.**

Was this a boss-level specialty? Did this mean attacks below a certain threshold couldn't break his defenses?

Moreover, as his strength grew, the shield's upper limit would also increase.

No wonder bosses in games require teams to defeat them.

As these thoughts raced through Bai Yi's mind, he glanced down at the shadow assassin kneeling before him. The faint sound of agonized cries echoed in the distance.

Bai Yi's smile widened: "So, the nemesis of an alchemist is an assassin, huh? Ha!"