Punish the Heavens and Punish the Gods - Chapter 11
“Xeno?”
When Old Master Hu saw the black cricket clearly, his face turned grim.
Li Wei sneered. “Why not? There’s no rule saying xenos can’t compete. And even if there was, since demon breeds are already allowed, it’s only fair that xenos can join too, isn’t it?”
He looked at Old Master Hu with open provocation.
Xenos—mutated creatures with enhanced or unusual abilities—were not considered illegal in cricket fights. Both the General and Tai Sui crickets were technically xenos too, though the black cricket inside the cage was clearly something more.
After carefully comparing the two crickets, especially noticing how the demon cricket was twice the size of the black one, Young Master Liu relaxed. He smiled and said, “Young Master Li, you’re overthinking. Xenos are allowed. This should be a fair and exciting match.”
Li Wei grinned. “At least someone here is reasonable. Unlike certain old men who get more confused the older they get—right, Old Master Hu?”
Old Master Hu’s face turned dark. “Hmph! Sharp words won’t help you win, boy. You’d better think about how to explain yourself to the Old Marquis after you lose.”
“Explain?” Li Wei smirked. “We’ll see who ends up explaining. Let’s start.”
But the match didn’t begin right away. No one had experience pitting demon breeds against xenos, and the usual tricks didn’t apply. For a moment, everyone hesitated.
Finally, Old Master Hu suggested, “Let’s prod them a bit. See how they react.” He ordered a servant to tap the iron cage with a stick.
Clang!
The moment the sound rang out, both crickets began to cry—flapping their wings, antennae twitching wildly.
At once, everyone noticed the difference.
The demon cricket’s cry was sharp and metallic, like iron scraping on iron. The xeno’s cry, though high-pitched, was clear and melodic—like a crane’s call.
Their cries grew louder and louder, filling the hall. It was unbelievable that such small creatures could make sounds so intense.
The audience held their breath. In cricket fighting, even the cries were part of the battle—momentum mattered. The one who lost morale often lost the fight.
Five minutes passed, and neither cricket backed down. The sound was deafening.
The demon cricket’s shriek carried an aggressive force that made people dizzy and nauseous. Faces turned pale. Some trembled as sweat dripped down their temples.
Li Wei secretly nodded. As expected of a demon species. He shielded his ears with his mana; without it, the original owner’s weak body might have collapsed.
Suddenly, the demon cricket’s body flared with black energy. It raised its head and screeched again—twice as loud as before.
“Ahhh!” People screamed as bl00d streamed from their ears. Some collapsed outright.
The piercing sound was like a thousand steel needles stabbing into the brain. Even with mana protection, Li Wei felt a sharp pain deep in his ears.
But he ignored the crowd—his eyes stayed fixed on the two crickets.
He hadn’t expected the demon cricket’s attack to be this vicious. He could see the black energy rippling out like a shockwave aimed directly at his xeno.
“Not good!” Li Wei thought, alarmed. If that wave hit, his cricket could die instantly.
Through his spiritual connection, he urged the cricket to dodge—and just in time, it leapt into the air. The black wave smashed into the cage instead, leaving a deep gouge in the metal.
Even the thick iron wires were half-severed. One hit like that could’ve killed a person, let alone a cricket.
Li Wei cursed under his breath. I shouldn’t have agreed to this match.
Winning would earn him a fortune, but losing meant ruin—and punishment.
Still, it was too late for regret. The only thing that mattered now was victory.
Fortunately, the demon cricket’s sonic attack came at a price. Its black energy dimmed, and its momentum faltered.
Li Wei quickly seized the opportunity. Through their link, he urged his cricket to strike back with its own cry, pressing the advantage while the enemy was weak.
The black cricket’s high, resonant call rang out again, pushing the demon cricket back a few steps. Though it retaliated with another shriek, Li Wei could tell—the demon’s voice now carried strain.
Gradually, the black cricket’s cries grew stronger, steadier. The demon cricket’s, weaker.
The audience began to murmur. The tables were turning.
Young Master Liu and Old Master Hu’s faces darkened. They could see it too—the demon cricket was being overwhelmed. If its will broke, it might flee, and they would lose everything.
Just then, the demon cricket stopped crying altogether—and lunged.
It pounced ferociously, baring its sharp jaws.
Liu and the others sighed in relief. Now this was more like it. The demon cricket was twice as large, covered in spikes—it should win easily in close combat.
At first, things went as expected. The demon cricket attacked relentlessly while Li Wei’s cricket dodged and retreated. Ten strikes—and not one landed cleanly, but the smaller cricket was clearly on the defensive.
Still, Li Wei’s cricket wasn’t taking any real damage. It always slipped away at the last instant, nimble and alert.
Liu and the others didn’t mind. They believed the smaller cricket couldn’t last much longer.
Two minutes later, their prediction seemed to come true. The black cricket began to retreat more quickly, almost fleeing.
“Ha! Run all you want, you’ll die tired!”
The demon cricket gave a high-pitched cry and leapt forward like lightning, jaws wide—aiming straight for the black cricket’s neck.
Everyone’s eyes widened.
If that bite landed, it would tear its opponent’s head clean off.
“Ah!” Young Master Liu and the others shouted, stunned by what happened next.