The release of his Martial Soul True Body transformed Kaos into a massive fire dragon approximately five meters tall with a wingspan of about fifteen meters. Scorching flames coiled around its wings, sharp claws, and the long tail behind it, exuding a faint sense of threat toward Tang Hao.
After all, Tang Hao was currently in terrible condition, utterly battered and exhausted. The fact that he hadn't died from sheer rage was thanks only to two desperate interventions by the divine will of the Asura God. His combat strength was barely at 30% of its peak, which was already impressive under the circumstances. Moreover, his overall state was so poor that he couldn't even utilize the soul skill of his ninth spirit ring, further reducing his strength.
"What are you staring at? Support-type soul masters, assist!" Kaos, having activated his Martial Soul True Body, didn't immediately launch an attack. Instead, he cunningly shielded the soul masters behind him and barked out orders to his specialized team without hesitation.
Seeing their Platinum Bishop activate his Martial Soul True Body, the professional team members immediately coordinated, each unleashing their unique skills.
This group, cultivated by Kaos over several decades, was composed of experts with their specialties, each capable of significantly boosting Kaos' combat effectiveness.
"Fifth soul skill: Light Blessing. Sixth soul skill: Light Shield. Fourth soul skill: Radiance Ensnarement." The support-type Soul Sage, whose Martial Soul was the Radiant Scepter, unhesitatingly cast three soul skills onto Kaos.
Under the effects of these three skills, Kaos' figure in his Martial Soul True Body expanded by about 20%, his body now covered with a layer of radiant, scale-like light. At his feet, a glowing halo with the power to restore spirit energy slowly replenished the energy he lost due to the consumption of his Martial Soul True Body.
As Tang Hao gritted his teeth and prepared to quickly take down this Soul Douluo and escape with Tang San, the other soul masters didn't idle. Those capable of amplifying boosts did so without hesitation, layering buffs on Kaos. Those with control abilities unhesitatingly cast control skills on Tang Hao. Meanwhile, the agility-type soul masters scattered to strategic positions, ready to assist their leader in delivering fatal blows to the enemy.
Finally, under Tang Hao's astonished gaze, several defense-type soul masters with the Martial Soul Heavenly Armor Shield summoned their Martial Souls, standing as a shield in front of the support and control-type soul masters.
"First soul skill: Boiling Fire. Third soul skill: Fiery Blast. Sixth soul skill: Flame Ignition."
"Fourth soul skill: Thousand Threads. Fifth soul skill: Proliferation. Sixth soul skill: Death Entanglement."
"First soul skill: Shield Wall. Second soul skill: Defense Enhancement. Third soul skill: Defense Sharing. Fourth soul skill: Shield as a Mountain."
"Fifth soul skill: Weakening Ray. Sixth soul skill: Slow Ray. Fourth soul skill: Illusionary Light."
The group Kaos brought consisted of half-support-type soul masters to buff him and control-type soul masters to debuff the enemy. Of the remaining half, most were defense-type soul masters to protect the support and control specialists, while the final quarter consisted of agility-type soul masters to harass and pin down the enemy. The strategy was to maximize individual combat effectiveness through teamwork.
After all, Kaos' goal was to accumulate achievements, and he wasn't about to bring anyone who might steal his thunder.
With this overwhelming series of buffs and debuffs, Tang Hao's aura diminished considerably, while Kaos' Martial Soul True Body inflated to nearly double its original size. The flames covering his body burned even hotter, and his imposing presence left Tang San struggling to breathe. Tang Hao, furious, clenched his teeth in frustration.
In this state, Kaos' combat strength far exceeded that of an ordinary Titled Douluo, nearing the level of a Super Douluo. His power was now between levels 94 and 95, making Tang Hao's head throb just from looking at him.
Who starts a fight by activating their Martial Soul True Body? What kind of assault-type soul master goes into battle with a whole team of support-type soul masters? Isn't everyone supposed to just summon their Martial Soul and clash head-on? Shouldn't a beast-type soul master like you be using your head to tank my Disorder Splitting Wind Hammer?!
Why are you not playing by the rules?!
A decade or so ago, Kaos didn't have this habit. Back then, he would simply rely on brute force to clash against others.
But ever since learning that his superior, Pope Qian Xunji, had been killed by Tang Hao despite having the strongest anti-air Martial Soul, Kaos reflected deeply. He ultimately came to a realization that only a select few in the Douluo world would ever grasp:
If you can fight as a team, don't fight alone. Exploit your opponent's weaknesses; don't pit your strengths against theirs. Running away when you can't win isn't shameful—there's always a chance to seek revenge later. If you die, it's game over.
Using buffs to crush someone? No one would dare criticize you to your face. But if you slip up and get killed, don't expect anyone to say nice things at your grave. Put bluntly, how many people still care about Qian Xunji, even after all these years?
Power is the key to becoming a king! If someone dares to say you're not a true hero because you rely on support-type soul masters, it just means you didn't stack enough buffs. If your opponent has the time to trash-talk you during the fight, your buffs aren't strong enough.
Tang Hao summoned his Martial Soul through gritted teeth, only to discover that his Clear Sky Hammer was about 20% smaller than usual. Even doing nothing, his soul energy was rapidly draining, his reactions dulled, and his overall state severely weakened.
Before Tang Hao could adjust to this condition, Kaos, seeing the Clear Sky Hammer and the hundred-thousand-year soul ring, let out a piercing cry.
"Clear Sky Hammer, hundred-thousand-year soul ring, Titled Douluo, middle-aged male. It's the wanted criminal Tang Hao! Martial Soul True Bodies, everyone! Capture the evil master Tang Hao!"
"Radiant Scepter True Body!"
"Fire Lotus True Body!"
"Myriad Threads True Body!"
"Heavenly Armor Shield True Body!"
"Illusory Light Butterfly True Body!"
In an instant, numerous seventh soul rings lit up simultaneously. Any soul master capable of activating their Martial Soul True Body did so without hesitation, unleashing their soul skills like they were free.
At this moment, Tang Hao felt as though his very soul had ascended to a new spiritual plane. Despite his numerous internal injuries, he resolutely detonated his soul rings, one after another.
In this situation, holding back any skills would mean certain death.
With all these buffs and debuffs in play, even at his peak, Tang Hao would need to activate both his Martial Soul True Body and his eighth and ninth soul skills to break through. Now, his only way out was the desperate move of detonating his soul rings.
Detonating soul rings came with severe consequences. While it granted immense power, the destroyed rings would be unusable for three days and took thirty-six days to fully recover. Detonating them again before recovery risked permanently shattering the rings.
Although more than three days had passed since Tang Hao last detonated a ring, the rings had not yet fully recovered.
This time, Tang Hao could feel the essence of his soul rings breaking. Despair filled his eyes as the first four rings shattered completely, their energy pouring into his Clear Sky Hammer.
But it wasn't enough. With numerous control debuffs on himself and the enemy stacked with countless buffs, Tang Hao, knowing he might cripple himself for life, continued to detonate his soul rings in desperation.
The fifth ring, the sixth, the seventh, the eighth… even Tang Hao's blood-red ninth spirit ring shattered again.