Nine dragons fight for the throne, I don't want to sit on this throne

In the clearing in the woods, the smell of blood was so strong that it was sickening.

The noise of battle had died down, replaced by a suffocating silence.

There were less than two hundred remaining Han army guards, all of them were wounded, with broken armor and bent weapons. They formed a final, shaky circle, protecting the equally embarrassed and distraught Liu Xiu in the center.

And around them were densely packed Chu soldiers that stretched as far as the eye could see.

Swords and guns flashed coldly, and countless faces showed the arrogance, cruelty and mockery of the victors.

The encirclement was like an iron wall, completely cutting off any chance of survival.

Ran Ming, holding the giant battle axe covered in blood and flesh, pushed everyone aside and walked step by step to the front of the formation.

His shiny bald head was splattered with blood, which made him look even more ferocious.

He stopped and the blade of his giant axe slammed against the ground with a clang, raising some dust.

His eyes swept across the pitiful Han army formation, and finally fell on Liu Xiu who was surrounded by people. He grinned, revealing a smile mixed with mockery and cruelty, and said in a loud voice:

"Hey! Listen up, Emperor Han inside!"

He deliberately amplified his voice to ensure that every word could be clearly heard inside and outside the encirclement.

"Look around you! There are only a few frightened chickens and dogs left. They are not enough for me to chop down with one axe!"

"Why are you still struggling? Do you really think that God, who knows where you've hidden himself, can send down another meteor shower to save you? Hahahaha!"

His words immediately caused the surrounding Chu soldiers to burst into laughter, with all kinds of obscenities and mocking shouts coming one after another:

"That's right! Surrender now. Maybe our General Ran will be in a good mood and leave you with an intact body!"

"What do you mean by 'Son of Heaven'? I think he's just a traitor!"

"Hurry up and kneel down, or the grandfathers will chop you into pieces!"

The deafening laughter was like a cold tide, fiercely impacting the Han army's last psychological defense line.

Some of the guards showed despair and fear on their faces, and their hands holding their weapons were shaking.

Liu Xiu stood in the center of the circle, listening to the harsh taunts and laughter, looking at the countless faces of the Chu army around him that were full of malice and contempt, and recalling his defeat in Hongdu, the siege of Kunyang, and now his desperate situation.

The "fate" he had been following along the way seemed like a huge joke! Especially the sight of Zhou Yongxin tragically dying while trying to protect him was like a sharp knife piercing his heart.

Extreme humiliation, unwillingness to fail, anger at the collapse of faith, all these emotions burned wildly in his chest like poisonous fire, instantly devouring the last bit of sanity!

"Shut up!!!"

Liu Xiu suddenly raised his head and let out a hoarse but extremely furious roar, interrupting the laughter of the Chu army.

His eyes were red, bloodshot, and his face was twisted with extreme anger. He stared at Ran Ming intently, his voice like the roar of a wounded beast:

"I am the Emperor of the Han Dynasty! I am appointed by Heaven! How could I surrender to a reckless traitor like you? Even if I die today, I will die standing! I will make you traitors pay with your blood!"

He suddenly drew the ornately decorated Emperor's Sword from his waist. Although he knew he was no match for Ran Ming, he still pointed the tip of the sword at him and shouted a desperate cry to the last loyal guard beside him:

"Soldiers of the Han Dynasty! I am with you! Follow me—and kill!"

The last word "kill" is filled with endless grief and desperate madness!

The two hundred guards were moved by the emperor's determination and knew there was no way out today. Instead, they burst out with their last breath of courage and roared loudly:

"Kill! Protect the Emperor!"

The tiny circle of two hundred men actually launched a suicidal counterattack against the boundless Chu army on the periphery! Like a moth to a flame, it was tragic and tragic!

"Humph! You're courting death! I'll grant you your wish!"

Ran Ming didn't expect Liu Xiu to be so stubborn that he actually dared to launch a charge. He snorted coldly, his eyes flashing with ferocity. Instead of being afraid, he became excited.

"My men, kill them all! Leave no one alive except Liu Xiu!"

As soon as the order was given, the Chu army in the encirclement immediately collided violently with the rushing Han army like a huge wave!

In an instant, brutal hand-to-hand combat broke out again!

The Han army's personal guards fought with extreme ferocity, determined to die, and even forced the innermost layer of the Chu army to retreat several steps.

Liu Xiu also brandished the Emperor's Sword, like a madman, and personally stabbed down a Chu soldier who rushed in front of him.

But this last bit of courage was only a flash in the pan in the face of the absolute gap in strength.

There were too many Chu soldiers, and they were like an endless tide, quickly drowning the small waves of resistance.

The Han army's personal guards fell one after another, and the circular formation quickly shrank and collapsed.

Ran Ming had been staring at Liu Xiu coldly. Seeing that he was still resisting stubbornly and even killing his own soldiers with his own hands, he suddenly became murderous and lost his patience to capture him alive.

"Get out of here! His head belongs to me!"

Ran Ming roared, and like a tank, he pushed aside the soldiers from both sides who were blocking his way. He swung the terrifying giant axe, and rushed directly towards Liu Xiu with a whistling sound that tore through the air!

A loyal guard tried to block the attack with his body, but Ran Ming casually chopped him in half with a single axe, shield and all! Blood and viscera splattered all over Liu Xiu!

Liu Xiu was already blood-thirsty at this moment. When he saw Ran Ming rushing towards him, he did not dodge or evade. Instead, he roared and rushed forward with his sword!

Perhaps he still has a glimmer of hope in his destiny, or perhaps it is just pure despair and madness!

"clang!"

A sharp sound of metal clashing!

Although the Emperor's Sword in Liu Xiu's hand is sharp, how can it compete with Ran Ming's giant axe that is as heavy as a thousand pounds?

What's more, there is a huge gap in power between the two!

The moment the sword and axe collided, Liu Xiu felt an irresistible and terrifying force coming from the sword like a mountain torrent!

The tiger's mouth cracked instantly, and blood was dripping. The Emperor's Sword, which symbolized the imperial power, was directly shaken out of his hand and flew out, and no one knew where it fell!

Liu Xiu himself felt as if he had been hit hard. He staggered backwards, the blood in his chest surged, and he spurted out a mouthful of blood!

Ran Ming was in a dominant position and showed no mercy. There was only the excitement of killing in his eyes, and he did not give Liu Xiu any chance to breathe!

He strode forward and swung the giant axe again. This time, it was no longer a block, but a deadly blow!

The axe blade, with a deadly light, chopped down fiercely towards Liu Xiu's neck, which was unstable and wide open!

"Your Majesty!!!" The royal guards who were still conscious in the distance screamed in despair.

In Liu Xiu's pupils, the huge axe blade rapidly enlarged, and the shadow of death instantly enveloped him.

The madness and anger on his face froze, as if it was not until this moment that he truly realized that destiny had not yet arrived.

"Pfft——!"

A dull sound that makes your teeth ache!