“My apologies, Lord Moses, for dragging you into this.”
Observing Moses, who had fallen clumsily beside him, You’er spoke with a regretful expression.
“This is not your fault, Lord Dongjie. We are merely pawns, manipulated by Lord Salakriffin. It seems that esteemed individual intended to orchestrate this situation from the very beginning.”
Moses shook his head with a bitter smile.
He then straightened his posture, his gaze fixed on Miekin Hogg opposite him, and spoke in a chillingly stern tone.
“Further words are futile now. Only by securing victory can we hope to survive.
Conveniently, Miekin and I have some old grievances to settle, Lord Dongjie. Allow me to handle him.”
“Lord Moses, Lord Dongjie, Quia Terra can be left to me,” Rigalantie Hogan declared from the other side.
You’er nodded silently, his icy gaze falling upon Heggel Gale.
“It appears our adversaries were destined from the start.”
Heggel Gale, however, wore a relaxed and comfortable expression despite being targeted by You’er.
He tilted his head slightly, returning You’er’s stare with a look of disdain.
“Moses, it seems the hardships you endured before haven’t taught you enough of a lesson.”
Miekin Hogg’s fleshy frame quivered slightly, his eyes, mere slits, gleamed with a venomous, scorpion-like intensity.
“Once I’ve slaughtered you, I’ll deal with that bastard brat,” Quia Terra snarled, directing his harsh words at Rigalantie Hogan, who stood before him.
*Clang!*
The spectators in the fourth ring fell into an unnerving silence, as if even their breaths had stilled.
From the hands of the six combatants, the crisp clang of weapons was distinctly audible.
*Boom!*
Six formidable surges of power erupted skyward simultaneously, drawing a tumultuous roar from the audience.
Ethereal blue ice coiled around You’er.
Verdant gales howled about Heggel Gale.
Silver electrical arcs danced across Moses Du.
Layers of dense earth enveloped Miekin Hogg.
Scorching flames blazed around Quia Terra.
And beneath Rigalantie Hogan’s feet, a sky-blue magic array burst forth!
The six powerful hues formed a hexagram, its points connected yet opposing, creating an indescribably tense atmosphere.
The impending battle teetered on the brink.
“Charge!”
With You’er’s single, cold command, all six combatants in the arena finally sprang into action!
“Quia Terra, you scoundrel, taste this! Water Dragon Cannon!”
Rigalantie Hogan was the first to attack.
As a mage, they undoubtedly held the greatest advantage at range.
With a ripple from the magic array beneath their feet, several water spheres, each the size of a washbasin, rose into the air.
They hurtled towards Quia Terra with a whistling rush, akin to cannonballs.
“Mere parlor tricks! Raging Flame Slash!”
Quia Terra wielded a two-meter-long greatsword, which he swung with ferocious power, creating a whirlwind of force.
With each powerful swing, he cleaved through the incoming water spheres, the raging flames engulfing his blade instantly evaporating the splashing droplets.
Splashing through the soggy puddles, Quia Terra steadily advanced towards Rigalantie Hogan.
While mages possessed formidable control over elemental forces, their physical constitution often remained frail.
Once a swordsman closed the distance, most would inevitably become lambs to the slaughter.
“You wish to get close? Not so easily! Taste my consecutive spells: Water Light Bullet! Water Dragon Twister!”
This time, Rigalantie Hogan unleashed two spells in quick succession: a dense barrage of bullet-shaped water droplets, enough to cover an entire wall, and a colossal three-meter-tall water tornado.
These attacks enveloped Quia Terra one after another, forcing him to raise his greatsword defensively.
Not only was he unable to advance, but he was also pushed back considerably.
The clash between water and fire seemed unlikely to conclude swiftly.
Concurrently, the other two battle circles also commenced.
“Miekin Hogg, it’s time to settle old scores! Die! Piercing Thunder Bolt!”
Moses Du’s enraged roar echoed.
His weapon, a triangular rapier, gleamed with dazzling electricity at its tip as he viciously thrust it towards Miekin Hogg’s chest.
He delivered a flurry of over a dozen stabs, leaving a trail of silver light in their wake.
“Thick Earth Shield! Heavy Rock Slash!”
Miekin Hogg was a sword-and-shield user.
With his left hand, he raised his shield, enduring Moses Du’s electric thrusts.
In his right hand, he swung his club-like rock sword down from above, launching a fierce counterattack against Moses Du.
“Moses, you’re still the same as ever, utterly incapable of harming me! Hahahaha! Now, die!”
Moses Du, however, proved far more agile than Miekin Hogg had anticipated.
With a mere flash of electricity, he vanished from his spot.
The instant Miekin Hogg’s attack missed, Moses Du struck again, his triangular rapier plummeting from above, aimed directly at his foe’s skull.
“You’re the one who’s going to die! Sky Thunder Drop!”
“Hmph, useless! Giant Rock Armor!”
Yet, Miekin Hogg merely offered a faint smile.
His entire body glowed with a fierce brown light, and within half a second, a colossal, dark brown rock armor solidified firmly around him.
This armor, almost armed to the teeth, made him resemble a warrior stepping straight out of the Middle Ages.
Albeit, this particular warrior was rather rotund.
“That damned rock armor again! Today, I swear I’ll shatter that tortoise shell of yours!”
Moses Du, his attack having missed, gritted his teeth and glared intently at Miekin Hogg.
The raging electrical arcs shimmering across his body intensified dramatically.
*Clink! Clang!*
These were the sounds of You’er’s and Heggel Gale’s swords clashing fiercely.
“Gugu You’er, it seems you’re not entirely foolish.
You understood how to leverage your authority over the past year to forge yourself a refined-grade sword.”
As he spoke, Heggel Gale attacked You’er, one hand supporting his sword, the other pressing down on it.
“Are you not the same, Western Master Heggel Gale?”
You’er parried Heggel Gale’s advance with a tilted blade, retorting with a cool, nonchalant sarcasm.
“Heh heh, the sword is fine, but the wielder might not be! What ‘dual masters’ nonsense! Today, I’ll show you the true extent of the gap between us!”
With these words, Heggel Gale suddenly exerted force, sending You’er staggering back several steps.
Heggel Gale then stooped slightly, sheathing his sword, as fierce winds began to rage around him.
The moment Heggel Gale adopted his stance, You’er’s expression turned solemn.
He had a vivid memory of this technique; Heggel Gale had once used it to slay numerous formidable individuals, including Vimay Toth.
You’er himself had diligently honed this very skill over the past year: the art of the draw!
You’er took a deep breath, shifted one leg horizontally, and settled into a bow stance.
His body leaned slightly to the left, and he returned his sword to its sheath, his palm resting on the hilt, as swirling ice mist enveloped him.
“You wish to contend with me in a sword draw? Overconfident fool, you shall pay the price for this!”
Witnessing You’er’s actions, a flicker of mockery and irritation crossed Heggel Gale’s eyes.
This fellow intended to use techniques stolen from him against him—truly ludicrous.
“Whether it is ludicrous or overconfident, one trial shall reveal all.”
You’er’s countenance, however, remained utterly serene.
“Then, let us try!”
While exchanging barbs, both combatants raced against time to gather their strength.
A sword-draw duel hinged upon the instantaneous cutting and killing power unleashed the moment the blade left its sheath.
The quicker one could accumulate more power in less time, the greater their chances of victory.
At a certain moment, both sides’ preparations reached their zenith.
The next instant, both men stepped forward simultaneously, their keen blades, sheathed at their waists, burst forth like raging dragons.
“Sword Draw Technique: Gale!”
“Sword Draw Technique: Hoarfrost!”
Though it was merely a single step, the figures of both men eerily vanished and reappeared in an instant.
This phenomenon occurred in the fleeting moment between the spectators closing and reopening their eyes, with only a select few perceiving it.
For the majority of the audience, the most astonishing discovery was that You’er and Heggel Gale had switched places.
They now stood back-to-back, maintaining identical sword-wielding stances, matching footwork, and mirror-image postures.
*Crack, crack, snap…*
With that faint sound, the swords in both You’er’s and Heggel Gale’s hands simultaneously shattered.
A sword mark appeared on each of their shoulders.
One side was crushed by a fierce gale, the other frozen to the bone by hoarfrost.
In the end, neither combatant gained an advantage from this sword-draw duel!