Quia’s punch carried an intensely scorching and ferocious gust, causing You’er’s silver-blue hair to stream wildly backward, imbued with a chilling aura of death.
It was abundantly clear that Quia, now genuinely enraged, harbored no intention of mercy; he was unequivocally determined to end You’er’s life.
Had this been the You’er of the past, he would undoubtedly have been overwhelmed with helplessness, seized by terror, and perhaps even consumed by despair in such a predicament.
Yet, the sole emotion residing within his heart now was one of profound calm and serene indifference.
Why, one might ask?
Because from this seemingly utterly ferocious punch, You’er could not discern even a trace of anything that might instill fear within him; it was an intuition, an ineffable feeling that filled him with absolute confidence.
Driven by this powerful intuition, You’er reacted in the simplest, most direct manner.
He stepped forward, completely disregarding the mocking gazes of the ‘spectators’ present, and clenched his right fist, unleashing a strike that, in comparison, seemed as tiny as an infant’s.
Without any fancy moves, his fist collided squarely with Quia’s massive one.
Boom!
A dull thud echoed like thunder, reverberating deep within the hearts of all the ‘spectators’.
Beneath their feet, clouds of dust erupted, swirling outward in concentric layers.
Thump, thump, thump… A series of heavy footsteps followed, and in sync with these resounding thuds, Quia’s tower-like, muscular body was forced to retreat several steps.
Conversely, You’er remained rooted to his spot, not yielding an inch.
Whoosh!
This was far from the end; You’er’s body abruptly lunged forward, nearly crashing into the somewhat unsteady Quia.
With a powerful uppercut, carrying a surge of formidable force, he viciously slammed into Quia’s jaw!
The towering figure was sent flying backward, then crashed heavily to the ground, kicking up an even greater cloud of dust that rained down.
You’er’s two consecutive movements were executed seamlessly, without the slightest hesitation, completed in an instant, denying anyone, including Quia, any time to react.
At this moment, the entire hall fell into a profound silence.
Everyone’s mouths hung agape, their eyes wide, rubbing their reddened gazes again and again, until they finally confirmed that what they witnessed was an undeniable reality.
A single clash, yet the outcome had defied all expectations.
Those who had previously regarded You’er with mocking eyes now looked at him with profound apprehension, especially Quia’s original subordinates, some of whom showed visible wavering in their expressions.
In this arena, the strong reigned supreme; this was an unchanging truth, regardless of the sector.
Before the result, no one had imagined that this seemingly pale and frail, seemingly vulnerable youth possessed such terrifying strength.
‘This guy must be a monster!’ the ‘spectators’ silently labeled You’er in their minds.
And why not? A mere teenager, just over 1.6 meters tall, had triumphed over the 2.5-meter-tall Quia in a direct contest of brute force!
“Holy crap! Little brother… oh no, Boss, you’re amazing! My Keane’s judgment is as sharp as ever; truly worthy of being the boss I chose!”
If there was anyone among the ‘spectators’ harboring different emotions, it was undoubtedly Keane, who had known You’er from the beginning.
This fellow suddenly leaped out, cheering loudly, and his address to You’er changed from ‘little brother’ to ‘boss’.
He was the first to take a side, and his choice, naturally, was You’er.
However, under the murderous glares from Quia’s subordinates, he quickly wilted, displaying his trademark fawning smile, squatting down, and raising his hands in surrender.
Keane’s brief interlude did not last long, for new movements emerged from Quia’s direction.
Stepping out of the swirling dust, Quia exuded an intensely scorching heat; the sound of burning flames was distinctly audible, and the aura Quia now unleashed was several times stronger than before!
“Phew… I knew Boss Quia wasn’t using his full strength just now.”
“Exactly, I’m very familiar with Boss Quia’s power; how could he be defeated by some punk?”
“It looks like Boss Quia is about to use his magic power. Tsk, tsk, his magic power is already at the level of a high-tier swordsman. No matter how strong that kid is, he definitely won’t last long!”
“…”
As the one caught in the midst, You’er, firmly locked onto by Quia’s aura, watched his expression gradually turn grave.
Quia now presented a deadly sense of danger.
If asked where this feeling originated, it was from the surging, robust magic power surrounding Quia, a magic power as scorching and blistering as raging flames.
“Kid, I have to admit you’re someone noteworthy, but here, one mountain cannot tolerate two tigers! So, let us begin the second round!”
Quia’s face was contorted with such ferocity that everyone present felt a chill crawl up their spines, as if a butcher’s blade hung suspended above their heads, threatening to fall at any moment… such was the pressing urgency.
As Quia’s words fell, blazing flames erupted and burned from his body, evaporating the scant air within the confined hall, abruptly intensifying everyone’s breathing.
He resembled a giant of fire, a fiery tank, charging directly toward You’er with incredibly terrifying momentum.
With his beloved, Noelle Noah, behind him, You’er’s eyes held no timidity, no fear.
Even knowing it might be a moth flying into a flame, his steps remained resolute as he advanced, offering his own flesh and blood to meet Quia’s inferno.
Punch after punch, blow after blow…
Under the onslaught of the fiercely burning flames, You’er was at an absolute disadvantage, yet he refused to retreat even an inch.
Though his clothes caught fire, though his long hair was singed, though his skin and flesh were scorched…
Sizzle, sizzle, sizzle~~~
In this unadorned contest of strength, You’er endured the biting flames, forcing back yet another of Quia’s charges.
“Huff, huff~~ Huff, huff~~
The sweat-drenched You’er dropped to one knee, his chest heaving violently.
Resisting the searing pain solely by clenching his teeth, the price he paid was far greater than imagined.
Even if his spirit, tempered by arduous trials, could endure, his body, composed of flesh and blood, could not continue much longer.
“Little brother… oh no, Boss! My boss! You absolutely have to hold on! I’ve bet everything on you; if you lose, I’m finished too!”
Hiding in the corner, Keane cried out with a mournful face, the malevolent gazes from all around making his scrawny body tremble uncontrollably with fear.
In truth, he already understood in his heart that You’er had lost; how could a magicless person possibly defeat a magic swordsman, even if the swordsman wasn’t using a sword at the moment?
Keane’s unspoken thoughts echoed the sentiments of every spectator present.
Except for one person.
Noelle Noah.
She said nothing, merely stepping behind the tottering You’er and gently embracing him; this was her unique form of encouragement.
“My dearest husband, I apologize that Noelle has only now stepped forward, but Noelle had no choice, for only by enduring the baptism of the flames can our bloodline regain its vitality.”
Noelle softly traced patterns on You’er’s back, biting her index finger and using drops of blood to draw one magic array after another, imprinting them upon You’er’s skin, flesh, and bloodline.
“Now, finally, the time has come…”
Boom!
Dazzling cerulean light erupted from within You’er’s body, and layers of ice flowers blossomed in concentric circles around the two of them, like ice lotuses blooming in the heart of winter.
You’er, holding the now sleeping Noelle in one arm, moved his thoughts, and the layers of ice lotuses beneath his feet began to recede.
The surging cerulean ice mist, like birds returning to their nest, swirled around You’er, lingering as if with reluctance and affection.
This was magic power, You’er’s magic power, cerulean ice magic power!
“Quia, was it? You’re right, one mountain cannot tolerate two tigers, and ice and fire can never intertwine! So, let us continue our battle!”
You’er slowly rose, his scar-laden face alight with surging battle intent.