“Your sword drawing technique is commendable, yet I believe your true power extends far beyond this. Having spent an entire year nurturing you, I trust you will not disappoint me.”
Leaning back in the golden presidential seat, Salakriffin sipped from his wine glass, observing You’er and Heggel Gale with an expression of keen anticipation as he murmured softly to himself.
After their decisive clash yielded no clear victor, You’er and Heggel Gale reacted with astonishing synchronicity, both darting towards the nearest weapon rack in the arena, intent on seizing the iron swords resting there.
Unbeknownst to them, their perfect coordination led to an unexpected collision.
“Get out of my way!”
Raising their magic-wreathed arms, each delivered a punch like a dragon emerging from the sea, landing squarely on the other’s chest, sending both combatants soaring backward like broken-winged birds, tumbling in opposite directions.
“A roar of astonishment erupted from the fourth ring.”
A wave of clamor swept across the fourth ring, wondering if East Jett and West Jett would conclude their battle in a mutually destructive stalemate.
“It seems the outcome over there will be decided first, hehe.”
Miekin Hogg, clad in his armor, parried Moses Du’s attacks while speaking with a sinister chuckle.
“Who knows? Perhaps our own bout will conclude first.”
Moses Du, crackling with electricity, resembled a dazzling silver sun as he charged at Miekin Hogg, his surging arcs of lightning relentlessly eroding the stone armor, leaving deep, whip-like scars across its surface.
“It’s futile, Moses. Your lightning will never breach my layered stone!”
Miekin Hogg merely took two steps back before regaining his footing, his stone armor morphing as sharp spikes erupted from its surface. Moses Du, caught off guard, found several fish-eye sized holes pierced through his body, from which blood immediately gushed profusely.
“Damn it!”
Just as his vital points were about to be struck, Moses Du decisively retreated, swiftly pulling a vial of liquid medicine from his pocket and downing it. The wounds on his body quickly ceased their profuse bleeding.
“A healing potion? It seems you haven’t idled away all these years, but even if your healing potions allow you to endure until the end, how long can your revered ‘Lord East Jett’ last? Now, look behind you!”
Miekin Hogg fixed Moses Du with a scorpion-like gaze as the latter recovered, a chilling smile spreading across his lips as he spoke.
“What?!”
Moses Du raised an eyebrow, a look of astonishment crossing his face as he glanced towards the other battlefield. He saw the two fallen figures rise again shortly after; You’er had a trickle of blood at the corner of his mouth and a gruesome sword wound on his left shoulder, while Heggel Gale appeared completely unharmed, showing not even the slightest injury.
Moses Du stared intently once more, finally discerning something on Heggel Gale’s torn shoulder-guard, and immediately exclaimed in horror, “Is that… Demonstone Armor?! Miekin, you actually gave this to Heggel Gale?!”
“Hehehe, that’s precisely why I said your boy is doomed to lose.” Miekin Hogg’s lips curled into a triumphant sneer.
On the continent of Arnora, weapons and armor possess distinct tiers. For weapons, these tiers progress from ordinary, refined, and enchanted, culminating in sacred artifacts and even divine relics!
Having served as a warden for well over a decade, one of Miekin Hogg’s most prized acquisitions was this very armor before him: the Demonstone Armor, enchanted to the second tier!
Its defensive prowess was so formidable that it could withstand the full might of a Sword Master’s attack, yet You’er was merely a Great Swordsman.
In other words, during their earlier sword-drawing contest, Heggel Gale had not been injured at all. He had merely feigned injury, leading You’er to lower his guard!
“Damn it! That despicable Heggel Gale! Boss, fight on, beat that scoundrel down!”
“Boss, you must return alive! We made a promise!”
…
In the East District preparation hall, Keane, Veron, and the others, who had witnessed the unfolding situation, clenched their fists and prayed for You’er in their hearts.
“Lord East Jett, catch!”
Moses Du knew with certainty that You’er could not afford to lose. If You’er were to fall, their defeat would be sealed. Without a moment’s hesitation, Moses Du hurled one of his last three remaining recovery potions towards You’er.
You’er raised his hand, intending to catch the potion Moses Du had thrown, but at that very moment, Heggel Gale launched his assault.
“Seeking to heal? Impossible!”
Heggel Gale would never stand idly by while You’er recovered from his injuries. He snatched an iron sword from nearby. Though nearly twenty meters separated them, he did not charge You’er with brute force; instead, he channeled all the wind magic within him into the iron sword, then thrust it forward!
“Blade Rush!”
This seemingly short-range thrust of the sword propelled Heggel Gale’s body forward over a dozen meters in an instant, bringing him directly before You’er.
“Damn! A Rush Sword Skill?!”
On another part of the battlefield, Rigalantie Hogan cried out in alarm, their gaze fixed on Heggel Gale now filled with profound apprehension. They had never imagined that the person they had contended with for a year had been concealing such a terrifying ability!
Rush Sword Skills were renowned as the most challenging category of sword techniques to master, and simultaneously branded as the nightmare of mages.
These sword skills were truly terrifying, enabling their practitioners to traverse several meters, or even dozens, in a single instant. Should a swordsman utilize such a skill to close the distance, it was tantamount to a death sentence for any mage.
Of course, the Rush Sword Skill Heggel Gale unleashed now was not aimed at Rigalantie Hogan; his spearhead pointed directly at You’er. This sword, wreathed in fierce gales, plunged mercilessly towards You’er’s chest.
The moment Heggel Gale adopted his stance, You’er abandoned any thought of catching the potion. His hand swept down with the speed of a gale, seizing an iron sword and a steel shield from the nearby weapon rack.
He positioned the shield before him, the sword behind.
The seemingly thick and sturdy steel shield was, in an instant, pierced and shattered by Heggel Gale’s wind-wreathed sword!
Heggel Gale’s Rush Sword Skill surged forward with overwhelming momentum, almost imperceptible to the naked eye. Yet, under You’er’s Soul Sight, it found no escape. His mind became utterly clear, calculating the timing of that storm-wreathed sword’s strike over and over again.
“Now!”
In that precise moment, You’er experienced a flash of enlightenment, and with a sudden upward thrust of his sword, he parried Heggel Gale’s sword tip with incredible precision. The frost and fierce winds clinging to the iron sword clashed violently, erupting into dazzling sparks.
You’er’s upward parry struck precisely at the nexus where Heggel Gale’s magic converged on the iron sword, utterly disrupting the swirling gales. With a low resonance, the entire iron sword, hilt and all, abruptly shattered.
This was a consequence of Heggel Gale’s own chaotic magic.
Frost danced, and a spectral blue magical light radiated brilliantly from You’er’s iron sword.
With a whistle through the air, You’er instantly executed two cross-slashes. Heggel Gale, however, now held nothing in his hands.
“A collective gasp swept through the crowd!”
Just as the spectators believed the victor would be determined, a yellowish-brown spiritual light suddenly burst forth from Heggel Gale, forming an earthen-colored energy shield that blocked You’er’s slashes.
The Demonstone Armor, a gift from Miekin Hogg, had once again shielded Heggel Gale from a lethal blow.
Heggel Gale seized the opportunity to swiftly retreat, while You’er, pivoting agilely, caught the potion that had flown over his head, securing it in his palm.
“Damn it, what a persistently troublesome foe!”
Gazing across at the recovered You’er, Heggel Gale snarled through gritted teeth, though his eyes no longer held any trace of scorn.
“This potion is truly remarkable. I should ask Moses Du for a few more bottles later.”
Having consumed the potion, You’er felt the lacerations on his shoulder cease bleeding, and the dull ache in his chest gradually recede. Even more delightful, his expended strength had been significantly replenished, making You’er eager to demand another ten or eight bottles from Moses Du.
If Moses Du knew You’er’s current thoughts, he would undoubtedly be hopping mad. After all, it had taken him a decade to procure a mere four bottles, and he had just used half of them. Where would he find another ten or eight?
“Well, we can discuss the potions later. For now…”
A playful smile touched You’er’s lips as he looked across at Heggel Gale.
You’er raised his iron sword, adopting a stance, as spectral blue ice magic swirled around the blade like ribbons of silk.
The posture You’er assumed was an exact replica of Heggel Gale’s from moments before!
“Damn, damn, damn! This fellow is stealing my sword skill again! Confound him!”
Upon witnessing You’er’s movements, Heggel Gale was nearly driven mad with fury. What terrifying audacity did this bastard possess, to be able to memorize a sword skill after seeing it performed just once, then replicate and execute it himself?
“A collective gasp rippled through the onlookers!”
“Blade Rush!”
Amidst the astonished cries of the spectators, You’er’s figure shot forth like a rocket. Just like Heggel Gale before him, he traversed over a dozen meters in an instant, his ice-wreathed iron sword emanating a fearsome aura.
“Aaaah! Blade Rush!!!”
Heggel Gale roared like a madman, unleashing Blade Rush for a second time. He refused to believe that this impostor, who merely copied others, could wield a fake sword skill more powerfully than the original!
And thus, a truly spectacular and absolute duel of Rush Sword Skills unfolded, captivating and exhilarating in its full display.