Chapter Forty-Six: A Baffling Victory

After my “Lone Sword in the Dust” strike landed, I instantly summoned the Mud Python, unleashing venomous bombs to thwart his follow-up moves and force him back. At the same time, the Giant-horned Lizard and the Hurricane Wolf King flanked him on both sides, completing the encirclement.

But then, with a powerful shout, Lone Sword in the Dust plunged his Thunderfire Sword into the ground. A burst of lightning exploded outward from his position, the force of it blasting both me and my summoned beasts off our feet and sending us crashing to the ground.

I quickly scrambled up, calling my summons back to my side. The Mud Python was nearly spent, barely clinging to life and unable to withstand another blow. Now, I stood in the center, the Hurricane Wolf King on my left, the Giant-horned Lizard on my right, all of us fixing our gaze on Lone Sword in the Dust, the tension crackling in the air.

“Haha!” Lone Sword in the Dust couldn’t help but laugh aloud.

“Enough with the laughter—let’s continue,” I replied, gripping my Ruyi Staff.

He nodded, “Very well. Then I’ll make sure you lose without any doubts.” With a sudden movement, swift as lightning, he lunged at me, his left fist glowing with a strange light.

Though my speed was no match for his, my battle instincts were second to none. As he moved, I activated my shield, conjuring a green barrier just in time. “Break! Break! Break!” In an instant, seven thunderous impacts slammed into me, pushing me back several meters. If it weren’t for my Beastmaster stance skill, Feint, which allowed me to summon a shield with 5,000 durability points to absorb damage, I’d have been finished—the chain explosions totaled over two thousand points of terrifying damage. If that hit had landed directly, I would have been obliterated.

The Hurricane Wolf King countered, unleashing a barrage of tornadoes, just half a second behind Lone Sword in the Dust’s attack. Multiple spiraling storms engulfed the arena, closing in from all directions.

I once again summoned the Mud Python, weak as it was. It wouldn’t survive a single hit from him, but I had a plan. I ordered it to burrow underground, and as Lone Sword in the Dust advanced, the python erupted from below, its two-meter body coiling tightly around his legs.

With a grunt, Lone Sword in the Dust detonated with a flash of lightning and fire, a whirlwind rising over ten meters high. The Hurricane Wolf King’s spiral tornado struck at the same moment, and the collision of these forces unleashed a tremendous explosion that shook the arena. When the dust cleared, Lone Sword in the Dust stood unscathed amidst the devastation, a massive crater splitting the earth at his feet.

Laughing wildly, he gripped his Thunderfire Sword, which suddenly transformed into a colossal blade ten meters long. With a mighty swing, he roared, “If you dare, withstand my Annihilation Sword!” Slash after slash thundered down, the giant blade’s onslaught overwhelming.

“Be shattered to pieces!” he bellowed, bringing the sword down in a sweeping arc.

I tried to dodge, but it was too late. With a hiss, the Mud Python was cleaved in two, vanishing into the air. Next was the Giant-horned Lizard, which was sliced into three pieces by three strikes. With two thousand health and five hundred defense, it was as fragile as glass under such monstrous power, perishing just a split second after the python.

The first strike dealt with the Mud Python, and the next three felled the Giant-horned Lizard, but his assault was far from over. The flurry of sword strikes came at me from all directions, so fast I could barely react.

Three more slashes came down, nearly upon me. At the last instant, the Hurricane Wolf King leapt before me, taking the hits and vanishing as its life was extinguished. Another slash tore into the arena, carving a deep chasm.

“Incredible!” I exclaimed.

Lone Sword in the Dust’s voice suddenly sounded from behind me. “It’s an honor to be praised by a master like you, but this is where it ends.”

“What—” I began, but he vanished, feinting and weaving away. He raised his giant sword, saying, “You’re the first to dodge my chain slashes. I truly underestimated you.”

“Is that so?” I replied with a quiet chuckle. He swung again; I leapt back, evading the blow as it carved another rift in the ground. He lunged forward, sweeping the giant sword horizontally. I braced my Ruyi Staff and blocked him.

“Impressive,” he said. “That green-grade Ruyi Staff from the equipment rankings is worthy indeed, able to withstand my Annihilation Sword. But green gear is nothing compared to purple.”

He raised the giant sword and charged at me. His left palm pressed to my face, and in a flash, a wave of energy erupted, sending me flying like a cannonball. Blood sprayed from my mouth as I crashed into the distant wall and bounced off, losing 1,100 health in an instant. He raised his sword high for the finishing blow.

Without thinking, I lifted my Ruyi Staff to meet his strike. The impact drove me into the ground, forming a deep pit. Lone Sword in the Dust was sure I was dead, but as the smoke cleared, I stood my ground, miraculously surviving.

He looked at me in shock. Truth be told, I was lucky—the 20% damage absorption effect of my Skyforged Armor had triggered at that critical moment. Not only did I not lose health, but I was instantly healed to full. Suddenly, the ten-meter sword shattered into fragments.

“Tch, time’s up,” Lone Sword in the Dust muttered.

I immediately activated Soaring Wings, lunging forward and thrusting my Ruyi Staff at him repeatedly. He was caught on the back foot, but then he swung his sword, dealing another 1,100 damage and sapping my mana by the same amount—his signature move. He began channeling his ultimate sword energy skill, but I threw an amp at him, a pale blue energy orb that exploded on impact, interrupting his casting. He looked at me in surprise—I, too, had a skill to drain mana.

Seeing him chugging potions, I knew I’d hit his mana hard. Seizing the chance, I rushed him, landing a punch to his face, then leapt up to unleash my Rift Slash Wheel. He blocked with the Thunderfire Sword, sparks flying as the wheel spun against the blade. Barely weathering the assault, he stood, grinned, and charged me, landing a punch to my face. I staggered, but quickly regained my footing and countered. We exchanged blow after blow, until, in a burst of mutual defiance, we tossed our weapons aside and fought hand-to-hand, each punch met by another in a fierce exchange.

At last, our fists struck each other’s faces simultaneously. We stepped back, both panting, eyes locked in a predator’s stare. Then, we lunged, grappling and shoving, each pushing the other back before resuming the brawl. His strength bested mine, sending me reeling, but I steadied myself and landed a punch that forced him back as well. He quickly recovered, his left hook sending me flying to the ground.

Lone Sword in the Dust pounced, but I braced myself with both hands on the ground, kicked him in the chest, and sprang upright as he tumbled away. I pursued, launching a flying kick just as he threw a punch. Both attacks landed, sending us hurtling apart once more.

We stood, exchanging glances and then laughter.

“Hahaha, fighting you is truly a pleasure,” he said.

“It is. Shall we continue?” I replied.

He shook his head. “No. Even if we fought for a whole day and night, we wouldn’t settle it. Besides, I’ve found what I was looking for. Let’s continue our rivalry another time.”

“Ding! Player Lone Sword in the Dust has forfeited. Congratulations to Mighty Dragon for advancing to the next round!”

The entire arena was stunned. What on earth was going through that guy’s mind? He could have won, but he chose to forfeit. Only he knows the reason for that, but one thing was certain—I had won, albeit in the most baffling fashion.

Next up was Illusory Moon versus Silver Moon. The outcome was never in doubt. Illusory Moon charged at the start, dodging Silver Moon’s relentless arrows with ease. Closing the distance, Illusory Moon struck before Silver Moon could react, knocking him out of the arena in an instant. Thus, the final showdown for the championship would be between me and Illusory Moon.