thenovelthief Chapter 1262 Demonstrating Strength
Chapter 1262 Demonstrating Strength
The moment the sword and shield clashed above, the handsome man drew his longsword from his waist.
He held his shield in front of him, pointed his sword at Su Xiao, and assumed a standard starting stance that balanced offense and defense.
"The madman of the Cycle of Reincarnation, remember this: I am—"
He didn't finish speaking.
Su Xiao disappeared from the spot.
The dragon's shadow flashed.
The handsome man's pupils suddenly contracted to the size of pinpoints.
His fighting instincts screamed a warning in that instant; his body reacted faster than his brain, his shield slammed to the left, and his longsword thrust in that direction at the same time.
Zheng—
A dense array of slashing rays suddenly appeared around him.
Not one, not two, but dozens, even hundreds.
The bluish-green blades appeared simultaneously from all directions, enveloping the handsome man entirely.
The handsome man's eyes widened suddenly. He felt that the space around him was shrouded in the light of blades and the aura of blood. The air became thick and difficult to breathe. Every inch of movement required several times the usual effort.
At the edge of his vision, a ferocious beast formed from blood energy was crouching there, its mouth full of sharp teeth, its blood-red eyes staring at him, and its mouth stretched open, revealing a hideous smile.
This is Su Xiao's innate ability, Blood Beast.
"Light Spell - Soul Binding".
Transparent threads emerged from his arm, as thin as hair and almost invisible in the air, yet they moved with astonishing speed, instantly weaving into a fine net that blocked the blade's edge between him and the enemy.
This is an advanced control skill that can bind the enemy's attacks to a net woven from silk threads, while simultaneously devouring the enemy's soul.
He used this move to defeat countless powerful enemies, turning the tide at crucial moments each time.
brush-
A beam of light flashed past.
Those transparent threads were like paper in front of the blade, crumbling at the slightest touch.
The blade of light continued forward without pausing, striking the handsome man's right arm.
The handsome man lost feeling in his right arm, as if that arm had never been a part of his body. He couldn't feel it, control it, or even know where it was.
He instinctively took a step back and pulled a scroll from his pocket with his left hand.
The scroll was sealed at both ends with gold hoops, making it look very valuable.
But Su Xiao was prepared. The moment the other party took out the prop, Su Xiao appeared behind him.
He kicked straight down while simultaneously slashing horizontally with his long sword.
boom--
The handsome man felt a numbness in his lower back; the force pierced through his light armor and struck his spine directly.
His body instinctively arched forward, his legs went weak, and he almost knelt on the ground.
Even more terrifying, he lost consciousness.
The handsome man's eyes were wide open, his pupils filled with fear and resentment.
He opened his mouth, as if to say something, but it was too late.
A trail of blood stretched through the air and splattered on the white sand like a blooming red flower.
Su Xiao flicked the blood off his longsword, the blade drawing a silver arc in the air. The remaining blood droplets fell from the blade onto the sand, making a soft rustling sound.
The long sword was sheathed, making a crisp clang.
After he took a few steps, the headless corpse behind him collapsed to the ground.
The body hit the sand with a dull thud, raising a small cloud of dust.
The head rolled several times on the sand before finally coming to rest at the edge of the sandpit, its eyes still open and its mouth still agape, retaining the same terrified expression it had before death.
Su Xiao didn't remember who the handsome man was.
Because the other party did not leave their name.
Since the other party didn't report it, Su Xiao didn't need to record it.
The opponent's strength is far inferior to that of the two brothers from Death Paradise.
Those two guys from Death Paradise are both incredibly difficult and cunning, with unpredictable and ever-changing fighting styles and a constant stream of trump cards. Su Xiao has to be on his toes when he fights them.
Judging from his fighting stance, the guy from Holy Light Paradise in front of me was too relaxed. He seemed more like he was there for a friendly match than a life-or-death battle.
There was a moment of silence in the stands, then a deafening roar of cheers erupted.
"Did you see that?! One cut! Just one cut!"
"That guy from Holy Light Paradise didn't even have a chance to fight back! He was instantly killed!"
"As expected of the Destroyer of Laws, his reputation is well-deserved!"
The loudest demons were the ones shouting the loudest; their voices echoed throughout the entire arena, each one as powerful as thirty.
Sage Mage Serphia leaned back in her chair, her gaze fixed on the black figure walking toward the participants' seats.
Her face was expressionless, her eyes reflecting the light and shadow of the arena.
She had never provoked anyone in her life; only the weak would bar their teeth and claws.
The rankings displayed on the screen above changed, and Su Xiao's name jumped from the bottom of the list, surpassing Mond and taking the first place.
15 Gladiator Points.
This points system is quite interesting.
It doesn't just look at your own strength, but also makes judgments based on the strength of your opponent.
The stronger your opponent, the more points you will get if you win.
The arena's judging mechanism is complex, but there is one basic principle—10 points is a watershed.
Before 10 points, his strength was at the normal level of the sixth rank.
After 10 points, each point represents a level, and each point gained means that your opponent is a level above you.
Su Xiao's 15 points mean that the Holy Light Paradise contractor he defeated was very strong in the arena's assessment.
Among the contestants in the fourth round, he could be considered to be of an upper-middle level.
Unfortunately, he ran into Su Xiao, that killer, who killed him instantly with a single strike, giving him no chance to react.
If it were a different opponent, that contractor from Holy Light Paradise might put on a spectacular fight, and might even advance.
But there are no "what ifs" in this world; luck is also a part of ability.
Su Xiao walked back to the participants' seats and sat down next to Lin Yi.
His breathing was steady, there wasn't a drop of sweat on his forehead, and not a trace of blood was on his black trench coat.
In the next ten minutes or so, several more groups of contestants took to the stage to compete.
Some won, some lost, some walked off the arena alive, some were carried off, and some never got up again.
More dark red bloodstains appeared on the sand of the arena, looking particularly glaring under the lights.
Then it was Lin Yi's turn.
The roulette wheel on the light screen stopped, and two names appeared before everyone.
Number 66, Lin Yi.
Number 38, the young man who had come to see him before.
Lin Yi stood up from his chair.
The moment he stood up, cheers erupted from all the various races around him.
The contestants all had different expressions on their faces as they watched Lin Yi stand up.
Some people were envious, some were jealous, some were curious, and some remained expressionless.
When the young man with number 38 stood up from his chair, several contestants around him reached out and patted him on the shoulder.
Those pats on the shoulder were light, but the meaning was very clear—you know what to do.
Don't be stubborn, don't take it too seriously, just go up there for the show and come down.
Winning is dishonorable, losing is even more shameful, so it's better to simply admit defeat and at least gain a reputation for being sensible.
The young man met those gazes, his lips twitched slightly, then he took a deep breath and strode towards the arena.
His steps were much heavier than when he came to find Lin Yi before; each step felt like walking on cotton, light and unreal.
The arena commentator, Hacker, was energetically hyping up the crowd.
"Ladies and gentlemen! The next match is one that I'm sure you've all been eagerly anticipating! The successor of the Abyss Healer lineage is about to showcase his strength in the Barrow Arena! His opponent is contestant number 38 from the Polaris Hunters! What sparks will fly in this match? Let's wait and see!"
He was very enthusiastic in his promotion, but everyone knew that the outcome of the game was never in doubt from the start.
From the audience to his opponents, everyone understood that Lin Yi was just here for fun.
Lin Yi stepped onto the sandy ground of the arena.
The young man stood twenty meters away, his face no longer bearing the fawning smile of before, but instead displaying a serious expression.
He took a deep breath, then another, clearing those jumbled thoughts from his mind.
Lin Yi drew the Black and White Rose sword, held it in one hand with the tip pointing diagonally to the ground, his posture as relaxed as if he were practicing swordsmanship in his own backyard.
When the young man saw Lin Yi draw his sword, his body began to turn red the next second.
This is his racial talent, somewhat similar to Boros from One-Punch Man, which can greatly enhance reaction speed and attack power.
The moment he activated this talent, his nerve conduction speed increased several times, his muscle explosive power increased several times, and even his vision, hearing, and touch became more acute. However, the side effects were not as severe as Boros's; he would only be weak for a period of time after using it.
The young man looked up, his bright orange eyes fixed on Lin Yi.
The next second, he disappeared from the spot.
It wasn't a spatial leap-like disappearance like Su Xiao's, but pure speed.
His speed left a deep groove in the sand of the arena, and sand grains flew to both sides, forming a white trail of dust.
He traversed two hundred meters in a fraction of a second and appeared before Lin Yi.
His right fist was clenched so tightly that the skin on it had turned dark red, and the veins on the surface bulged out like twisted snakes.
A wave of intense heat enveloped his fist, leaving a scorched mark in the air.
The punch was aimed at Lin Yi's chest.
Just as his fist was about to strike Lin Yi, a thought flashed through the young man's mind—should he hold back some of his strength? What if this punch really hit and injured Lin Yi? Would Hill be angry? Would those important figures sitting in the stands be furious? Would his race suffer as a result?
His fist hesitated for a moment, and he unconsciously withdrew some of his strength.
The next second, he was shocked to find that his fist had been steadily blocked by Lin Yi's left hand.
The young man's pupils contracted slightly.
Although he didn't go all out with that punch, he didn't hold back either.
The other contestants on the field were stunned for a moment when they saw this.
Everyone could see that although the young man didn't go all out when he attacked, most people wouldn't think it would be that easy afterward.
Lin Yi's ability to take the punch so easily was truly unexpected by many.
Many contestants changed their gaze towards Lin Yi.
Previously, they only regarded Lin Yi as a second-generation rich kid who relied on Hill's name to bully others, a fledgling hiding under the wings of a strongman.
But now they are beginning to reassess Lin Yi's combat capabilities.
No one would have expected that Lin Yi's combat strength was not weak at all.
Lin Yi's movements were very simple, without any fancy techniques; they were just the most basic close-quarters combat—closing the distance and delivering a close-range side kick.
Lin Yi lightly touched the ground with his right foot, sliding half a step forward. His left hand was still gripping the young man's fist. He raised his right leg, bent his knee, pointed his foot, and delivered a side kick to the young man's abdomen.
boom--
A dull, loud bang.
The young man felt as if he had been hit by a spaceship that was undergoing a space jump.
The force surged into his abdomen, and his body flew backward like a kicked soccer ball, his feet leaving the ground.
The moment the young man was sent flying, Lin Yi grabbed his fist with his left hand.
The backward pull and the forward thrust collided within the young man's body, pulling his arm straight and causing his shoulder joint to make a teeth-grinding cracking sound.
Lin Yi followed that force and pulled backward sharply.
The young man's body changed from flying backward to rushing forward, and he was pulled back by Lin Yi.
His body flipped 180 degrees in mid-air, head down and feet up, like a sack being thrown out.
Using the momentum, Lin Yi lowered his body, exerted force with his waist and back, and swung his arms back sharply, slamming the young man to the ground.
boom--
A loud bang shook the entire sandy ground.
Sand grains bounced off the ground, forming a ring of sand in mid-air that spread outwards.
The young man's back slammed solidly into the sand, creating a deep crater over two meters in diameter and half a meter deep.
Countless cracks spread outwards from his back, like a giant spider web, extending several meters away from the edge of the pit.
The young man coughed up blood, dark red blood oozing from the corner of his mouth and dripping down his chin onto the sand, spreading a small patch of dark red among the white sand grains.
He lay in the sandpit, staring blankly at the pale golden barrier above his head.
Dude, with your fighting skills, why are you a doctor? With all that combat ability, why not be a warrior, an assassin, or a front-line fighter? Did you choose the wrong profession?
Lin Yi stood at the edge of the sandpit, looking down at the young man inside.
He did not continue the pursuit, but instead took a step back, letting the black and white roses droop at his side, giving his opponent time to catch his breath.
The young man climbed out of the sandpit with some difficulty, his brows furrowed with pain in his lower back.
He knelt on one knee on the sand, one hand supporting himself on the ground, the other hand clutching the spot in his abdomen where Lin Yi had kicked him.
He looked up at Lin Yi, who was standing at the edge of the sandpit, and there was something new in his bright orange eyes that he hadn't seen before.
He wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and stood up from the sand.
His body was still trembling slightly, but his back was ramrod straight.
He looked at Lin Yi, his eyes becoming completely serious.
Lin Yi's fighting strength was clearly not something he could afford to hold back against. If he continued to fight with the mindset of "just going through the motions," it would be a question whether he could even leave the arena alive today.
He took a deep breath, pushing his racial talents to their limit.
His body turned even redder, the red changing from dark red to bright red, like a piece of iron that had been heated through.
The blood vessels on the surface of the skin bulged out, forming dark lines on the red skin.
His hair stood on end, each strand pointing upwards, with tiny sparks dancing at the tips, making him look like a Saiyan in a transformation.
The next second, a whip kick swept from Lin Yi's side.
The opponent's speed is more than twice as fast as before.
The leg left a trail of afterimages in mid-air, its toes accompanied by a wave of scorching heat, tearing the air apart with a sharp whistling sound.
The kick was aimed at Lin Yi's waist; if it landed, it would be enough to split a steel plate in two.
Lin Yi raised the black and white rose and slashed out with his sword.
The trajectory of the slash is very simple; it's just a horizontal slash.
The young man's attack was forced back by the slash, and he staggered back two steps before regaining his balance.
He had a small wound on his calf, and blood was seeping from the wound and running down his skin.
If he hadn't stopped in time, he probably would have become a one-legged immortal by now.
He did not back down and pounced again.
This time his attack was even more ferocious, with punches and kicks striking simultaneously, each strike carrying a scorching shockwave that left burn marks in the air.
Lin Yi stood still, each sword strike precisely hitting the young man's weak points, deflecting his fierce attacks one by one.
The spectators in the stands were stunned.
Although they knew Lin Yi would win the match, after all, the title of Abyss Physician was well-deserved.
But unexpectedly, Lin Yi was also so fierce in battle.
The opponent became increasingly anxious as he attacked, but Lin Yi's defense was like an impenetrable wall, remaining unmoved no matter how he attacked.
His strength was rapidly depleting, his breathing became rapid, and fine beads of sweat appeared on his forehead.
Lin Yi remained calm and unhurried, not even his breathing was out of control.
The moment the young man's attack faltered, Lin Yi moved.
He planted the black and white roses into the ground, the sword blade sinking into the sand, leaving only the hilt sticking out.
A surge of black energy emanated from the sword, seeping into the sand and spreading outwards.
The next second, several black spikes shot out from the ground.
The black thorns emerged simultaneously from the young man's feet, sides, and back.
The young man instinctively wanted to back away, to avoid the black thorns, but it was too late.
puff-
A black thorn pierced his abdomen and emerged from his back.
Dark red blood gushed from the wound, dripping from the tip of the black thorn onto the sand.
Then came the second and third rounds.
Three black thorns pierced his abdomen at the same time, pinning him to the ground.
Abyss Shadow - Destruction.
The young man felt a cold force surge into him from the black thorns, spreading through his veins to his limbs and bones.
He was knowledgeable enough to know that this was the power of the abyss, and he couldn't let it continue to circulate within his body.
"I... admit defeat."
When those three words came out of his mouth, the arena fell silent for a moment, and then a deafening cheer erupted from the stands.
The notification sound from the Void Tree rang out above the arena.
[Round 1, No. 66 wins.]
On the semi-transparent screen above the arena, the gladiator rankings were updated once again.
Lin Yi's code name appeared on the list, with 14 gladiator points, ranking third after Su Xiao.
This score is interesting.
This shows that the young man was very strong in the arena's judgment.
Among the contestants in the fourth round, he was by no means a weakling, which surprised the audience.
So the Abyss Healer is quite formidable in combat too. (End of Chapter)