“For the fourth match, let’s welcome contestant number four, Caleb Foyer, and contestant number five, Dustin Rhys.”
As Oron’s voice boomed, the crowd erupted into thunderous applause.
Under everyone’s watchful eyes, Dustin and Caleb stepped onto the battle ring. This last quarterfinal match was shrouded in suspense. Both contestants had emerged as underdogs in the tournament.
Caleb had gained instant fame after defeating Sam, who ranked ninth on the Legendary List. In contrast, Dustin took down two powerful foreign contestants in succession, which showcased his remarkable strength. Hence, everyone eagerly anticipated their showdown.
“Who do you think will win this match?
“It should be Caleb, right? He’s a chosen apprentice of Sacred Wrym Summit. After all, he has mastered the Glow Incantation, Stormcraft, and Divine Talismans. Even Sam, with the sacred weapon of the Dawson Clan, couldn’t defeat him. That shows just how powerful Caleb is.”
“Not so fast! I think Dustin is someone to watch out for. He’s like a hidden gem and knows a bit of everything. I still can’t tell what he’s capable of.”
“Well, it won’t take long to find out who’s who when the match begins.”
As they watched Caleb and Dustin take their positions, the spectators were buzzing with conversation.
Some cheered for Caleb, while others rallied behind Dustin. Each group tried
to sway the other and was unwilling to concede their beliefs. With their strong performances earlier, predicting the outcome before they clashed was impossible.
“I’m Caleb Foyer from Sacred Wyrm Summit,” Caleb greeted with a respectful nod.
“I’m Dustin Rhys,” Dustin replied politely.
“You should know the rules, then I won’t say much. If there are no objections, the match begins now.”
After dropping that line, Oron quickly jumped off the battle ring and activated the protective barrier.
Before the quarterfinals, the matches inflicted minimal damage, so the protective barrier was seldom activated. But with the risk of massive destruction in every fight now, the barrier had become essential.
Oron understood he had to remain vigilant in case the barrier began to fail. If that happened, he would have to intervene to stabilize it, which was a demanding job.
“When I first saw you a few days ago, I knew you were special. But I never expected we would actually meet on the battle ring,” Caleb said with a smile.
Sacred Wyrm Summit had been tasked with capturing an assassin, but Dustin had beaten him to it. Caleb had also expressed his anticipation for a showdown in the battle ring, and it turned out his words had come true.
“Well, I suppose you could say fate brought us together again,” Dustin replied with a smile.
“Whatever it is, we need to determine a winner today. Please go ahead,” Caleb said and gestured with one hand.
“Then, I won’t hold back.”
As soon as the words left his mouth, Dustin sprang into action. With a quick flick of his hand, three silver needles shot out. Two were aimed at Caleb’s eyes, while the third went straight for his throat.
A low hum filled the air as a golden light erupted around Caleb’s body.
The three silver needles hit the golden light and bounced away. They created only a few ripples without causing any damage. The Glow Incantation from Sacred Wrym Summit was not something ordinary hidden weapons could break.
Of course, Dustin hadn’t expected to land a killing blow. While shooting the three needles, he closed the distance to Caleb. His fist, charged with internal energy, came crashing down.
Caleb didn’t dodge or use his Divine Talisman. Instead, he threw a punch to meet Dustin’s. The two fists collided and unleashed a powerful shockwave.
The ground beneath Dustin’s feet cracked, but he didn’t budge an inch. On the contrary, Caleb retreated several steps, and the golden light flickered around him.
“Hmm?” Caleb frowned in surprise.
With the Glow Incantation enhancing his body, he should have had the upper hand in raw power. However, Dustin’s overwhelming strength left him struggling in their initial exchange.
Before Caleb could react, Dustin launched another assault. He closed in like a shadow, and his fists came down like a torrential downpour as he unleashed a rapid-fire barrage of strikes. His speed was so fast that the
spectators could only catch glimpses of his afterimages.
Caleb defended himself while retreating. Even with the Glow Incantation, his arms were numb from the relentless assault. He knew he was outmatched in strength. If this continued, he would end up at a disadvantage.
“Stormcraft!”
Realizing he couldn’t hold out much longer, Caleb decided to go all in. His fingers crackled with blue lightning, and he tapped on Dustin’s incoming fist.
A loud crack echoed through the arena as arcs of lightning flashed.
Dustin jolted as electricity coursed through him, forcing him to retreat several steps. His relentless assault came to an abrupt halt.
“Interesting.” He glanced at the flickering lightning still crackling around his fist and raised an eyebrow in surprise.
It was his first time feeling the direct impact of mysterious Stormcraft. He finally understood why Sacred Wyrm Summit dominated the martial world.
Stormcraft was a technique that could altogether bypass defenses. It inflicted damage not just on the body but also on the soul. No one could rely on brute strength to withstand its effects.
If mastered to its fullest, it could make a person unstoppable. Combined with the Glow Incantation and the Divine Talisman, it formed a lethal arsenal.
“Now it’s my turn.” Seeing Dustin momentarily stunned by the lightning, Caleb seized the opportunity.
Sparks of lightning flickered at his fingertips as he thrust forward. A blue serpent of electricity shot out that aimed straight for Dustin’s chest.
