Chapter 388: This Battle is Thrilling

A flame shot into the sky, and Asiba retreated several steps, his attack having missed. The rose-patterned garment on his abdomen instantly showed a scorched black mark. If it weren't for the fact that this clothing was specially tailored by the Rose Holy Sanctuary with certain rune protections, the top would have caught fire.

The soaring flame was merely a continuation of the fire energy, but Retsu Shiba's assault did not cease. He took large strides, his body following closely like a leech, raising his shoulder and elbow, delivering a fierce punch.

Although Fantasi was caught off guard by Retsu's initial attack and staggered back a few steps, he quickly regained his composure.

The previous battle had only boosted his confidence, and now, facing an evenly matched opponent with ample self-assurance, his movements became fluid.

He was now intensely focused, his body swaying like a spinning top, his steps swinging like a pendulum.

Retsu Shiba's Retsuken strikes were continuous and interconnected, each move seamlessly linked to the next. His foundation in traditional martial arts was rock-solid, and when combined with the explosive power of fire energy, it seemed as though his strength, originally ranked beyond the top four hundred in Dragon City, had suddenly leaped several levels, exerting immense pressure.

Fantasi, however, moved more naturally with each sway. Often, it wasn't his body actively dodging, but rather, his movements were naturally evading the force of the punches, each step blooming like a lotus. Not just his feet, but every part of his body, even the rolls of fat, seemed to participate in these evasive maneuvers. His previously bulging belly could instantly tighten, and the slippery fat on his body felt as soft as cotton, unable to bear any force. Several times, despite being hit by powerful punches, the fat would bounce ‘Duang, Duang, Duang,’ reducing the impact by half, allowing the force to slide off harmlessly.

One attacked fiercely, the other defended ingeniously.

Another hook missed, but a flash of light suddenly appeared in Shiba's eyes. All the fire energy in his body concentrated on his right fist, which had just missed its target.

Kouga!

Boom!

The fire energy that had soared into the air suddenly changed direction mid-flight, transforming into a glowing tongue as thick as an arm, shaped like a menacing snake, lunging viciously at Fantasi's neck.

Boom!

Fantasi's fat could deflect the impact of the punches, but this was a ‘bite’... He felt the unique energy form like a sharp cone or needle, piercing through with astonishing penetration.

At the last moment, he managed to lean back, his body jerking sharply. The ‘Kouga’ snake head already struck his shoulder with a fierce thrust.

The runes on the rose-patterned attire suddenly glowed, working in tandem with Fantasi’s soul power to form a protective barrier, but it was shattered in an instant. A large piece of his shoulder fabric caught fire and was penetrated, even the astonishingly defensive fatty flesh beneath it failed to withstand the ‘tearing’ force.

Swoosh!

The Desolate Bite force instantly pierced through Fantasi’s left shoulder, piercing straight down like an invisible arrow, shattering the tiles below and leaving a scorched, small crater. In pain from the wound, Fantasi staggered backward, only to be hit squarely in the chest by Rengei Shiba’s legs as they kicked forward.

Boom!

The intense impact sent Fantasi flying several meters away. His bulky body bounced on the ground and rolled back seven or eight times before finally stabilizing.

Rengei Shiba did not press his advantage, giving Fantasi a chance to catch his breath and get up.

Two scorched footprints now marked his chest, his left arm hanging slightly, and his left shoulder charred black.

Yet, Fantasi’s eyes sparkled with fierce determination.

The pain did not instill fear; instead, it made him truly focus. Before this, he had been preoccupied with how to defeat his opponent in the coolest way possible, after all, Ashiba’s main goal in becoming stronger had always been to attract girls’ attention... But at this moment, Ashiba’s mind was filled only with the excitement of battle.

Afeng was right; fighting really is an exhilarating experience. As Afeng would say, it’s cool and manly!

Bang!

Fantasi’s previously invisible aura seemed to become tangible at that moment. His soul power, no longer transparent, turned slightly white, billowing behind him, faintly forming the shape of a white giant tiger with bared fangs and outstretched claws!

However, this spectacle did not earn him admiration or fear from the Fire God disciples in the stands; they had already seen through Fantasi.

Unavoidably, laughter erupted from the stands. Indeed, he lived up to his infamous reputation as Fan Paopao, the runner from Dragon City, who only knew how to dodge and evade. But in the end, wasn’t it all for nothing? Now, even if he stood up and his aura grew stronger, what good was it if he only knew how to run?

“Just admit defeat, you chubby little rose. What’s the point of standing up again like you did just now?”

"You can't win the game by just hiding, Mr. Runner!"

The taunt wasn't overly harsh, but the buzzing sound made Winnie feel somewhat uncomfortable. Her eyebrows arched; this was precisely her moment to shine!

"Shut up!"

A deep, angry roar instantly silenced the entire arena. It wasn't from Old Wang Squad, but from Chai Jing in the ring.

The information about Rose Fantasy was quite transparent, especially the reputation of 'Mr. Runner' during the Dragon City trip, which once made Axi Ba a laughingstock throughout the Holy Sanctuary. One could say that almost everyone in the Holy Sanctuary looked at Rose Fantasy with a mocking expression. The one who truly empathized with this mockery wasn't the other members of Old Wang Squad, but Chai Jing standing right there.

Born into a prominent family, Chai Jing had always been unable to awaken the Rengeki power, and he couldn't even use the most basic fire energy. He could only exist as a traditional martial artist, a source of deep-seated inferiority for him since childhood. Even more humiliating was that during the Hero Tournament, because he looked 'handsome,' more people used terms like 'pretty boy' and 'family background' to label him.

To become a main player of the Fire God Mountain Holy Sanctuary without any fire energy, Chai Jing had worked harder and pushed himself more than 99% of the world. But because he was born into the Rengeki family and because of his 'handsomeness,' no one had ever seen or acknowledged his efforts, labeling him as someone who relied on his family and looks...

Chai Jing was unwilling and angry about it, so he understood Rose Fantasy, who bore the name 'Mr. Runner.' Despite carrying the power of Hanyao, he still gritted his teeth and stood firm, his eyes burning with fierce determination... How much this resembled his own self before awakening! How could he allow anyone to insult him!

"Anyone who works hard deserves respect." Changes were happening to Chai Jing as well; the flames covering his body became even more intense, forming a shape behind him. His aura rapidly escalated, facing off against White Tiger Rose Fantasy: "I will use my full strength to defeat you!"

The flames around Chai Jing suddenly transformed into a vague snake shape, with fan-like wings on either side of the snake's head, making the entire snake head appear as a menacing inverted triangle, exactly like the legendary Eight Rengeki Snake God! He faced off against the divine White Tiger Rose Fantasy.

Rose Fantasy was stunned, his chubby face trembling slightly. He truly didn't care about the taunts anymore, but he never dreamed that one day an opponent would speak up for him... What the hell, this mutual admiration was too surreal!

Axi Ba had never experienced such a feeling in his life; his eyes gleamed with excitement. It felt great!

"Come on!"

Fire energy erupted instantly, but all that was seen was a burst of flame, with no sound at all!

In that instant, Chai Jing's speed broke the sound barrier, reaching Rose Fantasy in a split second.

The white tiger clashed with the burning might of the snake deity, their forces intertwining as if in resistance, while the two men's eyes flickered, the outcome to be decided in an instant.

Chai Jing lunged forward, his knee thrust transforming into a blazing snake that shot ahead.

Charge!

This time, Fantasi did not choose to dodge. In the fully awakened state of the Tai Chi Tiger, every movement appeared as slow as a snail, though this was an enhancement of perception rather than an increase in his own speed. He knew dodging would be too late, and he had no intention of doing so again.

At this moment, the fierce tiger extended its claw, gently swiping to the left, deftly redirecting the attack. But what followed was a seamless series of lethal moves.

Chai Jing's body spun continuously, each time Fantasi deflected the attack with skillful force, Chai Jing seamlessly transitioned into the next move, as if unlocking new levels of ability, faster and stronger than before!

Desert Bite, Ghost Burn, Fierce Slash, Great Union, Spirit Charge... All the combos culminated in a towering fiery snake phantom, roaring ferociously, intent on annihilating everything in its path.

Four Directions and Six Harmonies Savage Kill!

Boom!

The soaring phantom struck the white tiger, carrying it skyward!

This was an irresistible force, its momentum surpassing the limits of Tiger Peak, and for a moment, everyone seemed to witness the ancient snake deity dominating the six directions and eight extremities, exuding an unparalleled aura of dominance. Judging by this move alone, it was likely already at the level of the top ten.

Block? A joke, how could one block? Perhaps only the top ten could withstand it head-on!

The spectators from the Fire Holy Sanctuary were both shocked and delighted, realizing with joy that Chai Jing, once merely a face of the group, had become a formidable figure capable of standing shoulder to shoulder with the captain!

It's over, Chai Jing will surely win, the Fire Deity will surely triumph!

Hmm? Wait...

In the sky, the white tiger that had been blasted away suddenly raised its head and managed to break free from its momentum. Immediately, the white soul power coiled around the surging flames like a leech.

The two beams of light intertwined, ascending several meters more, making it impossible to discern their movements or superiority. Then, the light paused briefly in mid-air before plummeting rapidly.

Boom!

The intertwining fire and white light crashed onto the ground with great force, causing the earth to crack. The figures within the two beams of light revealed themselves.

Fantasy was wrapped around Retsu Gion's back, his hands passing under Gion’s armpits and then pressing down on the back of his neck, fingers tightly interlocked!

Dark Grappling Technique, Guillotine!

Gion struggled fiercely, his shoulder and neck joints, as well as his arm joints, cracking loudly as he tried desperately to arch his body backward.

However, Fantasy’s legs seemed rooted to the ground, and when his thick arms locked, they were as immovable as iron bands welded shut, tightening even further.

Gion’s fire energy erupted rapidly, but the more he struggled, the more oxygen he lacked. This burst of strength came quickly but dissipated just as fast. In just three to five seconds, the towering flames began to dim, suppressed and overshadowed by the white light emanating from Fantasy.

His face was now flushed red, and soon, his eyelids drooped suddenly, his struggling arms loosened slightly, and his head dropped.

Snap~

The raging fire energy throughout his body extinguished instantly, and he fainted outright.

Lost, lost?

Seeing Gion, who had lost all resistance, the Fire Holy Sanctuary disciples in the stands were filled with disbelief.

Retsu Gion, so powerful after his awakening, had dominated Fantasy from start to finish, yet he lost simply because of a single control move?

Silence instantly fell around the stands.

Fantasy clearly sensed his opponent’s condition. Recalling how this guy had spoken up for him before, he promptly released the chokehold and gently patted him on the back.

Having ‘strangled’ Wu Di every day, Asiba was undoubtedly an expert in emergency first aid.

A stream of soul power gently flowed into Chai Jing with the pat...

“Cough, cough, cough!” Chai Jing suddenly coughed, stumbling forward a few steps.

His mind was still clouded, his ears ringing from the oxygen deprivation that lasted about four or five seconds after the choking. It took great effort to catch his breath through the coughing.

The stands remained eerily quiet. Chai Jing turned his head in disbelief, looking at the chubby Fantasy with a complex expression. Asiba grinned at him, “You said it yourself, use your full strength!”

The surprise and disappointment in Chai Jing’s eyes quickly faded, replaced by a sense of calm.

The two sentences he had spoken in support of Fantasy were also for himself. He wasn’t unfamiliar with failure; in fact, he had experienced it many times. What truly bothered him was the feeling of being toyed with.

But Fantasy didn’t toy with him. He used his full strength and treated Chai Jing as a true opponent, which was the greatest respect for the defeated.

“Hah...” A smile crept onto Renge Chai Jing’s lips.

He took a deep breath, walked over to Fantasy, grabbed his right hand, and raised it high toward the stands: “Fantasy, wins!”

The stands were still in shock and silence, but seeing this gesture, it seemed everyone was moved.

Rustling sounds filled the air...

All the disciples of the Fire Holy Sanctuary stood up, sending their applause to the two warriors below.

Axiba was truly stunned, and not just him; even Winnie, Kela, and the others beside him were taken aback.

Combat... it could be so beautiful.

Axiba didn't know whether he should feel excited or moved at this moment, only feeling a bit dazed. The applause from the audience was something he had never dared to imagine.

"I'll buy you a drink tonight!" It was Chai Jing's voice, "This battle was exhilarating."

The sincere tone woke Axiba up, and he smiled.

"Sure!"

With this first 'mutual admiration' match, the already thin tension in the arena dissipated even further. However, after setting aside the competitiveness, the pure spirit of competition did not diminish but became even more intense.

"Naloluo!"

A beautiful female Fire Witch stepped forward, wearing the standard Fire Holy Sanctuary wizard's robe, holding a crystal-clear staff with a high-grade red fire soul crystal at its tip, which glowed faintly, looking incredibly mystical. Even more astonishing was the fire sprite beside her!

It had a human-like form and appearance, with a light layer of fiery red fur that clung to its body like a close-fitting garment. On its back were four delicate wings like those of a dragonfly, and its petite figure was only palm-sized. It emitted a soft 'yinyin' sound as it flew, circling Naloluo's left side, then darting to peek out from her right shoulder, curiously and cautiously observing the members of Old Wang Squad.

This wasn't exactly a Spirit Beast; sprites are elemental beings that are actively drawn to humans with powerful same-attribute soul seeds, following them for life. For a fire sprite to follow someone, Naloluo's fire attribute talent must be quite remarkable—she possessed a Fire God Seed!

Of course, to digress, sprites don't solely judge based on soul seed talent. Compared to soul seed talent, little sprites actually care more about 'looks'...

Naloluo was clearly a standard beauty, with a figure that was perfectly curved and voluptuous, exuding an extraordinary sensuality. Her wine-red eyes gazed calmly toward Old Wang Squad, quietly waiting for them to choose their contestant.

Despite her beauty and politeness, she was the deputy captain of the Fire God Squad, having fought in two Hero Tournaments alongside Varaloka, with impressive records. She was the only Fire God member besides Captain Varaloka to have won in the Top 16 matches, ranking around 150th in the Holy Sanctuary's individual rankings, firmly placing her as the second-best in the squad.

"Kela."

Kela stepped forward, giving Naloluo a slight bow in the orcish manner: "Please enlighten me!"

Now, the two beauties stood facing each other. Compared to Naloluo's noble beauty, Kela exuded a wild allure, her curvaceous figure and striking features making the confrontation a feast for the eyes of all present.

Naloluo smiled gently. When the Fire Holy Sanctuary attacked the Rose Holy Sanctuary, they used the excuse that names like 'Kela' should not be listed alongside the heroes of the Holy Sanctuary. Although she did not participate in the previous Dragon City expedition, she was quite familiar with this female orc before her.

To survive the Battle of Dragon City, one must possess more than the 'over four hundred' strength that outsiders often slandered. Naloluo's eyes held no trace of contempt; the staff in her hand merely flicked, and a ball of flame gathered at its tip.

The power was immense, and even from several meters away, the intense heat could be felt.

Kela also crouched slightly, assuming an offensive stance.

The battle began!

In a fight between a mage and a martial artist, control is key—controlling distance and the timing of the opponent's moves. Thus, whoever makes the first move often gains the upper hand.

Whoosh!

A small fireball shot out as if in greeting, and at that moment, Kela's crouched figure flickered. Her strong muscles allowed her body to stretch like a sleek leopard, leaping to the left to dodge, then lightly touching the ground with her toes and turning to charge.

Naloluo's face remained calm. While Kela's movements might have been fast enough for many, her magic was even faster.

Fire spirits rarely participate directly in combat but provide their masters with unparalleled energy endurance and a closer affinity with fire elements.

When others manipulate soul power, they must use their will to drive it. However, for those who possess a fire spirit, controlling the fire within them is as natural as controlling their own will, eliminating the need for the driving step. Whatever the heart desires, the fire follows!

Boom!

Without any pause, the fire soul crystal on the staff suddenly glowed, and a second fireball was launched. This was followed by a continuous stream of fireballs, like a machine gun's rapid fire!

Swish, swish, swish, swish!

Without complex arrays, it was sheer volume! The rapid-fire fireballs darted left and right, forming an impenetrable web of flames in an instant, sealing off almost every path Kela could take.

Rumble...

Such dense attacks were virtually unavoidable, rendering Kela's already agile form utterly useless. In the blink of an eye, dozens of fireballs struck her in succession, exploding with massive force, sending her flying backward and rolling on the ground for three or four revolutions before coming to a stop.

A faint smell of burning spread as several large holes appeared in Kela's clothes, still smoldering. But in the next second, Kela rolled on the ground, hands gripping her head and pushing off the earth, legs thrusting backward, she shot forward like a gray shadow, evading the pursuing fireballs and charging ahead once more.

"Quite resistant to fire." A glint of admiration flashed in Naloluo's eyes. Although orcs were tough-skinned, they generally had average resistance to magic. To withstand the continuous barrage of fireballs and maintain such vigorous combat strength was indeed commendable for an orc.

After all, with Winnie Lee in their group, Kela must have been trained with fireballs often. The more she endured, the higher her resistance naturally became.

Small fireballs won't do.

Kela's sprint was incredibly fast, but Naloluo remained calm, the tip of her staff pausing momentarily, a fiery red glow shimmering. This time, however, it wasn't small fireballs, but a whip-like chain of fire that shot out!

Chain Fire Dragon Technique!

The whip-like fire chain shot straight at Kela as if guided by some spirit. Despite her incredible speed, how could she possibly outpace this elemental projectile?

With a flick, the fire chain swept past like a whip. Kela had no choice but to leap into the air, and in the next second, the fire chain bent mid-air, coiling around her body as if it were a physical entity.

Snap!

The fire chain wrapped around, abruptly halting Kela's high-speed movement, pulling her tightly in mid-air.

Bang!

Terrorizing flames instantly exploded from the fire chain whip, enveloping Kela as if she were consumed by the blaze.

This was the chain of the Fire God; once bound, there was no escape. If one did not surrender, they would be burned alive!

Humans had countless methods and techniques to deal with orcs who only excelled in close combat. Naloluo did not wish to kill her opponent. Her staff paused slightly, waiting for the orc to surrender. But at that moment—

Crack!

A flash of lightning suddenly appeared.

Soul Spear!

The lightning spear came too swiftly and unexpectedly. Naloluo's pupils constricted slightly. Her staff flickered, and a thick fire shield abruptly rose.

Boom!

The tip of the lightning spear pierced the fire shield, embedding itself about half an inch deep before stopping. The two energies confronted each other in mid-air. *Snap*, the lightning faded, ultimately being absorbed by the fire shield.

She didn't expect the orc to have ranged attack capabilities. Naloluo let out a slight sigh of relief but then realized that Kela, who had been bound by the fire chain, had vanished. Diverting her strength and attention to defend with the fire shield, the fire chain naturally weakened. With Kela's resistance to fire and her strength, breaking free wasn't difficult, but—

Where was she?

Boom!

A powerful roundhouse kick struck Naloluo from behind, the fire shield flaring up. Though it blocked the attack, the immense force still sent Naloluo staggering forward several steps. Immediately following was a relentless barrage of attacks.

Kela's eyes were clear as water, delivering punches, shoulder charges, kicks, and knee strikes!

Orcs' close-combat techniques differed from humans; they had no set patterns. They excelled in turning every part of their body into a weapon to strike their enemies, aiming to inflict maximum damage.

Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!

The terrifying impact forced Naloluo to retreat step by step. The Fire Shield was extremely resilient, but each strike dimmed its light a little. Endless attacks would eventually shatter even the strongest defense. But at this moment, Naloluo, who was holding up the Fire Shield, suddenly struggled free.

"Divine Flame Wings!"

The fire sprites swirling around her, frantic with worry, abruptly transformed into a blaze of light that attached to her back. Immediately, two massive wings of flame unfurled.

Whoosh~

Naloluo shot upward, hovering in the air about twenty to thirty meters high. Her enormous fiery wings, spanning nearly two to three meters wide, fluttered gently, like those of a real firebird, keeping her suspended.

She had forced herself to merge with the sprites and activate the Fire Wings.

Naloluo raised her staff, and a colossal spell began to gather as visible sparks of fire converged madly above her head, forming a vast, dancing cloud of flames.

This beastman is no ordinary foe; his resistance to fire and speed in close combat are both above average. Unlike regular warriors, he also possesses considerable ranged abilities. A single misstep could lead to a disastrous outcome.

Quick victory!

A sharp gleam appeared in Naloluo's eyes as she lowered her staff. The sky of fire clouds suddenly churned, like a raging sea, and terrifying streams of lava, meteorites, fireballs, and flaming projectiles rained down from the cloud.

Nine Fires Annihilation!

It was a terrifying scene, akin to the end of days. Although everyone knew Naloluo would control her attack to avoid affecting the surrounding stands, the disciples of the Fire Holy Sanctuary still felt a lingering fear. Some in the front rows even instinctively raised their soul shields for protection.

Beneath the center of the attack, the poor female beastman seemed like an ant standing helplessly at the mouth of a erupting volcano... No, not an ant.

Crack! Crack!

There was no despair or resignation in Kela's eyes; instead, they glowed with the gathered lightning in her palms.

Useless! A hint of calm flashed across Naloluo's face. She had already experienced the opponent's lightning spear, which couldn't penetrate her Fire Shield. With her wings, she could easily dodge.