CHAPTER 423 BLACK KILLING POWER VS. THREE KINDS OF RUNIC POWERS

Now a fierce fight was on the verge of breaking out like a dormant volcano now about to erupt. On one

side, the killing intent was already hinted by the scent of blood. On the other side, a forceful murderous

power kept on gaining competence. Both of the energies were truly powerful, almost half a step to the

innate spiritual level, so it could be expected that the upcoming clash between them was likely to be

incredibly violent. It would be a lot different than the usual battles ever recorded in history.

Even before the collision took place, everyone around could tell the two sides' mighty powers from the

aura they unleashed to their immediate surroundings. Once they collided like two waves, drastic waves

of energy lashed out around the area from where the two surge of energies met, shaking the whole

space and crashing the light curtain on the competition platform like unstoppable tides.

"This is, no doubt, another fierce struggle between well-matched opponents," one of the warriors who

seemed to have seen every fight exclaimed. "I do hope they could fight like Kilkenny cats. If both of

them are to be crippled because of each other, things would get much easier for us later." That warrior

who was looking forward to both sides' defeat, was not the only one who was taken aback by how

intensive this fight was. All the warriors around were holding their breath, seeing how the interesting

battle unfold while praying secretly that those two strong rivals could finish each other off so that no

one would have to deal with any of them afterwards.

"Even if the fight won't kill both of them, we can at least expect that one of them will be greatly

weakened like a vegetable left unwatered. Or we can hope that they would end up like Grace and

Kinsey, one resting in peace, and the other sent out after the fight. That would be good enough for us

already!" another one shared his sentiments which were kind of dark yet interesting to many.

"Dream on, guys!" a third one taunted them as they started imagining possible outcomes. "These are

all strong warriors and only the strong can laugh the last laugh. Just stop thinking about making a

breakthrough to the level of an innate spirit by luck because it is barely achieved!".

"Well, well! Those were my lines, dude! If you are some puny insect that would be finished by one

single strike of any weapon, this fight is bound to be too boring for me!" Sham scoffed with disdain

hearing what Ricky said. "I'm expecting a worthy opponent, you know!"

"Oh? It seems that we at least have one thing in common. Come on, show me what a murderer's

boastful killing power could do!" Ricky replied most defiantly, looking forward to what was yet to come.

In an instant, they both disappeared like bubbles that popped out of sight, and what was only visible to

the others were two figures that flashed past the competition platform.

The moment they were done speaking, they dashed to each other like arrows unafraid to land

anywhere they were targeted to. Their speed was too fast, just like lightning stroke, that no one could

recognize who was who. Before everyone figured out what was happening in front of them as they

made sense of the blur and swift movements, great blasts of fortune exploded. For a split second,

warriors present were finally able to realize that this was the result of the meeting of the two sides' fists.

It was, indeed, a good sight, "the battle of the battles" according to others, because of how promising

attacks they were.

For a moment, everything seemed frozen by the powerful energy. As Sham's and Ricky's eyes mirrored

each other, black killing power were swirling like a tornado around Sham, while Ricky was surrounded

and protected by his three runic powers. After being combined with his spiritual energy, Ricky's runic

powers gradually increased as if it was meant to destroy.

Then a cracking sound broke the deafening silence. "Snap!" The explosive energy their clash had

produced shook the whole space as if an earthquake just happened and threatened to smash the

space like shattering pieces of glass. But the space cracks had healed themselves in a blink of an eye

as if it had an oasis of regenerative power, even before the fractures could ever worsen. After all, both

of them were only at the demi-immortal level, and their power, though already promising enough, were

not yet qualified to break the space that served as their battleground.

On the contrary, their energy backfired as if it was a recoil of a newly launched attack. Both sides had

taken many steps backwards as they tried to keep their balance, while their feet were being pressed

deep into the floor of the competition platform by the force the way quicksand took heavy objects. But

neither of them had hit the ground in the end as the impact of the crash didn't really hamper their

actions. Reacting quickly, they adjusted their bodies for balance, and gathered up their spiritual energy

again almost at the same time. Then, without pause, they leaped out from the dents on the floor as if

they were ghosts permeating from the ground and faced each other one more time!

While moving at lightning speed, the dark spiritual energy around Sham merged into his killing power,

and fully wrapped up both of his arms like a protective shield. The combined energy seemed to have

become part of his body and turned his arms into two sharp blades for slaughter. It was easy to

imagine that his arms were now able to split anything, from a piece of paper to a newly mined diamond,

with every forceful strike he was yet to make.

Ricky was no less striking. As he raised his restless fists, his three runic powers had absorbed a big

amount of his spiritual energy and flooded into his hands, too. As soon as these two kinds of powers

touched his fists, they hardened right away to form an armor covering his hands. Now his fists were as

hard as premium steel and with their strength, he was sure to resist any attacks from Sham's killing

arms, and even break them without much energy exerted.

What was more interesting was, while Ricky's fists could act as shields to fend off Sham's blows, he

could also use his three kinds of Supreme Skills collectively to do some deceiving movements and

confuse the enemy like a trickster. By doing so, Sham might be caught unprepared sooner or later,

unable to draw the line between the truth and deception that was coming into him.

However, this was only Ricky's plan that he was able to plot in his head, just to make himself feel that it

was the best thing to do. In reality, Sham had barely escaped all of his attacks even if some seemed to

be unplanned and unexceptional. As a top killer from the Endless Shadow, Sham was truly talented,

and agility was his biggest strength. Others might not be able to avoid Ricky's fast barrage of violence,

but Sham definitely could, like a fox ready to stealth in the time of need.

For a moment, it seemed that they had entered a bitterly contested battle of martial arts and the victory

hung in the balance, as if it was out of either side's reach. Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.

They were moving so fast like a river flowing after a heavy outpour, that each time they met, they

changed their positions and launched another round of attacks in no time like there was no other

chance. From what the other warriors could see, they were like two light balls that continuously

bumped into each other. They made flash moves from one side of the platform to the other as if either

of them would be willing to already call it quits. All the audience were completely dazzled by their

persistence and were persistently running bets in their minds as to who would deserve to win this

battle.

Within a short span of time, the two of them had fought for dozens of rounds. The impulse force they

made kept creating huge cracks and deep dents to the space and the platform, making them scarred

and battered than ever before, a proof of a good fight between promising warriors.

Fortunately, the competition platform was formed by fortune, which could repair itself the moment it was

damaged as if a regenerative power was instilled in it. Or else, those warriors might have been already

buried alive in the debris they kept on causing to the area.

Boom! As their fists met for one more time, both of them were forced to retreat by the shock waves

they produced. To end this fight as soon as possible, they drew their weapons at the same time to try

attacking in a different way, unpredicted by the opponent.

Sham pulled out his blood-black soft-iron sword from his sash, while Ricky drew that white Iron

Destroyer dangling from his back. Both were controlling their attacks to kind of focus on a better way to

destroy the other.

"I should have drunk up all of your blood outside this great dragon meridian; this time, my sword is

telling me that it couldn't wait to drain you to the point of your death!" Sham threatened in a low, cold

voice, his black eyes turning bloody red in excitement.

"I hate to say this, but if you have failed back then, you will surely fail here today as well, you loser!"

Ricky rebutted immediately as if he was sure of his fate. "I'm afraid that before your sword could enjoy

this fight, I will destroy it with my blade, once and for all!"

With an explosive sound louder than a comet crashing to the ground, destructive power surged out

from within their already battered but adrenaline-powered bodies. They both had given out the

shapeless yet deadly Light Apperception they had mastered. For Sham, it was his bloody killing sword-

light. For Ricky, it was the overwhelming saber-light enhanced by his three runic powers.

And both of them had brought out over ninety percent of their sword-light or saber-light this time, ready

for what might come next.

At this point, both of them had been totally transformed by the vigorous power. Their blades had been

sharpened well and they reached a state of invincible. Sham was now a peerless swordsman, and

Ricky an unrivalled one, too, bringing more excitement to the crowd.

As Sham's killing power fused with his sword-light, a huge shadow of the sword stood up from behind

him as if it was another living entity with its own will. His sword-light had been materialized by the killing

power! Ricky's saber-light had undergone the same transformative process. It blended in with his three

runic powers and a gigantic saber had taken shape behind him.

"What powerful sword-light and saber-light they were! I bet, only those talents could turn them into real

weapons like those!" some of the warriors around exclaimed at this breathtaking sight of impossibility.

They now had to admit that the two warriors fighting on the platform might just leave them in the dust

because no one seemed to have outsmarted or overpowered any of the two.

Even those older ones who had reached the demi-immortal level for a long time were greatly shocked

by what they had seen. They now wondered if they could stand any chance against these two young

talents if they had to confront them at the same rate of power and speed. .

Bang! Bang! Bang! Suddenly, the two warriors took action. When they moved, a kind of thunderous

sound filled the whole space. Their sword-light and saber-light had also answered to their ferocious

attacks,. They flashed, became brighter and sent out such deafening sound.

"Killing-power Strike!" Sham bellowed as his killing power went high as it could. His aura had changed

as if something had switched gears. Apparently, he was now using a different kind of skill activated by

his previous attack.

He leaped into the air, and the blue veins on his hands and face had all stood out, as if they were going

to explode because of his bursting energy and enthusiasm. Besides, the killing power surrounding him

melted into his skin and became his bloody red shield. With that, he now had a protective armor just

like Ricky.

Everything was ready for Sham. He pierced through the space with his blood-black soft-iron sword, and

rushed over to Ricky without any hesitation and pointed the sword directly to his head.

"Nine-degree Body Refining Formula! Runic power attack!"

Ricky immediately yelled as though his voice was summoning the heavens to launch his counterattack.

He, too, had brought out all of his energy when sensing the outbreak of Sham's power and the strong

killing power his soft-iron sword carried. He must fight back in full force if he wanted to survive Sham's

attack this time, when they were at equal footing.

With his words, his eyes began to gleam like gold as he activated the Nine-degree Body Refining

Formula. Instantly, the devouring rune, the chaotic fire rune, and the massacring rune circled amongst

each other and turned into a tornado of flames to cover Ricky for protection.

Part of the flames had even shot out and poured into his saber-light. Together, the runic powers and

saber-light directed themselves into Ricky's Iron Destroyer, making it sturdier than ever.

Ricky swung the Iron Destroyer at the space, and a big gash, as pitch black as an abyss appeared on

it. Through that gash, he made a lunge toward Sham. The screaming from the space was unstoppable

when it was being cut by the weapons and everyone heard the metallic sound of anger and strength

every time the two blades met.

Huge amount of sword-light and saber-light exploded on the platform. Everyone was blinded by the

harsh glare produced by the explosion, and their ears were ringing as they heard the horrible keening

of swords. All of a sudden, all the warriors felt that they had just witnessed a volcanic eruption.

In this one-on-one contest, Sham had shown how exceptional he was as a killer. He was incredibly

fast, and most of the time, he had reacted more quickly and was better at perfecting the timing than

Ricky.

Those techniques were quite enough for him to gain the upper hand. For more than once, his sword

had hit Ricky successfully, making him seem vulnerable to others' eyes.

Ricky had made it this far, all thanks to his indefectible Nine-degree Body Refining Formula, which was

further strengthened by three kinds of runic powers. With the formula protecting him as the strongest

steel helmet and armor, Sham's soft-iron sword could only lay some scratches on his body.

This was truly a wonderful battle for all the warriors, and they had somehow started to enjoy this duel

between these two master-hands. It looked like that they had totally forgotten that they were actually

here for the dragon meridian and not that big event.

Clang! After their swords met once again, they bounced backwards, keeping a distance between each

other, their eyes burning with killing intent--the sun wouldn't shine for one of them anymore after the

battle.