Filled with worry, Gigas looked intensely at Lee Hei, “B… big brother Lee. That guy is too abnormal! Can you handle him?”
Though they were only two ranks apart, the difference in their strength is incomparable, and Gigas had indeed been looking up to Lee Hei, but even so, watching the horrifying power Kairos displayed, it became hard to tell who would be stronger.
Lee Hei gave an assuring smile to Gigas, “Watch me handle him.”
“Lee,” Sihala who was quiet since he arrived had a serious glint in his eyes as he spoke, “Later, do not give that boy a chance to breathe. If your attacks stop for even an instant, you might end up losing.
Hadn’t Lucas lost the fight because he allowed Kairos to decipher his Ice World, Sea of Swords, and Five Elements Shield formations?
Remember, we cannot judge him the same as other practitioners when his skills in the different crafts already reached a level recognised by all the professors.”
Those nearby, the remaining top ten elites, flew into a discussion, mostly in agreement.
“It’s true indeed. Give the Gold Earl a chance to pause, and he might neutralise anything you can throw at him.”
“Yeah, Lee, don’t give him any time to retaliate. Go and beat him up to an inch of his life.”
“Don’t worry with Lee Hei. It’s as far as that second year could go.”
While they were talking, the senior that Kairos just defeated has woken up, and the medics helped him to their side.
“Big brother Lucas!” cried out Gigas.
“I… I’m alright. That bastard, he’s the real deal. Lee, you mustn’t let your guard down.”
“Don’t give him a chance to breathe, right? Do not worry. He wouldn’t even have the time to blink.”
At the same time, on the audience level, Calculus was clenching his fist so tightly that droplets of blood had appeared.
At his cultivation stage, Calculus could only be considered a stronger Second Year and wasn’t a match against many seniors. He found it strange beyond understanding.
He is a vastly talented cultivator. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have earned the favour of his father over his incredibly intelligent younger sister. The Devilheart family never had a rule that only males could inherit the family head position.
With the exception of Jones – that monster, Calculus consider himself a one-in-a-thousand-years’ genius. To be able to attain D rank at the age of twelve, it wasn’t far from the truth. Yet with the appearance of Kairos and the Snowdrifts’ speedy rise to power, he found himself completely throw off the race.
After Jones dropped out of the academy halfway, he should be the strongest of their year!
Of course, not everything could be attributed to Kairos. In the combat classes – especially during the once-a-month collaboration with the War Tactics & Commander Course, the fame of Long, John, Silvers, and Sasha had risen to meteoric levels in the academy.
Their strength was due to the Guardian Dragon Thyrm’s blessings, but Calculus attributed it to something that Kairos did. In his possession, he has a copy of the Origin Manuscript, the fake version created by Kairos, and he had studied it thoroughly and determined it to be a Beast Rank Huang Grade manuscript. Not weak, but a far cry from a top-level manuscript.
“No, there must be something hidden in their cultivation methods. I need to look through it again. Now that Galahad is out of the way let’s see how that old fogey Yue stop me from forcing it out of the Snowdrifts’ throat!”
The Origin cultivation technique emphasises what is suitable for each individual, and thus, though the art stems from the same root, each version is unique.
Having a copy of the fake Origin technique given to him by Kairos’ fifteen disciples, Calculus had no idea of all the intricacies. At that time, no one knew that the Ah Gui and the rest had already defected to the Snowdrifts, and the manual was something that Kairos had pre-planned. It was a bogus method that neither have the Origin Energy nor the body tempering method within.
Nevertheless, Calculus had not lacked in putting in an effort to study it.
After failing to reason what makes the Snowdrifts so special, he pinpointed the problem to be the unique cultivation stances and sent men out to consolidate a list for him to try.
After attempting all the ones that Kairos and his friends were using, Calculus decisively invented a few of his own. Handstand, Peacock stance, The Spinning Top, Wheelbarrow, Watermill. He was not one to easily give up.
But his actions were too much to the hilarity of his guards. To see their young master spinning nonstop then repeatedly somersaulting was just too much.
There was even a cultivation stance where Calculus worked himself into a cycling stance while he drew the ambient Heavenly Energies into himself.
The slave guards that were watching stoically almost lost it when they saw him raise a hand to halt a pretend wagon from colliding with his pretend bicycle.
The five of them realised for the first time how dangerously close to death they were. It was an inhumane thing not to laugh, and many of them turned purple trying to hold their breaths, but they knew that if they couldn’t hold it in, they will probably disappear mysteriously. Either way, it was life and death for them as Calculus futilely tried to master the Origin Cultivation methods in front of their eyes.
It only stopped after their brain-fried young master pulled a muscle and had to mimic the actions of an out-of-water shrimp from the excruciating pain.
With superhuman willpower, his five followers somehow managed to keep their faces expressionless and lived to tell the tale. Given, most of them said a prayer of thanksgiving afterward to their preferred patron god or goddess. One or more even secretly felt gratitude towards Kairos despite the near-death experience.
After all, it was a rare treat to see the young master fooled so completely.
Calculus who failed in learning the impressive, power-boosting, cultivation method, was furious indeed. When he saw Kairos in the arena, his eyes were coloured with envy. That was supposed to be his stage!
He once fought the young earl to a draw but has retired early from the competition, because he was ordered by the emperor not to use the golden dragonling’s power.
“Ex-Emperor,” he corrected himself.
Without tapping into the strength of his contract beast, it was a matter of time before he accumulated five losses using his own power against the seniors.
However, when the Vestimore were ‘uprooted’ and his family had boldly taken the position of regent of Saint Empire, he felt that there is no longer a need to conceal his dragonling now.
In fact, by showing the beast off in a proper public setting, it would cause waves among the commoners and gentry alike, and perchance there would be supporters to make him the next emperor. After all, the Five-clawed Golden Dragon is the symbol of a king, and anyone would think that Calculus who was chosen by one will be the destined one.
The top ten duellists arena is, in fact, an ideal place to showcase the dragon, but Kairos had robbed him once again. Now that he missed this chance, he had to wait for a better opportunity.
“Just wait,” Calculus hissed, “I’ll add this to your tab, Kairos. Don’t worry, one day you will have to repay it all. Everything that is mine, I will take them all back.”
At the same time, the fight is continuing while Calculus and his monologue were ignored like the pestering fly it was.
In the duel arena, Kairos had once again sent out his challenge publically, and like before, the sixth ranked competitor immediately accepted.
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“It’s my turn now,” Lee Hei said with a soft smile, and he took a step into the combat ring.
If he waited after Kairos had already gone through one battle after another without rest, it would be more shameful to him than losing.
“Good luck big brother,” said Gigas.
“Avenge me,” Lucas added.
“Do your best, Brother Lee,” Watts said.
As if pumping himself up, Lee Hei gave them a guts pose and disappeared into the glaring sun-scorched grounds.
The crowd went silent at once.
Unlike the other fighters before, the moment the announcer started the match, Lee ran forward at full speed.
Behind him, minerals from the ground gathered into metal shards that started digging themselves out of the soil and floated into the air.
They were only the size of granules, but each started reshaping themselves until they became thin needles that are comparable to the thickness of mere whiskers.
It was a surreal scene with the pins sparkling in the sun, hovering to the wind while pointed at Kairos.
Despite looking fragile, they are dangerous because of how fine they had become, there is no doubt that those things can penetrate into a person’s skin and travel through the meridian channels.
Afterward, depending on what Lee Hei wants, he could either stop a person’s movement completely, puppet his foes with the needles, or even destroy their Dantian and cultivation.
It was indeed an extreme technique that causes most practitioners to pale with fear.
Even those that are confident to fight Lee knows to avoid this technique or stop him from using it altogether. Unfortunately, he refuses to provide Kairos with either option. In the time for a few steps, the needles that gathered behind Lee Hei had increased to look like a gleaming swarm of fishes.
Because of all those needles floating around, it is near impossible for his opponent to have the first strike. Besides, the number of projectiles he prepared ensured that he could whittle down any defences his enemy has until he could deal the finishing blow.
Yet, as if unsatisfied he summoned four more floating black spheres above his head that follows him closely.
Although, they looked like normal metal balls, each of those fist-sized orbs contained over ten thousand needles. Furthermore, they had been specially prepared for this competition by dipping the hidden weapons in paralysing nerve-agents.
The high toxicity of the substance he used was so dangerous that by having skin contact with the items, it would render an S ranker immobile.
Once his opponent is within range, the pins will shoot forward, and then in the resulting chaos, he will unleash the metal orbs one after another. Over forty thousand poisoned needles will be flying about, and if even one of them scratched Kairos, his victory is determined.
The two neared each other swiftly, but just they clashed, Lee Hei took out a hand-and-half long sword and a beautifully embellished, body-length, silver shield. Both items were made from superior materials made without sparing in the slightest. They were relics forged with an ancient technique already lost to man, nevertheless, it remained like brand new despite its years. They are priceless treasures that are only in Lee Hei’s hands because he is the next clan head to the Dark Swords.
His giant shield was made specifically to defend him against any retaliation until the barrage subdues his foe.
Wind and Metal elements. Gifted with dual affinity from birth and extreme proficiency in controlling both, this fighting style is something Lee Hei believed unique to himself.
No matter how Kairos dodges, he will be able to control his attacks and home in to his target. The number of floating projectiles he could manipulate at once is a testament to his vast talent.
The attack sequence happened just as Lee Hei had pictured, and soon Kairos was entirely covered in the shimmering metals.
Mixed in the rain of pins and needles, the metal orbs started shattering one by one. From within them, the poisonous needles pelted his target.
A grin appeared on Lee Hei’s face as he moved his shield in front.
“Indeed, you deserve to be in the top ten,” Kairos said with a smile, “Unfortunately, you are a bad match against me.
Noble Art: True Annihilation Scar (绝灭天地之痕)!”
A strange thing happened before the eyes of the audiences.
The fast moving needles had suddenly stilled. It wasn’t the sudden stop and tremble that would happen if a cultivator ceased a technique half-way, but an unnatural deceleration until everything come to a complete halt.
And, it wasn’t just the projectiles, but even Lee Hei himself was slowing down at the same pace until he couldn’t move at all; Still in mid-charge, with his shield before him, the 6th ranked duellist froze.
Complete stillness.
That is the true phenomenon of Kairos’ ultimate move. An unblockable and unsurmountable power that ignores all defences, and disregards the strength of the target.
Gone were the days when Kairos’ Secret Art could only immobilise five targets that are around his level of strength. With the upgrade, he could now halt all things within five paces. The only flaw it has now is the length of time he could stop movement depends on the number of targets and the power they hold. The strain on his Origin Energy to unleash this Noble Art is tremendous. It was an ability he derived from his affinity with all the elements. It did not stop time or freeze the area with biting cold but held everything in place.
It was a mixture of all the different elements that resulted in complete stasis of all kinetic forces in the area. Aisa called it, Particle Control because even the smallest target could not escape this Noble Art. Things or people with too much power could break his technique without slowing down.
Although, all Kairos could maintain now is a short two-seconds, it was more than enough to defeat Lee Hei.
A blade wrapped in fine white mist broke through the wall of pins. The frost dragonling residing in Kairos’ Swallow worked its power through the Nine Heavens Frost Array that is inscribed on the metal. The temperature dropped sharply, until the metal needles that Kairos broke through shattered into little pieces creating a large rift.
Time seemed to lengthen for Lee Hei who is hidden behind his shield as sweat rolled down his back. He did not know how long this will last, but no matter how hard he tried, it was impossible to move.
Even his eyes were forced to look in the same direction as before, though he carefully observed his sides. It couldn’t be helped that he is panicking, because if Kairos stepped past his guard, he would lose in one move.
However, unexpectedly a single blade smashed into his shield. The force of impact was tremendous, but Lee Hei secretly sighed in relief, “Whatever this secret technique is, it looks like he doesn’t have the time to attack from other angles.
The full-body shield was a treasure that could withstand multiple blows from a Peak Triple S ranker although it required copious amount of Ki infused to truly function as intended. Yet, even with Lee Hei’s cultivation, it is still strong enough to deflect a Peak Double S ranker’s blow with ease.
But, the next moment, his relief turned into shock and fear. Because his prided shield had turned into ash in his hands. The relic that had passed down over thousands of years lie as a pile of grey dust by his feet. Lee Hei paled, a little from the shock, but mostly from the earful, he is bound to receive later on.
Now without something to block his sight, he saw the terrifying smile on his opponent’s face.
It was as though Kairos had fully intended to breakthrough from the most fortified part.
No, he was certain, this was a show of dominance. An utterly unquestionable superiority. An expensive one as well.
The blade of the Swallow touched his neck as the unnatural coldness disappeared.
The fight is over.
A few unbelieving glances were passed around Kairos’ friends.
They recognised the way that solid slab of metal turned into ash. It was the technique that Kairos had called ‘Astral Cataclysm’. However, wasn’t it executed with a punch?
Even his closest friends did not suspect that because of their Formless Style martial foundation, Kairos managed to incorporate the Astral Cataclysm into any move he makes. That means, using a single point of his finger or a slash of his weapon, it will bring forth the same fearsome technique that turns steel into glittering dust.
The drawback is the power is less than using the Astral Cataclysm in its original form with the fist, but it was a worthy trade-off when paired with the longer reach of his weapon. However, when Kairos discovered that he could pair the Astral Cataclysm with any other martial art or with his Noble Art, the combined prowess is unbelievable.
The True Annihilation Scar is already devastating, even without considering the immobilising effect. The destructive power behind his strike was the real deal, and when combined with the Astral Cataclysm, it is double the sum of the two techniques.
Despite how fearsome the combination attack was, Kairos’ control was precise. Only Lee Hei’s shield had been dismantled, including the strap around his arm, but otherwise, he was completely unharmed.
The whole amphitheatre held their breath, and even the announcer forget to declare Kairos’ victory. If the Gold Earl intended to kill, it wouldn’t just be the shield that disappeared, but there will be nothing left of the corpse for his victim’s family to collect.
In their shock, the onlookers had missed one critical fact. They failed to realise that Kairos secured his win without using an incantation for his Noble Art and it was a weakened version.
“M… MATCH OVER!”
Everyone was still in surprise over how fast Kairos had defeated the ranked six competitors, Lee Hei, but they cheered as hard as their lungs could take it.
Many finally realised that the real reason behind Kairos using his empowering technique right from the outset was to finish each challenge as swiftly as possible so that in the long run he might save more energy.
Looking at his defeated foe and then again at Luci Ferrimore, Kairos shook his head and mutter to himself, “Honestly, I didn’t see how you are stronger than the other seniors…”
The audience roared with a huge racket. He was answering to her suggestion to pick Gigas, Lucas, and Lee instead of her.
Luci who had just woken up from unconsciousness spat out a mouthful of blood and fainted again.
“How arrogant!”
“Meh, he has the stuff to back up his words. It’s better than sprouting boasts all day.”
No one can refute the strength Kairos possess now. Not to mention how impressive it is to win all his battles without rest, and how swiftly he went through them. They came to spectate the first fight against the top ten combatants. They expected it to be a long and arduous struggle between two equals.
It had turned into a one-man-show with Kairos defeating one after another opponent from the top ten combatants, in record time. The audience was left surprised. The contestants in shock. Those defeated were in denial. But one group fared worse.
The ones by the gambling den are in utter despair – many of them questioning the meaning of life with empty gazes.
The day started with a regular match setup, the odds were against Kairos at three to Watts at seven. Then the unthinkable happened. Luci Ferrimore, Gigas Sermont, Lucas Flare, Lee Hei. After each battle, the odds changed quickly, from guessing the winner of the duel to predicting how many moves in sets of ten are needed to win and eventually it became how many breaths the fight would last.
Without a doubt, the gamblers become poorer and poorer. Many sold their robes, tunics, or enchanted undergarment, and plenty faced permanent hair-loss; a side-effect of the hand clenching the wrong place during distress.
And, from the looks of things, Kairos has no intention to stop.