Chapter 230-4: Born A Warrior, Battle, Hell Yeah! (4) |
“Barely enough to warm up.”
Phase Kill muttered, the desire for battle in his eyes fully ignited.
After experiencing combat in Monster World, he had lost interest in fights in reality.
In real-life ring duels, he always felt an invisible restraint.
That restraint did not come from rules, but from the reverence for life and self-restraint deep in his heart.
With every punch and every kick, he would subconsciously control his strength, afraid that one misstep might take his opponent’s life.
Modern education gave him a sense of tearing.
On one side he was taught to be civilized, and on the other was the desire from his heart.
That feeling of repression made him feel like a beast in a cage. He clearly had the power to tear everything apart, yet had to sheath his claws and circle his opponent carefully.
This was also why he found real combat arenas stifling.
It was like an unfinished feast, where you had tasted the delicacy yet could never fully indulge.
But in Monster World it was completely different.
Here, he no longer needed to suppress his strength or worry about the life and death of his opponent.
Combat was a pure contest of power and technique and a cathartic release.
With every punch he could hear the air torn by the strike. He felt the tremor of muscles and the thrill brought by Vital Qi surging within.
Only then was he a beast breaking the chains, able to run, tear, and fight to his heart’s content.
The ring beneath his feet trembled slightly, and then a crimson energy burst from under Phase Kill’s feet, rippling outward like waves.
Hum.
A low hum resonated in the air. Crimson Vital Qi coiled around Phase Kill like flames, casting him like a war god. Crimson ripples spread outward in circles under his feet.
With Vital Qi’s blessing, Phase Kill’s figure seemed even more imposing, making the Black Rider’s expression tense.
“Come.”
His voice was low and cold, tinged with provocation.
Crimson Vital Qi gathered at his fists like burning flames, ready at any moment to devour his opponent.
“Battle start.” At this moment the voice of the Barbarian Thrall rang out.
The Black Rider’s figure suddenly merged into shadow, and a rush of wind followed.
But Phase Kill swiftly swept his gaze to the right, sensing the Black Rider’s approximate position through the flow of air.
His body lunged forward, his fist howling through the wind straight at where his gaze pointed.
Bang.
Before the Black Rider had fully left the shadow state, he was struck in the chest by Phase Kill’s punch.
The immense impact sent the Black Rider flying like a kite with a snapped string, crashing heavily onto the ring.
Kneeling on one knee, the Black Rider braced a hand on the ground and slid back several meters, barely propping himself up, a thread of blood at the corner of his mouth.
But Phase Kill gave no time to breathe and attacked swiftly.
The Black Rider quickly summoned a Shadow Shield, trying to block Phase Kill’s next strike.
“Break.”
As he closed in, Phase Kill gave a low growl, and his right fist wreathed in Vital Qi blasted out.
The Force Savage trait suddenly activated, and golden energy surged within the crimson airflow.
At the instant his fist collided with the Shadow Shield, the energy barrier dented inward, then shattered like glass into countless black motes.
The Black Rider’s pupils constricted. Before he could react, Phase Kill’s left fist followed immediately.
With the style of an armored sweep punch, his extended hammer fist smashed hard into the Black Rider’s right shoulder.
Puff.
The Black Rider spat blood. His body sank sharply and crashed to his knees on the ring.
Phase Kill gave him no chance. His hands clamped onto the Black Rider’s shoulders like iron tongs and heaved him up.
The Black Rider tried to struggle, but Phase Kill’s strength left him unable to move.
“End.”
Phase Kill’s voice sounded. His arms slammed down savagely as his knee jerked up, smashing into the Black Rider’s chest.
Crack.
The sound of bones breaking was clear. The Black Rider’s body was hurled into the air like a rag and then crashed to the ring, unable to stand again.
“1 win.”
The Barbarian Thrall’s voice sounded, and a teleportation array surfaced under Phase Kill’s feet.
At this moment the livestream chat was flooded with ‘666.’
As the holder of the 6 win record, Phase Kill’s stream had nearly 1.49 million players and guests watching.
Seeing Phase Kill end the fight so easily, they felt unsatisfied and fired off bullet comments analyzing the battle.
Especially that ruthless final knee strike kill, the off-site ‘cloud judges’ gave it scores.
With the battle over, Phase Kill advanced to the room on the second layer of the Competitive Heavenly Ladder. Through the window he could see the square arena outside with a greatsword planted before it.
This was also called the Greatsword Ring.
“Blessing of the Ancient Gods. One win reward: one Low Martial Soul Bead. Remaining rest time: 69 hours 39 minutes.”
The Barbarian Thrall’s voice rang again. After the array on the ground flashed, a crimson spirit bead rose.
Taking the Low Martial Soul Bead, Phase Kill unhesitatingly tossed it into his inventory pouch, then offered the Emperor’s Sign to exchange for sacrificial power.
As for whether the Barbarian Thrall would notice he had a spatial item, he did not care.
In truth, the Barbarian Thrall had never cared either. Each took what they needed.
“Barbarian Thrall, I want to start the second match.”
“As you wish.” Already used to the players’ high-frequency competition mode, the Barbarian Thrall’s cold, emotionless voice echoed in the room.
As the words fell, a teleportation spirit pattern surfaced under Phase Kill’s feet, quickly weaving.
His vision blurred.
When it cleared, he was on the Greatsword Ring, with a figure standing not far ahead.
This opponent had a humanoid shape, about two meters tall, with a head like a dragon’s.
It wore a set of crimson light armor. Its skin was crimson and covered with fine scales. A pair of horns curved back from its head. Its eyes were golden with vertical pupils, and a feral aura radiated from it.
Sharp claws grew at its fingertips, with searing airflow twining between its fingers.
Phase Kill activated Analysis.
He found the opponent’s name was ‘Flame Claw,’ with Hunt Level only 32, which left him disappointed.
This was destined to be an unsatisfying fight. The opponent was too weak.
“Battle start.”
The Barbarian Thrall’s voice sounded, and Flame Claw immediately took a combat stance like a beast poised to strike, body leaning slightly forward, arms naturally lowered, the searing airflow at its fingertips turning into burning flames.
Flame Claw struck first, lunging forward. Its flaming claws tore the air, raising a wave of scorching heat.
However, in Phase Kill’s eyes its movements were like slow motion.
The Extreme Speed inherited soul activated.
Phase Kill’s figure vanished in an instant, leaving only footprints that dented the ground and quickly rebounded. His figure became a crimson bolt that closed on Flame Claw in a flash.
Flame Claw’s pupils shrank. Before it could react, a fist slammed into its chest.
Bang.
Flame Claw flew like a kite with a snapped string. Before it could rise after landing, Phase Kill was on it again, a whip kick sweeping across like a bloodthirsty battle-axe.
“Crack.”
Flame Claw’s ribs broke and it was blasted away again.
Before it hit the ground, Phase Kill leapt high and hammered down with a knee like iron.
Boom.
Flame Claw’s body was driven deep into the ring by the knee strike. Its chest collapsed. The flames on its body went out. It moved no more.
Phase Kill glanced coldly at the dead Flame Claw, then backflipped and landed steadily.
Light flowed above his head and formed a brand, revealing the dog tag (Bloodthirst Brand).
At once the spilled blood on the ground was analyzed into a rising blood mist, merging into his body as nourishment to restore stamina.
From the start to the end of the battle, only five seconds passed.
The livestream was instantly flooded with comments. The players and guests watching all spammed: Battle, hell yeah!
Ruthless, crisp, merciless. Phase Kill’s crush-match instantly sent the stream into a frenzy, the bullet comments surging like a tide.
“2 wins.”
The Barbarian Thrall’s voice sounded, and Phase Kill was teleported on the spot to the third layer of the Heavenly Ladder arena: the Flame Arena.
This layer’s arena was surrounded by blazing flames.
Having obtained two Low Martial Soul Beads, Phase Kill did not pause. He lifted his head and looked at the room’s ceiling, saying in a deep voice.
“Barbarian Thrall, next one.”
Players in the stream cheered.
They longed to see Phase Kill break the record he himself set, break through the 6 win ceiling of the arena, and stride to a higher stage.