Chapter 430: Winning the Duo Tournament
"Is this really all you've got?" Azmodeus asked, his voice a low taunt that cut through Assfol's focus.
Assfol's eyes flared with anger, and he lunged forward, his fist charged with Immortal energy above the Grade 5 Immortal King Realm. But Azmodeus was ready. He sidestepped smoothly, catching Assfol off-balance, and delivered a swift, calculated blow to his ribs. Assfol staggered, his face contorted in pain, but he quickly regained his footing, his gaze blazing with fury.
"You'll regret that," he snarled, his voice a hiss of barely-contained rage.
Kaelin, meanwhile, had managed to corner Anna, his movements faster and more erratic as he aimed a flurry of blows at her. Anna blocked and dodged with determination, her eyes narrowed as she focused on finding an opening. Kaelin's attacks were relentless, his intent clear—to overwhelm her with sheer speed.
But Anna wasn't about to be outmatched. She feigned a stumble, letting him close in, and then, with a sudden burst of powerful Grade 5 Immortal King energy, delivered a powerful upward kick that connected squarely with Kaelin's jaw. He staggered back, surprise flickering across his face. .net
"Not so tough now, are you?" she shot back, her voice laced with defiance.
Azmodeus caught sight of the exchange and allowed himself a small, approving smile. Anna was holding her own, proving once again that she was more than capable. But he didn't let his focus waver, his attention snapping back to Assfol, who was circling him with a renewed ferocity.
Assfol lunged again, his movements faster and more desperate. Azmodeus dodged, sidestepping with ease, but he noticed the subtle change in Assfol's stance—a shift in weight, a tightening of his grip. He was hiding something, a technique he hadn't used yet. Something surely forbidden.
Azmodeus braced himself, his senses sharpening as he prepared for the unexpected. Assfol grinned, his eyes flashing with a dangerous glint.
"Time to end this," he growled, raising his hand as a dark energy began to gather around his fist. The crowd gasped, murmurs of shock rippling through the arena as the energy intensified, casting an ominous glow.
Azmodeus's eyes narrowed. "So, that's your ace."
Assfol lunged forward, his fist charged with demonic energy perfectly concealed as the darkness element. It aimed directly for Azmodeus's chest. The attack was powerful, too powerful to block head-on without displaying power beyond the Immortal King Realm, and Azmodeus knew it. He shifted his stance, his mind racing as he calculated his next move.
He had to play this off in the best way possible, and it also became abundantly obvious that Ming Chao and the others were unable to discern anything wrong with Assfol's Demonic Energy, which surely originated from the Nine Yin Immortal Realm. This meant that revealing its nature could not be used to his advantage…
'Ahh… Maybe I can do that…' His thoughts maliciously spiraled as he formulated a solid plan.
Just as Assfol's fist was about to make contact, Azmodeus pivoted, redirecting the force of the blow with a precise twist of his body. The dark energy grazed past him, missing by mere inches, and in that split second, Azmodeus struck, his fist connecting with Assfol's shoulder, sending him stumbling back.
The crowd erupted into cheers, and Assfol's face twisted with frustration. He steadied himself, his gaze filled with a venomous rage as he glared at Azmodeus.
"This isn't over," he spat, his voice a low growl.
Azmodeus remained calm, his gaze unwavering. "It is if you can't control your emotions, Assfol. You're only making it easier for me."
Assfol's face contorted in fury, but Azmodeus could see the hint of doubt creeping in. Every move, every attack Assfol made had been growing sloppier, his desperation intensifying as his frustration took over. And in battle, frustration was an enemy of focus. This would be his downfall.
Anna, catching a break in her own skirmish with Kaelin, smirked as she noticed Assfol's unraveling composure. "Looks like your partner's losing his edge," she called over to Kaelin. "Are you sure you're backing the right guy?"
Kaelin's expression remained unreadable, though his jaw clenched slightly. His next attack was slower, more hesitant, as if he, too, was realizing that their coordination was slipping. He tried to rush Anna, daggers raised, but her agility proved superior. She sidestepped, then delivered a quick elbow strike to his side that forced him back.
Azmodeus saw his chance and pressed forward, his movements controlled and precise. Assfol barely managed to dodge his first strike, but Azmodeus followed up with another, then another, each move calculated to keep his opponent off-balance. The crowd was completely silent now, every eye fixed on the unfolding match. The tension was thick, anticipation crackling through the air as Azmodeus closed in on his final blows.
"Why don't you yield, Assfol?" Azmodeus suggested, his tone calm but firm. "Spare yourself the embarrassment."
"Never!" Assfol spat, his voice raw with anger. With a wild shout, he charged again, his fists swinging in a frenzied attempt to land a hit. But Azmodeus evaded each one, his movements smooth and deliberate. And then, with a sudden, fluid motion, he slipped past Assfol's defenses, his fist connecting with Assfol's chest with a powerful strike that reverberated through the arena.
Assfol staggered back, gasping, and finally fell to one knee, clutching his chest. The impact had left him breathless, his face flushed with humiliation as he struggled to rise. Azmodeus stood over him, his expression calm but unyielding, his stance a testament to his control and restraint.
"Yield," Azmodeus said again, this time with a finality that left no room for argument.
Assfol's gaze flickered, the defiance in his eyes wavering as the realization sank in. Even with the Evil Immortal Technique gifted to him by the Eldest Senior Brother of the Eternal Jade Sect, he was left helpless before someone with a similar cultivation level…
'...I have failed… But I can still pull some strings to make this bastard's life a living hell after he moves higher up the ladder… The ladder will surely crumble with him on it!!'
Slowly, reluctantly, he lowered his head, signaling his surrender. The overseer's voice boomed across the arena, confirming the result.
"Winner: Duo #69!"
...
This chapter upload first at NovelBin.Com