Leavemealone who had now changed position to Wong’s side, activated the Overlimit ability of his fist weapon. He then punched.
Despite the audience being awed by the spectacular display of his weapon’s Overlimit state, the punch itself was nothing special. It was just a simple punch. The audience even felt like this punch was slower compared to the previous punches Leavemealone had thrown.
Yet, Wong who was the target knew otherwise. He could feel an application of mana manipulation in this punch. Additionally, he knew the Overlimit state would cause him high damage even for a simple punch. Leavemealone had used it before when Wong captured him.
He backstepped to move away. Yet, the fist didn’t seem to become farther. Instead, it continued to approach. Wong increased his speed. The punch still advanced and their distances reduced at a steady pace. As if the punch adjusted its speed with his. As if there was a magnet keeping the fist close.
‘What sorcery is this?’ Wong uttered in his mind.
This was the one punch technique that Domon had taught Leavemealone in the last few days, called Fast Slow Illusive Fist. The practitioner must first create a connection with the opponent’s mana before unleashing this punch. With the connection locked, the punch would act as if a homing missile, ensuring a guaranteed hit.
This technique required mana manipulation. Although Leavemealone was not yet proficient in this ability. His understanding of this field was better than Jack’s. With non-stop practice the last few days, he could use it if only for this one punch.
Leavemealone had been building this connection from all the melee exchanges since the start of the match. This technique masked the connection and made it so subtle that even a grandmaster like Wong wasn’t aware of it unless he purposefully concentrated his senses onto it.
This fist could only be used once. After the punch was unleashed, another connection needed to be built up if one was to use this martial art again. Leavemealone didn’t think that Wong would fall for the same trick twice. Hence, Leavemealone knew this was his only chance.
The fist was finally too close, Wong couldn’t dodge it anymore. He readied himself for a hit. Mana accumulated at the place where Leavemealone’s fist would connect. The fist hovered just a hairbreadth from Wong’s body but was unable to proceed.
The strong mana defense from the Iron Shirt then exploded, pushing Leavemealone’s fist away. Yet, Leavemealone forcefully stopped his fist from retracting. It stopped a couple of inches away before the fist punched out again. This time, the fist struck Wong’s body.
*WHAM*
The sound of the impact was too loud for a fist thrown from such close proximity.
“You are not the only one who knows One-Inch Punch!” Leavemealone uttered.
Domon had informed Leavemealone about the weakness of Iron Short. It was a very strong defensive technique, but it wasn’t effective against repetitive hits. It was only good to repel one strong attack. Afterward, it would take time before the practitioner could accumulate mana for another defense again.
<br/>Wong was sent reeling back by the punch. Leavemealone had executed the One-Inch Punch in conjunction with his non-standard skill, Iron Punch, which increased damage. Additionally, his weapon was still in the Overlimit state. That one hit took out half of Wong’s HP.
Leavemealone knew he needed to push while he had the momentum. His fists became countless as he used Infinite Lightning Punches.
Wong, who saw the incoming attack, gritted his teeth and planted his feet. His two fists opened into palms and also turned innumerous. Each palm slapped Leavemealone’s fists and prevented them from hitting.
“Hundred Lightning Hands? That old fart does have many tricks up his sleeve,” Jet uttered.
“Hm…” Domon muttered. Unfortunately, Leavemealone didn’t possess high enough damage to finish Wong in one hit. However, if he could continue to push and keep Wong at a passive state, Domon thought Leavemealone should still have a chance.
Leavemealone’s fists and Wong’s palms continued to hit each other. Wong’s Hundred Lightning Hands managed to keep every punch from hitting him as well as negated any splash damage.
Leavemealone glanced at his stamina. Every punch that he threw consumed a bit of his stamina. Sooner or later he would run out, but he couldn’t stop. He could only bet everything with this assault.
Wong wasn’t in the best situation either. His Hundred Lightning Hands required a great deal of effort. He couldn’t keep using it indefinitely. He slowly felt fatigued creeping over.
The two were now having a battle of endurance. One was spending the game stat’s stamina, while the other was spending the real world’s one.
When Leavemealone’s stamina was down to thirty percent, he noticed Wong’s hand was starting to slow. He knew then that he would win this endurance contest.
Wong knew that as well. He clenched his teeth. “Damn you!” He yelled. His skin then turned dark and steely.
His Hundred Lightning Hands stopped as he retracted his two arms. Leavemealone’s punches proceeded without hindrance after Wong canceled his Hundred Lightning Hands. They battered Wong’s body.
Wong’s HP was reduced, but they were dampened by the Steel Body skill. Unfortunately, Leavemealone’s Overlimit state had ended. Otherwise, his punches should be able to penetrate Steel Body’s defense. This Steel Body also helped Wong keep his body in balance. His two retracted arms punched out amongst Leavemealone’s punches. His two fists came together in front of Leavemealone.
Leavemealone felt air compressed when the two fists came together. Before long, this compressed air exploded. The force was enough to make Leavemealone stop his Infinite Lightning Punches. His body also wavered as he received damage.
Before Leavemealone could rebalance himself, Wong’s right fist opened into a claw. His fingers started glowing. The glow made his hand as if turning transparent and people could see the bones inside. The audience realized then that the glow came from these bones.
This claw went forward and struck Leavemealone’s chest. Leavemealone felt like his bones cracked when the claw hit. Wong twisted his claw and Leavemealone felt as if his skin and flesh were being ripped apart. If this was the real world, those things he felt would have truly happened.
Huge damage appeared on his head, one that eclipsed his total HP. His body slumped down weakly under Wong’s feet.
Wong had won.
“Champion of the Rogue section, Wong of the Orc race!” Pallas declared.
“Damn! That was close!” Jack uttered dejectedly. “What were those two martial arts he used to win? That claw thing looked damn impressive.”
“The two fists that unbalanced your friend is Fist Cannon. While the claw art he used… Well, I’m surprised he knows that art,” Jet answered.
“He is stronger than I first thought him to be,” Domon said. Then to Jack, he said, “The claw move he used is called White Bone Claw. Another ancient martial art. It used chi to strengthen one’s finger bones. The accumulated chi caused the glow on the bones and created the illusion of glowing bones. The claw strengthened by this art can easily shatter rocks. One with perfect mastery could even puncture a steel plate and tear it apart. It was a truly deadly art.”
Leavemealone had been revived. It was not strange to see him wearing a depressed expression. Yet, the winner, Wong, was also scowling. Many wondered why the orc champion showed unsatisfied expression even after winning. Those with a better understanding of his personality knew that despite Wong having won, he was angry because he had been forced to use a game skill. Not to mention he almost lost to someone he considered as a junior.
Wong stomped back to his seat, while Leavemealone walked back steadily. His face was sad but his eyes were determined. Jack could see that this loss only strengthened this man’s resolve to become stronger.
Jack was glad that Leavemealone didn’t lose his fighting spirit, but he was concerned about another thing. The next match would decide whether World Maker got the thing they came for.
The projection on the sky showed the next match.
*
Archer Section Final Match
Ronald Dreary, level 46 Gunner (ethereal) Vs David, level 46 Gunner (human)
*
David stood up as he prepared to go down to the arena.
“David, good luck!” Jack called out. “You have to win! We are all counting on you! Beat up that no-face show-off cowboy!”
David looked back and was rather confused. He was surprised that anyone supported him so much to win this tournament. Much less Jack, who he was not close to, by any means.
“Good luck,” Jeanny also said to him.
David smiled and thanked the two. He then proceeded down to the arena. Ronald had already come down earlier and waited for his opponent in the arena.
When the two came face to face with one another, David asked, “After seeing your matches, I can’t stop thinking. Can you by any means be the phantom gunslinger of the battlefield?”
Ronald grinned after hearing David’s question. “Some people do call me that.”
“I see…,” David said. “I have a few comrades who died in the hands of this phantom gunslinger. You are a very difficult man to find on the field. It must be fate that you are here so I can avenge my comrades.”
Ronald was still grinning. “Just a few? I can’t remember anymore how many people I killed on the battlefield. Unfortunately, we can’t truly die from being killed in this world. Very depressing world. I would have loved to send you to where your comrades are.”
