Chapter 222 - Hei vs. Hu Jie - 3 (1/2)
Hei and Hu Jie faced each other. Both were visibly injured, and their spirit power had dropped a lot and was running out. Therefore, the fight between the two was about to enter the final stage.
”Sumo Style, Tiger Charge.”
Hu Jie spread his legs and lowered his back. Then, concentrating his spirit power in his legs, he charged forward against Hei.
”Spider Run, Two-Legged Mode.”
Hei chose not to receive Hu Jie's charge head-on but opted to dodge altogether instead. He tasted on his body what Hu Jie's full power could do. Receiving another blow like that could make him lose the match.
Stomp! Stomp!
Hu Jie's feet thundered like drums every time they hit the floor, demonstrating the explosiveness behind this running technique. Indeed Hei had done well to dodge, but Hu Jie's technique was not as trivial as a simple run.
Crack!
Hu Jie's ankles rotated following Hei's movement. The diamond layer on that area began to shatter due to the pressure, but in that way, Hu Jie could change direction without losing the momentum gained.
'The situation is dangerous.'
Hei quickly realized that Hu Jie's movement technique was gaining speed, even surpassing Spider Run. Although he was using the Two-Legged Mode, it was still the technique his mother had taught him. However, it was the first time he had met someone who could really surpass it.
'If I can't face it openly, then I'll just have to slip through.'
Hei whirled around and then ran to meet Hu Jie. The latter was surprised but didn't hesitate. He had reached a high enough momentum not to be afraid of anything.
Stomp! Stomp!
”Snake Coiling, Snake Flicker!”
Slip!
Hei had now come within collision distance with Hu Jie, but the vicious crash didn't occur. Instead, unexpectedly, Hei had twisted his body to such an insane level that he practically wrapped himself around Hu Jie's body.
”F.u.c.k!” Hu Jie cursed, but it was too late now. Hei had slid his body, using Hu Jie's, to position himself behind the latter, thus dodging the deadly Tiger Charge.
”Snake Binding + Snake Coiling, Choking Snake Hold.”
Hei's right arm tightened around Hu Jie's throat while his left arm went behind Hu Jie's head to keep him from freeing himself from the submission hold. At the same time, Hei wrapped his legs around Hu Jie's h.i.p.s as his hair released its grip on the spear and went to lock the young man's diamond arms.
”His flexibility technique has reached an amazing level.”
”While it's not that influential on its own in the course of combat, when combined with all the other techniques shown so far, it's certainly a lethal weapon.”
”That boy's flexibility technique may have even surpassed that of the She Family.”
”Are you joking? How could someone who comes from an unknown place possess techniques that can overcome the Eight Big Families?”
”Yet it is the reality before our eyes. An unknown martial artist with no background, coming from a place far below the Continent in all aspects, is winning over the best of the best that the Sun Empire has to offer. ”
While the spectators were in raptures, Hei was choking Hu Jie with all his strength. The diamond layer provided nearly perfect protection against any kind of physical or elemental damage, limited only by knowledge of the Metal Law and the user's spirit power. However, even the most powerful technique had its flaws.
Aside from the damage caused by the Illusion Law that attacked the mind and senses, the diamond layer had a weakness against impact damage as it couldn't completely block the vibrations resulting from contact. And although Hei's wasn't an impact damage technique, it was still true that it created pressure around Hu Jie's throat, approaching the diamond layer's maximum tolerance threshold.
”You are really f.u.c.k.i.n.g strong. Forcing me to use it ... you're the first one I use it against.” Hu Jie said in a low voice because of the strangulation he was receiving, ”Metal Law, Mercury Body.”
Suddenly, the diamond layer covering Hu Jie's body vanished under everyone's eyes. However, soon after, Hu Jie began to dissolve in a silver-colored liquid substance, freeing himself from Hei's hold.
It was the reaction shared by everyone watching, except for one person - Hu Luoyang, Hu Jie's father. Even Feng Chen and Long Tian looked completely surprised.
”So he managed to do it? I didn't think it was possible, yet he really did it.” Long Tian commented.
”Yeah, that madman did it for real. That's very typical of him.” Feng Chen answered with a slight smile on his lips.
”What's going on with Hu Jie?” Leon and He Fen asked together. Feng Chen and Long Tian were familiar with Hu Jie's techniques, but even they were impressed. But they still had to know something from their words.
”The Metal Law allows its users to tune with one or more elements according to their inclination. Usually, these are metals or other rather hard solid substances. Naturally, the better the material, the more difficult it is to understand the Law, but at the same time, the resulting technique will be stronger. Hu Jie, after great efforts, managed to tune with the Imperial Diamond, the hardest material that can be found in nature. But despite this, even the Imperial Diamond has its limits.” Long Tian explained and then left the word to Feng Chen, who continued the explanation.
”Hu Jie saw the problem and tried to find a solution. First, he researched the entire Sun Empire, using the resources of his family as well. Unfortunately, however, there was no other material superior to the Imperial Diamond in terms of hardness. At that point, he decided to opt for another path: rather than looking for something that surpassed the Imperial Diamond, he would choose something that could make up for its shortcomings. Eventually, he came to select a specific material: the Mercury Hydrargyrum, a liquid-type metal.
Only, no one had ever managed to tune with that material. Not even his father, the head of the Hu Family, or any of his ancestors. Even in the entire history of the Sun Empire, this is the first time this has happened. From now on, regardless of what Hu Jie does in the future, his name will forever be remembered as the first person to have absorbed Mercury Hydrargyrum as material for the Metal Law.”
Hearing this, everyone nearby opened their eyes wide. The creation of a legend was happening before their eyes at this very moment. And the protagonist of that legend wasn't Hei, but his opponent.
Slip!
The silver liquid moved and slid along the floor, coming up behind Hei, who was also surprised like everyone else. At that point, the silver liquid resumed a human form before solidifying and showing Hu Jie's body again.
”Tiger Back Breaker!”
Hu Jie's left arm aimed at Hei's throat while his right arm aimed at his t.h.i.g.hs. The cubital fossa, the part that joined the arm and forearm, of the left arm was positioned over Hei's Adam's apple and pushed down. Simultaneously, Hu Jie lowered himself by moving his head forward so that Hei's falling body was positioned above his back. Finally, the right arm pushed down to the area just above the knee.
Crack!
Hu Jie's movements were fluid and rapid. In an instant, he had immobilized Hei, and by pushing with both arms, he was creating painful pressure on the latter's spine. If this situation continued, it was only a matter of time before Hei's back gave way and snapped. The only consolation the Hei had was that he had managed to get his hands around his neck before it was too late. Otherwise, he would have had to worry about both the strangulation and the pressure in his back.
Crack!
Hei tried to resist by pushing his hands forward and lifting the arm, holding his upper body locked. However, given the peculiar position his arms were in, the strength he could exert was limited. He also tried to use his abs' strength, but even that was little against the strength contained in Hu Jie's muscular arms.
”Hei, give up. You cannot break free. Don't make me break your back for real.”
Hu Jie's voice contained a slight plea. He liked Hei as a person and considered him a rival. This fight was the proof: Hei had pushed Hu Jie to the limit, even making him use his most secret card. Yet, even if he were to lose, Hei still showed his strength and talent.