Chapter 1453 (2/2)

The Huangs walked out calmly, with Huang Li standing a little behind and to Huang Shou’s left as they proceeded forward. Shou’s wooden cane hit the ground at an even interval, echoing to with enough of an image’s edge that it managed to suppress the cheers of the crowd. Gradually, silence was pulled over the stage as though it was being dragged by that limping old man.

Oh? This is new. Tired of letting your grandson steal the spotlight, eh? Mrs. Hamilton studied Huang Shou more closely. Well, it makes sense. The elder generation isn’t very well represented in this tournament… let’s prove that the unwavering belief an image requires isn’t just a young person’s game.

Perhaps I should try and meet this man before they return to their Zone...

Very quickly, the Zone 7 team took its place opposite Paolo and Kayle, who were playing a very fast-paced game of rock-paper-scissors. Their hands were only blurs as they adjusted their response on the fly. The duo parted a few seconds later, and Mrs. Hamilton could tell from the rather glum expression on Paolo’s face that he had lost.

Meanwhile, Kayle grinned over at Huang Li with a triumphant expression; Mrs. Hamilton couldn’t help but roll her eyes. You two maniacs never change…

The referee looked back and forth between the duos. “Are both sides ready?”

Both duos nodded their heads and the referee cleared his throat. He checked his watch and nodded. “Then let the first quarterfinals match of the duos tournament to name the Earth… begin!”

Neither side moved immediately as the audience began to cheer more loudly. The wind around the stadium began to howl, a counterpoint to the cheers. Although his expression was somewhat listless, Paolo cracked his knuckles and began to advance. The Huangs exchanged a glance and Huang Shou walked slowly forward to meet him. It seemed that the purpose of Kayle and Paolo’s brief competition was obvious to everyone.

“I find you… uncouth.” Huang Shou remarked with a deep frown.

Paolo grinned in response. “I find you disappointing.”

Meanwhile, Kayle was studying Huang Li very closely as the winds around the stadium became more intense. Even the heavy cloud cover was beginning to noticeably stir. The man pursed his lips and then said. “Take your time. I wish to fight you at your peak performance.”

Huang Li closed his eyes and released a deep breath. “...I hope you are aware that I do not have full control over this image.”

“I understand.” Kayle looked down at his hand and rubbed a bit of dirt off of one of his fingers. Then he rolled his shoulders and settled into a martial arts stance. “By the same token, my current weapons are… blunt instruments. Don’t spend your health too cheaply against me, or you will regret it.”

Rather than a duos tournament, this is just two single fights happening next to each other, Mrs. Hamilton thought.

As Paolo picked up speed toward him, Huang Shou shook his head with an aggrieved expression on his face. “I admit I was the first to break the silence between us… but to think that we would all waste so much time talking. Close your mouth and fight.”

“Ha! That’s the joy of it!” Paolo bellowed. His face was beginning to turn red and he accelerated forward. The last few meters between them melted to almost nothing in a single second. “This is it! This conflict! This expectation! Being observed and struggling to emerge dominant! If you are a man, you must clench your fists and raise your voice in such a situation. FIGHT ME!!”

Paolo’s large hand, wrapped tightly around a knife, blasted forward. Huang Shou gritted his teeth and waved his cane; a swirling, geometric formation appeared in Paolo’s path. Bright lines of energy manifested in the formation, blocking Paolo’s path. But that blow struck the formation and shattered it to smithereens.

Huang Li spared a glance for his partner, then faced Kayle with his sword raised. The volume of wind was oppressive where Mrs. Hamilton was sitting, so she couldn’t imagine the state of things in the arena below. The referee was blinking rapidly, struggling to keep his eyes open in the face of the strong wind.

A sinuous dragon settled across Huang Li’s shoulders. Kayle just smiled and bounced lightly on the balls of his feet.

“Fine then. Let’s start.” The dragon raised its head and roared; Huang Li’s eyes blazed. His sword ripped through the air. “Cloud-Slaying Slash.”

“Sever.” Kayle slashed his hand downward.

The two were perhaps six meters apart when they struck. Both attacks were relatively normal, as far as attacks under the influence of the System went. Both relied on pure images of intent, rather than gratuitous special effects.

Yet at the end of it, Huang Li’s eyes widened as blood spurted out of a fresh wound in his shoulder.

Kayle grinned over at him and took a deliberate step forward. Mrs. Hamilton’s eyes narrowed at the ominous aura that the Donnyton Classer began to release; that was the smile of a man who believed he would be capable of cutting anything in his path. “Not that one… show me your other sword. The sword that can slay an entire sky.”