117 Chapter 116: Champion (2/2)

I couldn't help but grin back, despite my rapidly deteriorating situation. ”Neither can I.”

Parrying a few strikes and being pushed back, I then dodged under his next punch and slashed him right under his guard, causing him to stagger back as blood dripped from the rents in his armor. Growling, he threw a hook at me, which I dodged.

”Golden Kirin Divine Claws!”

”!!!”

I just barely managed to evade the five beams of light that stabbed out of his gauntlet and sought to pierce me. Kicking out with a Lunar Rabbit kick, I managed to throw Zhu Jiao off balance and slashed him across his chest.

Black Dragon Blast!

”Kuh!”

Stumbling back as the huge explosion rattled him inside his armor, Zhu Jiao desperately threw his arm out.

”Golden Kirin Holy Blast!”

I flipped myself back and rolled away as the golden beam of destructive qi tore the air above me into shreds, almost replacing it with a vacuum. The shockwaves buffeted me, knocking me off my feet and sending me tumbling away.

Fortunately, I could make use of the momentum to distance myself away from my opponent. And not a moment too soon – Zhu Jiao's foot stomped onto the ground where I was sprawled on a few seconds earlier, causing an earthquake.

”Huff…huff…”

I struggled to my feet, still roughly imbalanced, only to sway to the side to avoid Zhu Jiao's Golden Kirin Divine Fist by the narrowest of margins. Gritting my teeth, I dug my heels in and struck with my swords at the gaps in his qi defense, drawing another spray of blood.

”Ugh!”

Swearing, Zhu Jiao stumbled back, but he managed to retaliate with a kick that I barely blocked with my crossed swords and sent me flying a few meters away. Fortunately, this time I was more prepared and was able to land elegantly on my feet.

”Hu…”

Breathing out, I straightened myself and glared at my opponent. Zhu Jiao had also recovered, stemming the bleeding with sheer force and reared back to meet my gaze. He smiled slightly, then propelled himself forward.

Pushing my glasses up, I then took another deep breath before using Jin to meet him in mid-clash. We both collided in the middle of the arena, though I spent most of the exchange evading rather than directly blocking and parrying while leaving as many injuries as I could. Zhu Jiao remained calm despite seemingly being at a disadvantage.

”!!!”

His fist came dangerously close to scraping my cheek and I retreated a step. Damn, but Heavenly Flow and Earthly Steps was mentally demanding and exhausting. I could feel my concentration gradually slipping. It wouldn't be long before my mental stamina ran out and I would no longer be able to keep up my evasive maneuvers.

I had to deliver a decisive blow soon.

Forcing myself to calm down, I picked out the holes in Zhu Jiao's defenses, the places where the qi was thinnest, so that I could exploit those vulnerabilities as much as possible. While death by a thousand cut was a valid strategy, I knew I wouldn't be able to hold out for that long. I didn't possess the same endurance and stamina that Zhu Jiao did.

Even now, I could feel my focus fading. It took every ounce of effort I had to keep my mental state together, to continue fighting until the bitter end…

…until I defeated my opponent.

”UGH!”

And finally I saw it. A huge opening. In his overzealous attempt to deliver a decisive blow himself, Zhu Jiao left himself wide open to a counterattack. Stepping to the side to avoid his powerful punch, I whirled within his guard.

”!!!”

Zhu Jiao's eyes widened when he realized his fatal mistake. Not giving him a chance to correct it, I stabbed him with one of my swords, slipping it through the cracks in his qi armor and ramming the blade into his chest.

”Gaaah!”

Blood spurted from Zhu Jiao's lips as he staggered backward. However, despite his injury, he actually smiled.

”!?”

I realized something was amiss and tried to pull away. As I expected, Zhu Jiao delivered a backhand that would have swept my head off my shoulders if I didn't dodge it.

Damn it! I cursed when realization dawned on me. Zhu Jiao left himself open on purpose! He let me attack him with what I thought was a decisive blow so that he could counterattack!

And I had played right into it!

Fortunately, I had dodged his…

”…AAAAAAAAAAAH!”

Agony shot through my foot and I stumbled, only to find myself held in place. Glancing down, I saw that Zhu Jiao's boot had slammed and stomped onto my foot, pinning me to the ground. Gritting my teeth, I tried to wrench my foot away, but his other leg came in – causing more pain to surge through my leg as his entire weight crushed my foot – and smacked into my knee.

A red haze of excruciating pain exploded through my leg and flooded my mind and I heard the deafening crack. Howling in pain as my leg gave way, the bone snapping cleanly and fracturing from the blow, I fell to my knee.

”Guh…!”

Zhu Jiao mercilessly snapped the blade I had stabbed into his chest by ramming his elbow into it, breaking my sword. The upper half of my body snapped back from the sudden blow, but I was still held in place by my broken leg. Realizing what Zhu Jiao wanted to do, I tried to bring my other sword to bear, but I was too slow.

Zhu Jiao struck me with his Golden Kirin Divine Fist. I managed to bring my right arm – which was no longer holding the sword – to parry the blow, but his powerful punch shattered the bones in that arm, rendering it useless. I almost blacked out from the pain, tears streaming from my eyes and an agonized howl erupting from my mouth.

Swinging my remaining sword desperately, I executed Shadow Dragon Meteor Strike at pointblank range. Zhu Jiao's eyes widened but he managed to deflect the blow with both of his gauntlets. Fortunately, my defiant attack had driven him back.

For only a second.

His fist burst out of the smoke and slammed into my chest. Blood spurted from my lips and my ribs caved in as they broke, puncturing my lungs. Tumbling head over heels, I helplessly cartwheeled across the arena before crashing helplessly on the ground.

Shin…

For a moment, the spectator box fell silent. Obviously I hadn't been paying much attention to them since I couldn't make out the muffled voices from behind the soundproof window, but for the first time I was aware of the ominous silence.

No…that was wrong. I was no longer aware of the voices, the cheers, the outrage or the jeers because I had lost consciousness.

Damn it…I want to win…! I want to win! I can't lose like this…!

Clenching my teeth in frustration, I forced myself to stand on my remaining, unbroken leg. As long as I still had one leg, one arm and one sword, I could still make a comeback.

I wasn't going to…!

”…kuh…”

Unfortunately, my body refused to listen and I found myself sinking into the oblivion of unconsciousness.

*

Everyone had went silent as they watched the two combatants in the coliseum.

The match had been decided long ago. It should have. The winner was clearly Zhu Jiao. He was still standing upright, and despite the numerous wounds he had sustained, he was at least still conscious and capable of combat.

The other person was in a sorry state. With a broken arm and leg, he had difficulty standing even if he somehow managed to preserve his consciousness. His eyes were glazed over, and it was clear that he had blacked out.

Even so…no one declared the outcome of the match. Zhu Jiao was still watching his opponent, his shoulders sagging.

”Wu, you…”

His voice was weak. Probably because he was heavily injured, despite his armored appearance. Or perhaps he was exhausted after such a grueling fight.

”…you still haven't given up?”

The other boy was still standing on his unbroken leg. He was holding his remaining sword in his left hand and pointing it at Zhu Jiao, a vortex of black qi swirling dangerously around it. Even though he had clearly lost consciousness, he refused to admit defeat…to the point where his body continued to resist even though his mind was gone.

Zhu Jiao closed his eyes and shook his head bitterly.

”Man…in terms of spirit and determination, I've lost to you.”

However, his eyes turned steely and he stared at the other boy firmly.

”Unfortunately, I can't afford to lose here. I'm sorry, but this will be my win. As one final act of respect, I will…”

Golden qi began coalescing in his hands as he prepared to launch one final attack to seal the result of the match. As if reacting to the sudden surge in qi, Zhu Jiao's opponent's body jerked and pointed the glowing sword at him, as if getting ready to meet his attack.

”That's enough.”

Teacher Cai dropped down next to the unconscious but defiant boy. He placed a hand on the struggling teenager's shoulder.

”Student Fei Wu, it's over. You can stop fighting now.”

He lowered his head and shook it.

”You've done your best. You've already proven yourself to everyone. There is no longer any need for you to continue fighting.”

”Allow me.”

Teacher Jiao had entered the coliseum as well. At Teacher Cai's nod, he proceeded toward the boy, reached out and gently pushed the unbroken left hand down. At the movement, the black qi swirling around the intact sword slowly dispersed.

”Excellent work Student Fei Wu. You can rest now.”

As if a puppet whose strings were cut, the boy finally allowed himself to fall. Fortunately, Teacher Jiao managed to catch his body before he hit the ground. He then turned and nodded at Teacher Cai.

Raising his head, Teacher Cai announced the outcome of the match.

”The match is over. The winner is Zhu Jiao.”

To the side, Teacher Jiao smiled slightly and placed the boy gently on the ground while waiting for the medics to arrive and tend to his wounds.

”They're both winners,” he murmured softly.

Above, in the spectator's box, everyone applauded.