With a calm expression, Rio prepared himself for the final battle that was going to start.
The boy found it odd that there were no audiences in the stadium like the last time. However, he knew the match was being broadcasted to both the Human and Dhovrix countries, and everyone was watching him.
He surmised that it was probably due to some safety concerns that the organizers had decided to hold the finale in this unconventional manner.
Even with the unusual setup, Rio was ready for the impending battle that was about to begin soon.
As Rio stepped into the arena, he noticed another figure entering the battlefield. The young boy stood at an imposing height of nearly 2 meters, with red horns adorning his head.
His face bore a striking resemblance to humans, but the presence of the horns indicated that he was a Dhovrix race contender. Rio observed the boy's muscular body and his jet-black hair, realizing that this was the opponent he would be facing today.
Standing across from Rio, Torin's gaze seemed to mock him for his stature. Though Rio was quite tall himself, he appeared significantly shorter in comparison to his opponent.
The Dhovrix boy's hazel eyes seemed to pierce through him as if challenging Rio's very presence in the arena.
Suddenly, the referee's voice echoed around them, counting down to the start of the battle. "3... 2... 1... Begin..."
As the fight commenced, Rio couldn't help but feel an eerie sense of emptiness in the arena. The absence of a roaring crowd like in previous matches created an unusual atmosphere, making the tournament battle feel different from any other he had experienced before.
Despite the strange atmosphere, Rio's attention remained unwavering, locked onto the battlefield. As soon as the referee signaled the start, Torin initiated the first attack.
Massive boulders, each with a radius of at least a meter, hurtled towards Rio, revealing Torin's elemental affinity which was the earth. Rio nimbly evaded the incoming projectiles, finding Torin's assault notably less challenging than Layla's had been.
In the midst of deftly dodging the boulders, Rio seized the opportunity to activate his [Heaven's Eyes] ability as he wanted to inspect what the Dhovrix race's profile looked like.
<<<<
[User: Torin Jex'mor]
[Race: Dhovrix]
[Innate Rank: B]
[Root: Red]
[MANA: 10000]
[Physical Power: 10 + 340]
[Innate stats: 10]
[White: 10]
[Yellow: 20]
[Purple: 20]
[Black: 20]
[Red: 15]
>>>>
'They possess cores like Asuras and even have white stats points.'
Rio's astonishment at this revelation was evident, though it wasn't entirely unexpected. Teacher Milena had previously explained that the Dhovrix race cultivated their power from the energy present in both heaven and earth, mirroring the Asuras' cultivation methods.
Cautiously evading the boulders, Rio noticed Torin gradually intensifying the onslaught.
The number of boulders hurtling toward him increased, clearly a strategic move by Torin, who had likely witnessed Rio's abilities on TV and wanted to wear him out.
Meanwhile, Rio kept a keen gaze on his opponent, studying him as the battle progressed.
With a swift movement, Rio vanished from his initial position, reappearing directly behind Torin. His fist clenched, and he prepared to strike, but a rock slab abruptly emerged from the ground, forming a protective barrier for Torin.
The boy's fist halted just before the barrier, narrowly avoiding it. He quickly sidestepped, discovering more boulders hurtling in his direction.
Torin, having guessed his movements, had launched the boulders as soon as Rio dodged the barrier by stopping his fist in time.
As the battle continued, the field became increasingly cluttered with boulders. Torin seemed to be strategically placing them, creating layer upon layer, as if he were constructing an intricate maze with the boulders.
Throughout the fight, Rio mainly focused on dodging, carefully observing Torin's intentions.
As thirty minutes passed, the audience watching the live broadcast grew restless and disinterested, noticing Rio's passive approach to the battle. He seemed to be doing little more than dodging the relentless barrage of boulders.
Meanwhile, the number of boulders within the stadium continued to multiply—first reaching one hundred, then two hundred, and eventually surpassing three hundred.
The battle kept progressing, and the number of boulders continued to grow exponentially, soon surpassing a staggering thousand.
Rio noticed that Torin seemed to be purposefully trapping him within this labyrinth of boulders, all the while maintaining a safe distance from his opponent.
Deciding to play along, He refrained from using his [Devlin's Movement Technique] to close the gap between them.
The number of boulders eventually reached two thousand, with Torin appearing satisfied with his handiwork.
The arena now resembled a complex puzzle, rows and columns of boulders meticulously arranged around Rio. It was as if he were enclosed in a stone fortress, with walls made of boulders stacked one on top of the other, as well as side by side.
Curiously, the path directly between Rio and Torin remained clear, devoid of any boulders. However, the distance between them stretched out to around two hundred meters.
The people watching the battle on TV became more intrigued, curious to see how Rio would navigate through the intricate maze Torin had crafted while dodging his further attacks.
The two elderly Dhovrix men, seated alongside two senior human government officials, watched the ongoing battle with contrasting emotions.
The Dhovrix men appeared quite pleased with Torin's strategic setup, while the human officials seemed disappointed by Rio's passive approach. They couldn't help but wish that Layla had been the one to fight this battle instead of him.
The atmosphere became filled with suspense, as both fighters seemed to be playing a strategic game of their own.
Would Rio be able to outwit Torin and escape from the cunning trap that had been meticulously woven around him? The result of the battle hung in the balance like a cliffhanger, leaving all to wonder.
====////====
[SnowNote]
The main focus of the tournament was Lily VS Rio. Torin is a side character so not gonna give him much screen time...
Something big is coming up ahead, within the next 10-20 chapters.
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