Chapter 118: Chapter 118 - Fist Against Fist
Upon hearing Bernard Colton’s agreement, I felt the corner of my mouth unconsciously curve upward.
"Younger Lord of Colton Family, you wouldn’t go back on your word in front of so many people, would you?" I laughed, watching his reaction carefully.
Bernard Colton sneered at me, his voice dripping with contempt. "Of course not! I keep my word! But you... You can’t seriously think you can win."
I said nothing in response, simply standing my ground and beckoning him forward with a hooked hand gesture.
Bernard’s expression turned icy as he coldly stated, "I’ll teach you a lesson, you arrogant brat!"
With those words hanging in the air, Bernard clenched his fist and suddenly materialized right in front of me.
"So fast!" gasped the spectators, clearly impressed by his speed.
"No wonder he’s the Younger Lord of Colton Family. I can hardly see his punch clearly!"
"Too fast, way too fast!"
I noticed Violet Damon and Victor Green’s expressions change dramatically – Bernard’s strength clearly exceeded their expectations. Everyone around us wore faces of amazement, but I remained calm and collected.
I didn’t attempt to dodge or evade. Instead, I clenched my fist, ready to meet Bernard’s attack head-on.
"Daring to exchange fists with me? You’re seeking death!" Bernard’s eyes flashed with unmistakable madness as he roared, our fists colliding forcefully.
In that instant, tremendous power rippled between our connected fists.
With a resounding "bang," Bernard staggered backward three steps while I remained perfectly still, not moving an inch.
Just as I thought – these so-called Inner Strength Masters weren’t worth mentioning at all.
"How is this possible?" Bernard’s face contorted with disbelief. Though I could tell he hadn’t used his full strength in that punch, he clearly hadn’t expected anyone at the peak of Inner Strength to push him back.
The crowd fell silent; nobody seemed to believe what they were witnessing.
"Younger Lord of Colton Family is actually... at a disadvantage?"
"That guy called Mason Raymond... sure has considerable skill."
Their whispered discussions only served to further infuriate Bernard Colton.
"It seems I’ve underestimated you," he said coldly, glaring at me.
I didn’t respond verbally, just gave him a playful look that clearly annoyed him further.
Bernard roared angrily, "What a pity, I just used 50% of my strength back then! But now... I will slaughter you quickly!"
He charged toward me again, moving with unparalleled speed, his fists raining down like a torrential downpour.
I casually dodged with my hands behind my back, easily evading every punch he threw. After more than a dozen failed attempts, he still hadn’t landed a single blow.
"How is this possible!" Bernard’s frustration was evident in his voice.
I could see the confusion in his eyes – he had witnessed me being easily defeated by the old servant just days ago. My rapid progress clearly bewildered him.
"Is that all?" I sneered, enjoying his growing frustration.
Bernard gasped for breath, gritting his teeth. "Just hiding, huh? You only hid behind a woman before, and now you want to keep hiding, right?"
I raised an eyebrow and responded with another sneer. "If I retaliate, I’m afraid you’ll never have another chance."
"Arrogant!" Bernard roared with unbridled anger. This humiliation was clearly new to him.
He bellowed loudly and launched a second wave of attacks. Under the support of his Inner Strength, his stamina remained impressive – dozens of punches later, he showed no signs of fatigue.
I took a step back while studying the Inner Strength Bernard displayed. Unlike ordinary fighters, his entire body was enveloped in this energy, which not only reduced his energy consumption but also protected him from injuries.
"So that’s how Inner Strength is used," I realized, grasping something important.
I roared and immediately released the spiritual power within my body. The rolling energy quickly enveloped me, and instantly my body felt lighter.
"It really works like that," I thought, feeling slightly delighted by this discovery.
"Seeking death!" Bernard roared from a distance, launching another fierce punch aimed at my face.
This time, I neither dodged nor evaded, allowing his fist to connect directly.
With a loud "bang!" his fist landed squarely on my face.
"Mr. Raymond!" Victor Green shouted in alarm, his face filled with worry.
Meanwhile, Bernard Colton burst into triumphant laughter.
"Mason Raymond, do you see that? This is the power of Inner Strength Masters!" he declared proudly.
"Inner Strength Masters...is that all the power? I’m a little disappointed." My voice came from behind him, causing Bernard’s expression to change dramatically.
He quickly turned around to find me standing unharmed, still wearing a calm smile.
"How... how is this possible!"
Not only was Bernard shocked beyond words, but Blair Blake and the others watching from the platform appeared equally dumbfounded. Bernard’s punch had failed to harm me in the slightest.
I casually wiped away the dust on my face and sneered, "Now it’s my turn."
Before the words fully left my mouth, I appeared directly in front of Bernard.
Before he could react, my fist connected with his abdomen. The impact caused him to double over like a shrimp, blood spurting from his mouth.
I didn’t stop there – following up with an elbow strike that crashed fiercely onto his back.
"Ah!!!" His scream echoed through the area.
Pain was clearly the only sensation Bernard experienced in that moment. The Inner Strength protecting his body seemed to shatter instantly. His body made a sickening "bang" as it hit the ground.
Everyone witnessing this couldn’t help but gape in astonishment. The difference in our abilities was stark – Bernard was being utterly defeated.
I looked down at him coldly and said, "Bernard Colton, it’s over. You should keep your promise now."
After speaking, I turned to look at Victor Green standing not far away.
"I haven’t lost yet!" Bernard shouted, remarkably managing to stand up again.
He extended his palm, and a faint light appeared there. The light formed what looked like a dagger, and an aura of danger immediately filled the air.
"What’s going on? Why is there light flashing in Mr. Tenny’s hand?" someone from the crowd asked.
"Is it a special effect? Wow, it’s my first time seeing live special effects!"
"It looks so cool! Mr. Tenny, come on!"
The spectators cheered, clearly thinking Bernard had employed some kind of theatrical trick. They couldn’t grasp what was actually happening.
Meanwhile, many martial arts experts watching from the viewing platform wore expressions of shock.
"Younger Lord of Colton Family is really a genius, he can actually release inner strength externally," one of them remarked with a sigh.
"Yes, even I haven’t mastered that technique. Despite being so young, Younger Lord of Colton Family has achieved such proficiency."
"This Mason Raymond is in trouble now, but pushing Younger Lord of Colton Family to this point is already impressive."
Their discussions centered around Bernard’s unexpected technique.
Blair Blake remained silent throughout. Externally releasing inner strength was notoriously difficult for Inner Strength Masters, and Bernard’s ability to do so was genuinely shocking.
I noticed Victor Green’s face grow increasingly worried as he muttered, "Bernard Colton has actually reached this level..."
