Chapter 71: A clash between Spears [2]
Klein and Ji Shenyi stood on opposite sides of the arena floor, facing each other.
The referee gave the signal.
"Begin!"
*swoosh* Ji Shenyi dashed forward first, thrusting her spear toward Klein’s chest in a lightning-fast strike.
The tip of her spear cut through the air with a sharp whistle.
Klein sidestepped smoothly and enhanced his body with mana to increase his strength and speed.
He countered with a horizontal swing of his spear, aiming for her side.
Ji Shenyi parried the blow with her own spear, the clash of metal ringing out across the arena.
Clang!
The force of the collision sent vibrations through both of their arms.
’That’s... interesting.’ Ji Shenyi’s eyes narrowed as she felt the unexpected strength behind Klein’s strike.
He stepped in close, thrusting his spear toward her abdomen.
Ji Shenyi twisted her body at the last second, letting the blade graze her side instead of piercing her.
She retaliated with a powerful overhead strike, bringing her spear down toward his head.
Klein raised his spear to block and the two weapons clashed with a loud *clang* that echoed through the arena.
He pushed back, forcing her to step away, then followed up with a low sweep aimed at her legs.
Ji Shenyi jumped over the sweep, landing lightly and thrusting her spear toward his chest again.
Klein deflected it with the shaft of his spear and stepped in closer, their weapons locking together as they engaged in a close-quarters struggle.
Their faces were inches apart as they pushed against each other.
She twisted her spear, trying to disarm him.
Klein responded by shoving her back and delivering a powerful thrust toward her shoulder.
She parried it and countered with a spinning strike, her spear blade aiming for his side.
Klein dodged and immediately closed the distance again, using his mana to enhance his speed.
He feinted a thrust to her chest, then swept his spear low, aiming for her legs again.
Ji Shenyi jumped to avoid it, but Klein had anticipated the move.
He thrust upward as she landed, and the tip of his spear grazed her thigh, drawing a thin line of blood.
’Shit-’ Ji Shenyi hissed in pain but didn’t slow down.
She countered with a furious series of strikes and her spear moved in a blur as she tried to overwhelm him with sheer speed and skill.
Klein blocked and parried, his mana-enhanced body allowing him to keep up with her pace.
Ji Shenyi frowned. ’This guy... is no joke. It is my fault for underestimating him.’
Her eyes sharpened ’Raging Azure Dragon Style: First Style’
Her spear began to move in a fluid pattern as the blade glowed with a faint azure light.
She thrust forward and the spear seemed to coil like a dragon as it aimed for Klein’s chest.
The strike was fast as the tip of the spear shifted slightly mid-thrust to make it harder to predict.
Klein sidestepped, but the spear followed his movement, forcing him to parry with the shaft of his own weapon.
The crowd roared in excitement as the fight intensified.
She then transitioned into the next technique.
Raging Azure Dragon Style: Second Style – Rising Dragon Thrust
Ji Shenyi leaped into the air with her spear pointed downward as she descended with incredible speed.
*SWOOOSHHH* The blade seemed to roar like a dragon as it aimed for Klein’s head.
The force behind the strike was immense as the air itself seemed to part before the spear.
*CLANG* Klein raised his spear to block and the impact forced him to take a step back, his arms trembling from the force.
Ji Shenyi didn’t stop. She landed lightly and immediately followed up with her next attack.
Raging Azure Dragon Style: Third Style – Dragon’s Fury
Her spear began to spin rapidly, creating a whirlwind of azure light around her.
She charged forward and the spinning spear acted like a deadly drill as she aimed for Klein’s torso.
Klein dodged to the side and the spinning blade grazed his shoulder and tearing through his shirt.
He countered with a powerful horizontal swing, aiming for her side.
*THANK* Ji Shenyi deflected it with her spinning spear but the force of the clash pushed both of them back.
A soft sigh escaped Klein’s lips ’I have seen enough. Her spear skills are just... mediocre.’
’Guess I will have to end the fight soon.’
’Calamity Serpent Style: First Coil.’
Klein’s movements suddenly changed and his spear work became more sinuous, almost like a snake.
He twisted his body and thrust forward in a coiling motion, the spear seeming to slither past her guard.
’What?’ Ji Shenyi barely managed to parry it, but the force made her take one step back.
Klein didn’t stop. He flowed into the next movement with a rising spiral thrust that forced her spear upward, followed by a sweeping horizontal strike that targeted her midsection.
Clank-!
Ji Shenyi blocked the sweep, but the impact jarred her arms.
She quickly countered with a sharp thrust of her own, aiming for his shoulder.
Klein leaned sideways at the last moment, letting the blade pass by a hair’s breadth, then countered with a quick snap of his spear shaft against her wrist.
Thud!
Ji Shenyi winced slightly but didn’t drop her spear and spun away, creating distance.
’What technique was that just now?’
Klein didn’t give her much time to recover.
Calamity Serpent Style – Second Coil: Entwining Fang
The spear twisted in a double helix motion, creating the illusion of two striking heads.
One thrust came high toward her neck, while the other swept low toward her legs.
Gritting her teeth, Ji Shenyi’s eyes narrowed ’I got no other choice but to use that technique.’
’Dark Moon: Crescent Slash’
Her spear spun in an elegant crescent wave, meeting his blade with perfect timing and parrying it.
*CLANG*
Klein’s eyes shrank in shock, seeing the technique ’H-How... that is my technique.’
The Dark Moon technique was something he developed himself in his past life.
It was one of his most prized creations.
The way the spear moved, the timing of the crescent arc and the subtle shift in momentum... it was exactly as he had designed it.
His mind reeled in confusion.
Then how the hell did she know that?
HOW?
HOWWWWW???
THAT IS MY LEGACY!
*WOOOSHHH* An intense murderous intent poured out of his body like a tidal wave.
The air around him grew heavy and oppressive, making the entire arena feel colder.
The temperature seemed to drop several degrees as his killing intent spread, causing weaker students in the stands to shiver and gasp.
Ji Shenyi felt a shiver run down her spine as she sensed the sudden change in him.
The pressure was suffocating, like an invisible hand gripping her throat and she took a step back ’W-W-What is happening?’
Shui Yinran’s eyes narrowed from the VIP section, but in the next instant, she stood up from her seat in utter horror.
A white aura emanated from Klein’s body like a sharp spear, encasing the whole arena in an overwhelming pressure.
[Trait: Spear Intent has been acquired.]
Shui Yinran’s eyes shook in disbleief ’H-He has already mastered Spear Intent?’
The crowd fell into a stunned silence as the white aura spread, the pressure making it difficult for weaker students to breathe.
The entire arena was filled with the sharp, piercing presence of Klein’s Spear Intent... a manifestation of his absolute mastery over the spear.
Klein’s grip on his spear tightened until his knuckles turned white.
His mind was reeling in a storm of rage and confusion.
’That technique is mine. I created it. I perfected it in the fires of war. No one else should know it. No one.’
His breathing grew heavier as memories of his past life flashed through his mind... the battles, the bloodshed and the countless hours he spent on refining that exact style.
The fact that someone was using it now, against him, felt like a personal violation.
’Who taught her? How did they get it? Did someone steal it from my legacy? Or is there more to this than I know?’
The murderous intent radiating from him grew even stronger, making the air feel like blades.
Ji Shenyi staggered back a step and her face turned pale as she struggled against the pressure.
Klein’s eyes were cold as he looked at her.
"Where did you learn that technique?"
Ji Shenyi gripped her spear tighter, trying to steady herself against the overwhelming pressure.
"My master taught me," she replied in a shaky voice. "She learned it from an ancient manual."
Klein’s grip on his spear tightened even more, his murderous intent reaching its peak.
’Liar.’
The duel had taken a much more personal turn.
The crowd was completely silent, sensing the shift in the atmosphere.
Klein stepped forward, his Spear Intent making the air itself feel like blades.
"Let’s end this," he said coldly.
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