Chapter 176
Gulp!
Someone in the crowd gulped a mouthful of saliva just as soon as the match was about to commence.
“So this is it...” Iceline muttered.
Askshuller nodded. “By my judgment, Joshua will win.”
“Really?” Iceline seemed doubtful as she said, “Even up till yesterday, you said you can’t predict this match’s outcome.”
“Hey, words are powerful, you know? You have to be careful whenever you speak. Especially at this point in time, your words could either help him or harm him!”
“...” Iceline remained confused, especially when she heard the strong conviction in Akshuller’s voice.
“I have everything riding on this fight, so Joshua will win, no matter what!”
“Everything? Wait, did you—” Iceline finally realized why Akshuller was so confident in Joshua’s victory. She was about to say something, but Akshuller interrupted her.
“This is a once-in-a-lifetime gamble—a twelvefold payoff!”
“...!” Iceline stared agape at Akshuller. She knew he liked gambling, but she didn’t think that he would bet everything he owned on this match.
Iceline couldn’t help but shake her head, but she froze upon realizing something.
“The payoff is twelvefold?”
“Yep.” Akshuller indifferently nodded.
He saw the frown on Iceline’s beautiful demeanor and decided to explain, “The payoff for His Highness Ulabis’ victory is going to be double at best, and it’s all because of the organizers using their own money to balance the scales. In a major match like this, a true gambler must be decisive and aggressive!”
Iceline unhappily stood akimbo. “It seems that the people here don’t have an eye for talent.”
“...?” Akshuller’s eyes widened in confusion.
“Can I still place a bet?”
“Oh, that? Wait, what are you…” Akshuller muttered blankly.
“Show me the way.” Iceline stood up.
“No way… you are going to gamble as well…?”
“We already know the result of this match, and only a fool wouldn’t dare to make a fortune by betting on a predetermined match, am I right?” Iceline’s eyes gleamed as she stared at the dumbfounded Akshuller before saying, “I want to bet, too…”
“Well, as long as you don’t get addicted like me, but you know that every gambling addict started out as a non-addict, right? So…” Akshuller trailed off when he noticed Iceline’s determined and steadfast gaze.
At that, Akshuller decided to let go of his concerns as he directly asked, “How much?”
“A true gambler must be decisive and aggressive when it comes to a major match like this, am I right?!” Iceline raised both of her tiny fists and pumped them into the air before confidently announcing, “I’m going all in on Joshua!”
***
Ba dump! Ba dump! Ba dump!
Joshua’s heart madly pumped away, feeding blood to his eager muscles. In the not-so-distant future, the man in front of him would become one of the exalted Nine Stars, and the idea of fighting a future Star ignited Joshua’s fighting spirit.
Crackle!
Joshua was surrounded by a current of unblemished white electricity. Bronto was responding well, and it was probably because it could feel Magma, a fellow Primordial Stone.
As if in response, Ulabis’s body emitted a crimson haze, followed by a red blaze that hungrily clawed at the sky. The unstoppable fires of annihilation had returned. Once again, hell was let loose in Reinhardt.
Bronto and Magma had been eager to fight each other since they met, and they were finally about to taste each other’s might. Unstoppable lightning clashed with insatiable fire. The two Masters raced toward each other. It didn’t matter who got there first.
Joshua’s figure was as eye-searingly bright as lightning. Before he could even think about it, Lugia was already flying like a jet, leaving behind a crackling trail of afterimages.
Magic Spear Arts Level 3: Asura’s Path.
If his opponent were to underestimate this attack, thinking that the afterimages were just illusions without actual power, he would lose everything. At Level 5 of the Magic Spear Arts, an actual form was no longer needed. He created hundreds of spear images in the proverbial blink of an eye—each spear image held as much lethal force as a single instance of Lightning Flash.
Sparks constantly flew as metal clashed against metal.
Once again, the Knight of Red Flame proved that he was different from his predecessors. He didn’t get intimidated by Lugia’s reach nor by Joshua’s exceptional accuracy and strength. Rather than taking a step back and retreating in the face of Joshua’s flurry of attacks, he constantly looked for his opponent instead.
The scorching flame made Joshua flinch for just a moment, and the blinding crimson fire quickly devoured the advantage Joshua had seized for himself with the help of his spear’s reach.
Unfortunately for Joshua, a momentary gap was enough. Ulabis’ delicate sword squeezed through the gap and made a beeline for Joshua’s torso. Of course, Joshua immediately reacted by twisting away, causing Ulabis’ attack to fail.
However, Ulabis didn’t get frustrated. Honestly, he started to feel admiration for his opponent’s talent. Ulabis’ attack just now came from an angle that should have been impossible to dodge. However, Joshua had done the impossible just now.
“...!”
There was a loud ringing sound as Ulabis’ sword went flying toward Joshua once again, and Joshua felt a tremendous force running up his spear to his arms. However, Ulabis was the one who groaned upon impact rather than Joshua.
“Ugh…”
Joshua’s perfect movement and precise deflections forced Ulabis to take a step backward. Naturally, Joshua took advantage of that by raising his spear in an overhead swing—Joshua was using his spear like a sword.
Ulabis didn’t even attempt to dodge the quick follow-up. He raised his delicate sword, and the delicate sword covered in Aura looked like it would snap upon impact, but it miraculously survived the collision as Ulabis used the repulsive force to spin to the right.
“How are you so fast with the spear…?” Ulabis was forced to take three steps backward, and he chuckled hollowly. The situation was absurd, even to him. However, it was clear that Ulabis was happy. One could see it from the smile on his face.
Ulabis looked like he finally met a rival of the same caliber. Of course, it wasn’t really strange because Ulabis was unrivaled before he was a monarch.
“Hoooh…” Taking a deep breath, Ulabis pointed the tip of his sword at Joshua. The stance he assumed was commonly used by rapier users, and he stood there with a bitter smile before saying, “I’m so glad, Joshua Sanders. And I will give you my best.”
Ulabis stomped and kicked off of the ground with a speed much faster than earlier.
Joshua’s eyes gleamed as he stared at Ulabis, who seemed like he had become a completely different person from before. He couldn’t help but mutter to himself, ‘Back then, the late Ulabis’ swordsmanship was widely acclaimed to be as unique as his strength.’
Joshua was still well beyond the range of Ulabis’ sword, but the latter brought his hand back and furiously swung it toward Joshua. The sword generated a unique noise as it cut through the air, and it was a noise the audience members had never heard before.
It turned out that the inside of Ulabis’ sword was filled with wires, and it extended the sword’s range while making sure that every section of the sword would remain connected to the other. It was a ‘whip sword,’ a sword famous on the Eastern Continent.
Even in his battle with Duke Altsma, Ulabis hadn’t even revealed the true form of his beloved weapon. This was essentially its first appearance.
Joshua stabbed Ulabis’ whip sword with his spear as it bent sharply toward him. However, despite being struck, Ulabis’ whip sword still contained enough power to excavate a gaping, burning crevice on the stage made of Gold River Stones.
However, Ulabis’ attack wasn’t done just yet as the crevice itself exploded, sending fiery rubbles flying all over the place.
‘It grows, fades, and vanishes. He’s a trickster, all right. But there is no way he’ll fool me...’
Ulabis was a reaper straight from hell in Joshua’s past life, and no one dared to approach Ulabis whenever he was holding his flaming whip sword while being enveloped by enormous, crimson flames.
Those who dared to approach Absolute Ulabis were either torn to shreds by his whip sword or reduced to ashes by his all-consuming flames.
But…
‘In my first life, I remained undefeated.’
Joshua tightened his grip on Lugia and mustered his muscles.
He was undefeated, and he bowed to no one.
Not even a reaper of hell could change that…
“The Primordial Stone, Bronto.”
Stop.
Joshua came to a halt when Ulabis’ voice reached his ears.
“I’m sure you must have seized its power as well, right?” Ulabis closed his eyes and continued speaking as if he didn’t care whether Joshua would respond to him or not. “Have you already noticed that the power of the Primordial Stones extends beyond the attributes?”
“...”
“The Primordial Stones are also known as God’s Crystals, and once you are able to use it to its fullest, then you’ll be confronted with yet another transformation. Mine was Magma’s awakening.” Ulabis’ mana explosively rose into the air as he stared at the silent Joshua. “I’m sure you have no idea, so allow me to demonstrate to you the power of God’s creation.”
Boom!
Joshua hurriedly raised his arm to shield his eyes from the sudden explosion of flames.
After a while, Joshua could finally open his eyes, and he saw Ulabis’ burning figure.
‘Is this what Ifrit, the King of Fire Spirits, looks like?’?
Ulabis’ fiery figure looked just like how Joshua remembered him from his past life.
Ulabis made a sidelong glance at the miniature sun resting by his heart.
“Be advised. I cannot control this just yet.” A mere step fractured and split the ground beneath his feet, but the floor soon started to melt due to the extreme heat.
.
“You’re arrogant.”
“What?”
The silent Joshua finally started speaking, “You said I have no idea about the power of God’s Crystals?”
When Joshua’s words fell, a storm of electricity manifested around him.
“No way…” Ulabis muttered blankly at the sight.
Joshua’s mana explosively rose into the air as he muttered, “Who said I had no idea?”
Boom!
A brilliant light exploded, inundating the skies.
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