Chapter 286: Spirit of Never Backing Down! Standing Up!
Translator: Exodus Tales Editor: Exodus Tales
The huge stadium fell into silence for the first time since the start of the tournament.
To their surprise, they had fought in such a fierce manner in this short exchange! What’s more, they were not even able to tell clearly as to who finally gained the upper hand in this exchange.
Zeus stared at Du Peng’s palm with an odd gaze. Paleo martial arts is truly scary! Particularly the slash attack, it does tremendous burst damage. Who would have thought that slash attack in paleo martial arts could attack acupoints?
And this is not even the scariest thing about it! Zeus lightly moved his left elbow. The hidden energy in the attack in the most terrifying! It’s almost like an invisible power. If the intercepting gird created from the blue arcs in my body had not blocked it, perhaps I would have been unable to notice the hidden energy entering my body, let alone expel it instantly.
Phhh…
Zeus exhaled deeply. The lightning bolt tattoo on his shoulder and back started pulsating with a blue glow. Now, there was no need to hide anything anymore. Zeus, slowly taking the stance of Eight Extreme Fists, issued a command to the Azure Electric Drive chip in his body, and at the same time, pus.h.i.+ng his combat power to one hundred and twenty percent.
Du Peng, on the other hand, let out a long howl and spewed out the extravasated blood with it. Next, he gently flapped his left palm like a bird that was about to rise into the air; gently and gracefully like a beautiful ballerina, completely unlike a soldier on a battlefield.
As for his right hand, he clenched it so forcefully that the air he grasped made a popping sound, just like the bursting of a balloon. Even the airflow was almost visible to the naked eye.
One side was as loud and explosive as a lightning bolt, while the other was as soft as yarn!
Everyone who saw this scene gasped in surprise one after another. It was already extremely difficult to focus on hardness and softness together, let along using hardness and softness at the same time. This level of difficulty was even higher than Qin Fen’s Tai Chi Fist that he had shown last time!
Nowadays, everyone was a martial artist. Among the audience, while the majority were martial artists who had yet to reach the seven-star level, there were also martial artists who had surpa.s.sed the seven-star level. Even they deemed Du Peng deserving of praise for his performance.
On the other hand, a flash of surprise appeared in Qin Fen’s eyes. To his surprise, Du Peng’s growth had surpa.s.sed his estimation. This guy’s previous obsession to chase after his brother has completely turned into regret. And has even advanced further.
The young recruits in the stands held their breaths, one after another, nervously looking at both sides of the arena. The next battle would determine victory and defeat! The partic.i.p.ants might be young, but their bodies and true energy had not reached a true all-rounder. So, no matter who took the bait, he would suffer a crus.h.i.+ng defeat in the end. And there would never be another breakthrough on the spot due to incomparable spiritual stimulation, leading to total physical recovery and defeat of the enemy!
Spirit was not omnipotent. At this point, it was hard to say whether the defeated side could even keep his life.
The audience stared at the screen with their eyes wide. The victory and defeat may be decided in a single moment. Watching it first hand was far better than watching the slow-motion replay later.
“East Asian recruit, you are truly good. Among our peers, I have only seen a few who can reach your level. Seven-star level and sonic boom realm! They are sufficient for you to stand at the pinnacle of younger generation martial artists. However, there can only be one winner! Your road to the Recruit King of Martial Combat has come to an end.”
As Zeus locked on to Du Peng from the distance, a feverish brilliance broke out in those eyes of his which were flickering with blue electrical arcs. Every muscle on his bared body was pulsating continuously. The blood on his skin was sent flying by the pulsating muscles, which hit the ground and rolled continuously, coagulating with the mud without breaking apart.
“Is that so?” The movement of Du Peng’s palm became softer. He looked at Zeus and slowly said, “There is only one t.i.tle of Recruit King of Martial Combat, and I have no intention of giving it to you.”
Zeus’ eyebrows that were s.h.i.+mmering with blue electrical glow twitched. He took a step forward and burst into bright laughter. His unscrupulous and condescending laughter deafened the quiet arena even more so, owing to the multiple mikes in place.
Zeus, this name was taken from the king of the G.o.ds in Greek mythology! G.o.d was always high and aloof!
At the end of Zeus’ laughter, Du Peng’s eyes suddenly turned red as blood. He slammed his feet on the ground, kicking his long legs that were like those of a warhorse with the full brunt of his force, but his body swept across the ground as elegantly and beautifully as a swallow. A distance of a few dozen meters was shortened in the blink of an eye.
Seven Stars of Immortal Thunder Cleaving Calvary’s start, followed by the Water Bird Void Movement Technique of Phaseless Water Bird! Although the two exercises were not in complete harmony, their successive use was still very shocking.
As Du Peng’s Water Bird Void Movement pushed him just under two meters away from Zeus in a flash, he cast the Seven Stars of Immortal Thunder Cleaving Calvary with the ice-cold killing intent of an ancient battlefield!
This Seven Stars of Immortal Thunder Cleaving Calvary was lacking in usual multiple changes. It didn’t leave any room for maneuver and was simple and direct as it aimed toward Zeus’ head! The place he had stepped on seemed to have some kind of small size explosives installed; the ground exploded with bangs. His body gave rise to gales of wind blew the resulting dust and debris from the explosion into the air for a long time, just like a small-sized sand storm.
Du Peng didn’t need to place his palm into position. If Zeus had long hair, the wind from his palm alone would have been enough to give him a mid-split haircut.
Facing Du Peng’s fierce blow that could make a hole in a car’s roof, Zeus’ eyes bloomed with a blue glow as he launched a counterattack.
Getting a nickname of Zeus at his age, Mark didn’t avoid the attack — he prevented it! G.o.d didn’t have any reason to dodge an attack from a human! Every inch of muscle started bulging even more so than before. The blood in the veins at his back started flowing at a faster speed, making a buzzing noise, just like the sound of bowstrings on an ancient battlefield. Immediately after, electrical arcs as thick as ropes surged out from his body underneath that ferocious gaze of Mark’s.
Little Dragon King – Yang Lie’s eyes went wide as he cried out involuntarily, “Overload!?”
In paleo martial arts, there was a way to boost the martial strength by burning the blood essence. Everyone had given it a general name: Demon Disintegration Art. This kind of technique was very detrimental to its user’s vital essence. After the battle, its user would completely lose his combat force for some time and would need a serious rest.
Neo martial art, which had been developed on the basis of paleo martial arts, had naturally inherited this self-mutilating method to boost the combat force. And, although it was easier to apply, it resulted in far bigger sequelae.
“Seven-Star Burning Energy Method!?” Noticing Du Peng’s red-as-blood eyes, Xing Wuyi also cried out involuntarily, surprised.
Both men in the ring were quite clear that when they had exhausted all of their means and strength, they would very likely use this technique. Normally, they could have the a.s.sistance of biochemical beasts and pills to decide the outcome. They would not have any need to resort to such a tragic approach.
But in today’s battle, whoever didn’t use it would very likely be defeated!
On the ring, neo martial artists, like paleo martial artists, emanated the desolate war spirit of an ancient battlefield! Zeus’ back muscles and veins burst forth with a final tremor as his body stood up!
This move made Du Peng feel like he was on an ancient battlefield, facing tens of thousands of archers and countless arrows, filling up the sky and earth.
Zeus was desperate!
With his back muscles taut as bowstrings, Zeus’ fists that were wrapped in a glaring blue electrical glow and making explosive sounds with the air, covered Du Peng completely.
This was A Salvo of Ten Thousand Arrows, the ultimate skill that Zeus had improved upon according to his own condition!
BANG! BANG! BANG!
Under Zeus’ lightning-fast three punches, Du Peng’s Seven Stars of Immortal Thunder Cleaving Calvary was like a General amidst salvos of arrows on an ancient battlefield, was completely negated.
Zeus’ A Salvo of Ten Thousand Arrows did not stop at all; he had no intention of stopping until the last arrow had been fired! Blue after-images of Zeus’ punches covered the entire s.p.a.ce before Du Peng in the blink of an eye. The blue electric glow was filled with full of high voltage current, which could not only shock the enemy but also its user as well! Every punch of Zeus was like a deadly arrow covered in impulse current.
In response, Du Peng planted his feet on the ground, taking a horse-riding stance. His left shoulder that was employing softness turned firm and fierce with a shake as he withdrew his right arm, which also shook at the same time. Immediately after, the left and right side of his waist twitched as he moved his arms upwards.
Thousand Bone Breaking Punch of Seven Stars of Immortal Thunder!
BANG! BANG! BANG!
Neither side could retreat anymore. The first one to retreat would be the loser and most likely to end up dead.
This fight was not just about winning or losing but rather about life and death!
Each punch of A Slavo of Ten Thousand Arrows was fatal. Once it was cast, it was like the Yangtze river flowing towards the east. At the sight of this, the corner of Little Dragon King – Yang Lie’s eyes twitched continuously. A desperate G.o.d was terrifying. No wonder Zeus dared to say he wanted to win the champions.h.i.+p. He is indeed in the first group in this tournament.
Tired…so tired…
After every hit, Du Peng felt his arm go completely numb as if he had grabbed a high voltage wiring. Even his body began to feel tired, albeit slowly. Every time he raised his arm, he felt like he was lifting a thousand pounds. What’s more, blood slowly began to trickle down from the corner of his mouth.
Du Peng’s eyes began to blur. Even his ears seemed to be unable to hear the thunderous bangs from the collision of their punches.
Who is this? Why is he not falling? Is his body an insulator? Every time Zeus clashed with Du Peng, a tiny wound would always appear somewhere on his body, from which blood immediately flew out.
What kind of punch is this? Why? There is an electrical grid inside my body, but why is it unable to block his hidden energy? Why can’t I stop my body from getting injured, again and again? I can’t fall! Will my blood be completely drained? Why are the bones of my arms feeling numb? I am so tired, I can’t hold it anymore…
“These two…” The grin on Lin Liqiang’s face had already disappeared. He was staring at the screen with a faint admiration. “Their bodies have already surpa.s.sed their limits!? Are they…supporting their bodies with sheer spirit?”
Enzo Rota’s face, on the other hand, was devoid of any expression; none could make out what he was thinking. Their bodies are purely fighting on instinct. Their spiritual concentration has reached its peak, allowing them to display the strength they couldn’t exert generally. It is impossible for them to improve their speed, strength, and skill for the time being. Even if some kind of miracle occurred by chance, it would still be impossible.
Who was going to win? Who was going to lose? This fight had already gone beyond the point of prediction, it could no longer be predicted by any martial artist. They were competing on a spiritual level, and not just the physical level.
Win! I have to win ! The fine hairs of Zeus’ eyebrows stood erect as the arm of A Salvo of Ten Thousand Arrows stalled for a moment, giving Du Peng’s fist the opportunity to open up a gap.
Chance! Under the excitement from the chance, Du Peng’s blurry eyes bloomed with an unprecedented desire for victory. He screwed and thrust his right arm with rotational energy that could drill through everything in its path, like an ancient long spear piercing straight towards the palace.
Hey… At the sight of this, the corner of Zeus’ eyes rose with a smile as his arm of A Salvo of Ten Thousand Arrows drew a strange arc, rus.h.i.+ng straight towards Du peng’s abdomen.
What’s this!? Little Dragon King’s mouth was agape with incredulity. This is Zeus’ A Salvo of Ten Thousand Arrows when he has decided to perish together with the enemy! Has he gone crazy!
BANG! BANG!
I hit him!
The very same thought flashed in the minds of both young martial artists at the same time. Immediately after, Zeus’ body was sent flying, as if a high-speed Porsche Cayenne had crashed into him. At the same time, blood suddenly gushed out from several dozen places on his body. And when he crashed into the ground, his body slid a dozen meters before coming to a stop.
His bare, powerless, defenseless body was as fragile as a child. This skid abraded his body in dozens of places. His back was almost completely abraded and b.l.o.o.d.y.
Du Peng’s body, on the other hand, was like a completely dead shrimp. Having taken the full brunt of Zeus’ punch, his body flew five meters above the ground with blue arcs jumping about his body, again and again. After a dozen meters or so, his body heavily crashed into the ground, creating a cloud of dust as his body slid a dozen meters on the ground before coming to a stop.
Chi… chi…
Du Peng, lying on the ground, convulsed, again and again. He kept on coughing blood, no less than Zeus. For a while, his body was surrounded by electric arcs that made cracking noise, charring his white skin in many places. The high voltage current had severely burned his skin to the point where his internal organs were visible to the naked eye.
The real horror of Azure Electric Drive was revealed before everyone, bit by bit.
Crack! Crack! Crack…
The skin on the majestic body of collapsed Zeus cracked in dozens of places, once more. Blood kept gus.h.i.+ng out from them like it was completely free of charge. Even his bones kept making cracking sounds.
On the huge screen, Zeus’ body distorted bit by bit, as if he would be torn apart anytime. The terrible hidden energy of Seven Stars of Immortal Thunder Art unleashed itself, bit by bit.
The huge stadium sunk into silence. It was so silent that one may even hear a pin drop.
Everyone was staring blankly at the two collapsed and unconscious young martial artists, wondering who won.
Several referees were also staring at each other to find out who had won.
Who won? For a moment, the referees were also unable to decide.
After having discussed in a low voice, the referees came to a decision that either the two sides were tied or whoever stood up first, won.
If the recruit camps of both sides were willing to accept the tie, then, they would have to come together and sign to confirm.
Tie!? Qin Fen turned his head, looking at the spectacled Xing Wuyi, who slowly shook his head. With his eyes completely fixed on the charred body of Du Peng, he replied in an incomparably firm tone, “He won’t agree. Even if he dies, he still won’t agree. Let’s respect him, this is his last glory and dignity. We don’t have the qualifications to trample on it.”
“Yang Lie.” Brooks, who was half-lying on the seat, asked, “What do you think?”
“What do I think?” Yang Lie stared quietly at the convulsing body of Zeus and lightly shook his head. “I am not thinking anything. I respect Zeus’ wishes. He said he will meet me in the semifinals, so he won’t agree to a tie. He wants to win. I would like to see my comrade win.”
“Alright!” Brooks suddenly sat up straight as he raised the military cap that was covering his face high, revealing his handsome and das.h.i.+ng face. “Then, let’s watch our comrade win together!”
A tie!? No one on either side was willing to agree. Everyone on referee seats looked worried. How can they stand up in their states? This is not helping them, this is just watching their comrade die, plain and simple!
“Now, I am going to announce…” the commentator cleared his throat. “Both martial artists on the arena, listen up. Whoever stands up, wins! If you both stand up, you will continue to fight until only one of you is standing!”
Owing to the huge loudspeakers, the announcement spread to the audience in the stands and into the ears of two on the ring.
If I stand up, I can win… if I stand up, I can win… I have to stand up!
Pa… pa…
Du Peng’s fingers lightly twitched.
Zeus slowly opened his eyes, looking straight at the sky. His blank pupils were enough to tell everyone that he only opened his eyes on instinct; he could not see the color of the sky.
The two were lying on the ground. Each of their slightest movements transmitted to everyone’s eyes through the huge screen.
T hey are alive! Both of them are still alive!
That deep fist imprint on Du Peng’s abdomen didn’t show the slightest sign of any recovery.
Although the cracking of Zeus’ bones had already stopped, just like Du Peng, he also didn’t show the slightest sign of any improvement.
Stand up!? Tens of thousands of audience were in doubt. How can they even stand up in their current state? Just having force themselves to wake up is almost a miracle itself!?
Time pa.s.sed, second by second, but the two didn’t show the slightest sign of standing up. Slowly, Du Peng’s twitching fingers came to a stop, while Zeus’ blank eyes began to close, bit by bit.
Stand up!? They were still unconscious!?
“I repeat, whoever stands up, wins. He can advance to the next match!”
The announcement reverberated through the stadium once more. Nonetheless, the two didn’t show the slightest sign of an ounce of improvement.
“Zeus!” Suddenly, Yang Lie stood up as he gathered his true energy at his throat and shouted at the top of his voice, “Do you still remember what you said to me just yesterday? Didn’t you say that you are going to meet me in the semifinals? How are you going to meet me when you are lying on the ground?”
Zeus’ closed eyes opened, once more, as a sliver of a bright gleam returned to those blank eyes. Nevertheless, Zeus was still lying on the ground, showing no signs of any movement or any change in his expression.
“Zeus!” Yang Lie pointed his index finger at him. “Do you still remember what you said to me yesterday? It seems, the glory of American recruits is up to me, Yang Lie to protect!”
Glory!? Glory!? What Glory!? The bright gleam in those blank eyes of Zeus became more apparent as his eyes suddenly widened.
Glory! Yes! American recruits’ glory!
“No!” Suddenly, Zeus screamed at the top of his lungs. “The glory of America! I will defend it!”
“Alright.” Yang Lie sat back on his seat with a faint smile on his lips. “I will leave it to you, I will trust you this once.”
So painful! Every cell in my body is paining! I n the blink of an eye, Zeus’ face was covered in sweat. His muscles kept on twitching, again and again.
So painful! I have never been in such pain! Zeus’ eyes kept on wandering about. Is there a single bone in my body that is completely intact?
Stand up…I have to stand up…I have to stand up!
“Du Peng!” Xing Wuyi also stood up straight like a pole. “Open your eyes and see who is watching you from the sky! Look up and see who it is!”
“Who is it? I am so d.a.m.n tired…” Du Peng muttered to himself as he opened his bleeding eyes. “Who is it… is that… brother… is that you? Haha, I let you watch my ludicrous performance… I know, I know if I keep lying down, I won’t be worthy to call myself your brother. I will stand up, I have to…”
It was already impossible to fight. With their injuries, the fact that these two people were awake was already no less than a miracle.
Now, it was just about who would stand up…
“Stand up… stand up… stand up…”
As the tens of thousands of viewers muttered in low voices, their voices slowly gathered together and formed a kind of vibration. Their whispers at the beginning turned into ardent shouts.
“Stand up! Stand up!”
The roars shook the entire stadium.
Stand up… I have to stand up…
Stood!
Zeus stood up with a bounce of his body. In the blink of an eye, Zeus’ dark body was covered in glistening beads of sweat as they mixed with blood and rolled down along his body. Every muscle on his body was constantly twitching. There was a smile on his face that was even uglier than crying. His eyes were radiating with incomparable pride.
Zeus stood up. Zeus truly stood up, even though his legs were already broken at more than a dozen places.
“It turns out… my bones are broken. I stood up…” Zeus’ facial muscles twitched as he said, wearing a smile, “It’s not that difficult…”
SWIs.h.!.+
Du Peng sat up and placed his palms on the ground for support, making the action to stand up.
“Impossible!” The corner of Zeus’ eyes twitched a dozen times in just one second as he stared at Du Peng in a daze. With his arms placed on his knees for support, he repeatedly shook his chin. “Don’t… please don’t. I really don’t have the power to continue, please don’t stand up…”
To everyone’s surprise, a trembling Du Peng actually stood up after some sways and quivers, looking straight at the blue sky. Brother… I stood up. I really stood up. Even though my internal organs are injured to the point that they have stopped functioning, I stood up…
As both of them stood up, they would have to continue fighting as per the rules.
Zeus’ face had a wry smile. What kind of opponent is this? Obviously, this East Asian recruits body is not strong enough. Azure Electric Drive must have paralyzed all his internal organs already, right?
Fight!? Zeus took a step as another round of sweat and pain jolted his body, wrecking every nerve and cell of his…
One step…two steps … three steps…
Zeus took a long time to cover a short distance of a few dozen meters, so long that it felt like a century.
Qin Fen raised his head and calmly said, looking at the nearby referee, “There is no need to fight, the outcome is already clear.”
Ah!? The referees were taken aback. Qin Fen raised his leg as he made his way into the arena.
The fight isn’t over. If the side of any partic.i.p.ant enters the ring, it’s equivalent to admitting defeat by the side of that partic.i.p.ant! Is East Asia throwing in the towel?
Zeus stared blankly at Du Peng. This man has long pa.s.sed out, but his body is still standing. He only heard that he could win if he stands up. Even if he was unconscious, he still stood up.
“You win.” Qin Fen lightly nodded to Zeus as he gently placed Du Peng on the ground and gestured the emergency team to come up.
“I won.” Zeus trembled slightly, staring at Du Peng on the ground. “This is a respectable opponent. I didn’t come to this compet.i.tion in vain.”
“Mhmm.” Qin Fen nodded in agreement. “Perhaps, you guys will still have the chance to fight in the future.”
“I am looking forward to it…” As Zeus’ taut nerves finally relaxed, his body fell backward. Yang Lie immediately took this robust man in his arms. “It was a good fight.”
“Really? Then, we will meet in the semifinals.” A smile was hung on Zeus’ lips as he slowly closed his eyes.
“I will see you in the semifinals…”
Yang Lie looked at the unconscious Zeus before turning his gaze at Qin Fen. “In order to pay homage to my comrades, I will bring out my strongest strength in this match.”
“Me too.” Qin Fen, following behind the medical team, turned back and looked at Yang Lie. “I will stand at the peak, and I will be waiting for your challenge.”