Zhao Luo moved his hand to the right while stopping blackey right around the level of his waist.
It was like he was holding a bat and getting ready to blow away a pitch.
Pointing the sharp end of blackey towards Big Bean, Zhao Luo continued to stare at him.
This moment was a crucial one for him so he couldn't just rush at Big Bean and swing his sword like a madman.
Unexpectedly, Big Bean who had warned Zhao Luo was also scared to hurry at him.
Thus the things folded slowly as both were barely holding themselves up while ignoring the pain of their injuries.
Big Bean raised his ax backward while Zhao Luo brought his sword downwards.
'Tap.'
'Tap.'
Zhao Luo took a step towards Big Bean while he also moved a step towards them.
If they repeated this same movement thrice, Zhao Luo and Big Bean would both be in the range of each other's weapons.
'Huffff Haaaa.'
Zhao Luo took a deep breath and exhaled while taking another step towards the giant disciple.
Two steps were left but the tension between the two had surpassed the skies above them.
Even the spectating disciples were silent.
Mo Suo, Si Chen, Feng Ma, and Rose weren't an exception as they also looked at Zhao Luo and Big Bean's fight quietly.
On the stage.
Zhao Luo knew that this was probably his final exchange but something scared him.
"Will I be able to take him down?"
Zhao Luo mumbled as he took another step towards Big Bean who also moved towards Zhao Luo.
With the last step remaining, Zhao Luo's question was answered by his mind.
In that second, Zhao Luo remembered those who had placed their expectations on him.
From Senior Ballum to Pullet Lord. From Mite to Wu Yang. The third elder to the Sect Leader.
He had already met many unfathomable figures.
'Taking out Mite and Wu Yang.'
Zhao Luo thought as they were very far from being unfathomable, but even they had acknowledged him.
"What am I even scared of?"
Zhao Luo mumbled as he shook his head and without any more thoughts shaking up his mind, Zhao Luo felt his mind getting clearer.
The fear of losing was gone.
'Hah, I feel calm.'
Zhao Luo took the last step towards Big Bean.
They both started the movement of their attack as their weapons were being swung at each other.
Zhao Luo's left leg was pushing him forward while the knee of his right leg was lowered as he brought Blackey upwards with lightning speed.
"Burst Slash: Reverse."
At the same moment, Big Bean who had been carelessly swinging his ax before brought it down in a perfectly straight position.
"Mountain Cut."
Big Bean shouted as his ax looked even bigger than a mountain while being dropped on Zhao Luo.
'CLANG~'
Their weapons collided and the power behind both attacks was the same.
Zhao Luo lifted his left leg and took a step towards Big Bean while Blackey was holding back Big Bean's ax.
At the same time, Big Bean also stepped towards Zhao Luo.
'CHINGGG~'
Sparks could be seen flying out of the point of contact but neither Zhao Luo nor Big Bean backed down.
'Burst Wood Drop.'
Zhao Luo pulled down his sword halfway and then pushed it up again, tapping Big Bean's ax twice.
Even though the movements were simple but the Dual nature of this sword art wasn't.
The moment Zhao Luo's sword touched Big Bean's ax the second time, Big Bean was pushed back.
"What?"
Mo Suo let out a sound. His face had "I don't believe this" written all over it as he saw Zhao Luo pushing back Big Bean.
Big Bean's arms were lifted upwards as the result of Zhao Luo's Burst Wood Drop.
Zhao Luo jumped up and waved his sword towards Big Bean's defenseless body.
Zhao Luo aimed towards Big Bean's neck but at the last moment, he moved his sword towards the left.
"Wood Drop."
Zhao Luo said as he tightened his grasp over blackey's hilt and brought it down on Big Bean's right shoulder.
'Slash.'
"Agh"
A small gash was left on Big Bean's shoulder but then Zhao Luo's sword sliced at the same place again.
'SLASH.'
"AGHH."
Following the action of Zhao Luo's Wood Drop, a small gash following a deep gash was left on Big Bean's right shoulder.
Big Bean screamed as he could feel the blood flowing out of this sword wound.
Zhao Luo landed backward while Big Bean fell on his knees.
"Kill Me! Please."
Big Bean begged Zhao Luo in a certain tone as his giant body wobbled.
"No."
Zhao Luo declined right away.
"I have won, so just get lost and let your master come up."
Zhao Luo told Big Bean to get off the stage as this wasn't a slaughter party.
Zhao Luo was just helping himself by teaching Mo Sup and his followers a lesson.
While Zhao Luo had declined Big Bean's wish, a voice entered everyone's ear.
"Kill Yourself."
Mo Suo ordered Big Bean with a cold voice.
'What?'
Zhao Luo was stunned after hearing the ruthless command of Mo Suo.
Contrary to Zhao Luo's reaction, Big Bean nodded and with closed eyes, he raised the ax that was still in his hand and brought its sharp end down, towards his stomach.
But before he could stab himself with his ax.
"Half Step."
Zhao Luo used Half Walk towards Big Bean and waved Blackey at the ax, blowing it away from Big Bean's hand.
Zhao Luo who was standing and Big Bean who was on his knees were on the same vision level.
Big Bean opened his eyes and found Zhao Luo standing eight before him with a ferocious look on his face.
"Are you a fool?"
Zhao Luo shouted at Big Bean while grabbing the collar of Big Bean's purple robe.
Big Bean was silent, unable to answer Zhao Luo's question, he looked down and saw his blood dyeing the stage red.
Zhao Luo pulled back his arm after storing Blackey and threw a punch at Big Bean.
Bang!
The punch landed squarely on Big Bean's face forcing his focus to converge solely on Zhao Luo.
"I asked you something. Are you a fool?"
Zhao Luo repeated his question.
His anger was already getting out of control.
Big Bean who didn't fear death felt scared while facing Zhao Luo's devilish gaze.
He hurriedly shook his head, expressing his answer which was a simple NO.
"Then why would you kill yourself for someone else?"
Zhao Luo asked Big Bean as he pulled back his fist again.
Seeing that the wrong answer could prove fatal for his facial features, Big Bean answered truthfully.
"I am a slave. He is my master. I have to obey his every word. That is My Life."
Big Bean told Zhao Luo while glancing at Mo Suo multiple times.
Mo Suo nodded and looked back at Big Bean and opened his mouth.
"Indeed. As your master, I command you to kill yourself."
Mo Suo repeated his order with a calm face.
Zhao Luo's ferociousness erupted even more as he clenched his fist tightly.
"What slave and what master? You want to die. Then why don't you give me your life?"
Zhao Luo asked Big Bean while letting go of his collar.
'Dying by his hand may prove to be less painful.'
Big Bean thought and then looked at Mo Suo.
Mo Sup was the one who controlled Big Bean's decision.
Zhao Luo followed Big Bean's gaze and also stared at Mo Suo.
'Ah, I See.'
Zhao Luo murmured as though he had understood something.
"Yo, let me take his life."
Zhao Luo said as he wondered if Mo Suo would agree with it.
But Zhao Luo didn't know that a fallen follower was nothing more than a piece of trash of Mo Suo.
Mo Suo looked at Zhao Luo, who he had considered a peasant was asking him something.
'Hmm.'
Then Mo Suo looked at Big Bean who was a loser and nodded.
"You can take his life."
Mo Suo agreed to Zhao Luo's request.
"Don't turn back on your words."
Zhao Luo told Mo Suo as he looked back at Big Bean and pulled out his sword again.
A crimson sword appeared in his hand.
Zhao Luo held Ifrit towards Big Bean and found Big Bean's eyes closed.
"What an actor."
Zhao Luo mumbled as he looked down and noticed that Big Bean's hands which were curled up into a fist, were trembling.
Big Bean waited for Zhao Luo's sword to give him a painless parting but this wait continued.
After a few moments.
'I am still breathing.'
Big Bean thought as he felt light-headed but it was certain that he was still alive.
"Open your eyes."
Zhao Luo's voice which was full of authority entered Big Bean's ears.
Right then Big Bean opened his eyes and found the sharp blade of Ifrit on his shoulder.
Zhao Luo turned his sword and tapped Big Bean's shoulder with the broad side of Ifrit.
"Is this how they free someone from slavery here?"
Zhao Luo raised his sword and with it, he patted Big Bean's other shoulder too.
"Okay, you should be free now."
Zhao Luo told Big Bean.
It may have looked like he was playing around but that wasn't the case when they noticed the expression on Zhao Luo's face.
Big Bean looked at Zhao Luo with bright eyes.
While looking at this scene, someone was getting annoyed to an extreme level.
"What are you doing?"
Mo Suo shouted at Zhao Luo with a nasty look.
**** **** **** ****
Author's note:
We go slowly, slowly towards that promised godhood and then even beyond!
So vote and comment!
