Of course, that was to be expected. That was also known to be one of the reasons where black horses frequently appeared in this competition. Someone who might not be the strongest could simply stay hidden until the very end and wait to see if the formation would get them first or the others.
Out of the 112 remaining participants, Roan didn't know where 23 of them were located. That number was much higher before, but the formation took care of the majority who couldn't deal with the formations' power and speed.
Roan began to ponder as to whether he should stay hidden as well or not. 'I'm pretty confident in my reaction time, especially since Divine Soul Power gives me a larger range for Divine Sense and Soul Power Scan. However, staying like this until the end is too boring...'
The only problem was that Roan didn't know how to bring those in hiding out of it. There was no doubt these people made up their minds to not appear until the very end...or so he thought. However, Roan was underestimating this test way too much. This was a battle royale type of competition. If one could simply stay hidden till the end, then what was the point of it all?
The moment the number of competitors went down to 100, something immediately changed on the battlefield.
*Bzzzzzz!*
The formations seemed to transform, changing the environment itself. It looked like everything around the competitors became blueish. Seeing that, Roan immediately understood. 'Oh ho...so that's how it is.' As soon as he thought that, he had to dodge an attack that came in his direction. However, it wasn't a formation's projectile. Instead, it was a cultivator's attack!
It turns out that the blueish environment highlighted the presence of all competitors still on the battlefield. Roan could disappear from people's eyes, Divine Sense, and Soul Power Scan. But that didn't mean he wasn't there anymore.
It looked as if everyone was suddenly sent underwater...with no water, of course. Although their bodies couldn't be seen, the gap left in that blueish air was still there, and it was very eye-catching. Let alone Roan, seeing the other hiding people who had played it safely so far only irritated those who didn't have such skills. Considering that these people were still the majority, they all aimed at the ones who avoided battles.
Of course, everyone had a special grudge against Roan, who not only kept hiding but contributed to many losses. He was immediately targeted by more than 20 cultivators at once!
'Hmph! If it was the same thousands of people like the start, I would give up straight away. But only twenty of you? Dream on!'
Suddenly, Roan's hair changed into a mix of dark and white. It seemed that Roan had finally decided to take things seriously.
'Death World!'
Immediately, Roan's Death World expanded to its maximum range, far bigger than what his clones could achieve. Inside there, he used his Shadow Steps, which worked even better when everything was dark.
*Boom, boom, boom!*
Skills came from everywhere, but not a single one could even get close to Roan. Not only that, but the thing Roan wanted the most had happened as well. 'Now I know where the rest is hiding, so it's time for the hunt!'
Roan changed his stance and immediately charged at the cultivators. His Death World, obviously, followed his body. With Roan's Elemental Exchange with Rean, his power soared, making him even faster. An unprepared cultivator that helped attack Roan was suddenly enveloped by the Death World. Naturally, he turned around and tried to leave its range.
It was then that the voice of hell echoed in his mind through a Divine Sense message.
"Going somewhere?"
When Rean participated in the Speed Contest, he only used his Light Element. He didn't see a need to use the Elements Exchange as he won with quite some comfort. In the physical battles, Divine Energy couldn't be used, so he obviously couldn't exchange elements as well. With that being said, this was the first time the twins used this ability of theirs. Yes, the twins. After all, for it to work, Rean had to do the same outside the room. It's just that Rean wasn't battling.
Anyway, Roan was at its peak at the moment, which meant that he wasn't any slower than the fastest cultivators in this Free for All Battle.
'Death Style, Third Form, Three Claws of the Dragon!'
Feeling danger, the guy immediately defended. Fire and Lightning Element gathered around him, creating a wall of flames that threatened illuminating Roan's Death World with its intensity. He also brought out what seemed to be a small shield. After pouring Divine Energy inside, it immediately grew in size, forming some kind of protective barrier that increased his defense even further.
Too bad for him! Death World, Shadow Steps, Enhancement, Three Claws of the Dragon, and... Mirage Assault! Obviously, Roan's main body wasn't the only one attacking inside his Death World! The guy defended well from the first attack, but not from the rest.
*Swish, swish, swish, swish...*
*Arrrgh!*
Roan's swords cut through the weak spots of the guy's defense, taking his life right after. Roan showed no mercy as always. After all, none of the ones who attacked him so far intended to let him live either. He wasn't Rean, so he would take the shortest route to victory, and killing was usually the right way.
Everything happened in just a few seconds, though.
The other cultivators who had dodged Roan's Death World immediately increased their distance, not wanting to be the next one to fall inside it. The scream just earlier and the fact that the guy didn't come out was proof enough that Roan couldn't be trifled with.
Roan snorted in response, seeing what they were doing. Right after, he selected another target and shot forward, all of that while still dodging the projectiles of the formation below.
He wasn't the only one, though. The strongest cultivators also stopped their alliance completely and began to kill everyone. Or, at least, forced them to say give up. It wasn't long before the weaklings were removed, leaving only seven participants behind. From the looks of it, there wouldn't be a black horse this time around. The twins ceased to be considered black horses long ago.
