Kurdan's fist enlarged in Adam's vision causing the latter to be shocked at his speed. The orc's fist grazed his cheek, causing a deep wound and blood to spurt out. Meanwhile, Adam's punch connected and sent the orc flying.
This guy… Adam touched the injury on his cheek, momentarily stunned.
He had read about spells that sacrificed one's life essence in exchange for great power. However, this was the first time he was facing an opponent who was using such a spell.
The youth was overwhelmed by emotions, to say the least.
He readily sacrificed himself just so the other orc could escape? Adam thought to himself in a daze. And what was that skull he was carrying?
That animal skull gave Adam a very bad feeling. He decided then and there to deal with Kurdan and chase after Gorgo. He had this strange premonition that if he let the lanky orc escape this place with that skull, something terrible would happen in the future.
But then, when Adam glanced at Edward and Daneli's battlefield, his heart sank.
Daneli had already been brutally injured by the orcs. He was currently lying unconscious on the ground, drenched in blood from head to toe. Meanwhile, Edward was standing before him, protecting him from the onslaught of the three orcs all on his own.
Adam cast hand signs and summoned two more Unseen Servants.
"Go! Stall for as long as possible!" He instructed the two spirits as he dashed in Kurdan's direction.
The two warriors clashed with each other yet again. As their fists collided, the impact caused both of them to retreat a few steps.
Once again Adam was shocked.
This guy's adapting with each passing second. The youth's eyes narrowed. I must finish him quickly!
They collided again after a brief moment of respite. The intensity of their fight was so strong that Adam couldn't find the time to even cast spells.
Although Kurdan at this point had already lost all rationality, because of his sheer battle experience and instincts, was proving to be a very tough match for Adam.
With a loud, guttural roar, Kurdan swung his fist at the youth. The latter blocked it with his left forearm, then followed up with an uppercut to the orc's armpit.
At once, Kurdan's shoulder was dislocated. He roared in agony but didn't back down. Instead, he used his other arm to punch Adam. The latter dodged once again and counter-attacked with a series of palm thrusts and punches to the orc's chest.
Kurdan spat mouthfuls of blood as he slowly retreated step by step.
window.pubfuturetag = window.pubfuturetag || [];window.pubfuturetag.push({unit: "64ce79d606107d003c23ea27", id: "pf-5140-1"})Adam continued to rain down attack after attack. Finally, when he was able to create just enough distance between the two, he got into a horse stance and gathered mana in his hand.
Hand of Doom: Coiling Palm Strike!
Instead of evading the attack, Kurdan met it head-on with a punch of his own.
BOOOM!!
Adam's claw strike accurately grabbed Kurdan's incoming punch. Then, with a twist of his palm, he completely obliterated the orc's entire arm.
"Kuagghhhh!!" The orc screamed in sheer pain as blood gushed out endlessly from the stump on his shoulder. The next moment, however, the madness in his eyes intensified as he pounced on Adam.
The youth's eyes widened as he hadn't expected this suicidal move from the orc.
Kurdan was able to close in the distance and deliver a gut punch to Adam, launching him in the distance.
"Acckk!" Adam miserable fell to the ground and puked mouthfuls of blood mixed with his innards. "This madman—"
He hadn't even finished speaking when the orc had already bolted toward him and kicked him in the face, almost knocking him out unconscious.
Adam landed on his back and for a moment, he could see stars in his vision and the world around him spinning.
Suddenly!
He saw Kurdan's large, red fist magnifying in his vision yet again. He hurriedly shifted to the side, causing the orc's attack to hit the ground and instantly form a small crater.
"You psycho bastard!" Adam gritted his teeth and grabbed Kurdan's arm. Then, he agilely maneuvered his legs around the latter's neck, putting him in a triangle choke hold.
At once, Kurdan's supply of oxygen was cut off as Adam squeezed his neck with his legs. "Die, you madman!"
Kurdan desperately gasped for air as the light in his eyes slowly started to dim. But suddenly, his bloodshot eyes regained their primal ferocity and he roared.
"OOOOHHHHH!!" He got up to his feet, at the same time carrying Adam with him.
He then gathered all his strength and slammed Adam on the ground.
window.pubfuturetag = window.pubfuturetag || [];window.pubfuturetag.push({unit: "64cc9e79c7059f003e4ad4b0", id: "pf-5109-1"})BAM!
"Ugghhh!" Adam felt as if his spine was shattered from the impact. With the wind knocked out of him, he struggled to breathe.
But he gritted his teeth and applied even more pressure on the choke around the orc's neck.
"Die! Die! Die! Die! Die!"
Kurdan, however, did not care. As his life slowly seeped out of him, he got to his feet and slammed Adam on the ground once again.
BAM!
Adam's grip around Kurdan's neck loosened, but he still held on.
But so did the mighty orc!
BAM!
BAM!
BAM!
Kurdan continued to get on his feet and slammed Adam on the ground over and over again until finally, the latter's hold around his neck loosened and he lay sprawled on the ground in a puddle of his own blood.
Adam's eyes were blank and his breathing was ragged. Kurdan, who had lost all his strength by now, lay down beside him in a similar state.
Both men had given their all in this battle. However, the victor was yet to be decided.
"HAHAHAHAHA!!" Suddenly, Adam burst into a loud peal of laughter. His eyes shone with fiery passion and with a maniacal look on his face, he screamed, "This is how a warrior should fight!"
He dragged his bruised and battered body away from Kurdan, the mighty orc he had come to greatly admire.
After distancing himself from the orc, he got to his feet and gazed at the latter who was struggling to even stand.
"Get up, ya bastard!" He roared. "I don't have all day."
window.pubfuturetag = window.pubfuturetag || [];window.pubfuturetag.push({unit: "663633fa8ebf7442f0652b33", id: "pf-8817-1"})He respected Kurdan far too much to attack him when he was down.
"Grrr…" Kurdan got to his feet and turned to face Adam, preparing for the final blow.
Adam grinned from ear to ear. "Yes, that's how it should be! This is the true heart of a warrior! Hahaha!"
A terrifying amount of mana gathered in his palm as he got into position. The two warriors deeply looked into each other's eyes for a moment, and then, they ran at each other, giving their all in this final attack.
Hand of Doom: One Hit!
BOOOOM!!
The two warriors collided one final time as blood splattered all around them. At the last moment, Adam was barely able to dodge Kurdan's attack. The latter's attack missed his head and lacerated his shoulder bone, causing a devastating injury.
Meanwhile, Adam's fist penetrated Kurdan's chest, viciously decimating his heart and coming out from the back.
Kurdan vomited a large mouthful of blood as he weakly leaned against Adam. At the final moment of his life, he glanced at the youth.
Their eyes met, and they faintly smiled.
THUD!
The light in the orc's eyes dimmed and he embraced the cold touch of death.
Adam deeply looked at Kurdan's corpse. He then turned around and walked away.
"So long, warrior."
The youth looked in the direction in which Gorgo had escaped. Then, he looked at Edward who was desperately fighting and barely hanging on to his life.
Adam's fists clenched and unclenched repeatedly, his mind in turmoil.
In the end…
He chose to help his friend.
