"How long do you think Manduk will last?"
"Three minutes...?"
"No, that's too short. It's probably ten minutes."
"That's right. It's probably ten minutes so I'll bet it."
"Since he's a new evolve fourth stage, I'll take ten minutes too."
"It would be over in five minutes if he used his release form right away."
"But I don't think that will happen, he wanted to test his strength so he will probably use his traits first."
The surrounding warriors murmured to each other. They didn't think that Manduk would win at all in this mock battle. After all, the one he's fighting was a fourth evolution monster. Manduk would probably win if he had a help of four or five S-rank that could support him.
"They aren't optimistic about your chances of winning," Souta said to Manduk.
"Well, you know that this is a basic for everyone. Us warriors avoided fighting a fourth stage monster in a 1v1 situation unless a warrior is at Four Shackles Realm. That's the basic common sense." Manduk shrugged his shoulder.
"I see..." Souta understood that only Four Shackles Realm experts and above had a one hundred percent chance of winning in all levels of fourth stage monster.
"Well, it doesn't matter. It's rare for me to have a sparring partner like you so let's start this right away." Manduk grinned.
"Fine." Souta grinned.
A powerful aura burst out of their body and they charged at each other.
Boom!
Shockwaves swept out as both of their punch collided. The entire ground trembled and the excitement of the warriors rose sharply.
The battle has started.
Manduk took a distance before glancing at his hand. He could feel a tingling sensation slowly spreading in his hand.
'What the hell?! Isn't this guy's normal form ridiculously strong?'
He was shocked but he didn't show it on his face. He knew that he couldn't win this battle but he should be able to win against Souta's base form.
Swoosh!
'He's coming...'
Manduk quickly focused on the figure in front of him.
[Internal Focus Steps]!
[Guardian's Hundred Body]!
[Golden Physique]!
In just a second, he activated three combat arts. He hurriedly moved his body to the side as a fist passed right beside his face.
'So close...'
He lifted his knee and used this chance to kneed Souta on the stomach.
Bang!
It was successful. He wanted to retreat but he was stopped by something.
'What the hell?!'
He looked down only to see webs sticking on his feet. Shit! It was too late.
Before he could even remove the webs on his feet, a pain assaulted his stomach.
Bang!
His body bent forward as the force behind the punch blow his body away. The webs on his feet were torn as he crashed into the barrier.
Boom!!
Everything happened so fast. The battle just started a second ago and yet they were fighting like they were at the last minute.
The warriors around were stunned for a second but after they realized what happened they roared loudly.
"OHHHHH!!!!"
"MANDUK!! ENDURE IT FOR FIVE MINUTES!! IF I WIN I'LL BUY YOU A DRINK!!"
"YEAHHH!!"
"KEEP IT UP!!"
Souta exhaled as he looked at the thick smoke ahead. He was naturally stronger than the initial stage fourth evolution monster. Just his physical strength was exceptional among monsters of the same level.
[Monster's Force III]: +600 Strength, +400 Agility, +400 Dexterity, +300 Vitality, +20% Physical Damage, and +20% Energy Damage
This was the ability for a fifth stage monster. This boosted his strength to an imaginable level. It was like he was equipped with another high-level artifact or weapon.
Also, his body was extremely durable.
[Monster's Body II]: +1,000 Health, +400 Vitality, +50 Health Recovery, +30 Stamina Recovery, and +30 Energy Recovery
This let him fight a person at Manduk's level in a 1v1 situation using his base form. His current strength was enough to trash Rowan, Witch Clan's Clan Leader, since Manduk was stronger than him.
He was sure. In the entire Astros, he was the strongest creature. The two witch elders, Eilish, or current Doranjan, none of them could defeat him in a one-on-one battle.
Swoosh!
The smoke was blown away revealing Manduk's figure looking at him with eyes full of fighting spirit.
[Blood Reign]!
Souta tilted his head. As expected he couldn't control the blood inside Manduk's body.
'How about this?'
He raised his hand and several small holes formed on his palm, then blood gushed out of it. The blood floated on the space above his palm.
Swoosh!
He moved his hand and the blood turned into a sphere. In the next second, it turned into square, then star. It changed its shape every second.
"I'm getting used to this..."
He suddenly closed his palm and the blood turned into several small sharp spikes. They moved and pointed at Manduk, who was looking at him warily.
Now that Souta focused his attention on the opponent in front of him, he realized that Manduk's aura was several times stronger than before.
While he was engrossed in changing the shapes of blood, Manduk had activated several combat arts to prepare himself.
"Go."
With a wave of his hand, the blood spikes flew at Manduk.
Swoosh!
Manduk swiftly moved his body from side to side while punching the blood spikes that blocked his way.
Bang! Bang!
In just a second, Manduk arrived in front of Souta. Souta grinned as he made a grabbing motion and the droplets of blood behind quickly turned into spikes once again.
Swoosh!
Manduk ignored it as lightning and flames coated both of his fists.
Souta jumped back but Manduk quickly chased after him. He didn't have a choice but to fight head-on.
Boom! Boom!
Both of their figures collided several times. Shockwave after shockwave was sweeping out in the surrounding. Luckily, it was blocked by a barrier, or else it would cause great damage in the area.
The warriors watching the head-on battle of the two were thrilled. The battle between the Souta and Manduk was better than they had expected. It made them forget their bet. They wanted this battle to last longer.
Every second, warriors would arrive at the training ground just to watch the mock battle.
Manduk was chasing after Souta while Souta was fighting back and throwing blood spikes. Their speed and power were high as the stage was destroyed, debris of rocks flying everywhere.
Bang! Bang!
'Manduk is really a strong expert.'
Souta said inwardly as he avoided and blocked Manduk's attacks. The experts of Imperium were different from the experts in sub-world.
This guy would trash Rowan, Eilish, and other Shackled Realm from that sub-world. The difference in combat arts, spells, equipment, and experience was huge.
Manduk had vast experience in fighting creatures at his level. While the Shackled Realm experts in sub-world were few, so they rarely clash unless a war occurred.
Boom!
[Dual Element Drive: Fire and Lightning Force]!
A powerful energy erupted inside Manduk's body. Fire flooded the entire area and lightning danced in every direction.
Souta didn't have a choice but to brandish the vajra sword hanging on his waist. He had to take it seriously.
Lightning flew at him but a shield made of blood blocked it.
Bang!
The blood evaporated in the air and the lightning whip dissipated.
Shuushhhh~
Souta narrowed his eyes as he gathered his energy on the blade of his sword.
"Let me return it!"
[Dual Element Drive: Dark and Light Force]!
Boom!
Lightning and fire clashed with dark and light energy. An intense aura rumbled and the ground kept shaking as if it was about to collapse.
[Day and Night Mastery]!
[Night Mastery]!
Since it was night, his affinity to dark had increased by 30%.
He raised his other hand and the droplets of blood floating around him were enveloped by dark energy.
'So I could combine this two...'
[Blood Reign: Dark Force]!
Then, he dripped his blood on the blade of the vajra sword. Soon, it was covered in blood with dark energy.
[Roaring Flaming Thunder Palm]!
Manduk had already finished his preparation. He launched a powerful combat arts at Souta's direction without hesitation.
Souta tightened his grip on the sword and quickly swung it upward.
[Crimson Moon]!!
Blood flew out of the sword as red and dark energy fused together turning into a terrifying force that collided with lightning and flames palm.
BOOM!!
A transparent energy ripple expanded at the center of the impact followed by different elemental energies.
Everything around them was disintegrated. The debris of rocks was shredded into tiny molecules not visible to naked eyes.
A blinding light that contained four different elements erupted within the barrier. It swept out the entire space within, not leaving anything.
It was shocking but the barrier stood still. After all, several Shackled Realm experts were maintaining it. Even if a crack formed on it, they would immediately repair it using their energy.
A leak of energy from the battle would cause damage to the surrounding area. It would even pressure people below Shackled Realm.
Swoosh!!
Inside the barrier, Souta slowly looked around. The spherical blood covering him like a barrier slowly opened.
'Crimson Twilight... It's my first time seeing this so I don't know how to use its full potential but it seems that it's pretty strong. I still need to explore its other capabilities.'
If it was the evolution that he wanted before then Souta didn't need to explore its abilities. He was familiar with it so he could fight using everything.
