Chapter 16: A Clash of Titans
The arena was filled with cheers and excitement as Ali stood victorious, his triumph over Medusa still fresh in everyone's minds. The crowd buzzed with a newfound hope, believing that Stone Dam Village might just contend for the first place. Meanwhile, Ali remained calm and focused, standing on the stage and awaiting his next opponent.
From the far end of the arena, a young boy with striking red hair stepped forward. He looked about nine years old, yet his presence exuded an intimidating aura. The crowd murmured in recognition, and someone from the audience shouted, "That's Qobylan, from the famous berserk family!"
The berserk family was renowned for their extraordinary physical attributes and terrifying combat style. When they went berserk, their bloodlust could turn fatal, allowing them to finish off equal opponents with a single strike. Qobylan was one of the prodigies of his family, second only to the leader of the Iron Village team.
Qobylan stepped onto the stage and gestured at Ali with a fierce look. "I will finish you," he declared, his voice dripping with confidence.
The judge signaled the start of the match, and Qobylan charged at Ali with the force of a raging bull. His powerful body aimed to suppress Ali through sheer strength. Ali, however, with his keen perception and control over his body, deftly avoided direct contact, redirecting Qobylan's strong attacks with light taps at critical moments.
Each missed strike made Qobylan angrier, his bloodlust growing with every clash. Despite his rage, Ali remained composed, dodging and countering with precision. However, he quickly realized that Qobylan's body was as hard as steel, and his defense was formidable. Even when Ali struck at the weak points of Qobylan's body at perfect moments, it seemed as if his opponent didn't feel the attacks at all.
Someone from the audience explained, "The berserk family is unique. Their strong bodies, coupled with their ability to go berserk, make them perfect vanguards. With every attack they receive, they can increase their energy and, at a critical juncture, explode with immense power."
With each clash, Qobylan seemed to grow stronger. Eventually, he halted his barrage of attacks and let out a ferocious roar. His upper body clothes were torn apart, revealing a robust physique. His red hair grew longer and danced wildly in the wind, his eyes turning crimson and losing any semblance of sanity. He had transformed into a beast in human form, driven solely by the desire to tear apart the opponent before him.
Ali felt the pressure intensify. He circulated his body qi and soul cultivation to their maximum, heightening his perception multiple folds. He could sense all the changes around him with incredible accuracy, preparing himself for the imminent storm.
Qobylan charged again, this time with even greater ferocity. His speed and strength had increased dramatically, and each strike was a potential death blow. Ali used his heightened perception to its fullest, dodging and parrying with unparalleled agility. The air crackled with the intensity of their battle, the spectators on the edge of their seats.
Despite his enhanced perception, Ali knew he couldn't keep evading forever. Qobylan's berserk state made him faster and stronger with each passing moment. Ali needed to end the fight quickly before his opponent's power grew too overwhelming.
With a deep breath, Ali focused all his qi into a single point. He waited for the perfect moment, watching Qobylan's movements with laser-like precision. As Qobylan lunged forward with a powerful strike, Ali sidestepped and delivered a devastating counterattack, aiming at a critical weak point.
The strike landed with a thunderous impact, and for a moment, it seemed as though Qobylan might fall. But the berserk warrior roared once more, his body absorbing the impact and using it to fuel his rage. He lashed out with a whirlwind of attacks, forcing Ali to retreat.
Ali's mind raced. He needed a new strategy. He realized that conventional attacks wouldn't work against someone who thrived on pain and rage. Instead, he decided to use Qobylan's own strength against him.
As Qobylan charged again, Ali focused on deflecting the attacks rather than blocking them. He used Qobylan's momentum to redirect his strikes, causing the berserk warrior to expend more energy with each missed blow. It was a battle of attrition, and Ali knew he had to outlast his opponent.
Qobylan's attacks became more frenzied and less coordinated. Ali's strategy was working, but he needed to find a way to end the fight decisively. He recalled his training and the principles his grandfather had taught him about using an opponent's strength against them.
In a swift motion, Ali feigned a stumble, baiting Qobylan into overextending himself. As Qobylan lunged, Ali sidestepped and delivered a precise, focused strike to the base of Qobylan's neck—a vulnerable spot even for the berserk family.
Qobylan staggered, his eyes momentarily clearing as the berserk state began to wane. Ali didn't waste a second. He followed up with a series of rapid, targeted strikes, each one aimed at key points to disrupt Qobylan's qi flow and weaken his defenses.
With a final, powerful blow, Ali struck Qobylan's solar plexus, sending him crashing to the ground. The arena fell silent, everyone holding their breath as they watched Qobylan struggle to rise. But his body, exhausted and battered, couldn't muster the strength. He slumped back, unconscious.
The judge stepped forward and raised Ali's hand in victory. The crowd erupted in cheers, their hope and admiration for Ali soaring to new heights. Stone Dam Village's younger group had once again defied the odds.