Chapter 17: The Ultimate Speed Duel
Ali stood on the platform, catching his breath after his intense fight with Qobylan. The crowd from Stone Dam Village erupted in cheers, celebrating his victory. Despite his exhaustion, Ali's eyes scanned the stands of the Sand Village's under-10 group, anticipating his next opponent.
A boy from the Sand Village started to rise, ready to take on Ali, but a mysterious young boy around seven or eight years old intervened. "No need," the boy said calmly, stopping his teammate. "Even Qobylan lost to him. You stand no chance."
The older boy, though clearly older than the mysterious child, showed deep respect and a hint of fear. "But we still have two more opponents. It's not right for you to step up so early as the leader," he argued. "Even though we are weaker, it's not by much, and he doesn't seem to have much energy left after the fight with Qobylan."
The team leader looked at him with emotionless eyes and said, "Sit down." The older boy lowered his head and complied without another word.
The team leader approached Ali, a faint smile playing on his lips. "I am Qara," he introduced himself, his voice calm and measured.
Ali's keen perception told him that Qara's hidden aura was much stronger than Qobylan's, even in his berserk state. There was an eerie sense of danger emanating from him.
"Shall we begin?" Qara asked the judge. The judge, momentarily startled, announced the start of the battle.
Qara stood still, his hands clasped behind his back. Yet Ali sensed danger behind him. Trusting his instincts, he dodged to the side, twisting in mid-air and crossing his arms defensively. To his shock, he saw Qara attacking his back, while the figure that had stood still slowly faded away.
"Clone!" someone from the audience exclaimed.
"No, it's an afterimage," an experienced warrior explained. "He moved at such a high speed that he left an afterimage."
On the battlefield, Ali was taken aback. Qara's speed was on another level, far surpassing anything Ali had encountered. Ali momentarily considered the possibility of teleportation but dismissed it, sensing the subtle traces of Qara's movements.
As Ali focused his perception, Qara's second attack came, giving Ali just enough time to shift slightly and avoid a fatal strike. The force of the blow sent Ali flying, and he felt a sharp pain as if his back had been slashed by a knife. Stabilizing himself, he was astonished to find a cut on his back, despite Qara appearing unarmed.
Qara stood calmly and praised Ali. "You have excellent senses and reaction, but what surprised me was your ability to quickly process information and devise a strategy in a split second. But how long can you avoid my attacks? My technique is called Wind Steps. I used 50 and 60 percent of my speed in my previous attacks. Can you still dodge if I increase my speed to 70 percent?"
With his third attack, Qara struck again. This time, Ali managed only to avoid a strike to his vitals, earning another cut on his shoulder. At the last moment, Ali saw that Qara was using his bare hands to cut his flesh.
"How do you like my Wind Slash?" Qara asked. "From birth, I have a high affinity with wind. I can manipulate it to increase my speed and use it as a blade to cut through. My next attack will finish this duel. I will use 90 percent of my speed."
Qara moved at high speed, leaving multiple afterimages. It appeared as if hundreds of his clones had appeared on the stage. The spectators watched in awe, unable to discern the real Qara among the flickering images.
Ali focused, relying on his heightened perception and soul cultivation. He closed his eyes, letting his other senses guide him. He could feel the subtle shifts in the air, the faint disturbances that betrayed Qara's true position. He prepared himself for the upcoming attack.
As Qara launched his ultimate attack, Ali stood his ground, not moving an inch. Qara smirked, confident in his speed and technique. But as his strike was about to connect, Ali suddenly vanished.
The crowd gasped. Qara's eyes widened in disbelief. Ali reappeared a few feet away, unscathed. Qara attacked again, faster this time, but once more, Ali vanished before the strike could land.
"What kind of trick is this?" Qara snarled, frustration creeping into his voice.
"It's not a trick," Ali replied calmly. "It's a principle of space."
Qara's face twisted with anger as he launched another flurry of attacks, each faster and more precise than the last. But each time, Ali vanished, reappearing somewhere else on the platform. It was as if he could read Qara's moves before they even happened.
"This is teleportation," Ali explained, "a technique derived from understanding the principles of space. No matter how fast you are, I can always be faster."
Qara's frustration peaked as he prepared for his final, all-out assault. His body blurred, creating countless afterimages, filling the arena with his presence. He intended to overwhelm Ali with sheer speed and numbers.
But Ali remained calm, his mind focused. As Qara's afterimages closed in, Ali disappeared once more. This time, he reappeared right behind the real Qara. With precision and speed, Ali delivered a powerful strike to Qara's back, sending him crashing to the ground.
The arena fell silent. Qara lay on the ground, gasping for breath, unable to comprehend how he had been defeated. The judge stepped forward and raised Ali's hand in victory.
The crowd erupted in cheers, louder than ever before. Stone Dam Village's younger group had defied all expectations, securing their place in the finals.
Ali stood tall, his body battered but his spirit unbroken. He glanced at his teammates, who were beaming with pride and admiration. The hardest battles were yet to come, but for now, they celebrated their triumph together.