Chapter 116 - Deathly Rivals

The battle ravaged the land. Mere gusts of wind tore the earth, and their fists shook the sky.

"|Ancient Titan Arts: Jotunn's Hammer|." [Jukhan]

Crimson lightning converged to Jukan's leg before he dropped his heel on Master.

"|White Crane Arts: Lofty Drift|." [Vincent]

Master made his escape as he slid away on thin air, allowing Jukhan's attack to pass harmlessly. Is what I would say if Jukhan's foot didn't obliterate the floor. I estimated that the crater left on impact was around thirty feet wide.

"Don't run you coward!" [Jukhan]

He chased after Master, leaving deep footprints in the dirt.

"|Dark Devil Arts: Dissipating Smoke|." [Vincent]

Stopping in his tracks, he vanished.

"Hm?!" [Jukhan]

Master then reappeared before Jukhan. Without a moment to react, I saw Master calmly placing his palm on Jukhan's chest.

"|Peerless Thrust|." [Vincent]

"You-!" [Jukhan]

Jukhan was blasted away far into the valley. I saw a cloud of dust alongside a loud boom when Jukhan hit a mountainside.

"...Well, he went far." [Nakros]

An enraged roar echoed across the valley.

("Oh, he survived.") [Solace]

The ground started to shake. Not soon after, I witnessed the craziest testament of strength to ever happen.

"...He's insane." [Solace]

I saw one of the mountains get taken off the valley. My best guess was that Jukhan broke it off and threw it over; seeing that it was now blotting out the sky overhead. It was a bit humorous because I could see some poor animals falling out of the mountain as it soared.

"|Heavenly Monk Arts: Twisted Appeal|." [Vincent]

Master placed his hands together, which somehow stopped the mountain mid-air. Once satisfied, Master grinded his palms together. This caused the mountain to be crushed and turn into… well it looked like a giant version of letting sand run through your hand.

"|Thousand Mile Step|." [Vincent]

Master zoomed into the valley. I assumed that he went after Jukahn seeing that I saw objects getting sent flying from afar. At some point I could've sworn I saw a monster getting tossed into the sky.

("Huh?") [Solace]

Matter of fact, the monster landed right in front of me. It looked like a black tiger with white stripes. It also had a white horn on its forehead.

("|Analyze|.") [Solace]

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Name: N/A

Race: Horned Black Tiger

Class: N/A

Gender: Male

Age: 121

Level: 141

Health: 0/2324

Mana: 6743/6743

Strength: 2490

Agility: 2815

Intelligence: 857

Willpower: 1441

Status: Deceased

Skills: |Horn Thrust Lv. 80| |Bite Lv. 80| |Intimidating Roar Lv. 63| |Pain Resistance Lv. 7| |Danger Sense Lv. 3|

Unique Skill: |Silent Step Lv. 80|

Titles: |Apex Predator|

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Looking at it now, I guess it didn't stand a chance.

("|Apex Predator|, huh… Not anymore it isn't.") [Solace]

That line was funny in my head at the time. In any case, their fight turned the entire valley into their battleground. At some point they circled around back to us.

"Deflect this!" [Jukhan]

Jukhan then grabbed random objects nearby and started throwing them at Master. He threw trees, boulders, and there was that one pitiful deer that somehow got wrapped into it.

"|Heavenly Monk Arts: Accepting Grace|." [Vincent]

Master rooted his feet into the ground and took a defensive stance. Moving his hands slowly, he deflected all objects to the side. Is what I would say if he didn't just catch the deer and let it run off.

"These kinds of things won't kill me, Jukhan." [Vincent]

Jukhan smiled.

"I know." [Jukhan]

Having said that, the lightning around him grew more intense.

"Break them, Syvan." [Jukhan]

The energy around him changed as soon as his spirit appeared. It took the form of a man, fully clothed in black armor. It had its arms crossed in a menacing pose as Jukhan's crimson lightning coiled around it.

"Warning: You are in the presence of an Arch-Spirit. It is highly recommended to retreat." [Spirit Guide]

("Arch-Spirit?!") [Solace]

I assumed it was a rank higher than Greater Spirit considering its looks and the mana I felt from it.

"|Invoke Exto|." [Jukhan]

The armored spirit melded and shrunk into a pair of gauntlets that reached up to his shoulders.

"Summon your spirit, Vincent." [Jukhan]

Master shook his head.

"There's no need to. I'll handle you as is." [Vincent]

Jukhan narrowed his brows.

"Your arrogance will be your downfall." [Jukhan]

Is what he uttered before closing the distance between him and Master. It appeared that Jukhan's speed multiplied, keeping Master from escaping.

"|One Million Burning Lights|!" [Jukhan]

"|Lord's Commanding Fist|!" [Vincent]

An uncountable number of lights flashed against Master's singular punch. Master rushed into the lights, ignoring a good amount until he was sure that his punch would land.

"Tsk!" [Jukhan]

Clicking his tongue in frustration, Jukhan slammed his forehead into Master's hand before he could throw the punch.

"|Lightning Cage|!" [Jukhan]

The crimson lightning spread out, creating a cube-like box around him and Master.

"...Interesting." [Master]

Jukhan then tackled Master to the ground before attempting to pummel his opponent into the ground.

"|Crushing Dominion|!" [Jukhan]

Clasping his hands high above, he tried to crush Master's skull. However, Master interrupted by grabbing dirt and tossing it into Jukhan's eyes.

"Agh!" [Jukhan]

Wasting no time, Master clenched both fists and struck Jukhan hard enough to knock him off.

"Urgh!" [Jukhan]

The attack forced him to hit his own cage, causing him to rebound off the lightning and come towards Master.

"|Unmoving Mountain|!" [Master]

Timing it just right, Master turned his body so his back would strike Jukhan. It stopped all momentum and dropped Jukhan to the ground.

"Are you finished?" [Vincent]

The two breathed heavily and were clearly exhausted. However, Jukhan stood up.

"Not yet." [Jukhan]

He coughed out a bit of blood, but he didn't let that bother him.

"This fight will end only when either one of us dies." [Jukhan]

As if reading each other's intent, the two took fighting stances.

"So be it." [Vincent]