Chapter 80 - Who is Your Favorite Band?
The tension in the arena could be cut with a knife but only the rumbling storm overhead made noise as pin drop silence now filled the audience. The pressure between the 2 foes built as Crown Prince Ryu transformed from the charismatic hero to a cold blooded killer. Lind was calm but he was analyzing the elements from the demon.
Metal, blue flame, and acid were flaring around the prince. It was a powerful combination from what Lind could recall but he could not see into the dantian due to the armor Ryu was wearing most likely. It was not a common thing at all in the Lotus Empire, but Qing affirmed it was far more common in mid-grade and above powers.
Lind ignored the confirmation of any other elements as he let his Qi flow into his staff. Emerald flame flared briefly but then vanished entirely once the staff extended. He had far more control now over his elements than 2 years ago.
Ryu was clearly evaluating Lind, but the boy was already trying his best to win. Earth element flowed into the ground in a ring all around Lind. It was far harder to pull off than he imagined but his foe was done looking him over.
Metal condensed into a solid shape as it was sent flying across the arena. Lind closed his eyes to let his mind focus on his Qi. The metal construct seemed to be unstoppable but when it got within a few meters of Lind it deflected off of something bright.
A surprised look crossed Ryu's face. It was the light element, but how could that defend against metal? Further, that was a peak attack, but Lind could only output tier 6. Ryu was not alone in his confusion but then the solid metal construct slammed into the earth far more powerfully than it should.
"Clever." It was not a simple light element attack, it was magnetism. Ryu glanced at the ground in appreciation of the application of the 2 elements. Shuri had been right in that Lind was a monster when it came to his single elements. He could not make techniques like a normal cultivator, but he could combine the effects of single elements with the right conditions.
Rather than summoning steam directly, Lind could cause a ball of fire and water to collide where he wished, but Ryu would easily be able to see that kind of setup. Magnetism, on the other hand, was far more subtle and much harder to detect. Like gravity, it required the combination of elements in a technique, but Lind used Ryu's metal against itself.
"Light element on metal changes its charge and the earth pulled it since you altered its charge around you. Well done, but that trick will be of no help to you now." Lind knew he was right but he did not stop channeling earth into the ground around him. Magnetism was a side effect of what he was doing, yet it had been very helpful.
Ryu's fists began to glow but Lind had no idea what technique it was. He could make out metal mixed with the blue flame into some kind of strange armor. Lind would normally want to study demonic elements more closely, but Ryu seemed to blur before his eyes. He was moving so fast.
Lind twirled his staff as light flashed above his head brighter than the sun. A cry from his left nearly made Lind lean to his right but his long practice against Qing and the Elder made him simply duck down. A whirl of air above his head to his right proved he chose correctly.
Despite being blinded by the light, Ryu had dodged to the other side and kept Lind's position in mind. Lind ducking was basic, but effective so long as Ryu was blinded. The demon fell back, expecting a counterattack, but none came. Lind was not so foolish as to directly attack a peak Soul Realm.
Instead, molten fire carved out a trench around Lind with the light rain causing steam to rise all on its own. It was not the same as creating steam, but the scalding effect was there. Ryu was more resilient than a human, but that temperature gave him pause.
Lind had to make it far enough away and could only maintain it until his Qi ran low, but it stopped Ryu from charging back in. The demon was about to fall back when he noticed the wind was blowing strongly towards the molten ring.
Shock flooded the crowd but cheering roared as the quick fight was not a real battle. Tier 6 was weaker than the peak, but that did not negate imaginative uses of elements. A 6 elemental could not use techniques above tier 1 Soul Arts, but Lind could push those arts far beyond their original power.
His staff glowed with water to keep the temperature lower near him, but Ryu went from cold to smiling. He had faced many desperate battles and had forgotten as he increased his power what it was like to not have a complicated battle. His reputation and direct assault usually broke cultivators that relied on powerful techniques to keep them safe.
Lind, by contrast, was forced to keep it simple but powerful. Even the heavens lent him some aid with the rain. Ryu was not deterred. While the current situation was challenging, it was not concerning to him.
Lind saw the cold face stare at him from across the moat he created, but right at that moment Lind felt his hair start to stand on end. It was soon. The thunder rumbled but the clouds were being stingy!
"Say Highness, do you have a favorite band?" Lind's odd question was still heard by Ryu but he did not let it distract him as blue fire exploded from the demon prince. The molten ring instantly vanished as the 2 fire elements were not compatible. Dark stone replaced it that was steaming but far from an impediment to Ryu.
"Silly questions are a far reach, Lind Frey, but no, I do not have such a frivolous thing as a favorite band. I have better uses of my time!" Ryu exploded forth once more, but Lind did not disappoint as his staff whirled with darkness and water.
The 2 elements made small whirlpools that pulled Ryu's attacks aways from Lind, yet the force still could not be totally negated. Air was infused into Lind to keep him in place, yet he never stopped channeling into the earth around him and kept the water from changing the conditions he set up.
The crowd could barely keep up as Ryu's fists glowed with acid, yet none of it reached Lind. Ryu could no longer remain cold as he was truly enjoying the fight!
****
"I have not seen that smile in years." Cyntilla turned to face the 4 powerful followers of Crown Prince Ryu. The fight was in a strange stalemate, but she could tell Lind was pushing himself hard where Ryu had yet to go full power. He was not toying with Lind, but wanted a definitive strike to end the duel.
Lind was barely able to keep the Crown Prince at bay with his rudimentary use of Qi. The staff was key as it did allow Lind to wield combined elements at his full power. Without that, the simple attacks he had used before were the best he could do. Ryu could have easily shattered any more of those.
"What do you mean?" She asked as she might have to know this in the future. She did not want to be forced to follow Ryu, but despite what he swore in front of the crowd, Cyntilla had no power to resist if Ryu won.
"Ryu has always sought out capable cultivators but far too many rely on techniques to be their power and not a combination of body and technique to get the full potential. Lind Frey is the first person I have seen to be truly creative inside his severe limitations. I want to fight him!" Crusher was practically drooling looking at the fight. A quick swipe to her head made her pout as Gorn looked back at the arena.
"The Lotus Empire were fools and so were we." Only a follower of the Crown Prince could speak like that. Cyntilla had long thought they were fools but she suspected they were far more foolish than they realized. Lind was an elixir master and elixirs had suddenly shown up on the markets from a mysterious 'guest elder' of the Heavenly Maiden Sect. It did not take her long to realize he had made a breakthrough.
"Things could be turned around, if Ryu wants to, right?" Volt asked the question Cyntilla actually wanted to, but she saw Gorn frown and shake his head.
"Even if her majesty wanted to rope Lind Frey in, our agreements with our subordinates would prevent her simply taking him." The Kingdom of Altair. Cyntilla began to see what they were doing. Lind's accomplishments in the Tri-Clan Tournament as well as his progress in his cultivation showed he was a prodigy. If not for being a 6 element, he would likely be in the World Realm already.
They were punishing the Lotus Empire and Darkmoor for what happened to their 2nd Prince. It did not matter that a corrupt official was used by the 2nd Prince to have his way nor that the Alchemy Guild was angered by the same man. All that mattered is the royal family of Altair was nearly cut off save Lind Frey and his siblings. As the other 3 were deemed useless, only Lind remained.
"Spirits watch over him." Cyntilla sent up a prayer as blood flew from Lind's mouth as a fist finally connected.
****
Lind could not keep up anymore. His head was ringing as stars appeared in his eyes but he forced his body to stay where it was. It was almost time, he could feel it. The elements faded from his staff but it stayed extended to prove Lind was not done.
"You have done far beyond what I expected, Lind Frey. There is no dishonor in losing like this. I think if we were equal I would barely be able to outlast you but that is all." Ryu was finally sweating. He had clearly not expected Lind to push him so far.
Lind, on the other hand, was covered in sweat and water so it was hard to say what soaked his robes but thunder rumbling had increased a great deal as the clouds darkened. The referee was beginning to worry they would have to halt the duel if the storm worsened but the rain remained gentle.
"You are not bad, your highness. However, I should tell you that I do have a favorite band, although I doubt you ever heard of them." Ryu looked in confusion at Lind Frey as the boy slowly righted himself. It was clear the boy was nearly spent but defeat was not in his dark green eyes. The smirk on his face gave Ryu goosebumps.
"Why are you insulting our duel with inconsequential talk?" Ryu was not angry but would be disappointed if Lind tried to do something sneaky at the last moment. Instead, he saw Lind smile and point up.
"My favorite band is called AC/DC. They have a song that I think is quite appropriate for my plan. Sorry if this stings." Ryu was even more confused as he suddenly realized all the hair on his body was standing on end.
The world turned white and all sound disappeared from their hearing.
Stunned silence filled the arena as Crown Prince Ryu was sent flying at incredible speed into the outer wall. The formations groaned under the power that had struck the arena like the power of the spirits themselves.
"Thunderstruck." A weak voice emerged from the blasted area of the arena. Dirt was cleared up as the rain finally unleashed and a miserable Lind Frey stood there. His staff was still clean but the rest of him looked devastated. His robes were burnt in many places and burns covered his skin, but he was standing while Ryu was not.
The referee quickly checked on Ryu and sighed in relief to find the Crown Prince only unconscious but still heavily injured.
"Winner: Lind Frey!" The crowd was silent for a breath, then exploded into cheers. Lightning. Lightning from the heavens was summoned by a tier 6! Only World Realms could do that, yet the boy did it at tier 6 Soul Realm.
Lind smiled as darkness closed in. He could not hold on anymore.