Chapter 89: Duel!
"30 seconds against a top elder. I think he is delusional"
"Just what did he smoke today"
"He wants to go against elder Di for 30 seconds ? Elder Di once killed a Komodo monster, one of the mutated human-animal hybrid beings in 12 seconds with just one hit, and this fool wants to hold off Elder Di for 30 seconds, I think his victory in confirming his identity as a direct descendant of James Night is eating into his brain"
"Don't bother with this fool"
The murmurs within the temple continued to soar, meanwhile, some senior disciples had gone to announce the duel to everyone else, the monks both Junior and senior of various factions had started to rush in, some masters that were far away came quickly after receiving the information.
Elder Di looked towards Lancelot Jr pondering his challenge. On the surface, he looked calm and unperturbed but deep within, he was boiling like a lava about to erupt.
He was initially going to decline the challenge but after seeing the crowd coming, he had to reevaluate his decision. Elder Di was one of the most highly respected Elders, his words were like an authority on their own.
When matters involved him, people usually paid extra attention because of the strength he possessed. He was the 7th most powerful person in the monastery. The remaining top 6 were rarely seen as they were all increasing their strengths in seclusion.
Since he was the most powerful person around, everyone saw him as the top leader of the monastery. Now Lancelot Jr had decided to challenge that person, this has caused a ruckus
People were gathered in droves, waiting for
Elder Di's decision. "Kid, I accept your challenge . If I beat you in 30 seconds, you'd stop with this nonsense right?" Elder Di said, trying to give off a composed smile but underneath all the facade was a peeved Elder.
"Agreed" Lancelot Jr said.
"So let us duel!" Elder Di said as he moved out into a space the crowd had left for both of them to dwell freely. Lancelot Jr followed and stood a few distances apart, opposite elder Di.
Most of the people joining the crowd didn't know the reason for the duel, they only heard that one foolish youngster who wasn't even a monk had challenged an elder, so everyone came to witness the match and the humiliation the youngster would face that is if the elder didn't end up killing him.
Kun wasn't interested initially because this kind of folly occurs sometimes when a junior monk decides to test his abilities when he feels he has gained a lot from seclusion, only to be thoroughly humiliated. However, after hearing that the youngster, in this case, wasn't even a monk and on top of that it was Lancelot Jr Night, he rushed to the venue like a speeding bullet.
'Idiot, you won one inheritance test that has probably become redundant after millions of years and suddenly you feel like you can challenge the entire world. You didn't even pick a junior monk, this idiot went for an elder. I will be here to watch you get thoroughly humiliated, that is if you don't end up dead after 30 seconds" Kun shouted, ensuring that everyone hears his voice clearly.
Lancelot Jr heard it too but he didn't look in his direction nor did he take it to heart.
Another Elder decided to officiate the duel, "the duel is for 30 seconds, after 30 seconds both parties should have stopped the duel unless they both wish to continue. You may start"
The Elder moved back waiting for both
Lancelot Jr and Elder Di to attack.
"Buddha Palm" Elder Di shouted.
Eight huge green hands appeared from both of his sides and went towards Lancelot Jr.
It should be noted that the force of a single hand could crush a building with the least applied force, so you can imagine the immense strength of 8 of those.
Lancelot Jr remained composed as the palm inched closer to him. The speed of the palm was extremely fast, within two seconds it was almost upon Lancelot Jr.
Alisha closed her eyes, she really couldn't bear to see him crushed. Yet she trusted him to take care of himself but the reality before her was conflicting with her thoughts.
Lancelot Jr simultaneously had dug deep within himself into the power he unsealed in the dream world and mastered. The ability to manipulate time.
He stopped time momentarily and everyone was frozen, all eight hands were before him, they were all stopped in their tracks, not moving an inch. Every passing second was depleting his energy level rapidly. He used the air control to swing himself out of the reach of the hands and into a safe zone.
The time control was extremely draining, it should be noted that he could control time for a maximum of an hour but that would drain him completely of all his energy.
He also threw flame balls with his hands at the Elder and immediately released time to allow the Elder to block it in time. The Elder was still stunned and it took some time for him to react, the flames had started to burn him, it was the pain that woke him from his daze into reality. He then noticed that Lancelot Jr had managed to escape his grasp and not only that, he had moved away from his line of attack.
By then about 20 seconds had gone by, he was unsure of what happened and he cursed under his breath, 'would this rat escape my beating and keep me on even ground? No' he thought to himself and changed his attacking tactics.
He threw out his force of will and essence at
Lancelot Jr, a dark misty cloud moved and extended from Elder Di ts body and covered the width around him, inching closer to Lancelot Jr quickly.
Lancelot Jr had only 8 seconds left by then, all he had to do was hold Elder Di off for 8 seconds and he would be able to achieve his aim, he had no idea of what to do.
Suddenly the spirit speaker spoke, "use your consciousness and spiritual power, the first among the 5 abilities you received from James Night's consciousness in the inheritance cave of the monastery and the other from the guardian of power of the netherworld, Sir Zuco. It is complete now so the power should be greater and more effective."
Lancelot Jr's eyes lit up in realization, he never thought of it at all. His focus was much different, but the new line of thought brought by the spirit speaker brought in new ideas.
It should be noted that the willpower and essence that was released by Elder Di, could only be created by powerful men at the top of their power rank or close to it. It was a mixture of physical abilities and magic sustenance. It fuses ones will into one's ability to control magic and forces it out onto an opponent. It is usually used on a weaker opponent and could easily subdue, kill or control them which is most similar to Lancelot Jr's spiritual power. However, Lancelot Jr's spiritual power was much more powerful.
That being said, as the force of will and essence got close to Lancelot Jr, by that time just 6 seconds was left, Lancelot Jr unleashed his consciousness under the guidance of the spirit speaker, it shot out like scissors and cut through the force of will so easily like tearing paper.
The whole 30 seconds was over by then, Lancelot Jr was still standing, although he looked pale because the energy he had expended had been enormous, he was fine and relatively unhurt. He just needed rest or a slight absorption from energy blobs to regain his strength.
Everyone was surprised, by that time Kun had disappeared, he just couldn't wait for the humiliation. This guy keeps on creating miracles.
"How?
'Unbelievable"
"Is this even real?"
"Are you sure he is not a monk?"
"He tore Elder Di's force of will so easily like cutting through bread, are you sure he isn't an old monster using magical powers to make himself look young?"
"He held his own against elder Di, how?"
The murmurs and gasps kept ringing out from all sides, while Lancelot remained composed. Alisha breathed a huge sigh of relief, she had been on edge since the start of the match.
It was just 30 seconds but it felt like it was a lot longer.
"Elder Di, thank you for going easy on me, according to our agreement, you said you would be my master if I could hold my own for 30 seconds, I hope you'd follow the agreement and train me.'
"Ok, tomorrow by 6 am we start, be there, beyond the veil in the Senior monks training ground." Elder Di then turned and left. The suppressed shouts erupted.
"My man, you did it," Lamil said as he rushed towards Lancelot Jr, "you're one crazy dude" he chipped in with a smile.
He and Zain had abandoned their duel and joined to watch the duel. They were stunned all through. On a broader scale, they had their faith in Lancelot Jr increase after that match.