"What a headache..."
As a throbbing pain began to form on the tip of his brows, Cain realized the fight wasn't going to be an easy one. He was relieved he didn't act rashly and used his skills with long cooldowns early. If he had, the fight would have been a bit more difficult.
Hunter planned to get him to expend his stamina and skills, causing him to lose his fangs, before swooping in for the kill.
'This guy is dangerous.'
His skills coupled with his terrifying wit made the fight a bit more tasking and challenging for Cain than he had expected.
But despite all that, a smile began creeping up his face. His heart began to beat in sync with the throbbing headache he was having, and the hand he used to hold his blade tightened down on it.
When he noticed this, he took a few deep breaths to calm his restless heart down, before turning his focus back to Hunter who stared back at him warily.
"You are good, that's for sure," Cain said as he dragged his blade across the ground, creating an inch-deep scar that traced behind him.
"But if this is all you've got, you might as well end up dead by the end of this fight."
Hunter noticed the aura around Cain become more menacing than before. It wasn't an easily noticeable change, but thanks to his high perception stat, he could sense it with ease. The aura Cain gave off beforehand, was of one who had claimed a life before. Now, his aura was more sinister and malevolent, almost like his intention, wasn't to stop at just killing but to devour...
"Hmm... This fight is just getting started." Hunter felt the bubbling excitement build up within him as his aura skyrocketed as well.
"We'll see..." Cain said with an excited grin pulling on his face.
"Ha!"
The two dashed at each other, this time, with no constraints. Hunter had abandoned his bow and had opted to engage in close combat instead.
'He's sacrificing range advantage? That is very suspicious. He's most definitely planning something.'
Cain had seen the way Hunter had torn Blaze's defenses apart when he engaged in close combat with him. Blaze was also good in close combat, but he lacked patience and ended up being drawn in by Hunter. If he had more patience, there was no way it would have been so easy for Hunter to beat him so easily.
They exchanged several blows with each passing second, neither one of them able to gain any ground. They moved like waves crashing against the surface of the ocean, with great dexterity, yet even greater force.
BANG!
Cain slashed out, but Hunter quickly blocked with his extended claws, but he was receiving little to no recoil. It was akin to striking the surface of the water.
'There can be no other explanation. The force behind my attacks is being deflected with force deflection, a martial arts technique.' He's good... Only those who have a decent understanding of martial arts can grasp this technique!'
Martial arts techniques are something both unique and rare in the world of Urbus. Only a select few have access to them, usually due to background and the like, but basic information on them is known to the general public.
According to what is known by the general public, practicing martial arts is just like taking part in any other sport.
'However, they couldn't be any more wrong...'
Only those who have been introduced to the dark sides of society would know why practicing martial arts wasn't so simple to call it a sport.
If anything, it would better be described as the sticks and stones of the underground world and high-class society. Martial arts and martial art techniques were the main weapons of those who dwelt within the shadows of society.
They used them to protect themselves or commit atrocities. In the upper class of society, martial art practitioners, as well as the military and paramilitary also used martial arts for obvious reasons.
As for the man who had taught Cain martial arts, Cain had little to no knowledge of his background, but what he had taught him during that period of his life stuck with him forever...
That was why he was able to easily identify what Hunter was up to.
'In that case... .'
He brought his blade down once again, only this time, his blade seemed a bit hazy to look at. Hunter responded with a claw strike of his own.
CLANG!
A look of shock appeared on Hunter's face as he quickly dodged the next attack, before trying to create distance between them. However, Cain was having none of that. He followed up with a succession of swift and brutal heavy slashes, forcing Hunter to meet them head-on.
Tch! 'He saw through force deflection. I guess I'm giving him too little credit.' Hunter thought to himself.
'However, this fight has gone on long enough. Time to end this!'
Just when Cain thought he had Hunter in a tight corner, Hunter's claws began glowing with flames. His speed increased exponentially as well, and the look in his eyes changed. He dodged Cain's forward chop, then quickly closed in.
Cain quickly withdrew his outstretched blade to guard, but Hunter's intentions weren't to attack.
"Summon Sacrifice: Substitute."
Cain immediately suspected foul play...
He knew Hunter had a sinister plan in mind, that was why he had been really careful.
Cain didn't even hesitate to bring his sword down again, even whilst observing and analyzing his surroundings. He guessed the Hunter standing before him was probably a fake, but he didn't want to take any chances.
"Summon Sacrifice: Explosion!"
'Crap!' Cain sensed it instantly. He knew he didn't have the time to create enough distance, so he decided to just soak it up.
"Metal Creation: Golden Armor."
Just as the doppelganger exploded, a bright sheen of golden radiance enveloped him, completely blocking out the storm of flames ensuing from the explosion that occurred.
BOOM!
Within the armor, Cain was having a bit of a hard time. The heat from the explosion made him feel like he was being cooked alive causing him to scrunch up his face a bit.
"Arghhhh! So hot!"
But it wasn't something he couldn't bear with. After a while, the head reduced. He had survived, but if he was even a heartbeat slower, the damage would have been a lot worse.
"Cain!" Susan cried out in panic. She pulled out her bow, ready to join the fight, but was stopped by David who rested a hand on her shoulder.
"Believe in him. Besides, I think this fight is far from over. Just watch and see." David said with a smile.
He deactivated the skill because the heavy metal would reduce his speed. He quickly spun around, only to see the metallic glint of Hunter's claws bearing down on him from behind.
"Claws of burning death!"
His paws were replaced with balls of flames that threatened to consume him.
It was as though time slowed down for a bit...
During this time, Hunter was already sure of his victory.
'I win...'
Hunter had expected more from Cain. The aura Cain gave off was similar to his. He had expected him to be powerful enough to be considered competition but he wasn't.
'Unfortunately, this is all he has.' Hunter thought to himself as his claws kept descending toward Cain.
'What a shame... I didn't even need to use my trump card.'
Just as Hunter was about to land what he thought would be his final attack, an intense feeling of dread and fear washed over him.
"Azure Burst!"
Like a phantom, Cain's figure was enveloped in a deep ocean blue color, turning hazy as well. Since he couldn't stop it at this point, Hunter continued his attack.
BOOM!
The ground beneath them cracked open, and a pillar of flames erupted from ground zero. Yet, the look on Hunter's face was even graver than usual.
"Seems like this is all you have. And I thought I would have been able to gain something out of all this. What a waste of time." Cain said as he looked up at Hunter from where he now stood, his eyes filled with scorn.
'What-?! How is this possible?!' Hunter exclaimed in his mind.
He had played into Cain's palms and was dancing at his fingertips from the beginning. Although he didn't want to admit it, he had subconsciously been wary of Cain. From the time they found out that Cain had defeated the powerful {Miasma Devil}, to the time he had first seen Cain fight in the forest against the {Crimson Demon Bear}, he had been on his guard.
The strength Cain displayed had been a bit scary to him. That was why he decided to give it his all from the get-go of the fight. Apart from using his trump card, he had used almost all his skills, he had even used a martial arts technique. He had used all his summons skills. He had used everything...
And yet...
There wasn't even a look of exhaustion on Cain's face.
He had put in almost everything, yet still...
"This fight has gone on for long enough, don't you think? Let's end it now, what do you say!" Cain said as he stopped messing around. This time, he was serious.
'This is enough for now. There's no need for this fight to go on.' Cain thought to himself as he prepared himself.
"Hmph! If you think you think that flashy skill of yours can reach me, think again!" Hunter said angrily, his face scrunching up a bit. This was the first time he had let the emotions he was feeling inside slip.
"Oh? Are you angry?" Cain said provocatively.
"Enough talking! Since you want to end this fight, let's do so. I'll claim your life with a single strike!" Hunter quickly got a hold of himself, but the aura of rage around him didn't dissipate in the slightest.
Hunter knew it was time to use it.
His trump card and most powerful skill!
"Feral Savagery!"
"Howl!"
His already wolfish form began contracting into an even larger form. His claws and fangs enlarged, like hot coals, his eyes seemed to shine in the darkness, and he grew to a height nearly doubled that of before.
His figure was still just as lean as before, which meant his speed didn't reduce in the slightest. To top it off, his fur turned into a coat of flames. There wasn't an inkling of humanity in his eyes.
"Howl!"
He dashed at Cain with a speed twice as fast as before. The ground beneath his feet shattered like glass beneath his feet, and the grass ignited as well, leaving a trail of scorched earth behind.
"Golden Blood!"
At the same time as Hunter activated his trump card, Cain activated {Golden Blood}.
His surroundings slowed down to a halt. Hunter who was racing towards him slowed down significantly in his eyes. The leaves falling from the trees in the distance, the others in the background, everything slowed down.
'This feeling...'
The feeling of activating {Golden Blood} and {Azure Burst} was surreal. The activation of {Golden Blood} was usually accompanied by severe body pains caused by the strain, but with the activation of {Azure Burst}, the intensity was greatly toned down.
Faster than lightning, he dashed forward...
'Before, I was uncertain, but now I'm sure.'
After his fight with the {Devil-eyed White Primate}, as well as his meeting with Ashur, he had come to realize one thing.
"The only way to get rid of obstacles along my path is to use the blade in my hands to cut them down! If you become an obstacle on my path, this is your fate!"
Like a thunderstorm, he struck Hunter with the blunt side of his blade more times than he could count.
"Arghhhh!" A blood-curdling wail escaped from Hunter's mouth as he was struck all over his body, yet, was unable to do anything but watch.
Once the ten-second duration of {Azure Burst} was over, the skill automatically deactivated, while he deactivate {Golden Blood}.
BANG!
With a crash, Hunter fell to the ground with blood leaking from his orifices. He lost consciousness before he even hit the ground.
"I win," Cain said, his blade sheathing with a resounding click.