A deafening explosion occurred as the forest began to burn.
However, just before that, Amon was struck by an attack moving at the speed of light.
Even though Amon had perfected the Light Reversal Technique, he was still sent flying into the air. His right arm's bones shattered completely from blocking the sudden attack.
As Amon landed on the ground, his heart was still pounding, shocked by the attack he had just deflected.
'Ugh! I should've used my sword with both hands.'
Pain surged through his brain from his right arm, causing Karyuken to fall and lodge itself into the ground. He quickly picked it back up with his remaining left hand.
The flames illuminated the culprit.
Bathed in the red glow, he looked at Amon with a mocking smirk.
"Roderic."
"How have you been, lazy bum? I never expected trash like you to make it this far."
"Give up, you've already used the Light Sword Technique."
"Give up? Why should I do that when I'm perfectly fine?"
Amon looked at him once more, his eyes widening.
Roderic was still standing strong after using the Light Sword Technique. He wasn't like Amon, who was instantly exhausted after using this lethal technique.
'Could Roderic be a genius capable of using the Light Sword Technique twice? No, this isn't talent—this is just a trick. If he were truly a genius, the author of Miracle Cube wouldn't have used him just to create conflict.'
"Are you using Martial Formula?"
Martial Formula was a cultivation art used to enhance the body.
"Yes, you're right," Roderic replied.
Amon chuckled at that, as if he were looking at a clown who thought himself the smartest person in the world.
"What are you laughing at?!" Roderic's voice lowered, feeling insulted.
"Do you know the negative effects of using Martial Formula at a young age?"
"There are no negative effects," Roderic said confidently.
"There must be; otherwise, the clan wouldn't forbid us from using Martial Formula until we're adults."
"Plenty of people do it, and they're just fine. Even geniuses use it, and they still thrive."
"Have any of those people you're talking about ever matched the Lucerion Clan?"
Roderic froze at Amon's mocking tone. He knew the answer was yes but didn't want to admit it.
"Martial Formula uses the body as its foundation. The bigger the foundation, the better the results. Let's use a building as an analogy."
"If you start cultivating Martial Formula at ten years old, the first floor of the building you're constructing will only hold ten people. Then, at twenty, you'll build the second floor, which needs to hold twenty people.
"The question is, can the small first floor support the large second floor? Of course not. Even if you manage to build the second floor, you'll be stuck there—you'll never build a third."
"Shut up!" Roderic's voice trembled. His ears heard Amon's words, but his heart refused to acknowledge them.
"We, descendants of the Sword Saint, are instructed to use Martial Formula when we're eighteen because, by that age, our bodies have stopped growing. That's the perfect time. This way, the size of each floor will be consistent.
"You've wasted your potential. Don't think you're the smartest person in the world. Those who think they're the smartest are truly the most foolish."
An Elder hovering in the sky nodded in satisfaction, like a teacher giving a student a perfect score.
"I said shut up! A lazy bum like you has no right to lecture someone like me who works hard!"
Roderic shouted in fury, his anger overwhelming him. He impulsively used the Light Sword Technique again to strike Amon.
Amon could only block the attack, gritting his teeth in agony as the bones in his left arm shattered too.
Seeing the one he deemed trash survive his strongest attack only made Roderic angrier. He raised his sword to the sky, preparing for another strike.
Amon winced in fear at the sight. Both his arms were useless, and even Karyuken had fallen to the ground.
But Roderic's hand suddenly dropped, and before he could bring his sword down, it seemed as though he had run out of energy. He could only use the Light Sword Technique twice. After that, he was completely exhausted.
Amon saw hope in front of him. He immediately grabbed Karyuken with his mouth, not wasting a second.
"I surrender!"
Those words escaped Roderic's mouth, but they hadn't yet reached his bracelet.
With speed faster than sound, Amon dashed towards Roderic and slashed at his stomach.
The cut was shallow, but it was enough to turn Roderic into a man on fire.
"Arrrghh!!!"
Roderic screamed in agony as his burning body vanished, leaving Amon behind.
"Heh! I managed to burn you!"
A sense of satisfaction filled Amon's heart, even though he was in a pitiful state himself.
The number one was displayed on his bracelet, signifying that he was the last one standing, and also that he was now ranked first.
The audience in the banquet hall applauded all the participants. The room buzzed with excitement and celebration.
However, there was one beautiful woman in a cheongsam whose mood contrasted sharply with the lively atmosphere around her.
"Useless trash."