As soon as Oasis landed, Rurik had already taken a detour, avoiding the flames and closing in on him at high speed.
His movements were erratic, as if he was constantly teleporting from shadow to shadow, the darkened corners of the valley providing him with cover.
Oasis's azure eyes tracked Rurik's movements, the new power in his gaze allowing him to see through the shadows and follow the elusive figure.
"This guy isn't underestimating me. He's not even giving me time to circulate my mana and use my techniques," Oasis thought, feeling the pressure mounting.
The relentless pace of the battle was pushing him to his limits.
"Wind Magic: Wind Blade," Oasis whispered, his voice calm as he summoned a slicing gust of wind that hurtled toward Rurik.
The blade of wind cut through the air, sharp and swift, aimed directly at Rurik's path.
But Rurik merely smirked, his daggers radiating with a dark, visible aura as he sliced through Oasis's magic with ease.
The wind blade dissipated into nothingness, leaving Rurik unscathed.
Just as Rurik sliced through the wind magic, Oasis smirked back.
Boom!
In an instant, Oasis was in front of Rurik, moving with blinding speed using his Dancing Phoenix technique.
The speed of his movement created a sonic boom behind him, propelling him forward faster than the eye could follow.
Rurik's eyes widened in surprise as Oasis closed the distance between them in the blink of an eye.
Oasis released his grip on his sword, allowing it to hang in the air as he channeled all his energy into his fist.
"Ultimate Blazing Dragon Fist, 5th Form: FireStorm Fist!" Oasis roared, calling out his technique as energy surged through his body, concentrating in his fist.
The power radiated off him in waves, the air around his fist distorting from the sheer heat and energy.
Rurik's expression shifted from surprise to realization as he recognized the danger.
"Black Abyss Fist!" he shouted, desperately launching his own attack to counter Oasis's blow.
His fist, shrouded in a dark, oppressive aura, shot forward to meet Oasis's fiery punch.
Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud!
The first impact stopped Oasis's surging energy immediately, the force of Rurik's punch disrupting the flow of power in his body.
Before Oasis could react, more recurring punches followed, each one a brutal blow that sent Oasis flying backward.
His body slammed into a boulder with bone-shattering force, the impact causing blood to spurt from his mouth.
The pain was excruciating, his vision blurring as he struggled to stay conscious.
The valley echoed with the sound of Oasis's body hitting the ground, the once powerful warrior now lying crumpled against the boulder, blood staining the rocky surface.
The brutal encounter had left him severely injured, and the battle was far from over.
"Damn, my left arm is broken," Oasis thought, fighting against the blurriness that threatened to overtake him.
His vision gradually cleared, and he saw his sword, Kaze no Kagutsuchi, lying a distance away.
But more pressing was the sight of Rurik, the shadowy pursuer, approaching with an irritatingly confident voice.
"Brat, you've left me with no choice but to unleash my technique. You have to die; you'll be trouble if you're allowed to grow,"
Rurik said, his tone cold and final as he spun his daggers, putting one away while slowly advancing toward Oasis.
"Is this really it?" Oasis thought, feeling the weight of his injuries.
His strength was nearly spent, and he could barely summon enough energy to unleash another strong attack
Blood soaked his tunic, dripping from his broken arm, as Rurik stood over him, a cruel smile on his face.
"You've been a thorn in my side, brat. I'll make your death as painful as possible," Rurik sneered, looking down at the battered Oasis.
Rurik laughed, a chilling sound that echoed through the rocky valley.
He continued to spin his remaining dagger, catching it with ease before flicking it toward Oasis.
The dagger pierced Oasis's shoulder, sinking deep into the flesh with a sickening thud.
Ahhhhh!
Oasis screamed, clenching his teeth as he tried to endure the excruciating pain.
Blood gushed from the wound, soaking his tunic further.
"I like that look on your face," Rurik sneered, taking out his second dagger. "You know, brat, why I love these twin daggers?"
Oasis, through the haze of pain, realized that Rurik was gloating, savoring the moment.
The assassin's dark eyes glinted with cruel satisfaction as he continued, "Because they know how to finish a task, like this one."
As he spoke, Rurik noticed Oasis gazing at him with intense focus, his azure eyes locked onto Rurik's own.
"Brat, what are you looking at me like that for? Expecting pity?" Rurik jeered, leaning in closer, his face mere inches from Oasis's.
"Ph...pho..." Oasis's voice was barely audible, a faint whisper that caught Rurik's attention.
"Huh? Trying to have a last wish, brat?" Rurik mocked, lowering his head to hear Oasis's final words, staring directly into his eyes.
"Phoenix Glaze!" Oasis roared, blood spurting from his mouth as the technique took hold.
The technique hit Rurik off guard, but this time, something was different. As Rurik looked into Oasis's eyes, he didn't see the usual human gaze.
Instead, he saw the terrifying eyes of a divine sky serpent, the pupils of Oasis's eyes morphing into those of a serpent.
his vision suddenly overtaken by the image of a divine sky serpent.
"Ahhhhh!!" Rurik screamed, clutching his head as a searing pain exploded in his mind.
The technique had attacked his conscious realm and soul realm, damaging them significantly though not enough to kill him.
The sudden onslaught left him reeling, his balance unsteady as he struggled to stay upright.
Huff... huff... huff...
Oasis panted heavily, seizing the moment to regulate his mana and staunch the bleeding from his shoulder.
As Rurik writhed in agony, Oasis's mana began to radiate around his body, his aura becoming visible despite the dagger still lodged in his shoulder.
"Danc... Dancing Phoenix Technique," Oasis whispered, his ragged body struggling to move.
He forced himself into action, his movements erratic as he crashed into the side of the valley, barely in control as he attempted to escape Rurik.
Rurik, still screaming in agony, suddenly realized the situation.