However, for a fleeting moment, a clarity flickered in his eyes, before he fell back into a haze. A surge of fear suddenly swept over him, and he instinctively began retreating.
"It worked." Dongfang Jing took a deep breath, his face lighting up with joy. He hadn't expected the plan to succeed so quickly. It seemed almost unnatural.
But soon, a realization dawned on him: Kent's mental strength had never been particularly remarkable, yet he was trying to control two golden-tier beasts. That was bound to be a grave mistake.
Now was the time to strike! This opportunity couldn't be wasted.
With a cold, calculating mentality, he knew he could overpower Kent and secure the win. All he needed was to be ruthless and keep his resolve steady.
A glint of excitement flickered in Dongfang Jing's eyes as he imagined Kent's miserable defeat and his own brilliant victory.
Seeing that Kent had been affected by his earlier attack, Dongfang Jing and the golden lion initiated another Phantom Killing formation. This time, they didn't bother with illusions and afterimages. They charged straight at Kent.
Taking advantage of Kent's disoriented state, they planned to strike him down and ensure victory with no further complications—everything seemed perfect.
However, just as Dongfang Jing closed in on Kent, something unexpected happened. Kent suddenly opened his eyes, and a golden gleam flashed in them. He let out a cold snort, and both the Diamond Monkey and Golden Cat King split off to strike from either side.
One of the beasts, the Diamond Monkey, looked like a giant gorilla, its muscles rippling like a wall of stone. Though it was much smaller than Garfield, its physical strength was immense.
The other beast, after growing to an enormous size, resembled a fierce tiger, its movements as swift as lightning.
"Damn it, he's tricking me!" Dongfang Jing realized what was happening.
But he wasn't afraid. If it was a direct confrontation, then so be it. He decided to face the challenge head-on, using his Phantom Killing technique to stay safe while his beast dealt with Kent's animals. Victory would still be his.
The golden lion, large and imposing, was certainly not intimidated by two beasts of the same tier. It let out a powerful roar and immediately locked onto the monkey, preparing to strike.
In its mind, the monkey's lower level meant it could be dispatched in just a few blows. Once it dealt with the monkey, it would turn to the cat.
Despite the monkey's lower level, it had the sharp instincts necessary for survival. But it made a fatal mistake in its choice of opponent—the Diamond Monkey, known for its extraordinary strength, was perfectly suited for direct combat. With its indestructible body and natural power, it could easily fight beyond its level.
Roar!
The Monkey King, Wukong, slammed his chest, showing no signs of retreating. His right fist shot out with incredible force, aimed directly at the charging golden lion.
The impact was immense, and the entire marble arena trembled. The punch landed on the lion's forehead, sending a bone-crushing sound echoing through the air, and blood began to seep from the lion's eyes.
Meanwhile, Wukong, having absorbed the recoil, staggered back, retreating all the way to the edge of the arena before regaining his footing. Though he wasn't seriously injured, his arm felt slightly numb from the intense force.
The golden lion let out a pained roar, its intended strike still not landing when it was blindsided by a punch. It looked pathetic now, its regal appearance shattered.
At this moment, Garfield jumped into action. With a swift leap, he aimed for the golden lion's underbelly. His claws, sharp and over half a foot long, raked across its belly, causing deep gashes that immediately began to bleed profusely, turning the ground a dark red.
The lion howled in agony, its painful cries pulling at the audience's heartstrings.
"Kent, how dare you?" Dongfang Jing's eyes turned red with rage as he glared at Kent with murderous intent.
In a flash, his reliance on the golden lion had backfired. His beast was now under attack from both sides, and the pain in his heart was unbearable. He let out an enraged roar.
Kent, however, glanced at him indifferently, his gaze colder than before.
Wukong charged once again, slamming a palm into the golden lion, sending it into a dizzying spin, unable to stop its mournful howls.
"Stop! Stop now!" Dongfang Jing howled in anguish.
"What's wrong? Are you giving up already?" Kent jeered, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "The match has barely begun. If you give up now, how will your reputation as one of the Four Young Masters of Microglow City stand? And what will the other three think of you?"
"You…" Dongfang Jing was so enraged that he nearly vomited blood. His once charming face had turned bright red, looking like a desperate, helpless loser.
"What's wrong with me?" Kent pressed, unrelenting. "Weren't you just so arrogant, acting like I was nothing? Not only did you belittle me, but you also tried to lecture me on my parents. Now, it looks like the tables have turned."
Up in the VIP area, Dongfang Lei's expression darkened, his rage simmering. When he heard Kent's words, his lips twitched, and he felt a murderous intent rising.
A few people sitting nearby, while not openly mocking him, shot looks of disdain at Dongfang Lei. Even the cameras nearby kept snapping photos of his every expression, capturing every moment.
"You… don't get too smug," Dongfang Jing, heartbroken, managed to growl. His beasts were suffering, but he could not bring himself to admit defeat.
"Ha… If anyone should be smug, it's me. Who knows what kind of tragic ending would await you if I wasn't here to hold back. But this is just child's play. It's not nearly enough for you. Let me add a little more spice to this."
Kent grinned and with a flash, Garfield darted over to the golden lion once more. With swift, lethal claws, he sliced open the lion's side, creating several deep, bleeding wounds.
"Alright, you've got guts," Dongfang Jing muttered bitterly, finally admitting defeat. He lowered his head, no longer the proud, arrogant figure he once was. The blow had shaken him to the core, and if he couldn't recover from it, his life might be forever marked by this humiliation.
Kent nodded, calling back both Wukong and Garfield. His smile remained cool and unbothered. "A true man knows when to yield. I'm glad you've learned that lesson. I won't charge you a tuition fee for it."
With that, he turned and walked off the stage, not sparing a single glance behind him.
"Kent, just you wait. I won't let this go," Dongfang Jing roared.
"Oh, I'll be waiting. Don't worry. I still need to settle the score with you. After all, you owe me 250,000 credit points," Kent replied with a mysterious smile.
"Now I get it. So you were holding this grudge because of that. You've been after me all along because of the money," Dongfang Jing finally understood, his eyes wide with realization.