Chapter 1289: Bloody Brawl

"To think there would be a man who could stand toe-to-toe with Brother Goro."

Ayaka Kusakabe, the Fleeting Phoenix, watched Adam and Goro rush toward each other in what seemed like their final clash.

Her mesmerizing gaze remained on Adam as she studied his every move.

"What a fascinating man," she murmured, her tone ethereal and lovely. "He’s like a ghost who appeared in our Magus world out of nowhere. To think a man like him existed."

She turned to her brother and asked with a light smile, "Renji, what do you think are the chances of getting him to join our clan?"

Renji Kusakabe adjusted his glasses, then stated matter-of-factly, "Impossible."

"Oh?" Ayaka arched an eyebrow in slight surprise. "I knew the chances were low, but to say impossible..."

"Goro Tsuitsui is considered by many as the strongest of the younger generation," Renji began.

"And now here comes a man who can fight on equal terms with him. I see no way for the Baihua Sect to let go of such a prodigous talent. They already have a Dragon and a Phoenix in the same generation. Inducting Ao into the sect would raise their prestige severalfold.

"Besides, the fact that the Sect Leader has allowed the sparring match to go on for so long could only mean that he intends to see the true extent of Ao’s prowess. But..."

Ayaka’s lips curled into a faint smirk beneath the veil. "But surely, the Tsuitsui Clan will challenge them, will they not?"

"Indeed." Renji nodded. "Not only is Ao an exceptional combatant, who can go toe-to-toe with Brother Goro, but he also seems to be a skilled Herbalist. He embodies everything the Tsuitsui Clan seeks in a Magus. I believe they will do their best to rope Ao into their clan, either through adoption or marriage."

Ayaka’s eyes focused on Adam’s figure. "But no matter how strong Ao may be, he cannot win this fight. Brother Goro has yet to unveil his magic—the reason why the Tsuitsui Clan is feared across these lands."

"And I doubt he will use his clan’s poison arts." Renji nodded.

He then added confidently:

"Because that would mean guaranteed victory."

***

BOOOM!!!

Adam and Goro’s fists collided, rupturing the ground beneath them and unleashing a terrifying shockwave from the point of impact.

Goro grinned in excitement when he noticed Adam hadn’t taken even half a step back from the impact.

Wonderful! Although his physical strength is slightly inferior to mine, he makes up for it with exceptional mana control,

he thought.

"Men should be big, strong, and muscular," he said in a booming voice. "Like you and I! But of course, I’m still stronger than you—"

Goro’s words got caught in his throat when Adam took a step forward, twisted his right arm, and executed a swift, brutal over-the-shoulder throw.

With a deafening sound, the ground beneath cracked open, instantly forming a deep crater.

But Adam wasn’t done yet. He swiftly moved over Goro’s body, maintaining his grip on the man’s arm, and in one fluid motion, locked him in a tight arm lock.

Adam clenched his teeth and wrenched Goro’s right hand, straining to snap it in two. At the same time, his legs tightened around him, cutting off his breath.

"Hehehaha!!" Goro laughed like he was having the best time of his life. "This might have worked on others, but I... am... MIGHTY!"

Before the last word had even escaped his lips, Goro had already rolled over, clasping his right hand with his left, fingers locking tightly. In one powerful motion, he rose to his feet, hoisting Adam, who was still coiled around his right arm like a serpent.

"Let me test how sturdy your body is!" Goro’s loud voice once again echoed all around as he raised Adam into the air, and then...

BOOM!

Slammed him to the ground.

Without missing a beat, Goro raised him in the air again, grinning like a madman, and then, once again...

BOOM!

Slammed him brutally.

BOOM!

BOOM!

BOOM!

Goro repeatedly slammed Adam to the ground, yet the latter’s grip around his arm remained steadfast.

Just as the Venom Dragon lifted him once more, Adam quickly shifted his position, transitioning from an arm lock to a triangular choke, his legs snapping tightly around Goro’s neck.

Adam tensed his leg muscles, tightening his hold to cut off Goro’s oxygen supply. His left hand clamped down on the back of Goro’s neck. Then, he raised his right hand and viciously struck with his elbow.

BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM!

Goro staggered on his feet as his forehead burst open, resulting in a gaping wound. Blood streamed down his face and onto his body. Yet Adam showed no mercy. His elbow rose and fell in a brutal rhythm, hammering the same spot again and again and again.

The crowd gasped in unison as they watched Goro’s body go limp, his massive frame collapsing under Adam’s two-pronged attack—cutting off the air supply by squeezing his neck and repeatedly striking his head.

Just as it seemed that Goro would fall from Adam’s wild yet precise strikes, his eyes blazed with intensity, and he grinned from ear to ear, revealing his blood-soaked teeth.

"This is how a fight between men should be," he growled. "A bloody brawl!"

With a surge of raw power, Goro grabbed Adam’s head and, letting out a guttural roar, slammed him into the ground one final time.

BOOOM!!

A large crater was instantly formed upon impact. Standing at the edge of the battlefield, the crowd watched in shock and horror as Goro delivered that last attack. That strike had enough power to shatter a man’s skull. They couldn’t help but wonder if Adam was still alive.

When the dust settled, Goro remained standing over Adam’s unmoving body.

However, the Venom Dragon had sustained heavy injuries to his head. His vision was bloody and blurry, and waves of dizziness crashed through his skull from the concussions he had just suffered.

"Heh." He smirked. "I..."

The smirk instantly vanished when the next moment—literally, in the blink of an eye—Adam disappeared.

In the next heartbeat, Goro saw Adam standing several meters away from him. The strips of white cloth wrapped around his head had long since turned a dark crimson.

Adam, too, was no less injured than Goro—perhaps, more so. But still, he had never fought a battle so exhilarating. He did not wish for the fight to end!

He got into a fighting stance one more time, his lips curling into a wide grin. "Auhh..."

Goro wasted no time getting ready for another round of battle—perhaps, the final round. His aura flared to life as he, too, got into combat stance.

"This is the spirit of battle," he roared. "Come at me, Ao!!"

The next moment, the two dashed towards each other one last time.

One side turned into a resplendent beam of dark green light, while the other transformed into a streak of oppressive darkness.

At last, their attacks collided.

Hand of Doom: Spectral Palm Strike!

Heavenly Serpent’s Fang!

And then...

Everything went black.