Chapter 184 - 183: Black Energy

THUD!

Ossen landed steadily on the ground. Although the last exchange hadn’t caused any real damage, the outcome clearly showed he had come out at a disadvantage.

Looking at the impassive Lurans, Ossen’s expression grew solemn.

’I really can’t underestimate Lurans. He reached the Meteor Level over thirty years ago, after all, while I’ve only just broken through.’

In terms of fundamentals, Lurans’s foundation was immeasurably deeper than Ossen’s.

’But it’s not like I have no chance of winning.’

Ossen’s eyes narrowed as he carefully sized up Lurans. ’He’s fighting me while suppressing his internal injuries, so he must want to end this battle quickly. If I just keep up a relentless assault and force him to use his Fighting Qi intensely, he won’t be able to keep his condition in check. Then, I can win easily.’

WHOOSH!

Ossen broke into a run. As he moved, he raised his left hand and sent out a continuous barrage of palm strikes. His Fighting Qi condensed into massive Water Wave Palms that rushed at Lurans from all directions.

"Using Water Wave Palm to confuse your opponent before seizing an opportunity to attack... has your fighting style really not changed at all over the years?"

Lurans plunged his Longsword into the ground. Flames erupted around him, forming a red Flaming Tornado that blocked all the incoming Water Wave Palms.

HISS~

As water and fire met, steam instantly filled the air.

But as the Flaming Tornado rapidly expanded, it blew all the steam away.

WHOOSH!

Lurans seized the opening and took the offensive, predicting Ossen’s movements and appearing before him with incredible speed.

"That trick won’t work on me. Try something else."

He swept his Longsword horizontally, and a torrent of Thunderbolt surged forth.

Ossen’s expression changed. He pushed off the ground with his feet, using the recoil from his Fighting Qi to rapidly escape the Thunderbolt’s range.

"I didn’t expect you to still be this fast."

Ossen charged back in, opting for close-quarters combat. "But I know your situation. You want to end this quickly. We’re both at the Meteor Level. I may not be able to defeat you, but it’s impossible for you to take me down in a short amount of time either."

"Oh? Is that so?"

The corner of Lurans’s mouth curled up. The Longsword in his hand plummeted down, so fast that it made the air whistle.

CLANG!

Under the force of the violent impact, Ossen was sent flying backward. His face changed drastically. "Your Power... how...?"

"Do you remember what I told you?"

Lurans closed the distance. The Thunderbolt on his left palm transformed into a sharp blade and stabbed toward Ossen’s chest. "Never underestimate any opponent, even an injured one."

Ronin’s heart leaped into his throat. ’Is he going to win just like that?’

And from Lurans’s posture, it looked like he intended to kill Ossen.

"I will not lose!"

Ossen let out a furious roar. Fighting Qi erupted wildly from his Sea of Qi, coalescing around his body into a thick layer of Ice Armor. He looked as if he had been frozen within a thick sheet of ice.

Hmph!

Lurans’s hand, now a Thunder Blade, slammed into the Ice Armor. Thunderbolt shot out, cutting cracks into the Ice Armor with a ZAP.

Some arcs of lightning passed directly through the Ice Armor and struck Ossen’s body.

Ossen felt a numbness spread through his body. That sensation he hated most was back again.

However, it was only a slight numbness. If the Thunder Blade had actually cut him, he would have been severely injured.

BOOM!

Ossen’s Fighting Qi erupted, shattering the Ice Armor. Propelled by the blast of Fighting Qi, the fragments turned into projectiles that shot toward Lurans, instantly reversing their offensive and defensive roles.

Lurans hastily summoned his Fighting Qi Armor to block the attacks.

But the force of the close-range impact still sent him flying. For a moment, his blood surged, and his whole body ached with spasms. His right hand, in particular, twitched so badly he couldn’t even hold his sword.

PTHOO!

Lurans spat out a mouthful of blood in mid-air. Although he managed to land on his feet, he staggered as if he were about to collapse.

This scene immediately drew gasps from the onlookers.

Those who didn’t know the situation would wonder why the Marquis, who just had the upper hand, had suddenly ended up like this.

"My lord!"

"Marquis!"

Ronin, along with many others, stood up, wanting to rush forward.

But just then, a person appeared before them with astonishing speed.

Jesus’s voice rang out from behind. "Lurans has not surrendered. According to the rules, you cannot interfere with this match."

Ronin studied the man before him with a grave expression.

Earlier that afternoon, Broel had revealed that this man was named Ramsay. He was Jesus’s son-in-law, a Knight, and a Vassal—and more importantly, the only Meteor Level fighter in Moonlight Valley.

Meanwhile, in the center of the battlefield, Ossen’s pupils contracted violently as he saw Lurans’s condition, his face overcome with ecstatic joy.

’An opportunity!’

He ignored the numbness in his body, raised his sword, and charged.

’The backlash hit him! I’ve won this fight!’

After waiting for more than thirty years, he could finally defeat this man and wash away the shame of his past defeat.

But at that very moment, Lurans suddenly raised his head and shot forward to meet him.

CLACK!

Lurans’s left hand clamped down on Ossen’s right, the one holding the sword, controlling his wrist. At the same time, he brought the fingers of his right hand together to form a blade hand.

ZAP!

Rampant lightning Energy condensed on his palm, forming a blindingly bright Thunderbolt Blade.

"You..."

Ossen’s eyes went wide as he stared in disbelief at the aged face right before him.

"You were the one who got careless!"

The Thunder Blade stabbed forward, piercing straight through Ossen’s Fighting Qi Armor and his inner protective Armor, and into his body.

HAH!

Ossen raised his left hand and struck fiercely at Lurans’s chest, trying to break free. But the pain from his abdomen had already greatly reduced his Power, and a paralyzing sensation was spreading throughout his body.

Lurans spat out two mouthfuls of blood but bared his teeth in a grin. "Let me show you something interesting."

Hiss~

The lightning, which should have been purple, was suddenly infused with an inky black Energy.

This Energy was bizarre and sinister. It flowed along with the Power of Thunder and Lightning into Ossen’s body, instantly coursing through him.

"AHHH!"

Ossen couldn’t help but howl in pain.

The Power of Thunder and Lightning seemed to be acting on his every cell, and that black Energy began to corrode his skin, his internal organs, and even his bones.

"I... I surrender!"

"I, Ossen Hyde, surrender!"

Zap~

The lightning stopped, and the inky black Energy vanished. Lurans released his hands, and Ossen collapsed powerlessly at his feet.

Cough! Cough!

Lurans coughed up two mouthfuls of blood, and his Spirit seemed to deflate.

But the people watching from a distance didn’t know any of this. All they knew was that the Marquis had won.

And so, a tsunami of cheers and applause erupted. If the Guards hadn’t been there to block them, the excited crowd would have rushed forward to clamor around the Marquis.

"Ramsay, Ossen has surrendered. Please step aside," Ronin said, getting to his feet.

Ramsay glanced at Jesus. Seeing the latter give a slight nod, he immediately made way.

Ronin gave Macken a look, and Macken immediately rushed onto the battlefield, unfurling a Magic Scroll as he went.

"There’s no need."

But Lurans stopped Macken. "That thing will have no effect on me."

Macken stopped, confused.

At this point, Ronin, Marvin, Toru, and the others also gathered around. Lurans waved his hand. "I’m fine."

He whistled, and his Thunderbolt Wind Chasing Beast ran over. As it passed the prone form of Ossen on the ground, it snorted hot air from its nostrils, expressing its anger.

Lurans swung himself onto his mount. "I just need to go back and recuperate. Wiggin, Dianey, Bretton, arrange for someone to take care of Ossen."

"Yes, sir!"

Dianey led Bretton and the Knights from Black Python City to surround Ossen, who was lying in a pool of blood, now unconscious.

Laurent lifted Ossen’s Armor and found that the wound was deep but hadn’t damaged any internal organs.

"The injury isn’t life-threatening. We need to stop the bleeding."

Jamie quickly took out the Healing Skill Scrolls he had prepared in advance. After using several Scrolls, the wound on Ossen’s abdomen slowly stopped bleeding.

But for an injury to a Meteor Level body, a Healing Skill had limited effect. It couldn’t heal him instantly. They could only bandage it for now and wait for it to heal on its own.

Jesus stood to the side with his brows tightly furrowed. He hadn’t expected this outcome.

"Ramsay, what was that black Energy just now?"

he asked in a low voice. "I don’t recall Lurans having a Dark Attribute."

Ramsay shook his head. "It was a strange Energy. It doesn’t seem that simple."

He glanced at the unconscious Ossen. ’For an injury like this, he shouldn’t be this deeply unconscious, right?’

"I’m afraid we’ll only be able to figure out what that black Energy was after he wakes up."