Chapter 326: Divine Finger Lv4
Kaito Shirogane's [Rakshasa's Palm] exploded forth, but Mercenary Tao instantly lowered his body. His movements were so concise and sharp that there wasn't a single superfluous motion in his muscles.
Kaito's pupils trembled. The [Transparent World] saw the opponent's muscle movements clearly.
He even felt that when such a powerful martial artist fought, the movement of muscles and bones was full of aesthetic beauty. Muscles on Kaito's arm expanded instantly. He was using the physical control ability of the [Perfect Organism] to instantaneously alter his muscle ratio.
His palm momentum sank abruptly. Suddenly startled, Kaito realized that the braid Mercenary Tao whipped up while squatting had wrapped around his neck. Mercenary Tao pulled hard.
Bang, boom!
The Training Hall, adjusted to a volcanic crater terrain, sank instantly. Kaito's terrifying spiral energy completely penetrated the volcanic rock.
Subsequently, he was blasted away by a knee strike.
Brilliant flames ignited on Mercenary Tao, but he simply roared in anger. Intense Qi extinguished the flames on his body, leaving only slight scorch marks.
Kaito crawled out of the crater. The cracked facial bones had already healed, leaving only some bloodstains. He licked the blood, the taste causing his body to expand rapidly.
Unlike what he felt in the Dragon Ball World, back then, Mercenary Tao didn't consider him an opponent at all. At best, he was just a stranger and an incompetent disciple. He could only sense Mercenary Tao's speed and the power of his Qi.
But the sparring partner copied by the Space at this moment had no intention of playing. It was fighting him purely with killing techniques.
It was rare for Kaito to be completely suppressed in Taijutsu combat.
Mercenary Tao's physical abilities weren't outstanding. Without the enhancement of Qi, he would probably just barely cross the First Limit.
But the ability of [Qi], within the body of a martial artist like Mercenary Tao, had its effects amplified infinitely, far surpassing the enhancement Lv7 Hamon gave Kaito.
Speed, strength, reaction capability—Mercenary Tao lost to Kaito in none of these. More importantly, his martial arts cultivation far surpassed Kaito's.
Despite having [Pre-Initiative] and [Transparent World], Mercenary Tao could still attack Kaito in inconceivable ways.
It was like two Go grandmasters playing. Kaito could see ten moves ahead, but Mercenary Tao was even better, seeing the development twenty moves ahead.
Therefore, in battle, some 'accidents' would always happen, like that conveniently whipped braid. Such factors sent Kaito flying time and time again.
Thump, thump, thump.
Kaito's heartbeat accelerated. The [Heart of Thunder God] began to operate at high load, the accumulated lightning power within dissipating from his body surface.
With a flash of light in his hand, the newly obtained [All-Seeing Eyes of God] appeared. He pressed it onto his glabella, where a slit instantly opened, as if a spot for an eye had been hidden there all along.
As the All-Seeing Eyes of God entered his body, Kaito felt a magical vision. With a slight burden on his spirit, the All-Seeing Eyes of God opened.
Mercenary Tao, hands hanging behind his back, shot forward like electricity. Even that extreme speed could be seen quite clearly now.
Kaito suddenly lowered his body as well. A powerful whip kick swept over his head, the air emitting a crushing sound of shattering airflow. The number of muscles and bones in Kaito's body far exceeded that of ordinary people.
But he was forcibly altering his muscle and bone ratio using the method of Shen Wulong's 'Logic', and mimicking Mercenary Tao's earlier operational method.
In an instant, his squatting movement was silent, and his speed was about 30% faster than usual. Kaito took a diagonal step forward, lightning flashing in his left palm.
Following the motion of creating distance, he swung his left hand. A lightning whip lashed directly onto the back of Mercenary Tao, who was about to turn for a counterattack.
[Yasakani no Magatama: Whip of Agony]!
The ability of the Hakkeshu was displayed increasingly casually under the enhancement of the Heart of Thunder God.
The Mercenary Tao copied by the Space had no emotions, and his [Qi] wouldn't be exhausted. Therefore, this strike didn't cause him severe damage; it only tore the back of his pink robe and left a mark on his body.
Kaito's movements and choices were becoming closer and closer to Mercenary Tao's. He could feel himself improving once again.
Exhaling and shouting, he activated [Setsuna] directly.
His figure vanished instantly. Mercenary Tao couldn't react in time and was hit instantly as if by a train.
Bang!
A white shockwave spread out. Mercenary Tao flew backward. Kaito's figure didn't pause. He raised his right hand in mid-air, golden Qi condensing instantly.
Dodon Ray!
Boom!
Like being hit directly by a missile, Mercenary Tao exploded into a huge fireball in mid-air.
Kaito took another step forward, his body turning into wind. He realized that when he went all out without special ability restrictions, his actual combat power was already extremely high.
He could fight almost on par with a character like Mercenary Tao, who could probably reach the [Cataclysm] tier.
Hum!
A Qi wave broke through the air, piercing through Kaito's chest in an instant. Mercenary Tao, shirtless, landed from the smoke, the light of the Dodon Ray at his fingertip not yet dissipated.
That Dodon Ray was far sharper than the one Kaito cast.
The golden Qi was scorching like a laser as it pierced through the body.
Feeling the strange sensation of his heart shattering, Kaito raised his left hand again, condensing a Dodon Ray.
Mercenary Tao also stood his ground, tapping his index finger continuously. Golden Qi waves shot out in various arcs like rain.
Kaito's three eyes opened fully, taking in Mercenary Tao's movements completely.
The intensely condensed Qi at his fingertip rubbed against the air violently. The scorching heat even caused blue smoke to appear at his fingertip. Kaito's understanding of the Dodon Ray was still shallow; he only knew that condensing more Qi would lead to stronger destructive power!
Boom!
Like a massive laser breaking through the air, an unprecedentedly intense Dodon Ray erupted instantly. While Kaito was hit by dozens of Dodon Rays, Mercenary Tao was also hit轟然 by this strike, which was so thick it hardly looked like a Dodon Ray.
[Your mastery of the ability Divine Finger has improved further. Current: Lv4]
[Divine Finger (A+) Lv4: Condense an excessive amount of Qi at the fingertip to unleash a devastating strike. Power is positively correlated with Qi intensity and receives a massive boost.]
[Energy +2. Current: ?]
[Ability · Divine Finger (A+) has broken through to Lv4. Please choose a deepening direction.]
[A: Abundant Qi: When Divine Finger condenses energy to explode, gain an additional 100% boost. Consumes more energy, causes large-scale explosion.]
[B: Condensed as One: When Divine Finger condenses energy to explode, gain an additional 100% boost. Range reduced to the extreme. Consumes more energy, penetration capability massively increased.]
"Choose B."
The shattered dragon scales on Kaito's body surface were healing, and the holes in his body were gradually disappearing. High-speed regeneration bloodline ability combined with the Training Hall's setting of no death allowed him to grow rapidly regardless of cost and recklessly approach death.
Kaito savored the oppression of dozens of Dodon Rays piercing through his body. His breathing became longer, and his body had expanded to nearly four meters.
He could feel that his physical body had expanded to the limit, and cell activity was fully stimulated. Just like the Dodon Ray, going further shouldn't be limitless expansion, but condensation.
He stood still, watching the sky full of Dodon Rays flying towards him. He opened his arms, calmly letting the attacks drown him. He wanted to find that special state of talent manifestation before the next world.
Based on past experience, the interval between missions was roughly 7-10 days. The next mission would start soon, and the Goddess hinted that the next mission would be extremely difficult and dangerous.
Kaito recalled the powerful state of 'understanding everything' when fighting the Black King. He wanted to let himself die constantly, finding the talent truly hidden beneath his 'madness' within death!
Pfft pfft pfft pfft...
Mercenary Tao had no emotions; he simply tore apart the body of the person in front of him with countless Dodon Rays.
In the next moment, Mercenary Tao flashed in front of Kaito. His hands seemed to disappear, instantly poking over a dozen bloody holes in Kaito's body.
"Not enough. Still not enough..."
Kaito's hands danced wildly. The extreme speed of high-tier Setsuna allowed him to blast Mercenary Tao's body surface with both hands instantly as well. He felt the special sensation of Qi attaching beneath the flesh.
Mercenary Tao suddenly wrapped his long braid around Kaito's head. His feet stepped on Kaito's shoulders, palms pressed together, intense Qi completely condensed at his fingertips.
Hum!
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