Chapter 695: Defeating the Elder with Ease
The Elder stepped forward. On his scar-covered face, his only intact eye locked onto Ryo in a death stare.
He raised his hand, first striking his heavy armor-plated chest forcefully, emitting a dull thud to demonstrate his warrior identity.
Then, he extended a clawed finger and pointed straight at Ryo. Next, he pointed toward a relatively open area within the command center. Finally, he drew his hand horizontally across his neck in a slicing motion.
This series of actions conveyed his intent with absolute clarity: he was challenging Ryo to a one-on-one duel to the death.
In Predator culture, this was the tradition of a warrior driven into a desperate corner initiating a challenge against the most powerful enemy, seeking an honorable death.
The surrounding Astartes and Eldar warriors all looked at Ryo, awaiting his orders.
Forcibly killing this stubbornly resisting old Predator right here would be childs play.
Ryo looked at the Predator Elders resolute gaze, a barely perceptible trace of interest appearing on his face.
He understood the other partys intent.
He gently raised his hand, signaling the surrounding warriors to step back and give them space.
He even took the initiative to step aside and pick up a combi-stick stained with dark green blood.
He weighed the spear in his hand, casually twirling it a few times. His movements did not appear proficient, which actually matched his appearance as an ordinary youth.
Then, holding the spear, he walked to the center of the arena and made a "please" gesture toward the Predator Elder.
He had actually accepted the challenge, and he did not even drop that seemingly ordinary psychic disguise, merely using a mortal body and the enemys weapon.
Seeing Ryo accept the challenge with such arrogance, a flash of fury from being underestimated passed through the Predator Elders eyes, but it was mostly a sense of absolute resolve.
He let out a low roar. His massive frame instantly erupted with terrifying speed completely disproportionate to his size, pouncing toward Ryo like a bolt of black lightning.
The Predator Elder launched the first attack. The giant wristblades in his hand aimed straight for Ryos head with an air-tearing shriek, while the plasma caster on his other shoulder lit up simultaneously, primed and ready.
Facing this fierce and sudden offensive, Ryo swiftly brought the spear horizontally to block.
Clang!
An ear-piercing clash of metal echoed through the command center. The wristblades and the combi-stick collided violently, sending out a shower of sparks.
Under the immense kinetic impact, Ryo slid backward half a step. The arm holding the spear trembled slightly, but he quickly adjusted his center of gravity and stabilized his footing.
The Predator Elders attacks followed one after another.
The martial arts he had honed over a millennium were concise and lethal. Every slash and thrust of the wristblades was coordinated with precise footwork, and the shoulder caster occasionally fired disruptive shots.
Ryo responded with calm composure, dissolving the endless onslaught with a rigorous defensive posture.
Although the spear in his hands lacked exquisite techniques, every block and dodge was perfectly timed, constantly maintaining a defensive formation amidst the storm-like offensive.
To an outsider, Ryo was indeed on the defensive, but he was far from the verge of defeat.
The Astartes maintained a vigilant observation posture, the systems beneath their power armor continuously monitoring battlefield data.
The Eldar warriors exchanged meaningful glances. They astutely perceived an indescribable, methodical rhythm hidden within Ryos defense.
Unable to break through after a prolonged assault, the Predator Elders attacks grew even more ferocious.
After a rapid series of chain slashes, he keenly caught a minute flaw caused by Ryo evading a shoulder caster shot: a momentary loss of balance.
A sharp light flashed in the Elders eyes. Carrying the full weight of his body, the giant wristblades carved out a lethal arc, aiming straight for Ryos neck. This strike concentrated all his combat experience; the combination of speed and angle reached absolute perfection.
However, at the exact instant the wristblades were about to touch skin, a sudden change occurred!
From within Ryos eyes, which had remained calm and even somewhat strained all this time, a heart-stopping, freezing light abruptly erupted.
An invisible, boundless power suddenly exploded with him at the epicenter!
Time seemed to freeze in this moment.
The Predator Elders inevitable strike, less than a centimeter away from Ryos neck, was firmly blocked by a visible, rippling psychic barrier, completely unable to advance even an inch further!
The terrifying kinetic energy contained within the wristblades seemed to vanish without a trace, like a clay ox plunging into the sea.
This was not the end.
Ryo casually swung his right hand holding the spear. That combi-stick, which had previously appeared clumsy in his grip, now seemed imbued with life. Wrapped in terrifying psychic energy, it struck like a venomous dragon, whipping precisely against the Elders blade-wielding wrist with a speed and power far exceeding any previous attack!
Crack!
The clear sound of bone fracturing echoed.
The Elder let out a muffled grunt as the wristblades flew out of his grasp. His wrist was bent at a grotesque angle.
Ryos movements did not pause. He took a step forward; though seemingly slow, he instantly closed the distance to stand directly before the Elders wide-open guard.
Spreading the five fingers of his empty left hand, he gently pressed them against the Elders heavy, armor-plated chest.
Hum!
An irresistible, colossal force suddenly detonated.
The Predator Elders massive frame was sent flying backward as if struck head-on by a battering ram. He smashed heavily into the command centers metal wall with a dull boom, before sliding down to the floor.
He struggled to get back up, only to feel as though every bone in his body had fallen apart and his internal organs were churning. A mouthful of dark green blood sprayed from the edges of his bio-mask.
He raised his head and looked at the Asian youth who still stood in the same spot, entirely untainted by even a speck of dust. His eyes were filled with humiliation, fury, and a deeply hidden trace of terror.
His opponent had not even used his own weapons. Merely by using their Predator weaponry and that bizarre, overwhelmingly powerful supernatural force, he had defeated him so easily.
Ryo casually tossed the spear onto the ground, producing a crisp clang.
He walked over to the collapsed Predator Elder, looking down at him from above. His gaze remained tranquil, as if the fierce battle just moments ago had nothing to do with him.
He didn't need to speak; that absolute disparity in power had already made everything clear.
The Predator Elder looked at Ryo, then looked around at the Astartes and Eldar glaring like tigers watching their prey. Ultimately, the light of stubborn resistance in his eyes gradually extinguished.
Ryo nodded slightly and gestured to Apothecary Gaius beside him.
Gaius immediately stepped forward and began performing emergency triage on the heavily wounded Predator Elder, injecting him with a potent tranquilizer.
With this, the resistance of the Predator mothership was completely dismantled.
Ryo had not only acquired a complete extraterrestrial technological mothership but had also captured an extremely valuable Elder individual from the Predator species.
The "key" leading to the Predator homeworld was now firmly grasped in his hands.