Rio was injured, and a burning pain spread from his wound.
It felt as if something was setting his flesh and bones on fire,
but he had no choice but to endure it.
He had no options left.
He had to do something.
Even though Vesper still had several moves left,
Rio had completely memorized every movement Vesper had used so far.
(Foresight Technique)
Rio released the threads and sent them toward Vesper.
Even though they were consuming his energy,
he had to endure it and continue attacking.
He rushed toward Vesper and began striking him.
None of his movements missed.
Every blow landed on Vesper.
He managed to push Vesper back,
but his energy kept draining and was being added to Vesper's own.
At last, he cornered Vesper and struck him again.
No matter how many times Vesper used Shadow Step,
Rio knew exactly where he was and struck him again.
Vesper began to fear that he might actually lose to Rio,
when suddenly he felt the thread supplying him with energy disappear.
Rio's energy had been drained to the point
where he could no longer maintain the threads.
In the middle of the fight, he was forced to start absorbing energy again.
The moment Vesper realized Rio was no longer attacking relentlessly,
he seized the opportunity and counterattacked.
(Dark Sword Technique
Black Rose)
At the same time, his power surged,
and his swordsmanship took the shape of a blooming flower.
Rio had never seen this technique before,
but he knew it was powerful.
(Black Rose grants its user the ability to instantly cut anything
within a one-meter radius of their vision,
even a mosquito or a leaf in midair.)
Vesper attacked.
When Rio tried to block with his dagger,
he suddenly felt multiple strikes hit it at once.
The moment he realized this, he quickly retreated.
Vesper attacked again.
As soon as he stepped within one meter of Rio,
countless slashes followed one after another.
It felt as if several swords were striking at the same time.
Three additional dark swords formed alongside his main blade,
allowing him to attack simultaneously with four swords.
Rio could only retreat.
There was nothing else he could do.
Finally, the technique deactivated.
Because Vesper had absorbed Rio's energy,
the technique had lasted longer and grown stronger,
but in the end, his power dropped and he was forced to cancel it.
Still, the technique was not a failure.
It managed to inflict another wound on Rio
and further accelerated the draining of his energy.
Rio could only endure the pain.
There was nothing he could do.
"Damn it… my energy is slowly running out."
Rio thought anxiously.
They charged at each other again.
During the fight, Rio had learned a bit about using the dagger,
and he could now attack with it as well.
He sent energy into his left hand to increase its strength.
After several exchanges,
he finally managed to wound Vesper with his dagger.
Vesper, in turn, landed another slash on Rio.
Both of them were fighting while bleeding.
In the middle of the battle, Vesper started talking.
"Haha, I didn't think you'd last this long,
or that you'd even manage to wound me.
This is a really fun fight."
Rio replied while dodging and counterattacking at the same time.
"I think so too.
You're really strong.
But we should start wrapping this fight up."
Both of them were sweating as they continued to fight.
"You know, the wounds I've inflicted on you will gradually drain your energy.
Once your energy runs out, you'll lose,
and that's when I'll kill you.
You're the one who needs to finish this fight quickly, not me."
Rio knew Vesper was right.
That was why he said nothing
and activated the Foresight Technique once again.
This time, he landed several solid hits.
Vesper was now covered in blood.
Vesper tried to use Shadow Step,
but Rio sensed it and punched him hard in the face.
Vesper was sent flying several meters away
and lay there for a few seconds.
Using his sword, he stood back up.
Blood dripped down his face,
his blue eyes shining through the red.
"Haha, I was planning to let your energy run dry
and finish you off that way,
but it seems you just won't give up!"
Rio felt a chill.
The air around them seemed to darken slightly.
"You've forced me to use my hidden technique."
Vesper held his sword in front of him like a cane,
closed his eyes,
and began chanting a magical incantation.
Rio realized this technique was no joke
and immediately rushed toward him.
Just as he was about to strike,
dark energy erupted from Vesper
and blasted Rio backward.
This time, the dark energy did not disappear.
Instead, it gathered in midair.
Vesper remained standing in place and opened his eyes.
Rio didn't know what was happening,
so he stayed on guard and did nothing.
The energy that had formed in the air
spread across the entire stadium,
like a dark cloud blocking out the sun.
Gradually, the cloud took the shape of swords.
The swords resembled black flames,
burning everything they touched.
Vesper looked at Rio and said,
"This is the end for you."
(Dark Sword Rain)
(Dark Sword Rain is a technique where dark energy is released from the user,
forms into dark swords in midair,
and strikes like real blades,
burning flesh and bone even worse than steel.)
The swords covered the entire stadium.
There was nowhere to escape.
When the mages and referees saw that even the spectators
were within the range of the attack,
they immediately created protective barriers to prevent casualties.
It was an attack with absolutely no escape.
The swords began to fall.
Rio instantly activated his force layer.
Although it pushed many swords back,
there were simply too many.
Some pierced through the layer,
forcing Rio to block them with his dagger.
Even so, several swords struck their target.
One hit his right thigh.
One struck his left shoulder.
Another pierced his abdomen.
At last, the sword rain ended.
Because dark energy filled the surroundings,
no one could see anything.
When the darkness finally vanished,
Vesper saw Rio still standing.
He was shocked.
Then he noticed the blood.
"But why isn't he moving?"
Rio stood in place,
completely motionless.
Vesper assumed Rio's energy had run out,
yet he was still standing instead of collapsing.
The entire stadium fell silent,
all eyes fixed on Rio.
Vesper slowly approached him, sword in hand.
With every step,
he became more certain that Rio was finished.
When he finally reached him,
he placed a hand on Rio's shoulder.
He raised his sword.
"You were strong, but this is the end."
He thrust the sword into Rio's abdomen.
Blood poured from Rio's mouth.
Bai Chen saw the scene,
but he couldn't do anything.
He tried to rush to Rio's side,
but the guards stopped him.
Vesper pulled the sword out,
yet Rio still didn't fall.
So he stabbed him again,
straight into the abdomen.
Rio remained standing.
Vesper pulled the sword out once more.
Laughing, he leaned close to Rio's ear.
"Hahahaha, this is so satisfying.
Stay right there.
I want to cut you into pieces."
He prepared to strike a third time—
Suddenly,
Rio's eyes opened.
Vesper couldn't believe that Rio had regained consciousness.
With blood dripping from his mouth,
Rio spoke weakly.
"R-Reverse… Energy Absorption."
Energy surged toward Rio.
So much energy gathered
that everyone could feel it.
Despite taking multiple fatal blows,
Rio still had not surrendered.
He poured all the energy into his arm.
The dagger fell to the ground.
With his left hand,
Rio grabbed the arm holding Vesper's sword.
No matter what Vesper did,
he couldn't move.
The aura around Rio's right arm
shaped itself like a blade.
Rio pulled his arm back
and struck Vesper with all his strength.
The power and sharpness of the energy were so immense
that it shattered Vesper's breastbone,
and Rio's arm burst out through the other side of his body.
Blood spilled from Vesper's mouth.
Cough…
Cough…
Rio pulled his arm back.
His entire hand was drenched in blood.
The energy completely vanished.
With half-open eyes,
Rio looked at Vesper and said,
"I… told you…
the w-winner of this… fight…
is me…"
Vesper collapsed to the ground, unconscious.
Rio staggered backward,
hit the stadium wall,
and used it to keep himself standing.
"And the winner of the match is Kai!!!!"
This time, no one cheered.
The crowd was silent.
They had witnessed a level of brutality
they never imagined possible.
Bai Chen broke free immediately.
As Rio was about to collapse,
he caught him.
"Get a doctor!!!!"
Bai Chen shouted.
The doctors rushed in.
They examined Rio.
His condition was critical.
There was even a chance he might die.
Two other doctors examined Vesper.
"He's still alive!"
It turned out that although Rio had struck him,
he hadn't destroyed Vesper's heart.
Vesper's family arrived.
After seeing the situation,
they showed no hostility toward Rio,
only silent gazes.
It seemed Vesper was their only child,
and his father had never wanted him to die.
Vesper's father approached Rio's unconscious body,
which was being treated.
He looked at him and bowed.
"Thank you for sparing my son's life."
Everyone was stunned.
The patriarch of the Dark Clan,
who wouldn't even look at others,
had not killed that boy
and instead thanked him.
Vesper was taken away.
Rio remained behind.
The tournament doctors could not treat wounds this severe.
The doctors told Bai Chen,
"I'm sorry, kid.
I don't think your friend will survive."
He couldn't accept losing his only friend like this.
He thought—
and remembered his master.
He lifted Rio onto his back
and told the doctors to secure him tightly.
Having no other options,
they did as he said.
Bai Chen quickly left the stadium.
He couldn't run,
as it would worsen Rio's wounds,
so he moved with fast, steady steps.
Although the doctors had stopped the bleeding,
Rio was still losing blood.
Blood stained Bai Chen's clothes
and slowly dripped down.
Everyone watched him pass.
At last, he reached the temple.
The guards opened the gates immediately upon seeing them.
One of them rushed to inform the Grand Master.
Bai Chen entered,
and people gathered around him, asking questions.
"What happened to Kai?
Why is he like this?"
Even though Kai only came to train,
everyone had come to know him.
The Grand Master arrived quickly.
When he saw Kai,
he immediately ordered,
"Take him to the healing center."
After checking Rio's condition,
the Grand Master realized his breathing was fading.
The fact that he was still alive was a miracle in itself.
Bai Chen knew only the Grand Master could save him.
"Master, please give him the Water of Life."
(The Water of Life is said to be the rarest liquid in the world,
capable of curing any wound
and even bringing someone back from death.)
Shen Xuan was shocked.
"Have you lost your mind!?
How could you even ask for something like that!?"
It was true that he had high hopes for Rio
and had even made him an honorary disciple,
but the Water of Life was not something to be used lightly.
Bai Chen continued to beg.
At last, Shen Xuan agreed.
"Fine.
But you'll pay a great price for this."
Bai Chen didn't care.
Only his friend mattered.
"I accept.
No matter the price."
The Grand Master ordered a disciple
to bring the temple's treasure.
The disciple returned quickly.
Shen Xuan opened the container
and took out a small jade bottle containing the Water of Life.
He opened Rio's mouth
and poured a few drops inside.
Rio's wounds slowly healed,
and his heartbeat returned to normal.
Shen Xuan said,
"He'll remain unconscious for now.
Do not disturb him.
Let him rest."
But Bai Chen stayed there,
watching over Rio.
Several days passed.
At last,
Rio opened his eyes.
He saw Bai Chen asleep beside him.
"B-Bai Chen?"
Rio said weakly through the pain.
Hearing his voice,
Bai Chen woke up instantly.
He rushed over.
"You're finally awake?"
Rio tried to sit up,
but failed and lay back down.
"I guess…"
End of Chapter 38