Since this was already the second round of drawing lots, there were fewer people, so two more matches were held in the afternoon.
Su Ke won both previous matches without any suspense. At this point, 21 competitors remained on the field.
Among them, 10 remained from the first stage, 7 from the second stage, and from the third stage—where Su Ke and Wang Zhong were—only 4 remained.
The next morning, competitors from all three stages would engage in fierce competition, each determining a strongest contender. Finally, these three would compete for the top three positions.
In other words, between Su Ke and Wang Zhong, only one could claim the championship throne.
Su Ke's luck was quite good—in the drawing round, he wasn't grouped with Wang Zhong but instead faced a beast-transformation type ability user.
This competitor's beast form was a speed-oriented monkey. In previous rounds, he had relied on his agile movements to luckily defeat opponents.
However, facing Su Ke, his luck seemed to have run out.
Su Ke unleashed his "Blazing Inferno" technique, directly knocking him off the arena.
Meanwhile, on another arena, Wang Zhong also easily defeated his opponent.
In the end, both Su Ke and Wang Zhong ascended to the finals stage, facing each other with fighting spirit blazing in their eyes.
Wang Zhong: "Come on! This time, I'm going to wipe away my past shame!"
Su Ke barely held back from saying "You put on fireproof pants"—after all, if he said that, the whole audience would hear.
"Match begins!"
Su Ke transformed into Heatblast. Wang Zhong activated Muscle Enhancement.
Now when Wang Zhong activated his ability, his body grew even larger, reaching nearly three meters in height, with arm circumference probably close to sixty centimeters.
He strode forward with heavy steps, like a heavy tank charging toward Su Ke at full speed.
Su Ke began charging, directing flames beneath his body, leaning forward.
Boom!
Heatblast instantly became a "Rocket Man," with fierce flames blazing beneath him for propulsion.
The powerful flame boost gave Su Ke unparalleled kinetic energy, sending him flying toward Wang Zhong at extreme speed.
DUANG!
Su Ke delivered a rocket-powered headbutt, hammering into Wang Zhong's stomach.
It almost knocked his eyeballs right out of their sockets.
After steadying himself, Su Ke rubbed his head.
Not gonna lie, that actually hurt.
This guy's muscles are pretty hard.
Wang Zhong painfully clutched his stomach as he stood up. The clothing on that area had been burned through with a large hole, revealing blackened skin underneath.
"Impressive! Now I'm getting serious too!"
Light flashed across Wang Zhong's body.
Amplification!
The spirit technique absorbed from the skill crystal core could increase his strength by thirty percent, lasting for three minutes.
Rock-Shattering Fist!
Wang Zhong roared, his sandpot-sized fist smashing toward Su Ke.
The force was so great it even created a sonic boom.
Su Ke didn't want to clash head-on, so he quickly dodged to the side. But Wang Zhong's fist followed Su Ke like a shadow—wherever he dodged, Wang Zhong would continue punching at that position.
Su Ke's right fist ignited with flames as he smashed it against Wang Zhong's fist.
When their fists collided, it even caused the surrounding air to tremble.
Su Ke was knocked back over ten meters by this punch, his right hand stinging with pain.
The rock on his right arm even developed tiny cracks.
Such was the tremendous force.
Damn it, if I didn't want to keep secrets, I would've transformed into Diamondhead and crushed you by now!
But Wang Zhong wasn't wearing any protective gear right now—this was Su Ke's perfect opportunity.
He transformed both hands into fire blades, hoping to gain an advantage with edged weapons.
Seeing this, Wang Zhong grinned crookedly.
"Steel Hardening!"
His entire body's skin gradually took on a silvery-white sheen—it even reflected light!
Just like a giant iron slab!
Su Ke: !!!
"You..."
Wang Zhong said proudly, "Sorry, forgot to tell you. To make up for my defensive weaknesses, my family specially found this defense-enhancing skill crystal core for me. Now I can say I'm invincible in every way. Just accept your defeat gracefully!"
Su Ke: "Who wins and who loses isn't decided yet. You're already releasing three spirit techniques at once. At worst, I'll just drag this out with you until your spiritual energy runs out, then knock you off the stage."
Wang Zhong: ...
Crap, forgot about that!
Releasing so many spirit techniques simultaneously had already consumed a third of his spiritual power. Both of them were at First Stage Level 10—if it really came to a war of attrition, Wang Zhong would indeed run out of spiritual energy before Su Ke did.
No choice—he had to strike first and end this quickly.
The two fought fiercely, and the audience's emotions were completely swept up in the battle.
But while most eyes were focused on this match, no one noticed that in a hidden location in Yan City, a group of people wearing black robes had infiltrated through a secret passage.
One person's black robe was lifted slightly due to excessive movement, revealing a deer leg underneath.
...
"Fire Bullets!"
Su Ke extended both hands, making them look like pistols. Since Heatblast only has four fingers, he only extended one index finger on each hand.
From these two index fingers, flame bullets continuously fired toward Wang Zhong.
These bullets were powerful—Wang Zhong could only keep defending, unable to approach Su Ke at all.
"Hey, Old Ke! Fighting like this is boring. How about we settle this with one final move?"
Su Ke didn't stop his attack, saying casually, "Right now the advantage is mine. If I keep this up, my victory is nailed down. Why would I risk losing by agreeing to one final move with you?"
Wang Zhong: That makes so much sense, I can't even argue.
Suddenly!
Su Ke stopped his attack.
"However, as your good friend, of course I should grant such a small wish."
Wang Zhong laughed excitedly: "Hahaha, good brother! Then let's have a real collision between real men!"
Su Ke: Why does that sentence sound so weird?
No time to think—Wang Zhong had already activated all three of his spirit techniques simultaneously.
Su Ke hurriedly prepared as well.
"Buddha's Palm!"
Wang Zhong: "Huh???"
Su Ke launched himself skyward with rocket propulsion.
Over the years, there had been ability users with flight capabilities, so this arena was built very high—over fifty meters tall.
Su Ke flew straight to the top, then dove straight down, with rocket boost still active, providing powerful kinetic energy.
He extended his arms straight, fists pointed downward, flying down like Superman.
Wang Zhong half-crouched, fully activating Rock-Shattering Fist and Amplification—these two attack-type spirit techniques.
Arms bent, timing his moment, the instant Su Ke approached, he suddenly leaped up.
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