However, in the eyes of Lailong, this battle-hardened Diamond Rank powerhouse, it was a completely different scene!
The moment Yize took that step, a terrifying sense of death crisis stabbed deep into the core of his soul!
That seemingly slow fist, in his highly focused dynamic vision, seemed to ignore spatial distance. The air in front of the fist even showed slight distortion and compression!
‘I’ll die!’
‘Taking this head-on would absolutely result in serious injury or death!’
His combat instinct was frantically warning him…
Lailong could no longer care about any senior demeanor or probing intentions. The lightning element on his body’s surface erupted violently!
Crackle! Zzzap!!
Frenzied silver-white lightning shot out from every pore on his body. His hair stood on end, taking on a dazzling golden hue under the surging saturation of lightning element. Serpents of electricity danced and leaped across his skin, emitting an awe-inspiring pressure and deafening crackles.
His previously somewhat sloppy and lazy aura was completely swept away, replaced by that of a truly awakened, majestic, and ferocious “Thunder Lion”!
Yize: “…….” Super Saiyan?
“THUNDER ARMOR! MANIFEST!”
He roared, crossing his arms. Layer upon layer of condensed lightning interwove before him, forming a heavy Thunder Shield.
THUD!!!
Yize’s “gentle” punch landed on the Thunder Shield.
There was no earth-shattering explosion, but an impact sound so dull and profound that it caused the entire Duel Arena’s protective barrier to ripple violently!
Lailong only felt an indescribably savage force transmit through the lightning shield. His arms shook violently and went numb. The Thunder Shield flickered unsteadily. The specially reinforced stone slab under his feet cracked with a spiderweb of fissures.
He grunted, forced backward uncontrollably, taking seven or eight heavy, staggering steps.
Each step left a deep footprint in the ground before he barely managed to steady himself.
His internal energy churned wildly, and a hint of metallic sweetness even rose in his throat, which he forcefully suppressed.
‘What terrifying power!’
Lailong was inwardly horrified.
‘The defense he had mobilized in haste was enough to easily withstand the fierce assaults of most A-rank magical beasts, yet it was almost shattered by this single punch!’
‘This kid absolutely possesses physical strength capable of directly contending with A-rank magical beasts!’
Yize retracted his fist, blinked, and showed a trace of surprise and appreciation on his face. “Mister, you’re pretty strong.”
Although he had held back with this punch, the fact that the other had only been pushed back a few steps meant his strength was comparable only to Sword Saint Laura in her prime among all the humans Yize had encountered.
Hearing this “sincere” praise and seeing the other’s completely relaxed, almost casual demeanor as if he had just waved hello, Lailong felt his face heat up a little.
He took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing his churning energy, allowing the lightning on his body to stabilize slightly. He forced a hearty laugh, his voice booming across the arena.
“Kid, I told you to get serious, and this is how you treat me?”
“Do you really think I’m old and look down on me?”
He was convinced that young people were competitive. That punch just now must have been Yize’s all-out burst, trying to achieve victory in one strike and awe the crowd.
Now Yize should be at his limit, or at least need to catch his breath.
Although he had suffered a minor setback, he had to save face!
He reassessed: ‘This kid’s physical strength firmly enters the A-rank threshold. His talent is terrifying!’
Yize, however, was taken aback upon hearing this.
‘Huh?’
‘The mister thinks I wasn’t serious?’
‘Could that punch really just be a warm-up for him?’
‘It seems this “Thunder Lion”‘s strength is even greater than I estimated!’
‘He might genuinely have the foundation to contend with an A+ Class Demon King Seed!’
‘No wonder he’s an expert from a prosperous land tens of thousands of kilometers away!’
Thinking this, Yize also became a bit more interested.
“Mister, then I’ll… get a little more serious?” Yize said with a tone of inquiry and eagerness.
Lailong’s heart thumped. Before he could figure out how to respond—what did “a little more serious” mean? Was he not serious before?
Before he could ponder further, Yize’s figure moved again.
This time, in Lailong’s perception, Yize’s movements seemed… a bit more “defined”?
There wasn’t the extreme sense of impending doom from the first time, but a feeling of heavier, irresistible, oppressive force descended like an invisible mountain.
Yize still threw a simple straight punch, but the air where the fist passed emitted a low moan.
Lailong’s pupils contracted. He roared wildly, pouring all the mana in his body unreservedly into his Thunder defense.
He even activated a secret technique that temporarily greatly boosted his defense.
The thickness and brightness of the Thunder Armor on his body instantly doubled.
“HOLD!!!”
BOOM—!!!
Fist and Thunder Armor collided once more.
This impact sound was even duller, yet it felt like it struck everyone’s hearts.
The seemingly indestructible, heavy Thunder Armor on Lailong’s body visibly dented at the point of impact, radiating countless fine cracks!
Ugh!
Lailong let out a pained groan. His arms emitted a creaking sound as if the bones were groaning under unbearable stress.
He could no longer maintain his stance. His feet left the ground as he was sent flying backward at high speed!
Under the dumbfounded gazes of the numerous adventurers, the mighty “Thunder Lion” in their minds traced a pathetic arc through the air, ultimately landing with a BANG, smashing hard into the thick, magically reinforced stone wall at the edge of the Duel Arena dozens of meters away!
He was embedded into it. Rubble pattered down, and dust filled the air.
The entire arena fell dead silent.
Everyone held their breath, looking from the dust-shrouded dent in the wall to the black-haired youth standing calmly in the center of the arena, retracting his fist, his aura steady as if he had just done some stretches. Their minds went blank.
Two punches… just two punches?
He sent Diamond-level Mister Lailong flying?
Just how terrifying is this newcomer’s strength?!
Does he truly possess the legendary “Supreme Rank” potential?!
Those adventurers who had previously doubted or mocked Yize now felt a chill run down their spines, cold sweat breaking out.
Emily covered her mouth, her eyes filled with disbelief.
In the dust, Lailong gritted his teeth against the body-wracking pain and the turmoil in his internal organs.
He quickly wiped away a trace of blood that had spilled from the corner of his mouth.
His internal mana rapidly circulated, repairing the damage. Only one thought filled his mind:
‘This kid isn’t human at all! There’s no fighting him!’
But under the watchful eyes of everyone, he couldn’t lose all face!
He discreetly wiped the blood from his mouth.
“HAHAHA!”
A deliberately amplified, hearty, and robust laugh erupted from the dust.
Lailong’s body flickered with lightning once more. Using his hands and feet, he somewhat awkwardly climbed out of the human-shaped crater.
He patted the dust off his clothes.
Although his face was a bit pale, he forced himself to stand straight, strode back to the center of the arena, and gave Yize a thumbs-up with a “brilliant” smile.
“Good kid! Not bad at all! Those two hits had some real power! It’s been a long time since I’ve moved my joints so freely!”
He deliberately spoke as if they had been exchanging blows evenly, not as if he had been sent flying one-sidedly.
Seeing Lailong walk back “unharmed,” the admiration in Yize’s eyes grew stronger. He said sincerely, “Mister, you’re really strong. Your defense exceeded my expectations.”
To withstand his second punch, which had a bit more force behind it, and only be sent flying without being knocked down—this strength was absolutely solid!
It seemed that beyond the Olay Empire, the world was indeed vast, with experts as numerous as clouds!
‘Maybe I should lay low a bit more in the future?’
Hearing this “sincere” praise, the muscles in Lailong’s cheek twitched almost imperceptibly.
‘Strong?’
‘Strong, my ass!’
‘If we keep fighting, I’ll lose my life!’
Before he could figure out how to gracefully end this “spar,” he heard Yize speak with a tone of inquiry and excitement.
“Mister’s endurance seems excellent too. In that case, I guess I’ll have to get a little more…”
“Stop! Halt! That’s enough!”
Lailong sharply raised his voice, cutting off Yize.
At the same time, he took a quick step closer to Yize, hooked an arm around his neck, and spoke rapidly in a low voice only the two of them could hear, all while maintaining a “hearty” smile and nodding to the surroundings.
“You brat! Didn’t we agree on respecting elders and caring for the young? Huh? So many people are watching!”
“Can’t you save some face for your Uncle Lailong here?”
“I’m begging you! Let’s end the spar here. It’s a draw—no, you win, okay? We’ll talk about the details later!”
Yize: “……”
Looking at Lailong’s forced smile and the flash of urgency in his eyes, Yize finally, belatedly, understood something.
He blinked, nodded agreeably, and also lowered his voice.
“Alright, Mister. Then… about the teleportation access?”
“I’ll arrange it! Right now! Absolutely genuine! Free!” Lailong promised without hesitation, as long as they didn’t fight anymore.
“And… joining the team?”
“Welcome aboard! My team’s doors are always open for you! Absolute freedom!” Lailong continued to promise.
“But I don’t want that Goblin Slayer title, okay!”
Yize smiled contentedly and also gave Lailong a way out, speaking clearly.
“Senior Lailong’s strength is profound. I’ve learned a great deal. Thank you for the guidance!”
Lailong inwardly breathed a sigh of relief and laughed heartily, patting Yize’s shoulder.
“The younger generation is formidable! Come on, come on, let’s not just stand here foolishly. Come with me to handle the formalities, and I’ll fill you in on our team’s situation!”
Arm in arm, under a sea of silent, complex, and incredulous gazes, the two walked away from the Duel Arena as if they were truly kindred spirits despite the age difference, leaving behind a trail of dropped jaws and murmurs of shock that would take a long time to settle.