Sam never expected to lose, especially when he had the thousand-talon coffer. But fate had other plans. In the end, he lost and accepted his defeat with grace.
He had used every trick, but Caleb had countered them all. He might have been severely injured if Caleb hadn’t held back on his final move.
Caleb gave him an honorable defeat, and Sam knew better than to make a fuss. Otherwise, it would only invite more scorn.
Caleb let out a long breath as Sam admitted defeat. His forehead was slick with sweat, and it was clear that his victory hadn’t come easily.
He had gone all in with the Glow Incantation, Stormcraft, and Divine Talisman. He used every ultimate move in his arsenal. If not for the explosion from the Eight Trigrams of Divine Talisman that broke Sam’s defenses and let him get in close, he might have lost the match.
“The Dawson Clan’s hidden weapons are as formidable as rumored,” Caleb said with genuine admiration.
“They’re powerful, but still a lesser path,” Sam responded. “They can’t compare to the spiritual techniques of Sacred Wyrm Summit. I lost fair and square today.”
As the ninth-ranked on the Legendary List, he had his pride. He thought using the thousand-talon coffer could give him a shot at winning the tournament. Now, he realized that it had been nothing more than wishful thinking.
Caleb was nearly ten years younger and outclassed him in both cultivation and spell mastery. At that moment, Sam finally understood that there would always be someone stronger, a higher peak to climb.
“I only won by a narrow margin,” Caleb said.
“Mr. Caleb, no need for more words. Even if we fought again, I’d still lose.” Sam shook his head and sighed.
He continued, “You’re so young and already so skilled. Your future achievements are limitless. I look forward to seeing what you’ll do next. Farewell.”
With that, he nodded and left the battle ring. After all, losing to such a genius didn’t embarrass him.
“The ninth match is over. The victor is contestant number 24!” Oron announced the results with a sigh of relief.
“Great job! Well done!”
“He truly is a once-in-a-century talent from Sacred Wyrm Summit. His reputation is well-earned!”
“I never imagined someone so young could have such cultivation. It’s impressive!”
Caleb’s victory sparked thunderous applause and excited chatter from the crowd.
Initially, everyone had expected Sam to win. After all, he was ranked ninth on the Legendary List, had an undefeated record, and had the Dawson Clan’s thousand-talon coffer on his side. He seemed to have a real chance at the tournament with those skills in his arsenal.
But no one had anticipated how deeply Caleb had hidden his abilities. He had mastered three legendary techniques, seamlessly blending offense and defense without any weaknesses.
After withstanding the devastating assault of the thousand-talon coffer, he calmly counterattacked with a decisive strike. His raw talent, skill, and composure suggested a future where he could rival even Arion.
At barely 20 years old, Caleb had become the undisputed dark horse of the Combat Tournament.
“You did well, kid.” Oron flashed a rare smile as he complimented Caleb in a low voice.
“Mr. Oron, I really did my best this time. If I lose in the next round, don’t blame me.” Caleb yawned, returning to his laid-back demeanor.
“Just do your best.” Oron nodded.
After all, defeating Sam and showcasing such impressive skills was already a major accomplishment. For Oron, winning the tournament wasn’t a necessity.
Caleb was still young-only 18 years old. If given ten more years to refine his skills, he would likely surpass Oron and his mentors.
“Mr. Oron, I’m a bit tired. I’m going to get some rest,” Caleb said, bowing at Oron before leaving the battle ring.
This match was destined to make him famous.
After the ninth match ended, the battle ring was in rough shape and needed repairs. Yet, the buzz among the spectators didn’t die down.
“I didn’t expect Caleb to be this strong. Sacred Wyrm Summit is no joke,” Fenley marveled.
He hadn’t expected Caleb to win. In his view, Sam, with the Dawson Clan’s sacred weapon, seemed destined for victory. The only question was how long it would take.
But the outcome was far from what he anticipated. Who would have guessed that Sam, ranked ninth on the Legendary List, could lose to a newcomer like Caleb? Nobody would have thought of this outcome.
“It seems Faith has a keen eye,” Alicia said.
Fenley had thought Sam would win, but Grace had hinted that Caleb had a chance. It turned out she was right.
“It was just a casual remark. I’m quite surprised by the result too,” Grace admitted with a smile.
She backed Caleb because she believed Sacred Wyrm Summit wouldn’t send a weak contestant. So, she thought he had a decent chance.
But when Sam used his thousand-talon coffer, her confidence started to waver. Ultimately, the situation took an unexpected turn, and Caleb emerged victorious.
“Now that Sam has lost, the upcoming matches will be even more exciting,” Alicia said eagerly. “I’m looking forward to seeing who will be the ultimate victor in this Combat Tournament.”
