Under the intense gaze of the spectators, Thaddeus’ Voidcleaver clashed with Dalen’s folding fan. To be precise, Dalen’s fan struck Thaddeus’ blade.
A thunderous bang echoed as their weapons collided. It unleashed a powerful energy wave that radiated from the point of impact.
The shockwave swept through the surroundings, sending dust and debris flying. Spectators near the battle ring had to shield their eyes from the whirlwind of grit.
The two men were locked in a standoff on the battle ring. Dalen’s folding fan, like a sword, tapped against Thaddeus’s blade. One was striking downward, the other thrusting upward, creating a deadlock in midair.
The spectators were stunned.
“Whoa! He actually blocked it? What’s going on?”
“Father Savier’s attack had the power of a grandmaster. It was a devastating strike, yet that pretty boy managed to counter it with finesse. Impressive!”
“Damn! How is the boy toy still alive?”
The spectators buzzed with mixed reactions. Some were shocked, some were frustrated, and others were disappointed. Most of them were dissatisfied with the outcome.
Some harbored an unexplained animosity toward Dalen, while others had placed heavy bets on Thaddeus, staunchly believing in him.
They initially thought the previous strike would end the fight. Surprisingly, the underestimated Dalen possessed extraordinary strength.
Despite Thaddeus’ ferocious attacks, Dalen pinpointed its weaknesses and countered with precision.
Dalen was unquestionably impressive. Even Alicia and the others couldn’t help but hold him in high esteem.
They had previously questioned why Dustin had so much confidence in Dalen. But now they understood that Dustin’s belief in him was justified. Dalen was indeed a hidden talent.
“Hmm?” Thaddeus frowned as he looked at Dalen, who stood unharmed despite being so close to him.
Like everyone watching below the battle ring, Thaddeus thought he could kill Dalen. Yet, he didn’t expect Dalen to deflect his powerful strike with just a folding fan. At that moment, he was curious about Dalen’s identity.
Thaddeus didn’t relent. He gripped the hilt of his blade with both hands and pressed downward with all his might.
His Voidcleaver trembled slightly, and the blue light intensified. At that instant, his blade aimed directly at Dalen’s neck and shoulder.
Thaddeus could overpower Dalen’s weapon with sufficient strength and inflict severe injury. After all, he was an ascetic priest. His physical strength was beyond ordinary martial artists, especially in raw power.
Yet, his confidence faltered when he noticed something amiss. Despite his efforts, his blade didn’t move. He noticed he wasn’t up against just a folding fan but an immovable mountain.
Dalen’s strength proved greater than Thaddeus had anticipated.
“Impossible!” Thaddeus’s eyes narrowed, and he was taken aback.
He had always been confident in his strength. Still, he couldn’t understand why he couldn’t gain any advantage over Dalen. He wondered whether Dalen was naturally gifted with Divine Strength.
“I don’t believe you don’t have any weaknesses!” Thaddeus was undeterred and spoke through gritted teeth.
His Voidcleaver abruptly changed course and slashed horizontally toward Dalen’s neck. The strike lacked overwhelming force but aimed for sheer speed to catch him off guard.
Instead of dodging or defending, Dalen countered fearlessly. His folding fan became a sword-like weapon and thrust toward Thaddeus’ chest.
It was a tense standoff, a potential life- or-death moment. Most would instinctively try to dodge or defend.
But Thaddeus didn’t flinch. He was confident he could decapitate Dalen before Dalen could stab his chest.
Two distinct sounds echoed simultaneously.
The first sound was slightly sharper when Thaddeus’s blade struck Dalen’s neck. But it was stopped by Dalen’s Evasio Incantation as soon as it touched his skin. The blade clashed against the enchantment with a metallic clang and sent out a ripple of subtle vibrations.
The second sound was softer when Dalen’s folding fan tapped Thaddeus’s chest. While it didn’t inflict serious injury, Thaddeus was forced to stagger several steps backward.
The clash between the two sides decided the outcome. It also caught the spectators off guard.
Most had bet heavily on Thaddeus and expected his easy victory over Dalen. As the fight unfolded, it defied everyone’s expectations.
Thaddeus didn’t win and was at a disadvantage during the exchange. Though he only retreated a few steps unscathed, those who had bet on him suddenly grew tense.
Unease swept through the spectators as doubts raced through their minds. No way! Was Thaddeus going to lose?
With each passing moment, they were gripped with fear and panic. After all, the outcome of the match was beyond their control.
