Chapter 144


    His voice carried clearly to the Protégés of the Eight Orders, and to the stands as well. Thousands


    exchanged bewildered looks. Was winning against Lylian not enough? After all, he was merely


    Stage VIII, and it was already impressive how far he''de. Yet he wanted more?


    "vin, you''re going too far!" Lylian snapped, angered. What did he mean? Was their fight just a


    warm-up and the real show against the Earthbound Spirits?


    Her fellow maidens were fuming – this was an outrage!


    Below the stage, Semar grimaced. "I was bested by Lylian yesterday, and now you use her as a


    warm-up today? Is this not an indirect insult to me?"


    Cedrick''s gaze sharpened. "Is this the madness you spoke ofst night?"


    "vin, are you truly challenging us, the Earthbound Spirits?" Ond''s face darkened with a heavy


    frown.


    "A friendly spar, a martial contest, no ill-will harbored, just a desire for a hearty battle. Who among


    you is interested?" vin remained unshaken.


    "I ept the challenge." A man from the Earthbound Spirits strode confidently onto the stage.


    "Another one!"


    This content ? N?v/elDr(a)m/a.Org.


    The Protégés of various Organizations were shocked. Another? What did he mean? Did he intend


    to fight two at once?


    "What in the seven hells do you think you''re doing?" The judge was displeased. "This is my


    tournament ground, and I will not stand idly by while you cause such disruption."


    "I shall fight them both at once. If I win, I advance to the top ten. Should I lose, I shall withdraw from


    thepetition," vin dered to the eight Commanders seated at the high table.


    The eight Commanders made no immediate response, merely watching vin from their elevated


    position with silent interest.


    One against two? Such a precedent had never been set in the sh of Eight Orders.


    After defeating Lylian, vin sought to challenge two Protégés at once. Besting one after the other


    was one thing, but challenging two simultaneously was quite another. Did vin truly seek a fair


    contest, or was he looking down upon the might of the Eight Orders'' Protégés?


    "The Earthbound Spirits ept your challenge!" dered the Commander of the Earthbound


    Spirits. When the battle was brought to your doorstep, there was no reason to shrink away.


    The Bloodlore Commander suddenlyughed. "Thisd has a fierce spirit, I like it."


    "Since he seeks a challenge, let him have it," the Commanders consented, allowing vin''s


    request. If he could indeed triumph, he would rightfully earn his ce among the top ten. But could


    he?


    Ond furrowed his brow, signaling to his Protégés to take the field. "vin, if you can defeat two of


    our own, we shall concede openly, and all grievances between us will be settled with no further


    disputes."


    "The Earthbound Spirits, Ziros! Combat Magic, Tiger Roar Fist!"


    "The Earthbound Spirits, Nelsor! Combat Magic, Conqueror''s Cleaver!"


    The two mighty Protégés of the Earthbound Spirits took their stand on the sparring tform, both


    formidable and towering, exuding an overwhelming aura.


    One donned dark iron gauntlets, armor extending from his fists to his forearms, gleaming with a


    ck metallic luster; the other hefted a massive axe, the haft two meters long, and the de half a


    meter, its edge bone-chillingly sharp.


    Both warriors of the Earthbound Spirits voluntarily dered their Combat Magic. Should the two fail


    to best vin together, they were prepared to ept defeat.


    The crowd murmured with spection. Just who was this vin? Regardless of the oue, his


    daring alonemanded respect.


    The Protégés watched intently; this battle was not to be missed.


    vin tore open his shirt, revealing his well-muscled torso, and assumed a wide stance. Pressing


    with his left hand and thrusting his right hand forward, he adopted the standard Goliath Force


    starting pose. "Cobalt Strike, vin. Combat Magic, Goliath Force, and Shadowlord''s Wrath!"


    Shadowlord''s Wrath? The Cobalt Strike team was perplexed. What was this Combat Magic?


    Unheard of, indeed.


    Mari''s brows knitted lightly. Could this be the guidance given to vin by that Chained Spirit?


    "The Earthbound Spirits, Ziros/Nelsor, to battle!!" The two brutes bellowed their challenge, their


    voices thunderous, sending ripples through the audience as their bodies stirred with powerful


    surges of energy, their hair whipping wildly.


    "I shall emerge victorious today. Unless one falls, the battle rages on," vin dered, his muscles


    taut with searing power coursing through his veins.


    The trio''s energy continued to escte, their invisible auras filling the arena.


    Ziros and Nelsor''s bodies were veined with effort, and their faces were contorted with ferocity.


    vin''s skin took on a reddish hue, steaming with heat as a wild force boiled within him.


    "Fight!" In unison, they roared, charging swiftly. Their paths were set for a head-on collision.


    "Boom!!" The atmosphere in the arena exploded with fervor, like floodgates unleashed, shaking the


    very foundations of the battleground and echoing to the heavens.