The moment Marco's pitch-black Ten-thousand year fourth soul ring materialized beneath his feet, the entire Great Soul Arena fell into deathly silence before erupting into roaring exclamations like crashing waves! A ten-thousand-year fourth soul ring—this was practically a legendary existence!
Opposite him, God Knife stood with four glowing soul rings beneath his feet—two yellow and two purple—their optimal configuration radiating an equally formidable presence. The humming from the long blade in his hand reached its peak as his aura merged perfectly with the weapon's, transforming him into what seemed like a genuine peerless divine armament.
Their gazes met once more, all traces of probing gone, leaving only the purest desire and immersion in the pinnacle of combat.
"Fourth Soul Ability: Azure Flame Engulfment!" Marco initiated first! His black soul ring blazed with intense light as the Azure Flame around him abruptly contracted before erupting even more violently, its color deepening to near black-green! The thirty percent boost to all attributes made him feel as though his strength, speed, defense, and Soul Power recovery had reached unprecedented heights. Wreathed in azure flames, he descended like a war god of fire.
God Knife's expression turned grave; he could sense Marco's soaring momentum. Instead of opting for complex soul ability combinations, he channeled all his focus and Soul Power into the long blade in his grasp.
"Sharpness!" "Swiftness!" "Defense!" "Momentum!" The glows of his four soul abilities flickered alternately across his form before ultimately converging and condensing onto the blade's edge! The long blade appeared unadorned, yet the air around it distorted as if unable to withstand its extreme sharpness and weight.
"Engage!" Marco roared, instantly activating "Shave." His speed, amplified by "Azure Flame Engulfment," reached its limit, leaving only a ring of expanding sonic boom clouds in his wake!" He materialized directly in front of God Knife, his right leg sweeping high with Armament Haki fully enveloping the limb, turning it a somber black-green interwoven with the profound azure flames! The glow of his first soul ring simultaneously brightened, further enhancing the strike's power!
He concentrated the comprehensive boost from his fourth soul ability "Azure Flame Engulfment," the ultimate offense and defense of Armament Haki, the enhancement of his first soul ability, his entire physical strength, and the force application techniques refined through countless battles—all into this single kick! This strike surpassed any attack he had ever executed before!
"Take this—Azure Meteor!"
With his low growl, the kick bearing terrifying force tore through the air like a meteor from the heavens, carrying an aura of absolute destruction as it slammed down toward God Knife! Before the leg even landed, the overwhelming pressure alone caused the ground beneath God Knife's feet to crack and splinter!
Facing this earth-shattering assault, God Knife's golden eyes blazed with resolute light. He performed an action that astonished everyone—the glows of his two yellow and two purple soul rings beneath his feet began to merge and intertwine! The boundaries of the four soul rings blurred, ultimately transforming into a single radiant gold-purple halo enveloping him!
Ring Fusion! This was a technique only Soul Masters of exceptional talent could master, merging the power of all their soul rings into one to unleash might far exceeding the sum of their individual soul abilities! Though it placed immense strain on his body, at this moment, to counter Marco's ultimate strike, God Knife employed it without the slightest hesitation!
In the state of Ring Fusion, man and blade became one. He gripped the hilt with both hands, slowly raising it overhead as all the merged torrential Soul Power and ultimate blade intent converged at the tip. The blade turned pitch-dark, as if absorbing all light, dimming the surrounding area into premature nightfall.
"This blade is named—Night."
His voice was calm yet solemn. Then, the edge swept forth without a sound—no blinding glare, no violent howl, only a profound, all-devouring dark blade aura met the azure meteor-like kick head-on!
Azure Meteor vs Night!
One embodied ultimate power, speed, and explosive force, like a blazing sun heralding destruction!
The other interpreted ultimate concentration, penetration, and annihilation, like eternal silence consuming all things!
Under the breathless gaze of all, these two diametrically opposed yet equally peak Soul Ancestor-level forces finally collided mid-air with earth-shattering force!
"BOOM——————————!!!"
An indescribable roar erupted! The entire Great Soul Arena trembled violently! Blinding azure-black light at the arena's center instantly devoured everything, while violent energy shockwaves surged outward like a tsunami, crashing fiercely against the protective barrier surrounding the stage! The barrier, capable of withstanding Soul Emperor-level attacks, now rippled violently as if on the verge of shattering!
The light persisted for several breaths before gradually fading. A massive crater was revealed at the arena's center, cracks spreading to its edges. On opposite sides of the crater, Marco and God Knife knelt on one knee, breathing heavily.
The Armament Haki on Marco's right leg had dissipated, his trousers torn to shreds, the limb covered in fine blood trails and trembling slightly—clear evidence of severe recoil from the collision. Yet azure flames still swirled around him, his powerful recovery rapidly mending the injuries.
God Knife was in worse condition. His long blade stabbed into the ground for support, his face pale as paper, a trickle of blood at the corner of his mouth. The immense strain of Ring Fusion and the impact had inflicted serious internal injuries. His ultimate concentrated slash had ultimately been shattered head-on by Marco's strike, brimming with vast vitality and terrifying power.
Suppressing the agony in his leg and the emptiness of his Soul Power, Marco stood up first. Staggering, he approached God Knife and extended a hand.
God Knife looked up, meeting Marco's gaze—pure fighting spirit tinged with concern. After a stunned pause, he smiled in relief and grasped Marco's hand, pulling himself up.
"I lost," God Knife's voice was hoarse but frank. "Your recovery is beyond imagination." Had Marco not stabilized his injuries faster thanks to the Azure Flame Phoenix Spirit's formidable regeneration post-collision, the outcome might have been uncertain. Yet now, Marco was the one standing.
Marco shook his head. "If you hadn't endured the Ring Fusion backlash, I might not have won. Your blade is formidable." He retrieved a jade box from his Wishful Treasure Pouch, opening it to reveal a leaf shaped like dragon scales, radiating dense life energy—Dragon Lichen Leaf. "Take this. Hold it in your mouth to aid your recovery."
God Knife looked at the precious Dragon Lichen Leaf and did not refuse. As he swallowed it, a gentle yet immense surge of vitality instantly flowed through his limbs and bones, nourishing his damaged Meridians. His pale complexion visibly regained color, turning rosy.
"Thank you," God Knife said solemnly, feeling his injuries rapidly stabilizing within his body.
Only then did the referee snap out of his daze and loudly announce, "The winner is Phoenix!"
The entire arena erupted with thunderous applause and cheers, celebrating this extraordinary, beyond-tier duel. Qing Yu also chirped excitedly.
Ignoring the clamor, the two supported each other as they stepped down from the stage. In the backstage rest area, after both had recovered some Soul Power, the atmosphere grew relaxed.
"After fighting for so long, I still don't know your name," God Knife—or rather, the black-haired young man he now was—spoke up, the sternness on his face softening into a faint smile. "I'm Lu Zhou, a blade master. Where I'm from… doesn't matter anymore."
"Marco. From the Li family in Heaven Dou City," Marco replied, keenly detecting a trace of barely perceptible melancholy in the other's tone but choosing not to pry. Everyone has their own past; what mattered was their present acquaintance.
"Marco... alright, I'll remember that," Lu Zhou nodded. "Your fighting style is unique. I look forward to our next battle."
"I look forward to it too," Marco smiled. This exhilarating fight had brought him great gains and a respectable opponent.
Outside the window, the Night sky over Suotuo City was dotted with stars. A peak-level duel had concluded, but a new friendship might have just begun.