https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-300-The-Fallen-Glory-of-a-Defeated-Dog/12943952/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-302-Night-City-Is-That-All-There-Is-/12943957/
Chapter 301: Force Swallowing Ancient Artifact Magic Tool
Chapter 301: Force Swallowing Ancient Artifact Magic Tool
"Only those who constantly overcome their flaws and push beyond their limits are truly strong..."
One had to admit that Yecheng's words at this moment were quite impactful on Ruslan.
Looking at the spirited and motivated white-haired youth before him, wasn't this the very image he once aspired to be?
The former champion of the Heart Shrine Competition, to him, was a simple task. Back then, he was just as confident as Yecheng is now.
But reality could be cruel; in his youth, he stood at the pinnacle, but an unexpected illness caused his strength to decline day by day, and he fell from grace.
How many people in this world had the mental fortitude to face such a situation?
"You insolent brat, you've never experienced the feeling of falling from grace. What right do you have to stand there and point fingers at me?
Who are you to define what strength is? What can you do now? If you want to lecture me as a victor, it's better to wait until you defeat me before talking!"
For a moment, Yecheng's words struck Ruslan's heart, but he quickly immersed himself in the pursuit of past glory and power.
It wasn't that Ruslan couldn't wake up; he simply didn't want to. He had done so much to regain his past strength and talent that he couldn't just give up halfway because of a few words from a young upstart.
Moreover, wasn't the young man before him supposed to constantly overcome difficulties and surpass his limits to be a true strong person?
Now, he wanted to see how the youth would defeat him without using mana and prove himself to be the stronger one.
Ruslan and Yecheng, both holding longswords, moved their bodies at the same instant.
Due to their incredible speed, even the students in the grand cathedral couldn't clearly see how they moved.
However, when their figures flashed again, they collided in the center of the cathedral, and their longswords clashed, creating a shower of sparks.
But this clash of swords only lasted for a moment before Ruslan felt an indescribable weight in his sword.
The next second, a gust of wind swept by, and Ruslan's body was sent flying backward from the impact, slamming into a stone pillar behind him, leaving a deep dent in the pillar.
"This is impossible! How can you use mana within this mana barrier?"
According to the Diabros Cult's intelligence, Ruslan knew Yecheng was powerful, and his swordsmanship talent and strength were even comparable to, if not surpassing, the kingdom's strongest mage swordsman, Alice Midgall.
But what did it matter if it was Alice Midgall? In Ruslan's eyes, she was just a little girl.
His achievements in his youth outshone Alice's, and his current decline in strength was merely due to physical issues.
Even with physical problems, his understanding and skill with the sword hadn't diminished.
On the contrary, after so many years of experience, his comprehension and understanding of the sword far surpassed his younger self.
His physical and mana issues were now resolved with the 'Desireful Eye's' mana barrier, matching Yecheng's.
The proud Ruslan believed that in a pure swordsmanship contest, his strength was more than enough to defeat a young upstart like Yecheng, no matter how talented the other was.
The situation that unfolded was something Ruslan could not accept. In a head-on collision, the one who was instantly defeated wasn't his opponent, but himself, who had been so confident moments ago.
Unwilling to accept this fact, Ruslan could only numb himself with the illusion of magic he had just used in Night City.
"That's why I said you're a defeated dog. Even in this situation, you're still making excuses for your failure?"
Within this so-called mana barrier, I did possess the ability to use magic. But against someone like you, I could easily crush you without even using magic!"
"I'm like that guy who wanted to challenge the Atomic Strike and eventually became one himself. We're quite similar."
What should I do when I can't use magic? What should I do when I can't move? What should I do when facing an unbeatable opponent? And then I found an answer—to keep getting stronger! As long as I become stronger than everyone else, these problems will no longer be problems."
Ruslan didn't understand most of what Night City said, but he could sense the mockery in his words.
Being unable to use magic was within his expectations, and even if this situation occurred, it wouldn't stop him from becoming the strongest.
"Damn brat, let's see if you can remain as calm as before!"
After lurking in the Academic Academy for over a decade, Ruslan's temperament had become unperturbed by success or failure. But the Night City he encountered today truly broke through his defenses.
The "Desireful Eye" now stored an astonishing amount of mana. Originally, Ruslan had planned to use the mana to blast the Academy first, diluting a portion of it before employing it.
But now, facing the Night City before him, Ruslan felt he had no choice but to use it.
With powerful mana entering his body, it might instantly burst his body, but if he didn't use it, he wouldn't stand a chance against Night City.
Since he was going to die either way, he might as well take a chance! Even if he ended up kneeling in the end, he could take this genius down with him!
With his decision made, Ruslan didn't hesitate. He took the "Desireful Eye" he was holding and stuffed it into his mouth.
As the Desireful Eye entered his mouth, an incredibly powerful mana burst forth from Ruslan's body!
The overwhelming mana surged through Ruslan's entire body. Due to absorbing such a vast amount of mana at once, Ruslan's originally deflated body now swelled like an inflated balloon, becoming abnormally bloated.
"Senior Roze, please evacuate the students here quickly. This guy has gone completely mad. If he can't suppress the massive mana source he just swallowed and it explodes, this place will be instantly leveled."
Even a fool could see that Ruslan, having swallowed the Desireful Eye, was like a ticking time bomb, with a massive amount of mana gathered within him, ready to explode at any moment.
"I am Ruslan Barnett, not a spendthrift dog! This time, I will reclaim my past glory!"
Perhaps it was the effect of his villainous aura, or perhaps it was Ruslan's intense unwillingness to accept defeat, that allowed him to break through his limits.
As his body swelled to the brink, Night City was even prepared to expose himself and use magic to protect the students present. But at this moment, Ruslan, this guy, actually managed to gradually suppress the raging, vast mana within him!
(End of Chapter)
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