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Chapter 77: Battle in the Nude
Chapter 77: Battle in the Nude
She scanned the crowd, her gaze settling firmly on Nuo Li Si, who stood at the fringes speaking with Luo En.
"Let Apprentice Nuo Li Si of the Enforcement Team serve as the impartial witness for this duel", she declared.
Nuo Li Si stiffened as all eyes suddenly turned to him. But under the oppressive glare of Xin Xi Ya in the distance, he could only force himself forward a few steps.
"It is my honor to witness this duel", he said, voice taut. "According to the rules, each master may grant their slave a single enhancement before the duel begins. Afterward, only verbal commands are allowed—direct interference will result in disqualification. The duel ends when one party concedes or is unable to continue fighting."
His eyes flicked over the two slaves, lingering on the Half-Beast's faint crimson rampage aura. He pressed his lips into a thin line but raised no objections.
Nuo Li Si accepted the Witness Gold from both parties and lifted a Copper Token overhead. "Both parties, prepare yourselves. Begin!"
The moment his words fell, the leopardess hunter shot forward like a released arrow, her speed leaving afterimages.
She didn't charge her opponent directly but circled the Half-Beast at blistering speed, her claws slicing sharp, cutting sounds through the air.
The Half-Beast roared, swinging his massive fists at the blur, but his strikes met only empty space. The leopardess moved too swiftly, a golden lightning bolt constantly shifting positions, always half a beat ahead of his attacks.
"Don't rush, Ge Lu Shi. She's trying to exhaust your stamina", Xin Xi Ya commanded coolly. "Switch to wide-area attacks!"
The Half-Beast immediately altered tactics. He inhaled deeply, then slammed his foot into the ground. The earth trembled, and a cloud of dust erupted, forming a smokescreen that obscured the leopardess's vision.
"Li Yue, above!" Cui Xi's calm voice rang out.
The leopardess reacted instantly, leaping upward by instinct just as the Half-Beast's massive fist exploded from the dust. Her claws raked across his shoulder, carving a bloody gash.
The Half-Beast bellowed in pain, retaliating with a horizontal sweep. This time, the leopardess couldn't fully evade. Struck in the ribs, she flew several meters before crashing heavily to the ground.
"Get up, Li Yue!" Cui Xi's voice sharpened with urgency. "You're faster—don't engage directly!"
The leopardess rolled to her feet, pain flickering in her eyes before being swallowed by fiery determination. She took several deep breaths, her Special Bloodline surging stronger. Her movements grew smoother, her speed visibly increasing.
"Hmph. Delusions of grandeur", Xin Xi Ya sneered. "That leopardess weighs less than half of Ge Lu Shi. No amount of speed can overcome that physical disparity."
"Strength isn't the sole deciding factor", Cui Xi countered evenly. "Combat intelligence holds equal weight."
The leopardess adjusted her strategy, abandoning direct assaults. Instead, she harassed the Half-Beast's vision and movement space, darting in for shallow cuts then retreating swiftly.
Gasps rippled through the crowd, captivated by her masterful technique. Luo En noted her movements, though seemingly random, followed a precisely designed rhythm and route—clear evidence of systematic training.
"Damn it, where did this hunter's daughter find resources to train a combat slave like this?" Xin Xi Ya muttered through clenched teeth, fury flashing in his eyes.
The Half-Beast's movements grew sluggish, his body crisscrossed with shallow wounds. While none were deep, the cumulative blood loss left him panting, his enraged eyes dimming with exhaustion.
"Ge Lu Shi, now!" Xin Xi Ya barked. "Activate Rampage Mode!"
The Half-Beast's head snapped upward, releasing an ear-piercing howl. His body convulsed violently, the crimson aura blazing brighter. His eyes turned pitch-black, muscles writhing like living things beneath his skin as his frame expanded by a third.
With a thunderous roar, he stomped the ground, leaving a cracked crater. Debris exploded toward the leopardess like shotgun pellets. Caught off guard, Li Yue screamed as blood blossomed across her body, retreating rapidly to avoid further hits.
"Rampage Mode!" the crowd erupted in shock.
Luo En narrowed his eyes, observing the battlefield's transformation. The Rampage Mode-enhanced Half-Beast gained tremendous speed and strength but fought with reckless, self-destructive abandon.
The leopardess grew cautious, maintaining a safe distance instead of attacking.
"Li Yue, remember your training—find his weakness!" Cui Xi commanded, her voice calm yet unwavering.
Nodding, the leopardess resumed her high-speed movements. This time, her pattern emerged: repeated feints from the Half-Beast's left followed by swift retreats.
After several cycles, the Half-Beast anticipated the pattern, preparing to counter her next left-side assault.
Then, in a flash of agility, the leopardess shifted direction, striking from the right. Her claws tore toward his throat!
"Dodge it, you idiot!" Xin Xi Ya screamed, too late.
The Half-Beast barely twisted aside, avoiding a fatal strike but taking deep gashes across his neck and chest. Blood sprayed as he staggered backward, the Rampage aura flickering.
"Get up, Ge Lu Shi!" Xin Xi Ya roared. "Break every bone—I don't care! Keep fighting!"
The Half-Beast forced himself forward, but his movements had become sluggish, his body swaying from blood loss.
The leopardess took no chances, darting behind him. She leapt, her twin claws plunging into his back like daggers before tearing viciously.
"Aagh!" The Half-Beast's agonized roar echoed as he collapsed, motionless.
"That's enough", Cui Xi ordered calmly. "You've won."
The leopardess leapt clear, maintaining distance but poised for action.
Silence blanketed the arena, everyone stunned by the outcome.
The newcomer Cui Xi had defeated Xin Xi Ya's infamous Half-Beast warrior in a Slave Duel!
"Ha... Well-played. I concede", Xin Xi Ya spat, his voice laced with barely concealed fury.
"As per Slave Duel regulations, the victor is Apprentice Cui Xi", Nuo Li Si announced, casting a wary glance at Xin Xi Ya before continuing. "The Star Chart Manuscript's priority usage rights go to Mentor Kelinna's faction, and this duel result will be recorded in the Backup Mage Sequence point evaluation."
Cui Xi nodded, a faint smile touching her lips. Spotting Luo En in the crowd, her eyes lit up. She pushed through the crowd toward him, parting the sea of onlookers effortlessly.
(End of Chapter)
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