Chapter 59
Chapter 59
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 59
Chapter Title: Law of the Jungle (4)
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The collision of jet-black aura and fiery fists shattered the world. Flying debris and clouds of dust obscured their vision.
But Cain and Khan glared at each other without the slightest falter.
Thanks to meeting a worthy opponent after so long, Khan swung his fists with all his might in unrestrained excitement, unleashing full-powered strikes.
For Cain, taking those rock-hard fists head-on was pure agony.
'If I use Death Eye for attacks of this level, my death force will run dry in no time. Moreover, just maintaining aura is already overwhelming!'
Already struggling to sustain his aura, adding Death Eye would consume his death force at an extreme rate.
Thus, Cain had no choice but to directly block the Fist King's torrent-like barrage.
Not allowing even a single blow through—instant death, or at best a grievous wound—he repelled them all relying solely on experience.
Yet the rain of death showed no signs of letting up. If anything, it poured even fiercer.
Nevertheless, Cain endured. Truthfully, it was simple. If he couldn't hold out, he'd just regress and keep enduring until he could.
But the Fist King, utterly unaware of this, was genuinely impressed by Cain's desperate defense.
'At best, mid-level Expert... Yet he holds out thanks to battle-hardened experience and that bizarre power.'
Aura.
The stage where a martial artist channels mana in the form most suited to themselves.
With a sword, as a sword; with fists, as fists. The forms were infinite.
Thus the puzzle: What realization had this man achieved to wield such an ominous aura?
"...Looks like you've cast off one of your shackles too."
"Something like that."
"Fine then. I'll test that power for you!"
Blazing flames. Unquenchable fire embodying pure fighting spirit transformed in an instant into a storm that swept the world away.
Against the storm of flames, Cain drew forth a pitifully meager jet-black aura by comparison. Yet he refused to retreat.
Thanks to Death Eye, Cain could foresee death and react in advance.
Until now, to conserve death force, he hadn't used it. But now he activated it to counter the opponent's ultimate move.
'The flames are a feint. The real killer is the invisible fist hidden within.'
In practice, more died from heads crushed or guts ruptured by punches and kicks than from burning in the flames.
Not deceived by the ruse, holding his center firm, Cain swung his jet-black aura.
Boom! Crash! Merely deflecting the flame-wreathed fists and feet sent numbing shocks up his arms, like paralysis.
'The only reason I can endure against a master at the pinnacle of martial arts is purely death force and Death Eye.'
Seeing future deaths with Death Eye and cloaking himself in the superior death force allowed him to barely hold on.
Without either, Cain would have been smashed to pieces long ago.
But even that was only a matter of time. The Fist King was beginning to intuit Death Eye's weakness through experience.
"Strange. I first thought you could predict every attack. So why do you let some through?"
"... ."
"I see. You can only read attacks leading to death. What an oddly specialized eye."
The Fist King had crossed countless brushes with death in a single lifetime. His instincts and talent existed solely for battle.
Thus, just a few clashes allowed him to detect Death Eye and begin exploiting it.
After that, it was straightforward: sever limbs to make killing easy, then finish.
Of course, Cain wasn't just taking it passively. He countered Khan with jet-black aura however he could.
But the instant Death Eye was seen through, Cain died helplessly.
'Damn... I can't overuse Death Eye. That means I must conserve it and endure somehow.'
Cain and Khan were alike yet different. Both had piled up experience crossing death lines innumerable times.
But the key difference: Cain had endured countless defeats,
while Khan had battled through them all to ultimate victory.
In pure results, Khan was like Cain's perfect superior. Yet Khan lacked what Cain possessed.
An unbreakable will forged from countless defeats without surrender, challenging to the bitter end until claiming victory at last.
'Without Death Eye, block the Fist King's attacks using only my sword. No matter how many deaths... I will win!'
Of course, the foe was a peak master. No matter the deaths, victory wouldn't come easily.
Especially the martial arts concealed within the flashy, scorching storm of flames could shatter one's will just facing it.
Yet Cain swung his sword.
Grinding his teeth, he blocked. Failure meant death.
Simply... repeating endlessly until he dismantled every bit.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Jet-black greatsword blocked the straight punch lunging on perfect footing. Fighting spirit coursed through his numb hand.
A martial artist could gauge an opponent to some degree from just one exchange.
Especially one like the Fist King, brimming with vast experience.
At the initial clash of flames and jet-black, Khan perceived the unfathomable abyss Cain harbored.
Something profound beyond mere experience or mana.
'Got fangs as a predator, eh? Good. Let's drag out everything you've got and fight!'
Full power. No room for even the slightest regret, heedless of consequences, unleashing all strength and martial prowess.
Of course, a single blow might end him, but such weakness wouldn't have passed the initial test.
Boom! Crash! Khan's fist and jet-black greatsword collided, utterly demolishing the world.
Yet facing raw violence head-on, the man showed no fear. If anything, his killing intent blazed fiercer.
"Unafraid of death? You're brimming only with intent to kill me."
"Doesn't this fight end with one of us dead?"
"Damn right! Can't end with some half-assed surrender!"
Nostalgic. Those days of pure, unthinking killing intent toward the foe.
Of course, those thrilling times wouldn't return. But that's why this moment mattered.
Suddenly, flames erupted like a storm, embodying his fighting spirit.
Yet the flames were mere deception. The true essence was the pinnacle of martial arts lurking behind.
"I'll smash you with overwhelming power!!"
As if answering the enraged beast's roar, the flame storm engulfed Cain instantly. But right then—
Khan doubted his eyes. Heat Storm was the technique he'd forged against the necromancer's horde.
Yet Cain deflected every strike flawlessly, then charged straight at him?
'Not only blocking the whole Heat Storm, but predicting my position?!'
Heat Storm raged like a gale. Constant motion, swinging fists and feet endlessly.
Yet he parried all and closed distance precisely?!
Did that mean he'd already mapped every movement in this brief clash...?
Stunned by the inconceivable counter, Khan's motion froze for a split instant. Cain seized it.
'Died hundreds of times, suffered thousands of agonies, and finally saw it.'
To crack Heat Storm somehow, he'd endured and endured. Pure defense couldn't break it.
Attacking outright? Even tracking the Fist King's moves was impossible.
No matter Cain's growth, matching a master's speed was near futile.
Thus, one path: analyze patterns, predict paths, and ambush instantly.
Myriad failures.
Deaths trailing each.
Surmounting it all, Cain finally arrived—the greatsword plummeted like lightning.
But Khan was a master too, pinnacle martial artist. In that instant, he twisted and punched.
"I already knew that too."
Khan's fist never met the greatsword. In that blink, its arc bent aside.
Slash!!
Perfectly dodging Khan's fist, the jet-black blade hissed chillingly, cleanly severing his right shoulder.
With Khan's right arm thudding to the ground amid spurting red blood... his scorching Heat Storm guttered out.
'Broke Heat Storm on first sight, perfectly predicted my moves to claim an arm... Not a predator—a monster.'
'Prime opening. Died endless times to finally pierce his guard... but only an arm?'
Yet both Cain and Khan inwardly deemed the other the monster.