Chapter 359: You’re All Dead (1)
Chapter 359: You’re All Dead (1)
The Heavenly Demon’s body froze.
When absurdity exceeds a certain threshold, it takes time for the mind to process reality.
It was the first opening the Heavenly Demon had ever shown.
Patrick was not one to miss such a chance.
Without a moment’s hesitation, Patrick’s leg lashed out.
Bwaaaaang!
It was a lightning-fast front kick.
Though it was a perfect surprise attack, the Heavenly Demon was still the Heavenly Demon. He instinctively raised his right knee to block the strike.
However, there was one thing he hadn't accounted for…
Riiiiiip!
Patrick’s teeth were still clamped firmly onto his fingers.
By blocking the kick instead of retreating, the Heavenly Demon’s right hand was forced away while his fingers remained trapped. The result? He lost both his index and middle fingers in an instant.
*
“My… My Lord?”
“No way… This… this is…”
The elders of the Demonic Cult, watching from a distance, stood with their mouths agape.
They couldn't have imagined this in their wildest dreams.
Their Lord—the God of Martial Arts, the very sky above all Demon Warriors—had suffered a physical injury. They never thought a human existed who could mar his sacred form.
Amidst their shock, April’s voice drifted into their ears.
“Of course. That’s more like it.”
She was the only one present, friend or foe, who didn't look surprised.
A trial born of the destiny to destroy the world? A god to all Demon Warriors?
They called him by many grand titles, but…
So what?
There’s no way the Young Master would lose.
She had absolute faith that if it was the Patrick she knew, he wouldn't lose a fight even if his opponent were a god.
*
“Ptu!”
Patrick spat the Heavenly Demon’s fingers onto the ground. He glared at the still-stunned Demon and spoke with a savage intensity.
“You little shit. Having fun? Having the time of your life, huh?”
“…You…”
“A total newbie who’s never been in a real scrap in his life has the audacity to try and play with me?”
“You bastard…”
Patrick pointed the tip of his sword at the Heavenly Demon.
“From here on out, it’s a dogfight.”
With that, Patrick charged again.
Boom! Crash! Bam-bam!
“What… what is this?”
The Heavenly Demon was flustered.
Patrick’s attacks had become significantly more violent. His martial arts had always leaned toward the Path of the Hegemon, emphasizing speed and power, but this was beyond the pale.
Patrick had completely abandoned the principles of martial logic, throwing himself into a ruthless assault that could only be described as…
“A brawl?”
That was the only way to define it.
No matter how wild an attack might be, for one who has trained in martial arts, there is usually a sense of discipline and logic within that wildness.
But in Patrick’s current swordsmanship, that had vanished entirely.
“Hey…”
The Heavenly Demon expressed his displeasure at Patrick’s disorganized hacking.
“What do you think you’re doing?”
He hadn't spent all this time and effort just to deal with such ridiculous sword-swinging.
For the first time, genuine killing intent billowed from the Heavenly Demon’s body.
“Do you wish to die?”
This wasn't just anyone’s killing intent; it was the Heavenly Demon’s. It was so intense that those watching from outside the immediate vicinity felt their legs give way, collapsing to the ground. However…
“Give me a break.”
Patrick didn't care in the slightest.
Whether you’re bitten to death by a tiger or a dog, you’re just as dead. Having already decided to ignore the boundary between life and death, mere killing intent meant nothing to him.
In a real fight, the one who flinches loses.
Patrick took a massive step forward, lunging into the Demon’s space.
It was a distance where his head would burst the moment the Heavenly Demon extended his right hand. But…
Twitch.
Patrick saw it.
For a split second, the Heavenly Demon’s body fell out of sync.
The moment the Demon spotted an opening, he had reflexively tried to attack, but then hesitated to stop himself—creating a momentary gap.
It was a window so brief it could hardly be called a moment, but…
“Die!”
It was more than enough for Patrick to seize the initiative.
Patrick’s twin swords swung in a chaotic blur.
The Heavenly Demon retreated while blocking the onslaught. Normally, he could have parried these attacks with ease, but not now. Having lost the lead the moment he showed a gap, he was forced onto the back foot.
First, I need to fix my posture—
It was then.
Patrick lunged deep again, crossing his twin swords like a pair of shears, aiming for the Demon’s neck.
Did he really think such an obvious attack would land?
Seeing Patrick attempt a massive, reckless strike instead of carefully utilizing his advantage, the Heavenly Demon frowned and spread his hands to counter.
“Get a grip and fight prop—Gah!”
Whack!
In that instant.
The first clean, effective hit of the duel landed.
The attack that slammed directly into the Heavenly Demon’s face while his arms were spread wide was Patrick’s forehead. A headbutt.
“Ugh…”
Pwaaaaang!
The Heavenly Demon unleashed a massive wave of palm force, blasting himself backward to create distance. Patrick was also sent tumbling back by the force, but he scrambled to his feet immediately.
Standing up, Patrick curled his lip into a crooked smirk.
“Look at you now.”
In a sense, it was a monumental achievement.
It was something even the Immortal Descendants of the Heavenly Realm had failed to do. Making the Heavenly Demon’s nose bleed from both nostrils was a feat of that magnitude.
Patrick jeered at the Demon.
“Want to know why you’re getting thrashed?”
“That mouth of yours…”
“You’re getting thrashed because you’re being careless and acting all relaxed in a real fight. You total dumbaaaaass…”
Boom!
“I told you to shut up!”
The Heavenly Demon unleashed a colossal wave of palm force.
Patrick moved quickly to dodge, but…
Pop-pop-pop-pop-pop!
Purple palm force rained down from the sky like a torrential storm.
Each individual strike possessed destructive power rivaling a Dragon’s Breath.
Watching the terrifying spectacle, Patrick’s lips curled upward.
Looks like he’s finally getting heated.
*
When the Heavenly Demon’s fingers were bitten and his nose started bleeding, the ones most shocked were the elders of the Demonic Cult.
“Uh… ah… bubububu…”
The Mind-Reading Ghost Demon, whose loyalty to the Heavenly Demon was the strongest among the elders, struggled even to process the scene as reality.
How was this possible?
This was a situation he had never even imagined. No, more than that…
“How on earth?”
The words muttered unconsciously by Eumpung Sinma represented the collective sentiment of all the elders.
They truly couldn't understand.
Patrick Schneider. Sure, they could admit he was strong. If he weren't, he wouldn't have been chosen as a sacrifice for their Lord in the first place.
But if asked if he was strong enough to draw blood from the sacred body of the perfect Avatar of Martial Arts…
He’s definitely not at that level.
Even if he possesses a comparable divine rank, the difference in their martial prowess is clear as day…
How can this be happening?
If they weren't martial artists or if their cultivation were lower, they might have simply concluded that Patrick was an equal to the Heavenly Demon.
But these were absolute masters who would have been hegemons of their respective regions in any era of the martial world. Because of their expertise, they couldn't comprehend the contradiction unfolding before their eyes.
The reason was actually simple.
The Heavenly Demon was being pushed back because Patrick was reading his psychology.
To the Heavenly Demon, Patrick was a rival he had finally obtained after thousands of years. He was a precious treasure—the first martial artist who could truly stand against him.
Could the Heavenly Demon kill such a Patrick so easily?
No. It was absolutely impossible.
The Heavenly Demon wanted to test every bit of the martial arts he had refined over the ages and quench his eternal thirst through Patrick’s existence. He was like a child who had finally gotten a long-awaited treat and wanted to savor it bit by bit.
And Patrick had read that mindset perfectly.
That was why he had abandoned all defense and committed to completely reckless attacks. Moreover, he did it in the way the Heavenly Demon would find most distasteful.
The guts to wager his own life. The delicacy to provoke his opponent’s psyche.
Patrick was using those two weapons to pressure the Heavenly Demon.
And there was only one person present who understood that fact.
Young Master…
April Schneider.
As Patrick’s disciple and wife, she alone grasped the truth.
[To win a fight, you have to do exactly what your opponent hates most and doesn't want you to do. That’s the sure-fire way to victory.]
To others, it looked like he was being miserably overwhelmed, but Patrick was doing his absolute best to win according to his own theory.
April knew this. And so…
Please, may you be victorious…
She could only trust in Patrick and watch.
*
After being struck by Patrick, the Heavenly Demon changed his combat style.
Previously, he had engaged in a close-quarters exchange of blows and martial tactics, but now…
“I shall teach you some manners.”
Boom! Crash! Roar!
He began to pressure Patrick from a distance, unleashing terrifying waves of palm force.
Resorting to attacks that relied on such a massive disparity in power wasn't his original intention. He had wanted to enjoy a more detailed and precise exchange of martial skill with Patrick. However…
“To think you would disappoint me so.”
Patrick had utterly betrayed the Heavenly Demon’s expectations.
To ignore defense and throw random, unrefined strikes? He hadn't designated Patrick as his opponent just to indulge in such thuggery.
I will show you the absolute difference in our power and make you submit. And if you refuse to listen to the very end…
The Heavenly Demon glanced toward where Patrick’s companions were.
It was a good thing he had ordered the elders to capture them alive instead of killing them. Though they didn't look like they were in any condition to be called "captured," it made no difference as long as they were within his sight.
He had heard that two of them were Patrick’s wives. They would serve as more than enough leverage. Just then…
Radiant Dragon Twelve Sword Styles
Tenth Form
Radiant Dragon’s Reign
“Oh…!”
The Heavenly Demon’s face brightened.
Unable to withstand his onslaught, Patrick had finally unleashed a secret technique.
Patrick Schneider’s ultimate secret art.
The dragon of light he created soared into the sky, enduring the Heavenly Demon’s offensive.
“…Magnificent.”
The Heavenly Demon marveled at the dragon of light that filled the sky, coiling and looking down upon him.
“Truly excellent. You have perfectly manifested the dragon within your heart into martial form.”
Martial artists capable of performing an Intent-based technique of this caliber were rare even in the era the Heavenly Demon had lived in.
Deep purple demonic energy gathered in the Heavenly Demon’s hands.
For the first time, he took a formal starting stance and spoke.
“Come.”
As soon as the words left his lips, the dragon of light plummeted toward him.
The Heavenly Demon calmed his racing heart and unleashed a finishing move against the dragon.
Heavenly Demon Divine Art
Heavenly Demon Lightning 108 Palms
In a single breath, one hundred and eight powerful palm strikes battered the dragon of light.
Pop-pop-pop-pop-pop-pop!
It was like watching a fireworks display. The dragon of light was ravaged one hundred and eight times by the powerful demonic palm strikes.
And the moment the dragon’s momentum died…
“Now, take this as well.”
The Heavenly Demon’s next attack followed immediately.
He leapt into the air and drove his fist down toward the dragon of light.
Heavenly Demon Divine Art
Heavenly Demon Heaven-Shattering Fist
A massive force, possessing the momentum to crush the heavens, swallowed the dragon of light whole. This was a single strike of absolute destruction that brooked no existence.
It was the first blow the Heavenly Demon had thrown with true sincerity.
The moment after that powerful attack passed…
“Ah…”
The Heavenly Demon let out a sigh of regret.
In his excitement, he had struck too hard.
Was it over? Was this happy moment he had yearned for so desperately already at an end?
But then…
“Got you at last.”
“…!”
The Heavenly Demon’s heart skipped a beat.
When? How?
He didn't know, but Patrick was currently surging upward from beneath him.