709 "Asura"
Boom!
An explosive soundwave blasted over the battlefield as battle axe and saber collided, signifying the start of the battle between John and Asuros.
Bang!
Bang!
Bang!
Saber and battle axe collided hundreds of times in quick succession as both fighters tested out the other’s power. Each attack was a purely physical attack, and yet those watching from afar couldn’t help but be shocked at the power they were seeing and feeling. Despite the attacks being purely physical, they could tell that they would not be able to block even a single one of those attacks even with their full power.
While this would have normally shocked them the most, something else was currently echoing in everyone’s minds like a resounding bell.
“I’ll show you what a true Asura Transformation is like!”
Those words that had just been uttered by John kept repeating itself within their minds, as everyone couldn’t help but associate it with something else that had shocked the Divine Martial Continent to its core.
“Asura? Did he just say “Asura” transformation?” one of the Honorable Alliance youths asked those nearby after recovering his wits. The other soon snapped out of their stupor, and nodded their head in agreement.
“He did. Do you think….could he be the “Asura” from the Talent Testing Steps?” another youth asked, his voice containing both doubt and hopefulness. If John was truly “Asura”, then just maybe, they would be able to live through this harrowing ordeal.
“Asura” had achieved twenty steps on the Talent Testing Steps, achieving something that had never been done in the history of the world, and surpassed even the most talented cultivator the world had ever seen; the Jade Dragon Emperor.
The identity of “Asura” had been a complete mystery to the world, but now there was potentially a person who could truly be the legendary figure.
The entire group of Honorable Alliance youths stared at the battle in the sky, while they also thought about John’s entrance and how he had managed to easily kill Amber. Even though she was injured, her combat prowess was still high enough to slaughter almost anyone on the battlefield, and yet she had been killed with swift ease, and by someone in the Middle Heaven Tribulation Realm no less.
Now on top of that, John was battling someone in the Half-Step Dao Transformation Realm who dominated the entire battlefield without question, and didn’t seem to be losing out at all.
Everyone’s gaze shifted towards Miko, who stood at the front of the group with his arms crossed as he watched the distant battle with a focused gaze. He felt the gazes of everyone behind him lock onto his back.
“You….you seem to know that youth quite well,” one of the stronger Honorable Alliance youths said to Miko. “Could he truly be?”
“Stop asking useless questions, and just watch the battle,” Miko cut the youth off, not entertaining the question for a second. “Maybe you all can learn a thing or two from the battle to come, and be more useful in the future instead of needing to be saved.”
His words cut through the youths like a sharp blade, who couldn’t help but feel embarrassed as well. It was true that they had required saving multiple times, and would already be dead without Miko’s and the others’ help. Things such as learning the identity of “Asura” was not important at the moment, and Miko was right that watching the battles of strong cultivators could help one obtain insights and further their own growth.
With such a profound battle taking place before their eyes, everything else could wait.
At the same time, a similar discussion was taking place in the camp of enemy youths. They had obviously heard John’s words, and grave expressions appeared on many of their faces as a foreboding feeling washed through them.
“Could he truly be Asura?” one of the enemy youths asked, hoping that someone else would deny it and set his mind at ease.
“He very well may be,” Kadin replied coldly, staring at John with both hatred and jealousy. His words caused the others to become even more gloomy, but his next words lightened their grave feelings slightly.
“But even if he is, he’s battling against Asuros, who is in the Half-Step Dao Transformation realm. Not even someone like “Asura” could win with such a large cultivation disadvantage, so even if John is Asura, his story ends here,” Kadin continued as a small smile of expectation appeared on his face, as he desired nothing more than to see John cut down before his very eyes.
Kadin’s gaze shifted towards the distant Honorable Alliance group, and his eyes narrowed once more as he saw Laia healing them all. His jealousy grew once more as he was able to tell John and her had become close within the trial, and not only that, she was healing the wounded youths.
Even if Asuros was guaranteed to win, it was not clear how injured he would be at the end of the fight. Every Honorable Alliance youth healed and brought back to full combat strength was something that they could not afford, and so Kadin quickly sent some instructions through the group.
They could tell that Miko was guarding the group, but he was fatigued and injured from his battles with Amber and Asuros. He alone would not be able to stop them all.
The group of enemy youtsh started to make their way around John and Asuros’s battle towards the distant group, causing Miko and the others to frown as they noticed the enemy youths approaching.
Boom!
Boom!
Boom!
The ground trembled before the Honorable Alliance group as three burly figures landed powerfully. Dust and dirt kicked up but quickly faded away, revealing a sight that instantly stopped the enemy group in their tracks as their gazes turned grave once more.
Miko gazed at the three figures who had landed directly before him, and smiled as he noticed something.
“You finally finished your battle,” Miko said to the three Bobs as his gaze lingered on a massive severed head being held by one of them.
The Bob holding Zulos’s severed head turned around towards Miko, a look of slight disappointment on his face.
“Aye, but it was cut short due to the lightning attack that the kid in the distance unleashed. It didn’t kill Zulos, but it did enough damage for him to no longer be an interesting opponent,” Bob said while the two others nodded their heads in agreement, revealing their disgruntled attitudes, as it was incredibly rare to find an opponent like Zulos.
Their gaze shifted towards John, and Miko scoffed as he could instantly tell what they were thinking.
“John is an ally, so don’t even think about it,” Miko dismissed their growing battle lust, causing the three to become a bit disappointed, but their heated gazes shifted towards the distant group of youths, hoping they would approach.
“Just watch the battle,” Miko instructed the three of them as his gaze shifted back to John, whose battle continued to heat up against the terrifying Asuros. “You three might learn a thing or two of what it means to be truly strong!”