Chapter 555 - Match in the Ring

A massive ring was swiftly constructed. It spanned 10,000 kilometers in diameter, and arrays for infusing it with Dark Energy were hastily engraved across its surface. As the inscriptions activated, Dark Energy flooded the structure, and a strange, penetrating chill washed over the crowd even from afar.

The two coliseums dispatched their strongest forces. Faido sent his three Heavenrender life forms, seventy Earthsunder life forms, and twenty-five Sage life forms. He also activated his battle form and revealed his Divine Ring, which brimmed with the essence of 8,500 different beasts. Their heads writhed and snarled as if they were going to burst free from the Divine Ring.

Faido and his army advanced onto the ring at the same time as Han Wu. The latter led his forces at the front, while another Han Wu followed behind him.

The crowd thought they were seeing double.

Meanwhile, Faido immediately recognized the Origin of Mutation and felt a flicker of panic. It was a World life form, just like him, and demanded constant vigilance. Still, he burned with the desire to destroy it at any cost. After all, it had absorbed all four of his Divine Kings just to ascend into the World rank. That fact alone filled Faido with hatred down to his bones.

Seven Heavenrender life forms and ninety-two Earthsunder life forms trailed behind the Origin of Mutation. Outside of the ring, two more Earthsunder life forms waited on standby.

By sheer numbers, the Blood Coliseum held the advantage, yet the crowd continued cheering for Faido. In the Asura Coliseum, he was a legendary, undefeated fighter. Everyone present knew that.

Han Wu also studied Faido’s army, but no matter how many times he counted, he found only ninety-nine combatants.

He was perplexed.

Has the Asura Coliseum been weakened so badly they can’t even gather 100 fighters? But there are still a few Asura Sage life forms outside of the ring...

The referee stepped onto the stage and announced the rules. Although they were standard rules governing combat within the ring, Han Wu still listened carefully, unwilling to risk missing anything important.

After announcing the rules, the referee stood to the edge of the ring. Only the two opposing forces remained.

“Brat, today will be the day you die,” Faido growled. Aside from himself and his three Heavenrender life forms, the rest of his army charged forward.

Han Wu’s side responded in kind. Other than him, the Origin of Mutation, and the seven Heavenrender life forms, the remaining Earthsunder life forms all attacked at once.

The death match erupted into a bloody melee. Earthsunder life forms were incredibly powerful, and at this level of intensity, even their attacks’ aftershocks carried devastating force.

The crowd went wild.

Han Wu observed his units and noted how valiantly they fought. Under the Heart Eater Sacred Object set’s effects, his core race exceeded their normal limits. Even though the Asura army was formidable, its weakness was swiftly exposed. The Blood Earthsunder life forms swiftly killed the twenty-five Asura Sage life forms, and the battle soon turned into a brutal imbalance, with the Blood combatants ganging up on the Asura combatants.

What began as two against one escalated into three or even four against one. Most of Han Wu’s units were the Sanguine Combatants. As members of the same race, they fought with exceptional coordination and seamless synergy. They slew many of Faido’s Earthsunder life forms, and blood stained half of the black ring.

Faido remained unfazed, even as his units were falling.

Han Wu and the Origin of Mutation didn’t dare to advance while Faido stood still. They waited patiently until all of Faido’s Earthsunder units had been wiped out.

Only then did Faido break the silence. “Whelp, do you think you’ve won?”

Han Wu chuckled. “I don’t think so. Not unless I’ve killed you.”

Zi Jin scoffed. “Brat, don’t even think about it. Faido is immortal, that means you will never win.”

The other two Heavenrender life forms remained silent, but they were confident that Faido would ultimately win.

Faido continued, “Brat, you must have your reasons for infusing this ring with the power of Darkness. You should probably use your hidden card now, while you still can.”

Something felt wrong to Han Wu. By all logic, he held the advantage. Aside from himself and the Origin of Mutation, he still had seven Heavenrender and seventy-two Earthsunder life forms. The disparity in strength was overwhelming.

Why is Faido so calm?

The question gnawed at him.

Does he have a hidden card?

Han Wu couldn’t find the answer, but unease crept in all the same. From that moment on, he grew cautious with every move, wary of Faido’s trap.

Still, since Faido wanted him to use his strongest move, there was no reason to continue holding back. “Time to fight!”

At his command, all of his Earthsunder units raised their arms. Huge streams of energy formed from darkness and blood gathered in their hands. With the ring’s special darkness array, Han Wu could absorb Dark Energy several times faster than usual.

He drew on that power and converted it into energy armor for his seven Heavenrender units. Each unit received armor that synergized with its innate attribute. Though formed from pure energy, the armor could withstand many blows and even block a fatal strike once. Han Wu achieved this effect after researching Conversion for some time.

Once the Earthsunder units had transferred their energy, they held no further value on the stage. Han Wu ordered them to leave the ring. One by one, they stepped out and were disqualified from the match.

The massive black ring was left with Han Wu’s elite units, each of whom had the overall power to defeat at least 200 Earthsunder units alone.

“Time for the real fight. Kill them,” Han Wu commanded.

Apart from Han Wu himself, the Origin of Mutation, and the Umbral Mouse, the remaining six Heavenrender life forms charged forward and surrounded Faido and his three Heavenrender units.

Their powers resonated through the ring’s array, forming a powerful seal. Crushing pressure descended on Faido and his three Heavenrender life forms. They felt like mountains were pressing down on their backs.

Han Wu could already hear the sound of cracking bones from the three Heavenrender life forms. They couldn’t resist the seal’s power.

At that moment, Faido let out a chuckle. “Brat, is this your full strength? If that’s all you have, you can die now.”