CHAPTER 2509: THE UNYIELDING ADVERSARY
“Ha ha ha… We won! Master Ironheart won!”
“Finally defeated that guy, Master Ironheart is unbeatable!”
“To be able to fight Master Ironheart for so long, he is honorable in defeat!”
...
The entire arena erupted in cheers as the Golden-Eyed Vajra slammed Father Adam into the stage with a powerful palm strike.
A wave of applause came from the Dragonmarsh audience, who stood up to show their admiration for Master Ironheart.
The first battle of the day had been nothing short of spectacular and fierce.
Both sides had gone head-to-head, with every punch landing with bone-crushing intensity, creating an electrifying atmosphere.
The audience watched with bated breath, hearts pounding with excitement.
This was the kind of showdown true warriors should have.
“Whew… Is it finally over?”
Master Ironheart wiped the sweat from his forehead, feeling a wave of relief wash over him.
Although the final move had drained him significantly, he had successfully defeated his opponent. It was all worth it.
*Crack… Crack, crack…*
Just as the audience was celebrating, the pile of rubble in the center of the stage began to tremble.
The stones at the top slowly slid down, producing a faint rustling sound.
“Huh?”
Master Ironheart frowned, an uneasy feeling creeping up his spine.
The next second, with a loud *bang*, the pile of rubble exploded.
A cloud of dust floated down like a gentle rain.
Emerging from the dust, clad in black scales and with blood-red eyes, was Father Adam.
“Heh heh heh…”
Father Adam chuckled sinisterly, his once normal eyes now transformed into beast-like vertical slits, gleaming red and ferocious.
He looked like a demon incarnate.
*Crack… Crack, crack…*
With each step Father Adam took, the broken scales and wounds on his body began to heal at an astonishing speed.
By the time he walked out of the pit, Father Adam was completely restored, and his aura was even more menacing than before.
“You… you’re still alive?”
Master Ironheart’s eyes widened in disbelief.
He had used every ounce of his strength in that last strike, deploying the most powerful technique he had ever learned.
No one below the level of a Grandmaster should have been able to withstand it.
He couldn’t fathom why his opponent was still standing.
At that moment, it wasn’t just Master Ironheart who was in shock; the entire audience was also dumbfounded.
The cheers and applause abruptly ceased, and everyone stared in astonishment, unable to comprehend what they were witnessing.
They had all seen clearly that Master Ironheart’s final palm strike was like the force of a mountain crashing down, unstoppable.
Even the black stone stage had been smashed into a deep pit.
CHAPTER 2510: THE UNYIELDING ADVERSARY
By all accounts, Father Adam, who had taken a direct hit, should have been reduced to a bloody pulp.
How is it possible that he’s unscathed now?
How terrifying is this guy’s defense?!
“Forcing me to reveal my second form… You’re indeed impressive, but sadly, you were just a bit short,” Father Adam sneered, exposing razor-sharp teeth. “You’ve fought long enough. Now, it’s my turn!”
With that, Father Adam vanished in a flash, moving so quickly that ordinary warriors couldn’t even see him.
“Watch your back!”
A warning rang out from the crowd.
Master Ironheart's expression changed. Instinctively, he began to turn and throw a punch.
But halfway through his turn, he heard a sickening *squelch*. A sharp claw had pierced through his chest.
The claw had entered from his back and emerged from his chest, with scarlet blood dripping from its fingers.
At first, there were only a few drops, but soon the blood flowed faster and more profusely.
“Ugh…”
Master Ironheart trembled, his body rigid with shock.
His eyes widened in disbelief as he looked down at the claw protruding from his chest, his mind blank.
In a daze, he seemed to see something crimson throbbing within the claw.
“Is that… my heart?”
A thought flashed through Master Ironheart’s mind.
He strained to see what the claw was holding.
In the next instant, the claw clenched, crushing the object in its grip.
In that moment, Master Ironheart felt all his strength drain away. His body went limp, and his vision blurred.
Until everything turned black.
“The scent of blood is truly delightful,” Father Adam grinned. He then flicked his wrist, sending Master Ironheart’s lifeless body flying dozens of meters away, where it crashed heavily off the stage.
*Thud!*
A dull sound echoed.
Master Ironheart’s body lay like a discarded rag doll, spilling blood and staining the ground red.
Silence…
The entire arena fell silent.
Everyone stared in shock at Master Ironheart’s corpse, eyes wide with disbelief.
They couldn’t believe that the revered Master Ironheart, who had seemed so close to victory moments ago, was now a lifeless body.
The abruptness of it all left everyone stunned.
The so-called invincible, indestructible Master Ironheart had just been killed?
And in a single move?
How… is this possible?
CHAPTER 2511: A SHOCKING TURN OF EVENTS
The death of Master Ironheart left the entire audience in shock.
What they had assumed would be an easy victory turned into an unexpected and baffling outcome.
“Huh?”
Judge Jeremy frowned slightly as he looked at the body below the stage.
He hadn’t anticipated that a heavily injured Father Adam could unleash such lethal force.
To take down Master Ironheart in a single move was something even he struggled to comprehend.
Though it was understood that blades and fists have no eyes and that life and death are decided by fate in the arena, losing a top-tier warrior from Dragonmarsh was a significant loss.
“This priest has some tricks up his sleeve. To think he still hadn’t gone all out yet, quite impressive,” murmured Darkbane, who was seated in the main viewing area, eyes narrowed thoughtfully.
He had observed the entire fight closely. From start to finish, the priest had only used his physical strength, clearly holding back his true capabilities.
“Hmph! Just a freak neither fully human nor ghost. He won’t make much of a splash,” Nolan scoffed, his face showing disdain.
The Western world’s obsession with bizarre experiments, like genetic serums and body modifications, might boost combat power temporarily, but it’s still a side path. Against true masters, it’s not worth mentioning.
“If I’m not mistaken, the three foreign contestants today are all from the Western Pantheon, right?” Spencer remarked calmly. “It looks like they’re using this martial arts tournament as a chance to make a statement against us at Dragon Tiger Mountain!”
Her voice was calm, but his eyes glinted with anger.
That priest had been hiding his strength all along, draining Master Ironheart just to strike a fatal blow at the critical moment.
Master Ironheart had been exceptionally talented and perceptive, with the potential to become a Grandmaster. His death in the arena was a significant loss for Dragonmarsh.
“If the Pantheon dares to send their dogs to bite, then today, we’ll make sure those dogs don’t return!” Evelyn Morgan said coldly.
Darkbane and Nolan exchanged a glance, coming to a silent agreement.
If a fight was to be had, the external enemies had to be dealt with first.
“First match, contestant number 32 wins!”
After a moment of silence, Judge Jeremy finally announced the result.
There were only a few scattered claps in the audience. Most people chose to remain silent.
If it had been just an ordinary win or loss, they wouldn’t have felt so dejected.
But the issue now was that Master Ironheart had not only lost but had also lost his life.
CHAPTER 2512: THE DUEL OF TWO AMAZONS
In such circumstances, who could possibly be happy?
After the first match concluded, Jeremy quickly had Master Ironheart’s body taken away and called for a team to repair the arena.
The arena, made of black-gold stone, was not only hard but also easy to repair. By pouring heated black-gold liquid into the pits and cracks, and letting it cool for five minutes, the damaged arena would be as good as new.
“Now, we will begin the second match. Will contestants number 2 and number 31 please come to the stage!”
After a brief pause, Jeremy announced again.
As soon as he finished speaking, two women rose from the audience, walking towards the stage from opposite sides.
The woman on the left wore red combat attire, was tall, had a cool demeanor, and held a long spear. She looked valiant and had the aura of a warrior princess.
She was Crimson Blade, one of Darkbane’s direct disciples.
The woman on the right wore a black dress, had a voluptuous figure, an enchanting smile, and exuded a natural allure with every movement, captivating the audience’s attention.
Her appearance immediately drew the gaze of every man in the audience, especially the younger ones with less self-control, who were left breathless and staring.
To them, this woman was utterly mesmerizing.
“I recognize the woman in red on the left. She’s Crimson, the senior disciple of the World Society. But who is the woman in black?”
“Who knows? She’s stunning. Just enjoy the show!”
“…”
The entry of the two female warriors reignited the previously subdued atmosphere. Most eyes, however, were fixed on the woman in black.
Her swaying hips were truly captivating.
“Is it really her?”
Upon seeing the woman in black, Dustin raised an eyebrow in surprise.
He hadn’t paid much attention during the drawing of lots but now realized an old acquaintance was here.
The woman in black was Azalea, whom he had met in Balermo a year ago.
Originally a disciple of the Venerable Dark Lord, a traitor of the Mystic Arts Order, Azalea had later turned over a new leaf and became a bodyguard for Abigail.
When Abigail awakened her Phoenix bloodline and was taken to the Mystic Arts Order, Azalea also became a disciple of the sect.
Azalea was highly skilled in disguise and enchantment, having almost deceived him several times.
A year later, they met again.
Azalea’s skills had advanced by leaps and bounds, making her a martial arts master.
It seemed following Abigail had made her a key figure in the Mystic Arts Order.
This martial arts tournament was likely her moment to make a name for herself.
CHAPTER 2513: THE DUEL BEGINS
"Look! Crimson Blade is on stage!"
"Crimson has been honing her skills for ten years. This time, she will definitely make a name for herself!"
"Go, Crimson! Bring glory to our World Society!"
...
Seeing the imposing figure of Crimson on the stage, the disciples of the World Society began cheering fervently.
The World Society has always been revered as the number one faction in Dragonmarsh. As disciples of the World Society, they naturally carried a sense of pride.
To them, every elite warrior of the World Society was inherently superior to those from other factions.
"With Crimson in the match, we should have this one in the bag," Liana said with a confident smile from the audience.
Given Crimson's strength, if she were facing some well-known prodigies, she might not be as confident. But her opponent was merely an obscure young female martial artist.
To Crimson, such an opponent posed no real threat.
"The opponent seems to be from the Mystic Arts Order. We still shouldn't underestimate her," Lara cautioned with a slight shake of her head.
If it was purely a contest of martial arts and cultivation, Crimson indeed had the upper hand. But the opponent was a disciple of the Mystic Arts Order, whose methods were often mysterious and unpredictable.
Any lapse in caution could lead to unexpected outcomes.
"So the opponent is from the Mystic Arts Order? This will be interesting," Vincent remarked with keen interest.
The Mystic Arts Order was one of the three major sects and the most mysterious among them. Its disciples not only possessed profound cultivation but were also well-versed in various sorcery and witchcraft.
It was this mystery that made them so formidable.
Generally speaking, unless absolutely necessary, no faction wanted to be at odds with the Mystic Arts Order.
"Are both contestants ready?" Jeremy looked to his left and right. After seeing both nod, he announced loudly, "If there are no objections, the match begins now!"
With that, Jeremy gracefully exited the stage, giving the two ample space to showcase their skills.
"World Society—Crimson Blade!" Clad in red combat attire, Crimson pointed her long spear at the ground. Her expression was cold, and her voice was firm and powerful.
"Mystic Arts Order—Azalea, at your service," Azalea clasped her hands and smiled innocently.
"I won't hold back in this fight. Be careful," Crimson warned coldly.
"Please," Azalea nodded slightly, her expression unchanged.
"Buzz~!"
With a twist of her wrist, Crimson lunged forward without any superfluous words. The thrust of her spear was straightforward and swift, with a hint of silver light around the tip, creating a strong wind as it moved.
CHAPTER 2514: A CLASH OF SKILLS
Seeing this, Azalea curled her lips into a sly smile and suddenly pulled out a coiled long whip from her waist.
With a flick of her wrist, the whip cracked through the air with a resounding "snap."
The whip, like a striking serpent, lashed out swiftly towards Crimson’s waist.
The saying "an inch longer, an inch stronger" held true. While Crimson's spear had a significant advantage against ordinary weapons, it was at a disadvantage against the longer reach of a whip.
Before her spear could reach its target, she was already within Azalea’s striking range.
The most crucial part was the barbs on Azalea's whip. If it entangled her and Azalea pulled hard, it would rip her flesh apart.
"Hmm?"
Crimson raised an eyebrow and immediately shifted her stance, changing her thrust to a block.
The whip wrapped around the spear shaft, coiling around it like a snake.
Azalea pulled the whip, attempting to disarm Crimson.
"How dare you!"
Crimson's eyes flashed with determination. Instead of retreating, she advanced, using the force of the whip's pull to adjust her spear and launch an even fiercer attack towards Azalea’s throat.
Surprise flickered in Azalea’s eyes. She hadn’t expected Crimson to react so quickly, using the force against her to not only break free but also to counterattack.
Such combat intelligence far surpassed many martial arts masters.
Despite her surprise, Azalea’s movements did not falter.
In close combat, the whip was less effective, but she had other techniques.
"Swish, swish, swish..."
With a flick of her wrist, a multitude of poisoned needles shot out from Azalea’s sleeves, aiming directly at Crimson.
Crimson's pupils contracted, forcing her to abandon her attack. She spun her spear rapidly, creating a vortex of qi in front of her.
The vortex sucked in all the poisoned needles, neutralizing their threat.
The spear's rotation grew faster and the vortex larger.
Once all the needles were absorbed, Crimson guided the vortex with her spear, swirling it through the air before directing it towards Azalea.
"Swish, swish, swish..."
The poisoned needles flew back at Azalea with even greater speed and ferocity.
In a reflexive response, Azalea formed a shield of qi in front of her.
"Ding, ding, ding..."
The needles clashed against the qi shield, sparking upon impact. The sheer force forced Azalea back several steps.
In this initial exchange, Crimson's superior combat experience clearly gave her the upper hand.
"Break!"
Crimson seized the moment, thrusting her spear forward like a dragon, moving with blinding speed.
what's next? zombies?
someone should help with the name of the sword 
