Chapter 323: Clash of Champions (II)

Uhtred wound his way around Elion like a professional UFC fighter, and suddenly, Elion Silverwood found himself falling backward into a tight chokehold.

With a growl of utter rage, the elf immediately attempted to regain control, leveraging his higher Strength attribute to pry Uhtred off. He lifted Uhtred completely off his feet and swung him overhead, intending to slam him into the ground and finish the job.

But Uhtred anticipated the counter. He allowed himself to be thrown forward, deftly transitioning from a head lock into a leg lock.

For a split second mid-air, Elion Silverwood’s face was pinned directly between Uhtred’s thighs.

In that moment, a look of pure horror dawned in the elf’s eyes as he suddenly sensed an overwhelming shadow of death.

Positioned in that tight leg-lock, Uhtred had his right hand pointed straight at Elion Silverwood’s exposed face like a gun barrel. At the tips of his fingers, an orb packed with volatile energy — a violent yet symphonic mishmash of various elemental essence signatures — glowed dangerously.

Die, you fucking elf!

"No—!"

Uhtred let the Unified Elemental Spell sail. It crossed the short distance in a blink.

What followed was a violent explosion that flung Uhtred backward like a ragdoll. His head spun wildly, a sharp buzz ringing in his ear. His world was turned upside down from the shockwave. But distinctly, he was still able to process some distant thoughts.

What the hell happened...? he thought, dazed. His swimming vision locked onto where the headless figure of Elion Silverwood should have stood, and a slow, groggy frown couldn’t help but form on his face.

Huh...? That’s not right...

First off, Elion Silverwood’s body was standing far too distant compared to where they had just been fighting. That meant Uhtred’s body had been flung so violently that he had hurtled nearly a hundred meters from their battle site.

Second, and most importantly, even though Uhtred’s vision remained hazy, he could see Elion Silverwood’s figure still standing completely intact. He hadn’t even moved from his spot. Whatever Uhtred’s Unified Elemental Spell had struck, it certainly hadn’t been Elion.

Uhtred could hear muffled shouts. Almost in slow motion, he saw the figure of Eifrith Ra’Elis rush toward Elion Silverwood and shake him violently, yelling and trying to pull him away. It was clear the elf was stuck in some sort of stupor, needing external shock to react.

Whatever had intervened to save him at the last second couldn’t erase the terrifying experience of facing certain death at Uhtred’s hands.

Suddenly, two other figures appeared, descending from the sky — far more powerful ascenders, without a doubt. Uhtred didn’t recognize them, but he observed a heated altercation break out, as if the two elves were being sternly reprimanded.

Uhtred saw the two elves begin to leave and one of the two new figures heading towards him, but at that point, his attention had fully switched away from them and to his chat window where his multiversal audience were going crazy:

> TheStarTravelingDaoist: Isn’t this just daylight robbery?! The kid won fair and square but a Sponsor intervened at the last moment? Will the System just let this slide?!

> Anuran All-Mother of Fertility: @TheStarTravelingDaoist There’s no way the System won’t give severe penalties! Interfering in a Tower Climb like that, at such a crucial moment... It makes me wonder who exactly is that Elf’s Sponsor to be willing to take such a risk...

> Vengeful Grandmaster of Nyxos: @Anuran All-Mother of Fertility I don’t blame them for wanting to keep their Protege alive. The Elf has serious talent. A radiation mage... You don’t see many with that affinity, I reckon he’s a Legendary Grade talent for sure!

> Agile_Battlestar Grandmaster: @Vengeful Grandmaster of Nyxos Still doesn’t make interfering any less dishonorable. Just because he has a big shot Sponsor he gets to have a second chance at life?

> Serial_Troll_Nyx: @Agile_Battlestar Grandmaster Heh! It’s also the kid’s fault for not thinking about a Sponsor’s aid. If I were him, I would’ve anticipated that and created an attack to render their aid null before delivering my real strike on the elf!

> Godly_Fiend_Anjos: @Serial_Troll_Nyx Big talk and no show! Speaking as if you’re so mighty! Anyone can talk big behind a screen, but are you willing to back it up? You still haven’t answered my questions asking who you are! If you’re so mighty, reveal your location and let me come challenge you to see for myself!

> Thunderous_Lord_ReJolt: @Godly_Fiend_Anjos He’s just a stream warrior, confident only behind a screen. @Serial_Troll_Nyx Just tell us your star sector or even your galaxy. If you’re so ,mighty we’ll know who you are just from that!

.

.

As usual, the chat began on one topic before devolving into banter. However, Uhtred had still managed to glean a vital piece of information before they did: his Unified Elemental Spell had been tanked directly by Elion Silverwood’s Sponsor. That was why the backlash had been so brutal, leaving him thoroughly dazed.

From what his chat had just revealed, Elion’s Sponsor had to be a real big shot. He stepped in to prevent his Protege from certain death, and would definitely face some severe punishments from the System for it.

The realization filled Uhtred with bitter dissatisfaction. His mind had cleared compared to earlier; the rage and psychological discomfort from staying up all night fighting his Eternal bloodline’s side effects had been quelled by this fight, but he still felt dissatisfied that he didn’t get to finish off Elion Silverwood. That was a rank 20 ascender on the Scenario Leaderboard, for goodness’ sake!

Uhtred didn’t know how many points would’ve been given for such a kill, but he knew it definitely wouldn’t be small.

To have been robbed of that... one could understand his bitterness.

Suddenly, the figure walking toward him finally arrived, looking down at his dazed form.

Uhtred squinted up at the man. His vision had cleared enough to recognize that it was a human — a tremendously powerful one at that. Though the man consciously restrained his aura, Uhtred could tell he was no Nascent Realm ascender... he was an Awakened Realm powerhouse, without a doubt!

"I’d prefer to explain, but I’d rather just knock you out," the man said abruptly, raising his fist as a violent storm of lightning essence crackled around his arm.

The pressure was so terrifying that for a second, Uhtred felt no urge to fight back.

Then, snapping out of his brief resignation, he growled. Pushing his essence to its absolute limit despite his battered condition, he manifested Inferno Violence and launched one last, ruthless struggle.

"A manifest—?! No wonder that elf had so much trouble with you!" The man barked, flinching back from the intense heat in shock.

Uhtred scrambled to his feet to make a break for it... but it was futile. His Inferno Violence manifestation served only to spur the Awakened Realm powerhouse into taking him seriously, channeling even more essence into his strike to overpower him instantly.

A terrifying blow descended on Uhtred’s fleeing figure, dousing him in a massive surge of lightning current that knocked him unconscious before his body even hit the ground, his manifestation sputtering out into sparks.

"Damned Champions... anomalies left and right," the Awakened Realm powerhouse grunted, landing beside Uhtred’s limp body and hoisting him over his shoulder.

He glanced back toward the city gates, where the collateral damage from Uhtred and Elion Silverwood’s duel had left widespread carnage, before shifting his gaze skyward to fixate on a specific figure observing him from high above.

It was the other powerhouse who had appeared with him. Their eyes locked for a brief moment, then man scoffed, turned around, and retreated into the depths of the Brutal Wilderness, his destination unknown...