75 Who Would Win?

Todd gave Oli a once over and chuckled to think that a high-novice dared talk in such a way to him, one of the strongest peak-novices in all of Prodson College.

"If you think I'm afraid of a stupid beast that's not even at my cultivation level, you're insane!" yelled Todd. "I'll gladly accept your challenge."

"Very well." Oli smiled and started walking down toward the battle stage.

The crowd was excited. They would get to see a death battle after all, and it was between geniuses of two different territories and regions.

"We can't accept your terms for a death battle!"

Angered by his teacher's sudden statement, Todd yelled, "What do you mean?! Just let me kill that stupid ape and then--"

"It wouldn't be you killing that young gorilla, but the young gorilla killing you," Hurdo chimed in, startling Todd. "Be thankful that your teacher is wise enough to recognize our young master's strength."

Hearing that Oli was the gorilla clan's young master confirmed the thoughts of the visiting dignitaries. That young ape must have had special grooming and training since it was a baby. There was no other conclusion they come to as for why Oli was so strong.

"Todd, we'll let you fight the ape but it cannot be a battle to the death," yelled the teacher.

"How about this, we'll each get one attack on the other. However causes the most damage to the other wins," stated Oli. "Loser must kowtow three times to the winner's elders and admit they are unworthy to speak their names. Are those terms suitable?"

Again, all eyes were on Oli. His unbridled confidence spoke volumes, even more so after Todd's own teacher refused the deathmatch.

"What?! You dare ask such a thing?!"

"If you're already imagining yourself bowing to my elders, then you've already lost," laughed Oli. "If you don't dare to fight me, then shut up and get out of our territory."

That overbearing tone sent chills downs the crowd's spines.

Those who were from the Iron Territory were thrilled to hear Oli's confident challenges. They were all proud of the Iron-body Gorilla young master and believe in his strength.

All of those visiting hesitated. With Oli's insane confidence, their own confidence was starting to waver. They wondered if their young geniuses could match up to that brilliant young gorilla.

Todd's teacher grunted, unhappy with Oli's newest challenge. But he said nothing, not wanting to influence his student's heart and possibly affect his cultivation in the future. Sadly, though, he didn't have much hope for Todd.

"Fine then, hurry down here so I can see you grovel before my teacher!"

Since Todd accepted and his teacher had no objection, Oli finally walked down to the stage and calmly stood opposite Todd. "This is your final chance to reject my challenge. The moment this match starts, there's no escaping your own humiliation."

"Shut up!"

Flames gathered all around Todd's body, burning with a lot more intensity than it had before against the young lizard.

The crowds felt like the air was melting against there skin, leaving them all covered in sweat. It was clear to everyone that Todd hadn't gone all out against the lizard in his last fight. Now, they'd finally see him in all his fury and Todd was holding anything back this time.

Yatsu saw Todd terrifying flames and shook his head. He really wasn't worthy of being compared to Todd, at least not in terms of attack strength.

"Don't worry yourself Yatsu, that boy will get what's coming to him."

When his chief said those words, Yatsu was startled. Turning to the old lizard, Yatsu asked, "Master, that human has terrible fire essence strength yet you seem so calm. Is that gorilla really so strong that you think he'll win?"

"I don't think he'll win…" The chief's reply let Yatsu calm down a little, feeling better that he wouldn't be outclassed again. But then the chief continued, "I don't think he'll win, I think he'll dominate."

Taken aback, Yatsu watched carefully.

Those students who fought in the tournament all watched with amazement in their eyes. It was clear that Todd's strength with fire essence was explosive and could threaten almost all of their lives.

The only student who was unfazed, besides Oli and his friends, was Karos. He watched closely, but the young lynx was more interested in Oli's counter than Todd's attack. Sensing the fire essence from Todd, Karos felt that his lightning could match its destructive power, yet Oli had somehow managed to overcome still. And now that Oli had become a high-novice, Karos didn't doubt Oli's victory in the slightest.

"What's the matter? Are you too scared to even release your essence?!" Todd was infuriated when he noticed that Oli still was reacting to his growing flame. "If you think this is all I've got, then think again!"

Flames danced around the young man's body. Heat dominated the colosseum, forcing everyone to pay Todd special attention.

"If you're done charging up, just throw it already," yelled Oli, shrugging his shoulders casually.

"Why you… Just die!"

Todd finally threw the fireball. It was massive, spanning almost four meters in size and consisting of all the essence Todd had in his body.

"Right, now I'll show you what real strength is!" Earth essence surrounded Oli and quickly condensed into his hands as a hammer.

Without hesitation, Oli leaped forward at the fireball and swung his Earthen Hammer art right at the fireball's center.

When the two attacks collided, a fiery explosion covered the battle stage, giving Todd and those from the Prodson Territory hope. But that hope was dashed as Oli reappeared on the other side of the fireball, his hammer still intact.

"I've won. You lost."

Those few words rocked the hearts of everyone. Many of them had a hunch that Oli would win the match but none of them thought it would be such a landslide victory.

"Impossible!" Todd yelled in disbelief. "You-you must've cheated and used a weapon while in the fireball!"

"Do you want to go again?"

As Oli's question sounded out, the head of his hammer almost doubled in size and narrowed to a point at the end.

That was when everyone understood that Oli had yet to go all out, but he had still managed to easily destroy Todd's strongest attack. If Todd's teacher hadn't stopped them from having a deathmatch, they all imagined what the obvious conclusion would have been.

Todd felt the same way. He was grateful for his teacher's interference, but he still didn't want to admit that he lost by such a large margin.

"The winner is Oli!" Hurdo declared the winner and looked to the baffled Todd. "I believe you have a few things to say to us."

The other three gorilla instructors stepped up onto the platform, waiting for Todd to bow before them.

Unwilling to live up to his word, Todd yelled. "Fine, you win!" With that, he turned around and was about to jump off the stage.

"Where do you think you're going?"

That voice startled Todd. It was Oli's yet now it was much closer and he sensed a threat to his life.

"AAHHH!!"

"CRACK!"

Everyone was blown away by Oli's sudden reaction to Todd's refusal to comply. Instead of arguing with Todd, Oli immediately charged at him and shattered one of the young man's legs using his hammer. It was too cruel for such a young cultivator to do, yet Oli had done it without hesitation.

"Do I need to break the other leg to make kneeling easier? Or will you finally comply?" Oli threatened him, holding his Earthen Hammer to the side of Todd's good leg.

"That's enough! The match is already over!" Furious, Todd's teacher jumped to Todd's rescue.

Too bad for him that he was intercepted by two early perennial gorillas. They stood in front of him, not saying a word but forcing him to stand down with their presence alone.

"Say it! If you don't hurry up and start kowtowing then I'll think you need help and I'll break your other leg."

Anger was rising inside of Todd to new levels. He had never hated someone so much in his life.

"Final warning. Three, two, one--"

"Master gorillas!" Todd yelled as he finally gave in. "I'm sorry for what I've said. I'm unworthy to mention your names."

He knelt and bowed to the ground three times, fulfilling his word.

"Good, now get out of my territory." Oli hopped off the stage and walked back to his friends, letting Todd be carried away by his teacher.

"We'll remember this."

With a few last words, those from the Prodson Territory fled and didn't bother looking back. They were too embarrassed.

With suspense over, the crowd started to settle down again. It was hard for them to think that Oli wasn't even a peak-novice yet, and it made them fear what he might become in the future. If he grew unchecked, there was a chance that he could become a threat if provoked.