184 Overwhelming might (III)
Cain’s Astral Wave shocked the people that saw him. It was extremely dense, not matching that of a normal Wave Warrior. Increasing the quantity of your Wave was not hard by raising your level or training special cultivation techniques, but improving its quality was much more complicated.
The fighting intent expressed by Cain made all the Captains frown. They were extremely pleased with his original calmness and how he analyzed the situation, but wasn’t he now making the same mistake that Lurin?
“Aren’t you acting against your own words?”
Among the students from the Wave Universities, one of them was able to maintain a clear mind under Cain’s bursting might. It was not other than the youth with shining green hair, Dominic.
Those words made many students look at Cain with contempt as if he was a hypocrite, and many of the soldiers could not help but frown as well.
Cain only smiled as he saw all that, and his eyes bursting with red light focused on Dominic and Amos.
Such serenity made the duo frown. Even if Cain’s talent was as high as they were told, what bothered them more was the mental fortitude of this one.
“It is true, entering a mock fight before a war is beyond stupid, as your wounds could affect not only you but also the people fighting by your side.”
Cain confused many with those words. If he knew, then why would he enter a battle?
.....
“The reason why I chose to fight is simple. This person can not leave a single wound on my body.”
Utter silence reigned after that, as people could not believe what they had just heard. Cain and Jortar were at the same Level, and it was clear that the second could also unleash a battle power much greater than that.
Jortar grew furious as he clenched his fist. He would not lie and say that the battle against Cain would be easy, but the fact he could not leave a single wound was preposterous.
It was not only Jortar that grew angry but all the students as well. The young man was the N°1 Rising Roc, the mightiest of the 1st-year students in the entire Collapsing Lightning Sector.
Cain was saying that the best of them could not put a single hand on his body.
“I must say you are truly confident in your abilities, so how about we make this a little more interesting?” Dominic showed a smile as he hinted at a bet, and those around him also smiled.
It was not news that those that came from Wave Universities had much greater wealth than soldiers. After all, Noble Families would spare no expense in training their greatest geniuses.
Cain saw the students’ smiles and waved his hand without a word, making a pile of wave crystals emerge from his space ring.
The students’ smiles froze when they saw those wave crystals. It was more wealth than many of them had seen in their entire life.
“I bet 100 low-quality wave crystals. They have an estimated price of 1 million Imperial Military Credits.”
Dominic’s eyes widened as he saw that pile of wave crystals. He knew they were all real, and their worth was accurate.
To tell the truth, Dominic was not confident in Jortar’s chances, but he did not care about making a bet since he thought Cain could not possess much wealth. That was a mistake, and if he were to back down now, he would be making a fool of himself.
Dominic sent a poisonous stare in Cain’s direction before waving his hand, making three wave crystals appear.
Although they were far from the amount Cain took out, each of Dominic’s wave crystals shone with much great might. They were mid-quality wave crystals, and their value was not less than the one hundred low-quality of Cain.
“The bet is set then. Let the battle start.”
Cain sent the 100 wave crystals back into his ring before focusing on the young man in front of him.
Jortar could not help but grow nervous as he saw the massive bet put in this fight. Even though he had said nothing, he knew Dominic would blame him in case of a loss.
‘Dammit!’
Jortar cursed inside his mind before his Astral Wave exploded with even greater strength, and a rock armor formed around his body.
The students and soldiers saw how Jortar transformed into a 2.2-meter golem, and that was not all. Metal pipes formed on the golem’s back, legs, and arms.
Lurin’s eyes widened as he saw that, and he clenched his fist as he understood that Jortar had only been playing with him. He would have lost in less than a minute if this one had shown that form from the beginning of their fight.
Amos was also surprised by that golem since it was an ability that surpassed the capabilities of an average Wave Warrior and entered the realm of Wave Champions.
“That is one of the Hammer Family’s core techniques, Elemental Juggernaut. Jortar reached level 3 of that technique, something reserved for Wave Champion, thanks to the help of his Lineage.”
Dominic’s words clarify some of Amos’ doubts.
“I see. In that case, there is a chance that he could win this battle.”
Cain was also surprised by the sudden rise in power from Jortar, but everything was still under control. He activated Virtual Sight before pushing his Wave Burst to 2000% and generating his blood lightning.
Jortar focused on Cain and did not hesitate before charging to this one. Just as they were right next to each other, the metal pipes in the golem’s arms unleashed a flaming Astral Wave, granting its punch an immense burst in speed.
Everybody saw how Jortar unleashed a barrage of punches that moved at a startling speed, but what shocked them was how Cain dodged every single one easily.
Jortar did not lose focus. Right after sending a left hook, he ignited the metal pipes on his right leg and sent a vicious kick toward Cain’s waist.
That kick was more than three times faster than the punches, and many of them thought that Cain was doomed. Just in the last second, right as the kick was about to land, Cain made a small jump, dodging the attack and landing on Jortar’s back.
Jortar’s entire body grew tense as Cain had landed in the perfect position to release a vicious attack on his back, but to his surprise, nothing came. He was able to jump forward and turn around, only to see Cain waiting calmly.
Amos and Dominic showed cold expressions as they saw that. The reason why Cain did not attack Jortar’s back was not that he could not, but he did not want.
Jortar also understood that. Being looked down on by the enemy made an immense hatred emerge in his heart, and he immediately jumped back into the fray, sending attacks with more and more power.
The look on the students’ faces grew worse as the fight carried on. Cain was dodging every single one of Jortar’s blows.
After a minute, Jortar understood that he would not be able to defeat Cain in a direct fight, so he needed to use his mind.
Cain saw how Jortar jumped back before raising the Astral Wave on his body.
‘What is he trying to do?’
Virtual Sight could predict the enemy’s movements as long there was information about them in the [A.I. Chip Module]’s database. It could not anticipate techniques it did not know.
Finally, after a few seconds, Jortar’s Astral Wave reached its peak. He stomped the ground, generating a shock wave that shattered the earth in a radius of two hundred meters around him.
Cain lost his balance as the earth beneath his feet shattered to pieces, but that was the least of his problems since Jortar marched toward him at full speed.
The pipes on the golem’s back and legs acted at full power, and Jortar crossed his arms, transforming his body into a massive battering ram that flashed toward Cain at more than 300 km/h.
Cain knew he could not dodge since he lacked a stable surface, but he only showed a smile. He did not need to dodge that attack.
Just as Jortar was about to crash with Cain, everybody saw how the Astral Wave covering his body vanished. No matter if they were students or soldiers, none of them could understand what was happening.
The strength behind Jortar’s attack was dreadful, and if it were to land on Cain’s unprotected body, it could very well kill this one.
“?BOOM!”
An explosion echoed through the mountains as Jortar reached Cain. The next second, everybody saw a figure being blasted away.
“?Boom!” “?Boom!” “?Boom!”
The figure clashed against trees and rocks, shattering all of them in its path.
According to logic, the one that should have been sent flying away after the two clashed should have been Cain, but it was Jortat who was puking blood two hundred meters away.