Chapter 211: A Kill in One Strike

This scene made the others burst into laughter, and for a moment, the tense atmosphere eased quite a bit.

"Alright, alright, Leiqier, things haven't reached that point yet. After all, we still have quite a few trump cards we haven't used, don't we?" Luo Yu habitually tapped the table, stopping the eager-to-try Leiqier.

Upon hearing this, Leiqier retracted his fists and said, "But Captain, do you really have confidence? Shrek's freaks, plus those two people's Martial Soul Fusion Skill, and that captain who is like a tyrannosaurus—not to mention that pair from the Tang Sect who were the champions of the previous tournament."

"Rest assured, the reason I called you all here this time is precisely for this matter. Actually, what you are concerned about is nothing more than how we will respond. Before I analyze it, I want to ask you a few questions. These questions will also determine the tactical style I arrange for you in the future. Jing Peng, you go first."

A young man with short, pale gold hair and a face full of seriousness—he was slightly shorter than Luo Yu, standing about 1.7 meters tall, with black eyes that showed not the slightest ripple from beginning to end—stood up immediately after hearing Luo Yu call his name.

"Jing Peng, as a Defense System Soul Engineer, if you encounter the Shrek captain about to break through our defenses, and you only have two choices: first, block all the attacks, but you are highly likely to completely lose your combat capability or even die. Second, dodge this attack and coordinate with teammates to guide this attack to someone who can take it, such as me. Jing Peng, tell me, is your choice the first or the second?"

"The first option would lead to our team losing its protection and facing the possibility of the entire team's defeat. The consequence of the second option is that our team will similarly fall into a crisis, and even I might lose my combat capability under the opponent's attack."

Looking at this young man before him, who was not tall but had inherited the combat style of Mijia back in Mingde Hall, Luo Yu wanted to know if he would, like Mijia did when dealing with Ma Xiaotao and Dai Yaoheng back then, wear heavy armor and forcibly withstand their fierce blow.

"I choose the first." Jing Peng was silent for a moment, then continued, "I have watched that battle from five years ago. If it weren't for that guy named Su Yu unleashing a Martial Soul Fusion Skill, the Sun Moon Empire would absolutely not have lost that final battle. Captain, I understand what you mean. As a Defense System Soul Engineer, even if I die, I will die before you all. Unless they beat me to death on the competition stage, I will absolutely not take a single step back!"

His words were also the inner voice of every participating team member present.

Why had the Sun Moon Empire always been defeated by Shrek for eight thousand years? Why couldn't they win just once?

This was a history of humiliation, a history of defeat for which they would rather sacrifice their lives to fight...

The Hall Masters from decades ago, they themselves decades later, and those generations of seniors...

…………

A tear dropped onto the surface of the conference table. Jing Peng's eyes were slightly red as he clenched his fists and looked at Luo Yu, "Captain, we will win, right?"

"We will, we definitely will..." Luo Yu couldn't help but feel a slight emotion in his heart; this was the spirit inherited by the Sun Moon Empire for ten thousand years.

Yes, we will not lose!

Because this time, I need to use this battle to help me step into the upper echelons of the Sun Moon Empire faster, until I can become a trusted minister of Xu Tianran. Only in this way can my plan be thoroughly unfolded.

The subsequent questions undoubtedly received a nearly similar answer, because they were all prepared to sacrifice themselves. For them, this was a life-or-death battle, a battle that required their lives to defend their honor!

"Ten days from now, what we need to face is the Shrek Academy representative team. If it isn't the Shrek team, then it will be the Tang Sect's representative team. This point is already obvious. If we encounter the Tang Sect's representative team, the worst possibility is that Huo Yu Hao, who also studies the Body Sect's unique arts, is even stronger than Su Yu, or that there are other Martial Soul Fusion Skills in their team. However, these are not the most important things."

Speaking of this, Luo Yu looked at Xiao Hongchen and Meng Hongchen and continued, "As those of you who have already fought them, if you face them again, and we do not use the Soul Guidance Protective Barrier, what percentage of certainty do you two have that you can defeat Huo Yu Hao and Bei Bei when they join forces?"

"This..." Xiao Hongchen and Meng Hongchen hesitated.

"Alright, since this question is hard to answer, I'll change it. Do you think your Red Dust Attachment can be stronger than the Nether White Tiger, which is at the same rank as you?" Luo Yu continued to ask. This time, the question felt more stressful than before.

Drip.

A drop of nervous sweat fell onto the floor of the conference room, appearing particularly oppressive in this silent space.

"I'm not sure about this, but..." A flash of light appeared in Xiao Hongchen's eyes as he continued, "Although I don't have absolute certainty to defeat the Nether White Tiger head-on, I think, at the very least, Meng Hongchen and I will not lose to them. As for why, I can tell you, there is no why!"

"Luo Yu, believe that even if we face any team you mentioned, we will not lose!" Meng Hongchen stood up proudly, just like the first time she stood on the competition stage back then—arrogant and confident.

The two of them were geniuses who were arrogant and conceited by nature. Even if placed in Shrek's Inner Court, they would be among those standing at the top of the pyramid. The sad thing was that in the original story, they happened to encounter the cheat-using Huo Yu Hao.

Looking at the two who had regained their confidence, Luo Yu didn't say anything more. He watched as everyone swept away their previous gloom, all of them rubbing their hands, looking forward to the finals ten days later.

Perhaps this was the spirit the Sun Moon Empire had inherited for countless generations; it existed in the Hall Master, in the Hongchen Family, and in every student of the Sun Moon Empire...

"The subsequent matters are left to you. Ten days later, I will lead you to face Shrek and thoroughly defeat them on the arena. I will use my actions to tell the world a truth: the era belonging to Shrek has passed! The future will surely belong to our Sun Moon Empire!"

…………

The next day.

"Individual knockout round, the first participating member from both sides, take the stage!"

Following the referee's order, a tall and sturdy young man from the Sun Moon Battle Team jumped onto the competition stage first. Looking at Leiqier, who was nearly two meters tall with exaggerated muscles under his clothes, the opponent's gaze froze.

Today's opponent was a sect called the Tianjia Sect. If Luo Yu were here right now, he would definitely denounce what is called the butterfly effect.

"Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy, Leiqier."

"Tianjia Sect, Han Yu."

After listening to the referee's cookie-cutter rules, both sides stepped back to prepare for the match.

Looking at Han Yu opposite him, Leiqier no longer had the excitement he felt during his first competition.

My goal is not just to defeat you, but to defeat the Shrek Battle Team and those guys from the Tang Sect. One day, I will make the Captain's words a reality. You will pay the price for your contempt.

An exquisite short Soul Guidance Dagger appeared in Leiqier's hand. A strong fighting spirit instantly burst out between the two. In Leiqier's light blue eyes, Han Yu's stunned expression was reflected.

"The match begins!" the referee ordered.

Leiqier dashed out at a speed that was completely mismatched with his physique. No one expected that this muscular man with an exaggerated build was actually an Agility Attack System Soul Master. Not only did Han Yu not expect it, but the Tang Sect Battle Team and Shrek Battle Team, who were observing the Sun Moon Battle Team from outside the arena, were also slightly stunned.

Two yellow, two purple, one black.

Five Soul Rings rose rapidly from under Leiqier's feet. The First Spirit Ring lit up quickly, and then Leiqier's speed soared, rushing toward Han Yu at an extremely exaggerated speed.

Soul King!

Han Yu did not dare to be careless and quickly released his martial soul. It was the familiar Soul Ring configuration: two yellow, two purple, one black.

The subsequent battle made everyone from the Shrek Battle Team and the Tang Sect feel the pressure increase significantly, because the following battle completely overturned their previous judgment of the Sun Moon Battle Team's strength.

Pieces of interlocking hexagonal armor plates shot out from Han Yu's body instantly, then condensed in front of him, turning into a hexagonal shield. Before Han Yu could make any follow-up moves, Leiqier had already used the powerful propulsion provided by his Flying Soul Guidance Device to rush in front of Han Yu.

Clang!

A crisp sound rang out. The seventh-level Soul Guidance Dagger in Leiqier's hand stabbed onto Han Yu's martial soul shield. Before Han Yu could counterattack, Leiqier's strike retreated, instantly opening up the distance from Han Yu.

"No, this Leiqier is an Agility Attack System Battle Soul Master, but his weapon is actually a Soul Guidance Device. Wait, how is this kind of combat so..." Huo Yu Hao looked at these scenes, feeling somewhat incredulous.

This combat style was clearly completely different from the previous battles of the Sun Moon Battle Team!

This combination gave him the illusion of returning to the Shrek students' choice of combining martial souls with Soul Guidance.

"Captain, can Leiqier really defeat Han Yu?" Watching Leiqier, who was constantly being forced back on the arena, Lu Jiuyu said somewhat nervously.

Luo Yu didn't answer him, saying indifferently, "No rush. Haven't you noticed that Leiqier hasn't used any other Soul Guidance Devices until now?"

Jing Peng also reacted and stammered, "Captain, you mean..."

"Alright, alright, no wonder you aren't as good as Leiqier. Watch carefully and learn. A few years ago, I said that Soul Guidance Devices would be the mainstream of the future. Likewise, you also need to understand how to use Soul Guidance Devices correctly." Luo Yu didn't say anything more and continued to look at the arena.

The Tianjia Sect's martial souls were basically Tianjia Shields. Fortunately, relying on the powerful defense of the Tianjia Shield, Leiqier's attacks, apart from leaving many shallow marks on the surface of the Tianjia Shield, did not cause much impact on Han Yu himself at all.

"Szzzt!"

A harsh, grating sound rang out once more, and a deep gouge was carved into the surface of the Tianjia Shield. Han Yu could not dodge in time, and half of his sleeve was sliced off by the sharp Soul Guidance Dagger. At the same time, the Second Soul Ring on Han Yu's body lit up, and sixteen hexagonal armor plates flew out suddenly, heading straight for Leiqier.

Dodge, defend, counterattack.

Relying solely on a single Soul Guidance Dagger, Leiqier completed this series of actions; utilizing his speed advantage, Leiqier dodged the attack from Han Yu's Second Soul Skill.

Taking advantage of his Second Soul Skill, Han Yu increased the distance between himself and Leiqier. Before Leiqier could launch another attack, the surface of the scattered Tianjia Shield plates ignited with flames, and with a piercing whistle, they swept rapidly toward Leiqier.

Clang!

After raising his dagger to block the first incoming armor plate, two blue-purple flames ignited behind Leiqier. Utilizing the power of his Flying Soul Guidance Device, he increased his altitude from the ground while simultaneously dodging the sixteen Meteor Fire Armors. The blue-purple exhaust flames provided Leiqier with powerful propulsion, causing his speed to climb rapidly.

The sixteen Meteor Fire Armors were left far behind by Leiqier. Leiqier knew that for a Soul Engineer of his type—or in the words of the Three Great Empires, an Agility Attack System Soul Master—once his speed was restricted, he would be forced into a losing position. Therefore, he still employed his previous method, using the Flying Soul Guidance Device to greatly enhance his speed advantage.

This scene left Han Yu dumbfounded. He had originally thought his Meteor Fire Armor would succeed in one strike, and that after restricting Leiqier's speed, he could close in to launch a surprise attack and thus win the match. But after Leiqier used the Flying Soul Guidance Device, he realized his Third Soul Skill had completely lost its effect.

Leiqier's speed was too fast, or rather, the speed of the Soul Guidance Device Leiqier was using was too fast!

Just as Leiqier broke through the blockade of the Tianjia Shield in the air and prepared to dive, Han Yu's Fourth Soul Ring lit up. The shield face of the Tianjia Shield changed from convex to concave, and numerous red lights of fire attribute reflected out from the mirror-like armor plates.

Fourth Soul Skill, Tianjia Needle!

This was a single-target soul skill with extremely powerful destructive force. Han Yu knew it was impossible to achieve a counter-effect by restricting Leiqier's speed, but what he could do was launch a counterattack when Leiqier initiated an attack on him.

A point of red light continuously magnified before Leiqier's eyes. Watching the Tianjia Needle draw closer and closer, Leiqier's breathing became rapid.

Ten meters, five meters, four meters, three meters...

Fourth Soul Skill, Shadow Kill!

A red light flashed, and Leiqier in the air vanished. The Tianjia Needle struck the Soul Guidance Protective Barrier of the arena fiercely. A black shadow missed the Tianjia Needle by a hair's breadth, and a black thread connected to the center of Han Yu's brow; at this moment, Leiqier was completely hidden within the black shadow.

Crack!

Centered on Han Yu's chest, a bloody light emerged. The clothing on Han Yu's chest tore open, and a wound deep enough to reach the bone appeared on his left rib. A large amount of blood burst from the torn flesh, and within the opened wound, the heart could be faintly seen beating!

A one-hit kill!