One-Eyed Monster

A close-combat confrontation was about to take place on the mountaintop.

Jani’s punches were fast—unexpectedly fast.

His fists darted around like coiling snakes, and his arms seemed to extend endlessly, as if they were springs. Powerful punches were launched with the speed and precision of arrows.

However, Estev appeared prepared. He effortlessly dodged the snake-like fists; his figure, like the Smoke he exhaled, was elusive, at times vanishing completely.

SWISH! SWISH! Jani’s fists flew faster and faster, while Estev continually dodged. Their exchange of Physique Techniques reached a deadlock, one attacking, the other defending. The scene was spectacular.

Qi Liu watched, spellbound. He had observed many fight scenes from his corner over the past few days, each leaving him astounded.

The clash between skilled Fighters was indeed worth watching. Although Qi Liu often didn’t understand the intricacies, the scenes left profound impressions on him.

For instance, right now, the three leaders of the Black Crows were each engaged in one-on-one duels with three other opponents.

Among them, the Great Witch Biggs was the most unfortunate; she hadn’t expected this at all. The elderly-looking Wizard attacked her without a word. A Wizard’s attack was far more monotonous than a Physique Technique, at least to Qi Liu’s naked eye. Physique Techniques were different; they created a thunderous spectacle. Although Qi Liu couldn’t discern who had the upper hand, he understood the flow of the fight. Their exchanges were always filled with a sense of rhythm.

While guarding Young Master Hustace, Qi Liu carefully observed his surroundings. I can’t help anyone right now, he thought, and I don’t want to be a burden to anyone. Therefore, he chose to observe quietly from an unobtrusive corner.

At the same time, a simple question, yet one that couldn’t be simpler, turned over in his mind: What secret lies at the peak of this mountain?

Qi Liu desperately wanted to know the answer, but he lacked the ability to obtain it directly. He could only speculate about what secrets the mountain held by observing these fights, much like how he had previously deduced the story between the Glorious Seven Knights and the Alchemy Workshop.

He was a born Politician; he always heard unusual things amidst various voices.

Qi Liu draped his own weather-beaten cloak over Young Master Hustace. The young master had been unconscious for a long time and still hadn’t awakened. For some reason, Qi Liu had a feeling that Young Master Hustace would wake up soon.

It had to be said, the spot Qi Liu had chosen was indeed quite suitable. This position allowed him to avoid the confrontations before him while still having an unobstructed view of everything happening on the mountaintop.

The magical duel between Witch Biggs and Wizard Gus currently held little visual appeal. Although a duel between Wizards would eventually showcase various Natural Forces—perhaps causing sand to fly and stones to roll, or even seas to dry and rocks to decay—all of this required a specific environment. And creating this specific environment required the two Wizards to carefully brew their powers.

Qi Liu’s gaze wasn’t on the two Wizards, nor was it on Stan Sol and the fat alchemist. Stan Sol and the fat alchemist were also in a preparatory stage. Stan Sol was trying to absorb any surrounding ethereal energies that could enhance his Spirit Power, due to a shortage in his reserves.

But this mountain was deathly still and devoid of any vitality. Although Stan Sol had some knowledge of this peak, he hadn’t anticipated that it would be impossible to absorb even a shred of Spirit Power here.

His opponent, the portly alchemist Mugen, however, was fully prepared. He had already completely released the Wire Puppet from the glass bottle. Next, he needed to fuse this Wire Puppet with himself...

Qi Liu observed that although all parties were on edge and the atmosphere was tense, most were still in a preparatory stage. It would be some time before a truly earth-shattering duel commenced. Watching these pairs of opponents, each brewing their powerful moves, an indescribable feeling stirred in Qi Liu’s heart.

This feeling was neither disappointment nor surprise; I just feel a bit bewildered, he thought. Since arriving on the mountain, he had encountered various battles, most of which had nothing to do with him. Yet, for some reason, he had a premonition that all these battles would ultimately be connected to Young Master Hustace in some way.

His thoughts churned, but his observation continued. Among the three entangled pairs of opponents, only Estev and Jani were creating a significant commotion.

Jani’s Physique Technique surpassed ordinary understanding. His body parts twisted in impossible ways, and his attack methods were myriad and bizarre.

Estev rubbed his palms together. These dark-system Fighters are all so one-track-minded, he mused. Their bodies can already achieve such impossible contortions, yet why are their attacks still so unoriginal?

”Daring to come tomb raiding with only this level of skill?” Estev muttered, dodging another of Jani’s kicks.

The pipe clenched in his teeth was never set aside. Throughout Jani’s relentless attacks, Estev continued to exhale puffs of Smoke, not wasting a single opportunity to take a drag.

BOOM! Jani’s fist slammed into a rock, instantly shattering it into pieces that scattered across the ground.

If that fist had struck Estev, wouldn’t he have been severely injured?

However, events always unfolded in ways that defied onlookers’ expectations, with unexpected developments constantly occurring.

Estev finally removed the pipe from his mouth. He tapped it repeatedly against his boot, as if knocking out all the spent ash.

Estev appeared quite relaxed at this moment, completely ignoring Jani, who was across from him, launching another frenzied attack.

Only this time, the phantom-like fist suddenly froze right before Estev’s expressionless face.

Has this fellow given up his attack?

Or has he already run out of strength?

No one could have imagined that all of this was actually Estev’s counterattack.

Estev’s counterattack was something no one could have predicted.

Jani’s outstretched fist was frozen in place by Estev, unable to advance or retreat.

”Stop struggling. With your capabilities, it’s still very difficult to pry open this gate,” Estev said, emptying the ash from his pipe as if speaking to himself.

”How could what the Soul Guardian protects be so easily breached by the likes of you?” Estev added, refilling his pipe with fresh tobacco.

”You... what method did you use?” Jani, immobilized as if doused in aged wine, could only try to pry some information from Estev.

”Don’t entertain such thoughts. This continent has always operated on Equivalent Exchange. Your rewards will match your contributions,” Estev said, lighting his pipe with a faint smile.

”The secret of this mountaintop is our objective. We will not give up easily!” Jani retorted. Though he was currently immobilized, he wouldn’t yield in a verbal confrontation.

Estev had no intention of falling into his trap. He extended one hand and made a twisting gesture in the air. In an instant, a sound like bones crunching echoed.

Jani felt his entire body tighten. Intense pain seared through him, but he couldn’t cry out...