I, Who Hate Marine So Much, Have Become A Future Nika?

Chapter 18: Roar and Giant Ape (Seeking Further Reading)

Although feeling underestimated, Zhong Cang did not argue back. He simply walked up to the arena with his sword and waited for Yan Lingdie to arrive.

At the same time, although he remained silent, the surging fighting spirit in his heart and the multiplied strength made Zhong Cang's temperament completely different from before.

Yan Lingdie noticed this change in temperament, but she didn't pay much attention to it.

Feeling a bit emotional, she only wanted to put a "perfect" end to their encounter.

"The first time we fought, you defeated me with one sword. This time, I will do my best to defeat you with one sword."

These words made Zhong Cang pause for a moment, but soon he laughed.

He covered his face and laughed at himself.

"Haha, hahaha... I didn't expect to be underestimated like this."

"If you can do it, then come."

Boom...

Watching Zhong Cang return to his original state, even more fierce than before, Yan Lingdie didn't hesitate. She immediately ignited the flame aura within her, letting the scorching flames spread throughout her body.

Watching this scene, Zhong Cang also felt a bit emotional.

"Explosive combustion, truly a powerful ability. But now, I also have a blessing characteristic."

Previously, when Yan Lingdie ignited the aura within her body, Zhong Cang could only watch because it happened too quickly.

But this time, when the flames erupted from Yan Lingdie's body, Zhong Cang also moved.

"Roar!"

Releasing Maple Flower and letting it float to the side, Zhong Cang clenched his fists like a gorilla, pounding his own chest. At the same time, he let out a roar.

The rough roar and the violent movements surprised Yan Lingdie, who was feeling emotional.

In her eyes, Zhong Cang had always been a swordsman.

And the impression of a swordsman was usually cold, proud, free-spirited, and elegant.

For the swordsman Zhong Cang to suddenly make such a wild move was truly unexpected for her.

However, this surprise was quickly blocked out by her.

The battles during this period had made her grow a lot, and she wouldn't be too surprised by the enemy's small actions anymore.

Maintaining a calm state of mind, with a loud explosion, she, holding the flaming heavy sword, rushed towards Zhong Cang with the help of the exploding flames.

With a furious swing of the heavy sword, danger approached. Zhong Cang's Sword Heart instantly activated to its maximum extent, and his whole person entered a state of emptiness.

In this special state, Zhong Cang flipped his wrist, and Maple Flower fell into his hand. Following his intention, it met Yan Lingdie's flaming heavy sword head-on.

Bang!

Without any fancy moves, the two long swords collided.

And in the next second after the collision, Zhong Cang's wrist and even his whole body trembled, and he was pushed back several steps.

To push Zhong Cang back was within Yan Lingdie's expectations, but soon, something that made her widen her eyes happened.

Zhong Cang... only retreated three steps.

And without much pause, he immediately charged forward with his sword.

This scene also made Yan Lingdie exclaim in surprise.

"How is this possible!"

It's no wonder she was so astonished. Previously, every time Zhong Cang fought against her, he would retreat several meters.

And after retreating, his wrist would be numb and in pain due to the tremendous force of the clash, rendering him unable to counterattack.

Now, to take the initiative to attack completely caught Yan Lingdie off guard.

Fortunately, she had indeed grown during this period. Although surprised, her movements were not slow.

When Zhong Cang attacked, she immediately raised her heavy sword and blocked Zhong Cang's assault.

However, after blocking, she thought the attack was over, but she didn't expect that this was just the beginning.

Swish, swish, swish...

Failing to land a hit, Zhong Cang flicked his wrist, and the seemingly weightless Maple Flower attacked Yan Lingdie from the side once again.

Afterwards, vertical chops, thrusts, upward cuts, downward cuts, horizontal sweeps... one by one, the basic sword moves were displayed by Zhong Cang's brush strokes, continuously attacking Yan Lingdie.

These attacks had no specific routine, but they were full of agility, each strike as unpredictable as a deer's antlers.

Such free-flowing attacks made it extremely difficult for Yan Lingdie to defend.

It was only because she was faster and stronger than Zhong Cang under the influence of her burning fire that she was able to withstand Zhong Cang's storm-like attacks.

However, as the saying goes, "Those who defend for too long will eventually lose."

Under Zhong Cang's cunning attacks, even though she had slightly stronger strength, her defense became increasingly difficult.

"This can't go on like this!"

Realizing that something was wrong, Yan Lingdie immediately wanted to counterattack.

"Swish..."

After blocking Zhong Cang's attack once again, she exerted force with both arms, about to swing the burning fire heavy sword and sweep towards Zhong Cang.

With this sword, she didn't seek to inflict damage, but only wanted to force Zhong Cang back and regroup.

However, as she thought, when the sword was halfway there, Maple Flower suddenly appeared like a celestial being from the heavens, attacking and landing on her... Before the magic sword Maple Flower touched her body, a protective shield appeared on her surface, blocking the sword's attack.

However, by forcing out the shield, it undoubtedly represented her failure.

After the victory, Zhong Cang calmly said, "Your intention to counterattack was too obvious. If you had been more careful, you would have noticed that I didn't use any force in the attack you blocked earlier..."

This was not mockery, but a reminder from Zhong Cang as a responsible sparring partner.

However, Yan Lingdie didn't pay any attention to Zhong Cang's reminder. At this moment, she was completely stunned.

"I... lost?"

This defeat left Yan Lingdie, who had endless emotions before the battle, completely dumbfounded.

She had wanted to end their encounter with a perfect conclusion, but in her opinion, this perfect conclusion was to unleash her full power and defeat Zhong Cang with one sword.

Starting with one sword and ending with one sword, this was the future she had hoped for.

The current situation was not what she wanted.

Moreover, she, who had been winning for several days in a row, couldn't understand why she had lost.

Even more puzzling was why Zhong Cang had suddenly become so strong.

"Did you hide your strength before?"

This was Yan Lingdie's first reaction, but Zhong Cang shook his head silently.

"I didn't hide it, I just improved my strength... I also have to thank you. Without the spirit stones you gave me, allowing me to cultivate with elixirs, my strength wouldn't have improved so quickly."

"..."

These words made Yan Lingdie's calm chest rise and fall with anger.

"You..."

Pointing at Zhong Cang for a while, she couldn't say a word. Finally, she gritted her teeth and shouted, "Come again!"

As she spoke, she swung the burning fire heavy sword angrily towards Zhong Cang.

This time, when she ignited the flame aura on her sword, Zhong Cang didn't immediately pound his chest.

His footsteps on the arena quickly retreated.

And as he retreated, he swung his arm, and Maple Flower was thrown into the air by Zhong Cang, falling straight towards his eyes.

(When he threw the sword, Zhong Cang looked up at the sky)

As the long sword fell, intending to strike his eyes, Zhong Cang's illusory sword shadows in his consciousness instantly fluctuated.

The fluctuation of the sword shadows cleared Zhong Cang's distractions, allowing him to achieve a highly unified state of mind. In this state, with a single thought, he controlled the descending sword (the fusion of man and sword), suspending it to the side.

Then, maintaining a clear state of mind, Zhong Cang clenched his fists, pounding his chest like a drum, and let out a thunderous roar.

"Roar!"

The roar was rough, savage, and carried a hint of wildness.

This special flavor triggered some changes.

— Yan Lingdie, who was intensely focused on Zhong Cang, vaguely saw that when Zhong Cang roared, the mixture of qi, blood, and aura on his body condensed into a giant flaming ape phantom.

(End of this chapter)