Nora’s eyes sparkled with insight as she watched the battle unfold. Her detailed analysis of Eunid’s strategy surprised even Old Fang, who hadn’t expected such perceptiveness from her. What astonished him more was that she could track the high-speed movents of the combatants, who were far above her power level.
Old Fang mused quietly to himself, wondering how Nora’s abilities had developed to such an advanced state. He recalled her recent hellish training, which seed to be transforming both her body and soul in ways he couldn’t fully comprehend. Despite his vast knowledge, the true potential and possibilities of Nora’s transformation remained a mystery, as records provided little information.
All eyes turned back to the participants in the battle. Eunid, now more aware of his limitations, realized he couldn’t match Arid’s strength head-on. He frowned, acknowledging a hard truth. "Your connection with the Diligent Family Fla is stronger than mine," he admitted.
Arid chuckled loudly, his confidence evident. "So you’ve finally realized that," he said with a wide smile.
The Virtue Families were renowned not just for their ability to resist the Cardinal Sins but also for their unique privileges. For the Diligent Family, this privilege was the multiplication of abilities through diligent practice.
If a mber of the Diligent Family were to practice a particular punch for a month, they would gain the strength and experience equivalent to two months of training. This principle applied to all techniques, including spiritual energy techniques. It was their blessing, and the extent of the multiplication depended on the individual’s connection to the Family Fla.
Due to the family’s decline, many mbers lacked any connection to the Fla, and only a few could take full advantage of this blessing. The stronger one’s connection to the Fla, the greater the multiplication effect. In rare cases, soone with an exceptionally strong connection could train for a month and achieve the results of several years of diligent practice.
This powerful blessing was why the Diligent Family used to be the strongest of the Virtue Families. Their mbers could achieve extraordinary feats through relentless practice, rapidly surpassing others in skill and strength.
Arid’s connection to the Family Fla was particularly strong, allowing him to enhance his abilities far beyond the norm. His diligent training had yielded exponential results, making him a formidable opponent.
Eunid understood this all too well, and it added to the weight of the challenge before him.
The atmosphere in the arena crackled with tension. The audience could sense the undercurrents of power and strategy at play. Eunid’s frown deepened as he assessed his options.
He knew he had to outthink Arid, leveraging his own strengths and compensating for the disparity in their connections to the Family Fla and gap in ability, nothing in this battle, right now seed to his advantage.
Arid, on the other hand reveling in his advantage, taunted Eunid. "You see, cousin, diligence is not just a virtue—it’s power. And I have diligently honed my skills to perfection."
Eunid remained silent, his mind racing. He knew that brute force wouldn’t win this battle. Instead, he had to rely on his tactical acun and understanding of both his and Arid’s strengths and weaknesses. This was a war of minds as much as it was a clash of physical prowess.
The crowd watched in anticipation, aware that this battle was more than just a family duel. It was a testant to the legacy and strength of the Virtue Families, a display of power and strategy that would be rembered for generations.
Eunid’s eyes narrowed as he quickly assessed the battlefield. In a decisive move, he waved his hands and commanded his puppets, "Swarm him from all sides!"
The puppets responded imdiately, their movents swift and coordinated. To the spectators, it appeared to be a desperate strategy. The puppets, equipped with a variety of weapons, launched a full-blown assault on Arid, converging on him from every direction.
Arid, however, was unfazed. He stood his ground, a confident smirk on his face as he taunted Eunid. "These puppets are not enough to hold down," he declared. "They are not even close to my power level."
With that, Arid unleashed his spiritual energy, a fierce bronze spiritual energy radiating from him. His sword glowed with a brilliant light as he swung it with precision and force. Each strike was imbued with spiritual energy, enhancing his already formidable strength.
The puppets attacked relentlessly, their weapons clashing against Arid’s sword and armor. So puppets wielded spears that crackled with energy, while others used swords and axes that glowed with a mystical light. The air was filled with the sound of tal clashing, the hum of spiritual energy, and the determined shouts of the puppets.
Arid fought valiantly, his movents fluid and powerful. He parried and countered each attack with ease, his sword a blur as it cut through the onslaught of puppets. Spiritual energy burst forth with each strike, sending shockwaves through the air and reducing the puppets to fragnts. Despite being outnumbered, Arid’s superior strength and skill allowed him to advance steadily towards Eunid.
The ground beneath Arid was littered with the remnants of broken puppets, their spiritual energy dissipating into the air like fading embers.
Arid’s aura remained unbroken, his confidence unwavering. His eyes locked onto Eunid, determined to reach his cousin and end the battle decisively.
The puppets, despite their numbers and spiritual enhancents, couldn’t match Arid’s raw power and skill.
Arid’s taunts echoed through the arena, his voice filled with arrogance. "You see, Eunid? I am stronger. I am ant to rule our family to glory! ! No one else but . I AM THE FUTURE! And Your puppets are nothing compared to !"
As Arid continued his advance, the air around him crackled with energy. He moved with the grace and power of a seasoned warrior, cutting down any puppet that dared to stand in his way. The spiritual energy infused in his attacks created dazzling displays of light, each strike a testant to his superior abilities.
Finally, after what seed like an eternity, Arid broke through the last line of puppets. He stood before Eunid, his sword raised and a triumphant grin on his face. The crowd held its breath, the tension palpable as they awaited the next move.
The elders watching from the luxury box exchanged glances, their expressions a mix of admiration and concern. They knew the significance of this battle and were interested in its outco.
As the dust settled and the remnants of the puppets lay scattered around them, the arena fell silent. The audience was on the edge of their seats, captivated by the intensity of the duel. The outco of this battle would not only determine the victor but also serve as a testant to the legacy and strength of the Diligent Family.
Eunid and Arid stood face to face, their eyes locked in a fierce stare.
Arid finally reached Eunid, grabbing him by the shirt and lifting him up. His sword hovered threateningly close to Eunid’s face. Arid saw the determined yet resigned look in Eunid’s eyes and chuckled. "I win, and once you die in this round, there won’t be a second one."
He raised his sword to stab Eunid. But just as the blade was about to strike, Mulligan raised his hand, "Enough!" signaling the end of the match. Arid frowned, confusion and frustration evident on his face. The crowd, however, was not focused on him but on sothing behind him.
Arid turned to look and saw it: Eunid’s puppets were waving his red flag triumphantly.
"There is more than one way to win," Eunid stated with a smile.
The realization dawned on Arid and the spectators. At the mont Eunid had commanded his puppets to swarm Arid, he had also sent two puppets on a covert mission to capture Arid’s flag. These puppets, programd for this specific task, did not engage in the battle but instead moved stealthily toward the enemy flag. Since Arid’s puppets required direct commands to act and had not been instructed to guard the flag, they remained still, allowing Eunid’s puppets to take it unchallenged.
Arid’s expression shifted from confusion to understanding. Despite his overwhelming strength and skill, Eunid had outmaneuvered him strategically. Arid smiled, a mix of respect and begrudging admiration in his eyes. "I win, Cousin!"
The crowd erupted in cheers, the realization of Eunid’s clever tactics spreading through the audience. The elders exchanged approving nods, acknowledging Eunid’s strategic brilliance.
Nora, still processing the outco, was impressed by Eunid’s ingenuity. "He managed to turn the tide with a single strategic move," she mused aloud.
Old Fang, equally impressed, nodded. "Eunid understands that in war, brute strength is not the only path to victory. His respect for strategy and foresight is what sets him apart."
In the arena, Eunid stood, still held by Arid but victorious nonetheless. The two cousins locked eyes, a mutual annoyance of one another forming between them.
As the crowd’s cheers echoed through the arena, Eunid and Arid knew that they had co too far, After all, this was only the first round. No one had died. aning that there would be a second, and it was one that did not need strategic thinking like this one.
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