Chapter 2129: Perseverant

"I'm not done yet." Rui smiled. "I will test my new offensive technique to my heart's content."

"Hah, bring it on then." Master Vertol grinned. "My defense isn't just for show."

Although he said that, he was still deeply stunned at the revelation that Rui had cracked the principles of the technique upon his first observation of them three years ago.

Rui had also managed to successfully inflict damage on him, unlike last time. This showed that this technique alone surpassed his previous offensive technique. It was a tremendous boost that the Void Prince treated as entirely normal and mundane.

In other words, he was accustomed to such tremendous growth that even this was hardly worth remarking to him. To Master Vertol, this was hard to wrap his head around. The only time in his entire life that he had made such growth was when he mastered the Yin-Yang Shield technique through the secret methodology of the Gen Temple centuries ago.

Yet, despite that, he refused to cede ground to Rui's newfound growth. If the Void Prince was destined to surpass him anyway, then he ought to make sure that he maintained parity for as long as possible. Alas, Rui definitely didn't make that easy for him.

BOOM BOOM BOOOOOM!!!

The two Masters got into a furious brawl at close quarters as Rui, running in circles, peppered him with blows, one after another. All the maneuvering and foresight weapons he had at his disposal came to use now that he finally inflicted damage on his opponent.

Last time, none of it mattered since not even Hypertrophic Surge had been able to penetrate the man's Yin-Yang Shield.

Now, however—

BOOOM!!

A powerful blow crashed into the elder Martial Master's throat, choking him on the spot.

"Breathing Crucifix," Rui whispered, adding fuel to the fire. He deliberately abstained from using Hypertrophic Surge or the Metabody in general.

He didn't want the battle to end too quickly.

BOOM BOOM BOOM!!

Rui relied on the predictive and SOUL models that he had created in their last battle.They were entirely relevant as the combatants had not changed much since neither Rui's Martial Art nor Master Vertol himself had fundamentally changed as a person at his depths.

BOOOM!!!

"Rgh!" Master Vertol grimaced as Rui used Outer Convergence with the Yin-Yang Shield technique. A deep shade of red and purple formed on his abdomen as Rui continued reaching greater heights of power than he ever had before. He had practiced using Outer Convergence with his new technique during training, but he had never been certain whether the muscle memory he had developed was good enough for it to be viable in combat.

That was why Rui had chosen Master Vertol to test his newfound power against. He was a passive-defensive type who was perfectly content standing in one place, never once moving from his spot. The only times he deviated from this strategy were in circumstances like his first fight against Rui, where he had no choice aside from pursuing victory aggressively as a chaser would.

BOOOM!!!

"Rgh!" Master Vertol leaped backward with a grim expression.

Rui, however, only grew more delighted as the first Flowing Canon, empowered by his new technique and Outer Convergence, turned out to be even more powerful than he had ever imagined.

However, much to his dismay, he could not use Fire Breathing with this particular technique. His new technique required the diaphragm much more to generate vibrations than Fire Breathing technique needed it for, well, breathing. The two techniques were physically contradictory and thus, they couldn't be used simultaneously. He had to choose between them.

Except that it wasn't even remotely close.

Of course, his new technique was exclusively reserved for when his predictive and SOUL models were limited. Thus, in most cases, he would be using Fire Breathing in the initial stages of a fight.

BOOM BOOM BOOOOOM!!

Rui continued peppering Master Vertol with blow after blow, testing how the technique felt in real combat to gain an understanding of how to use it best. It was very different from using it in training.

Thus, he mostly treated this sparring battle as a means of building the 'sense' of using the technique. His opponent, however, was not content with simply heading towards loss without putting up a single fight.

However, it was impossible to even touch Rui with any of his attacks.

WHOOSH WHOOSH WHOOSH

Each time he launched a blow at Rui, the latter evaded it effortlessly. Rui saw his attacks coming when the patterns pointed to them.The SOUL model also translated the inception of intent, showing Rui what Master Vertol's intended attack was going to be.

However, Rui refused to make the same mistake as last time. As he peered into the elder Martial Artist's eyes, he didn't see someone who was simply fighting in vain.

No.

He knew he was looking at a man who had not only not given up, but could see the possibility of victory.

Master Vertol had undoubtedly experienced many battles where his opponent could not only damage him but also avoid all attacks that he threw. Was Rui truly inclined to believe that the man had not developed a strategy in his Martial Mind to overcome precisely this kind of battle dynamic?

'No.' Rui narrowed his eyes. 'This man has something up his sleeve. I shouldn't underestimate his craftiness like I did last time.'

He made a choice. A choice to end the battle as quickly as possible. The longer Rui prolonged it, the greater the probability that Master Vertol would be able to successfully pull his strategy off.

His eyes narrowed as his muscles grew larger, brimming with immense energy. The Sandflower Nectar potion that he had consumed three years ago gave him an immense upgrade in his net energy reserves.

Master Vertol grew more grave as the sheer amount of power that Rui unleashed far exceeded his wildest expectations.

BOOOOOM BOOOOOM BOOOOOM!!

The end of the battle rapidly arrived as Master Vertol pushed himself to the very limit.