Carter had exploded from his Medium Elite power to Champion power. He blasted through the air and punched Ryuja.

Tiger claws appeared as three long blades at the back of his hand. They reached for Ryuja.

A purple barrier appeared around the short man. The tiger claws melted before they could touch Ryuja.

A blast of poisonous energy released from Ryuja. Carter backed off immediately, dodging the blast and carrying Tenmaru out of the room.

The entire structure exploded. The organizer and staffs of the Tournament looked over.

"What happened?!" Someone shouted.

A few Fighter was also there.

Carter summoned a large bear using his Guardians of the Zodiac ability and put Tenmaru on top of the bear.

[Lost x1 Purifying Elixir]

Carter chugged the bottle down Tenmaru’s throat.

"When you can move again, return to Giyaku." Carter said.

"Master..." Tenmaru widened his eyes. He wanted to stop him but he couldn’t move.

The Bear Guardian rushed away with Tenmaru.

Ryuja landed behind Carter.

"That boy is the missing second prince, right? I saw those Royal Techniques before." Ryuja laughed.

"Maybe." Carter turned toward Ryuja and lowered into his stance. "Maybe not."

"You’re not thinking of fighting me, are you? I am Peak Champion. Even with all your techniques, you’re only an average Champion."

A second Guardian appeared beside Carter, this one was also a Tiger.

"Not anymore." Zodiac Guardian had the same power as Carter. Because of all his enhancements, it also had the same power as him.

"Another Champion? I must capture you now, Musashi and learn what makes you so strong." Ryuja licked his lips.

Carter and the Tiger Guardian disappeared. They struck Ryuja from both side.

Suddenly, Carter saw Ryuja exploded into a cloud of acidic poison when he hit him. He stopped his and the Guardian’s attack and backed off.

The fake Ryuja exploded but no one was there to receive the poison. The Spiritual Premonition had saved Carter.

"Ho? How did you know it was fake?" Another Ryuja appeared in a different direction.

The Guardian picked up a boulder and threw it at Ryuja. The short man swiped with his paper fan, cutting the boulder in half with an acidic attack.

"It’s useless. You can’t beat me."

As soon as Ryuja finished his sentence, Carter was already at his face. His fist went into Ryuja’s stomach and caused the King to gasp in pain. He was sent flying backward.

The short man stopped himself in mid-air. His eyes widened in shock.

"How were you so fast?" Ryuja could feel his organs turn for a few seconds. But his injuries were quickly removed by his power.

The thick red aura around Carter was even bigger now. He had raised the power of Adrenaline again. But in return, it made his skin crack.

"A trade-off technique, huh? Smart. But you won’t last long."

[Lost x1 Durability Elixirs]

[Lost x1 Strength Elixirs]

[Lost x1 Agility Elixirs]

[Lost x1 Blood Race Potion]

[Lost x1 Metabolic Amplifier]

"What the?"

Carter was drinking a potion one after another. Ryuja tried to interrupt him but the Poison King was simply not quick enough. He was a master of poison and was really weak and slow in other aspects.

The Blood Race Potion enhanced even more Carter’s already powerful Adrenaline effect. His overall strength reached an even higher level.

"Thirty times!" Carter shouted.

The Zodiac also changed. Its fur grew more messy and it growled restlessly. The two disappeared from their locations.

Ryuja was panic for the first time. He wasn’t quick but he could trace Carter’s movement. He couldn’t trace it anymore.

The Poison King flew back and flapped his fan. Six purple spheres appeared around him and acted like a barrier.

"Hare Style! Jumping Steps!" The projection of a hare appeared behind Carter, enhancing his movement even more. The element of the wind carried his steps. He still had the characteristic of a tiger but now with even more power.

Carter jumped over the spheres and went for Ryuja.

"Fox Style! Dancing Fire!" Then the projection of a fox appeared. Carter punched forward, sending many blue fireballs toward the Poison King.

"Tch!" Ryuja flicked his wrist. Poison appears and splashed at the fireballs.

The fireballs changed their trajectory mid-flight and went around Ryuja. They turned into foxes that rushed at Ryuja.

"These annoying techniques!" Ryuja spun. A blast of poison reached out and corroded all of the foxes.

Carter used that distraction to get closer to Ryuja. His flaming punch reached for the Poison King.

"You stupid mortal! Poison Tentacles!" Purple tentacles emerged from the ground and reached for Carter.

The silver-haired man smirked. On the other side, the Tiger Guardian was also coming close to Ryuja.

"Snake Style! Placement Trickery!"

The image of Carter and the Tiger Guardian distorted. They switched places with each other.

The Animal Spirits were once Yokais. Each Yokai had very unique ability that Carter could call forth in his battle. Snake was not a powerful Zodiac, but it had a very cunning ability.

The purple tentacles caught the Tiger Zodiac while Carter had invaded Ryuja’s personal space.

"Tiger Style! Ferocious Claw!" The orange claws appeared again as Carter stuck at Ryuja.

Ryuja jumped back and covered his face with his hands. Two of his fingers were cut off. Seija’s Dragon Gem fell to the floor.

Carter caught the Dragon Gem and pocketed it immediately.

"You... You! You Scoundrel! I will kill you all!" The Poison King roared. The ground around him melted as his power spread even more.

Carter breathed heavily and smiled. His goal was accomplished. His body was in the brink of collapse. Unless he switched skin and used the Eldritch Knight to kill the Poison King right at that moment.

But keeping a villain alive had its usefulness. If there was no one to play the role of a villain, no one would stand beside the hero.

The entire arena exploded into a cloud of poison as Ryuja transformed into an ugly gigantic toad. He had enough and went all out with his power. But Carter had no intention of playing with him.

"Vulture Style - Air Gliding!"

Carter bolted to the air and got out of there.

"Don’t run, bastard!" The toad opened its mouth and spat out many acidic balls.