Ex rank talent Awakening: 100\% Dodge rate-Chapter 32 - : ABYSS VS DUAL BLADE - CLASH OF WILLS

Jade knelt on the floor, clutching her abdomen as her HP drained rapidly. She looked at Shadow, resentment flashing in her eyes. Refusing to give up, she stood and attacked once more, but her strike was countered, and she was hit again. The scene repeated like a time loop—Jade attacked, her strike was blocked, and then she was counterattacked, failing to stop the incoming blows and losing HP continuously.

Soon, her HP hit zero, and she lost. Ironically, that was the exact moment Shadow's stamina was completely depleted, causing her shadow ability to dissipate.

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[Winner of this round: Shadow]

[Advances to the next round]

Shadow was teleported out of the battleground as the results were announced.

---

[Fourth Round]

[Gold Goblin, Guild Master of Hedj vs. Saint, Guild Master of Righteous Guild]

[Battleground chosen at random...]

[Randomizing...]

[Arena of Champions chosen]

[Players competing are to prepare]

Gold Goblin stretched lightly, a confident smile on his face as he awaited teleportation. He didn't have to wait long before he was transported to the arena alongside his opponent.

Still smiling, he walked towards Saint and extended a hand.

"I'm Gold Goblin. May the best man win," he said with a grin.

"Likewise," Saint replied, shaking his hand firmly before stepping back to prepare himself.

[Begin]

The system announcement echoed as the battle commenced. Saint wasted no time, sprinting toward Gold Goblin with his sword glowing brilliantly—a result of his A-rank ability, Light Enchant, which allowed him to infuse his weapon with light attributes. He swung his blade forward in an attempt to land a decisive hit.

Gold Goblin, being a seasoned gamer, easily dodged the attack. He stepped back swiftly, effortlessly avoiding the next thrust. Saint pressed forward with a flurry of attacks, but Gold Goblin continued to evade, sidestepping each strike with precision.

Frustration crept onto Saint's face as his opponent kept slipping through his attacks. Meanwhile, Gold Goblin maintained his relaxed expression. Guess my sparring with that monster is really paying off, he thought.

After a few minutes, Gold Goblin suddenly leaped backward, creating a sizable distance between them. He eyed Saint with amusement.

"I guess it should've taken effect by now," he mused aloud.

Saint frowned. "What should've?"

Before he could get an answer, his body suddenly felt unbearably heavy—like he was submerged in quicksand. His movements became sluggish, his limbs weighed down as if turned to lead.

"What... what did you do?" Saint demanded, struggling to move his sword.

Gold Goblin gave him an amused look, as if mocking his ignorance.

What had he done? Simple. It was all thanks to his S-rank ability, Poison Master, which granted him access to a variety of poisons as he leveled up. The moment the match began, he had already applied a special poison—one that took effect through touch. And since they shook hands before the match, Saint had unknowingly sealed his own fate.

With Saint now practically defenseless, Gold Goblin strolled toward him leisurely. He slashed at him with his own blade, inflicting wounds laced with multiple poisons—bleeding poison, paralysis poison, dizziness poison, and vitality-draining poison.

Saint's HP started plummeting, his movements growing weaker with each passing second. Gold Goblin grinned like a mad scientist testing a new experiment, enjoying the spectacle.

Desperate, Saint activated his ultimate skill, a move that doubled his attack power, but it was futile—his body refused to respond. Gold Goblin simply watched him struggle, amusement flickering in his eyes.

Saint's HP continued to tick down rapidly. It wasn't long before his life bar completely emptied.

[Winner: Gold Goblin]

[Advances to the next round]

The battle had ended in an anticlimactic fashion.

A wave of disappointment rippled through the audience.

"What a joke of a match," someone muttered.

"Seriously, who the hell is that guild master? He barely put up a fight!"

"This was the most boring match yet," another complained.

"Tell me about it. How did he even make it to the Top 16?"

"I'm sure his guild members are just as weak as their leader."

The viewers had nothing but scorn for Saint, blaming him for the dull spectacle.

Meanwhile, Gold Goblin, still grinning beneath his mask, was teleported back to his designated spot. Without wasting a second, he opened the private group chat shared by the Big Six Guild Masters.

"Guess I'm officially the strongest among you. Didn't even have to drag out a fight to win," he typed smugly. His arrogance practically radiated from the message.

"Tsk, show-off. Don't get too cocky. There are still more rounds to go, and your cheap, petty tricks won't work on most of us," Odin quickly replied.

"Says the guy who struggled in his match," Gold Goblin shot back.

"You! I didn't struggle! I was just trying to entertain the audience!" Odin retorted.

And thus, the chaotic back-and-forth between the weirdos resumed.

---

[Fifth round]

[Abyss, guild master of Abyss Guild vs. Dual Blade, guild master of Steel Heart Guild]

[Battleground chosen randomly]

[Randomizing]

[Plain Valley chosen]

[Competing players, prepare for battle]

Dual Blade stared at his name, his expression unreadable, but the urge to win burned within him. He sought victory to prove himself—he didn't want to lag behind Nemesis. He was determined to catch up.

Abyss smiled when he saw his name. Guess it's my turn to play, he thought. "Watch me, Maria, I'm about to kick some ass," he said, teleporting to the battleground—a plain valley with lush grasses and a cool breeze giving it a peaceful feel.

"How peaceful," Abyss muttered. "Now to take care of the pest while I enjoy the scenery," he added, unfazed by the fact that he was up against a guild master of the Big Six guilds. Well, he'd never cared about that anyway. The only thing he truly cared about was dominating players and beasts, turning them into his undead.

"It's a bummer I can't turn anyone into an undead while in this competition," Abyss sighed. "Now, rise from your slumber and devour the pest," he commanded, awakening his summon.

Dual Blade watched as the undead rose—hundreds of them. Tightening his grip on the handles of his two swords, he rushed toward Abyss, aiming to kill the summoner directly. But his plan was easily thwarted—an undead stepped in his way, acting as a meat shield to protect Abyss.

"That's not very kind of you," Abyss taunted.

"Just shut up and fight!" Dual Blade yelled, growing tired of Abyss's chatter.

He continued swinging his swords at Abyss, but each time, an undead blocked his way. Soon, he was completely surrounded, unable to reach Abyss at all. Unfazed, he hacked at the undead, utilizing several skills. He killed tens of them, but his efforts felt meaningless as more undead replaced the ones he had slain.

Soon, Dual Blade began to feel overwhelmed, fatigue catching up to him.

"Hmm, getting tired already? I thought you were pretty good, but it seems I was mistaken. You're just another average player who got lucky," Abyss remarked.

Hearing Abyss's words, Dual Blade roared, "How dare you! I'm not just some lucky player! I work hard to improve my abilities. Don't you dare look down on them!"

"Well, that just means your hard work was worthless," Abyss scoffed. "You work hard, you say? But you can't prove it. There you are, trapped, unable to reach me. You're weak. What's so special about you? You would have died even quicker if you were in the slums. Your luck is the only thing keeping you alive! Talentless trash like you don't deserve the good things that come your way!" Abyss roared back, triggered by Dual Blade's defiance.

Dual Blade kept hacking away, using every skill in his arsenal to fight back, trying desperately to prove Abyss wrong. But he couldn't keep going for long—his stamina was nearly depleted.

This wasn't just a fight to qualify for the next round. It was a battle of resolve and belief.

I can't afford to lose this!

That thought was the only thing in Dual Blade's mind. Despite the system warning of fatigue, he fought on, taking a stamina regeneration potion from his inventory. He kept battling the undead, even though there seemed to be no end in sight.

The mental fatigue accumulated, threatening to consume him. But like a madman, he continued fighting.

I can't disappoint Nemesis. I was chosen because I'm special—not because of some luck.

His body screamed at him to stop, but through sheer willpower, he pressed forward.

Abyss watched the scene unfold with a frown.

Such tenacity. Such refusal to give up.

He felt a strange kinship with that burning desire. He remembered that same drive—the unwillingness to let the world trample over him. And he knew where it had led him—to the demise of the one he loved.

For some reason, seeing someone with the same eyes he once had infuriated him. He felt an overwhelming need to crush Dual Blade completely.

Closing his eyes for a few seconds, Abyss opened them again—this time, with a calculating gaze.

Dual Blade slashed at the undead, but something felt different. His attack didn't cut through like before—it was blocked. The undead were suddenly… coordinated.

"Playtime's over. I plan to crush you completely from here on out," Abyss said, a glint of madness flickering in his eyes.

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