This was a good move.
If a normal player suddenly noticed that Orochimaru was a whole qi realm higher than them during the final match, they would definitely panic, and their confidence would plummet down the drain.
Unfortunately, the moment Happy recognized Reverse Dual Swordplay, he had already obtained this piece of information. Hence, when Orochimaru suddenly rose by two qi realms, he did not show much shock.
His relaxed reaction had instead made Orochimaru uneasy!
'This guy does indeed have courage, but I wonder if he has any real skill in his hands… Perfect time, I'll use this chance to measure your skills!'
Once he made up his mind, Orochimaru laughed fiercely. He drew his swords in an arc and attacked! The two swords went charging at Happy like two venomous snakes.
They were less than sixty-four meters away from each other, and Orochimaru instantly drew close!
Happy remained still…
He simply allowed Orochimaru's violent aura and attack—which resembled a venomous snake—get closer. His expression was indifferent, as if he was unaware of the attack.
Orochimaru was surprised. He scowled even further. His attack changed midway. When his swords almost touched Happy's body, he instantly turned them in the air and held them in a reverse grip. The two venomous snakes turned into black dragons who showed their might. They opened their mouths and went to devour Happy with a monstrous momentum. The situation for Happy instantly became much more dangerous, and if anyone else were in his place, they would not be able to fend against the attack.
However, Happy seemed to have expected Orochimaru to do this from the start. At the moment he changed his tactic, Happy jumped high into the air like a bird, and with a twist, he landed behind Orochimaru with a strong thud.
Orochimaru's attack froze. With disbelief on his face, he turned around and stared at Happy.
"A lightness skill at Grandmaster Realm?"
The people on the two stages were stunned speechless by the sight.
Orochimaru's attack had surprised all of them. His aura in Blessed Realm and the sudden change of his Dual Swordplay attack were all incredibly dangerous. If anyone else was in Happy's place, they would have been unable to dodge it.
However, Happy had avoided it with one light step.
He flicked off a speck of dust from his sleeve and raised his head, which was still covered by the cloth. He opened his eyes, and his gaze was as calm and composed as ever.
Orochimaru's expression had already been replaced by a grave and attentive look.
"Take this!"
His voice was low, cold, and fierce. It was the first time he treated his opponent seriously since he had joined the tournament. He decided to fight with his all!
It happened again. No one knew whether Happy did it to mock Orochimaru, or was it for something else, but he used his lightness skill to avoid Orochimaru's strange and unpredictable Dual Twists. Then, with a vertical flip, he swiftly landed on the flag pole. When he turned around, he flung his sleeves to reveal his robes in their full glory.
The ingenious skill showed by his landing point, and the elegance when he moved made him look incredibly relaxed and composed. All the boys and girls on the other stages could not help but cheer for him in their hearts.
Even Orochimaru, who had only ever believed in himself and strength was stunned by Happy's excellent lightness. He s.u.c.k.e.d in a light breath.
If he took the initiative to attack someone with such great lightness skills, it was certain that he would not have any chance of winning.
Hence, he could only…
The moment Orochimaru swept his gaze over the flagpole at the center of the stage, he heard Happy say something flippantly. His words left him shocked.
"Thank goodness your Reverse Dual Swordplay has only reached the seventh realm. If it were a realm higher, I wouldn't have had such an easy time. Very well, now it's my turn to attack."
Before Orochimaru had a chance to speak, Happy's hands swiftly went to his waist. The moment he touched his lancet knives, his gaze focused, and the cold glare in his eyes became both aggressive and alarming!
Boom!
An aura that was visible to the n.a.k.e.d eye shot out from Happy's body.
He activated Gate Realm!
Chapter 70 - Power
Even though Happy was in a very obvious disadvantage in terms of his martial arts and qi realm, he had combat experience that Orochimaru did not possess. With an ingenious move, he seized the flag at the center of the stage. At the instant the system's notification rang, he used one sentence to surprise Orochimaru and drew his attention from the flag to himself.
Orochimaru did not disappoint him.
Under the atmosphere Happy intentionally created, Orochimaru went together with the flow and focused his attention on him. The strange uneasiness, the faint pressure formed when Happy looked down on him, and his activation of his qi realm increased his might again. He also dissolved Orochimaru's advantage by accident.
When he saw the lancet knives in his hands, Orochimaru all but forgot about the existence of the flagpole. He looked like a fierce beast, and its mortal enemy had set its sights on it. He pressed his swords tightly against his waist and bent his body slightly. He stared at Happy, who was still on the flagpole, his eyes fixed on the lancet knives.
Happy did not breathe. He watched Orochimaru walk closer to the flagpole step by step, then frowned.
Consideration of Dual Swords!
It was a famous defensive technique of Reverse Dual Swordplay. The skill's name showed that it would protect the user's front and back.
It would require a lot of courage for Happy to try and kill an enemy who used this skill while he kept his eyes on Happy. It would be a great challenge. Orochimaru was also the most tenacious enemy Happy had faced since he joined World of Martial Arts. If he was the slightest bit careless… He could not let Orochimaru take advantage! Not only would he lose all the advantage he built up beforehand if that happened, there was also a possibility he might even lose.
The advantage of high-tier martial arts was not something that could be completely erased with some experience and skill!
But how many people would know just how nervous Orochimaru was?
His opponent had a fist technique and lightness skill at Grandmaster Realm, and based on the cold glare from Happy's throwing knife, his hidden weapon technique had already reached Grandmaster Realm as well. Happy's combat abilities were no lower than those of a powerful player who had just entered Blessed Realm.
If it were not because he wanted to seize the title of number one in South Morning Martial Arts Ranking Board so that he could humiliate his tutor, Orochimaru would not have even thought to fight against a person with such great abilities and who knew his martial arts inside and out!
The countdown that had started since Happy occupied the area around the flag also reminded him constantly that he needed to get close to the flagpole!
However, the lancet knife in Happy's hand seemed to hold a promise of death. It exuded an eerie chill and murderous aura that covered every inch of the circ.u.mference on the stage. The closer he got, the more dangerous it became.
Orochimaru was risking his life with each step he took.
Cold sweat quietly drenched his back. Orochimaru's steps became smaller and smaller, and due to the uniqueness of where Happy stood, he had to look up at him. The angle increased the closer he got, and his discomfort and nervousness also went up.
Time ticked by.
As he stared at Orochimaru getting closer to him, the cold glare at the tip of his lancet knife changed its angle slightly.
When Orochimaru was sixteen feet away from the flagpole, nearly half a minute had passed. He still did not dare to relax his guard, and his neck was a little sore now. His calf muscles felt as if they were made of lead, and it was incredibly difficult for him to take each new step.
Even though the sun could not be seen in the fictitious
martial arts arena, Orochimaru felt as if there was an incredibly scorching sun above his head. It exuded a blistering heat that was so hot he could not breathe!
Thirteen feet…
Orochimaru practically inched his way there. He used around ten seconds to do it.
Eleven feet!
There were only fifteen seconds left before Happy would be considered to have successfully occupied the area around the flagpole.
Ten feet!
Happy's gaze grew sharp! The lancet knife between his fingers had already been enveloped by a thick white fog. A red glare could be vaguely seen.
A few more seconds passed. When Orochimaru saw that Happy still did not take the initiative to attack, his face turned red. He finally realized that Happy was just using the intangible but imposing might he had created to oppress Orochimaru and drag out the time. Orochimaru could no longer withstand the psychological crisis of having all his movements suppressed and the constant feeling of being under threat!
"A child's play!"
His gaze turned sharp. He roared, and his qi exploded from within him.
He put his strength in his legs and rushed to the flagpole like a cannonball! At the same time, he brandished his swords to make turn into a web of sword shadows before him to protect all his vitals.
Happy's psychological advantage finally crumbled…
When the imposing might Happy had built up crumbled, Orochimaru had drawn himself closer to Happy, but he had also exposed himself to even greater danger by doing so. At the moment Orochimaru showed his weakness, Happy did not hesitate. With a flick of his wrist, a cold glare shot out from his hand!
Whoosh!
A barely noticeable whistle rose, and a white light shot through Orochimaru's sword shadow web…
Shick!
A trail of blood shot up into the air. Orochimaru was flung out of the area of the flagpole by a huge force. He violently coughed up blood. His expression screamed that he had known that this would happen, but there was also great incredulity on his face, as if he could not believe that he was still hit despite being so careful.
The people on the other two stages were transfixed by the fight. When they saw that Orochimaru was injured and pushed out of the area, their eyes lit up, and all of them crited out as one.
"Beautiful!"
Happy was not affected by the shouts around him.
From the moment he threw his first throwing knife to the moment he hit Orochimaru, he never showed any hit of joy or the slightest hint of smugness. His gaze was as calm as water. His actions were swift, and he was so composed that it was shocking.
Two cold glares struck Orochimaru's body when Happy took advantage of his fall. The blades sank into his body until only the hilts remained, right into his left t.h.i.g.h and right rib. The powerful force pinned Orochimaru to the ground! His swords flew out from his hands, and agony born from indignation appeared on his face.
Happy did not say anything. He knew the power contained in the three blades very well. Not only did they injure Orochimaru severely, his fighting ability, mobility, and his defence had been greatly reduced. He could no longer pose a threat to Happy. Hence, Happy stopped attacking. He stared at Orochimaru from the flagpole while the latter struggled on the ground.
"Give up."
"Dream on!"
Orochimaru might be in so much pain that he was gnashing his teeth, but he still refused to admit defeat and get off the stage. He panted harshly and shouted while he stared at Happy's face with a sinister gaze, "You brat! If you have the guts, kill me! You want me to give up?! Better get rid of that thought!"
He did not manage to accomplish his goal of taking revenge and humiliating the University of South China in the end, and it made Orochimaru slightly angry from his shame. He stared at Happy's covered face with bloodshot eyes, his c.h.e.s.t heaving. He burned with rage.
"Kill him!" Phoenix Dances' face was filled with excitement while she stood on the other stage. "If you kill him, I'll be your girlfriend!" she cried out like a woman who liked to keep petty grudges.
Happy was left completely speechless by her words. He'd had a steady foothold on the flagpole all this while, but because of her words, his true qi almost took a wrong turn as it circulated in his body, and he nearly fell from the flagpole. With an awkward expression, he rolled his eyes and ignored Phoenix Dances.
However, Orochimaru was very firm in his attitude. When he heard her words, he snorted coldly.
"This time, I was unlucky! But you'd best be careful, Happy… I'll remember your name from now on. One of these days, I will definitely take revenge. At that time, I will definitely tear off that cloth over your face from your corpse…"
The murderous intent in his last sentence was incredibly great.
Once he heard Orochimaru's words, Happy was silent for a moment before he jumped down from the flagpole.
"I don't like killing." His voice was very calm when he came to stand in front of Orochimaru with a composed expression. "So I'll just throw you off the stage."
"How dare you!" Orochimaru roared and moved. A ruthless look shone in his eyes.
"Haha! You asked for this!"
Orochimaru's face was full of savagery and smugness. He crossed his arms, and each hand controlled a transparent thread that was barely noticeable by the n.a.k.e.d eye. He had moved his swords so that he could make them attack from behind Happy!
The change in the situation was so quick that the people beside the stage could not react to the situation!
When they finally registered that Orochimaru actually still had the ability to launch such a fierce and surprising ambush, all of their expressions changed, and they cried out in worry.
But Happy seemed to have predicted this a long time ago. Without losing his composure, he leapt into the air like curling smoke!
Thud! Thud!
The swords lost their original target, but due to inertia, they flew into Orochimaru's body and stabbed him. The force from the blow pushed his dead body right off the stage before Orochimaru could even understand what had happened…
Chapter 71 - First Place on the Power Ranking Board
In Shanghai, Dihuang Hotel, a beautiful attendant knocked against the door to Room 2109 before she opened it. She then saw a person stand in front of floor-to-ceiling window with his back turned toward her. From the reflection of the window, she could see the anger that had yet to fade away from his face, and there was also a cruel look in his eyes. She shuddered and quickly lowered her head to clean up the shattered silver-white helmet on the floor.
The Sensory Transmitting VR Helmets that served as the game console for World of Martial Arts cost more than 5,000 RMB on the market, and a person could only get one after queuing up for a period of time. She did not expect that this person would crush it…
The attendant did not dare say much. She quietly gathered the shattered parts together and swept the room before bowing and leaving. Her actions were exemplary from the start to the end.
Only when the door closed did the man in front of the floor-to-ceiling window breathe out slowly. He closed his eyes and breathed a few times before he finally calmed himself. A hint of resolution appeared in his long and ruthless eyes.
"Happy, I will find you."
Once he finished speaking, he brought out his phone and quickly tapped a series of numbers.
"I'm Wan She! Set aside the things you're doing right now and put in an order of a VR Helmet for me; it's the one you ordered last time. Yes, once you get it, send it to Room 2109."
Once he disconnected the call, Wan She turned on the exquisite and brilliant laptop on the writing desk. He typed the address of the official website of World of Martial Arts. He then found South China Martial Arts Ranking Board on the list of websites working together with the official website at the bottom of the page, and he clicked on it.
Ever since he lost, a new web page had been added to South China Martial Arts Ranking Board.
Power Ranking Board!
The powerful players in the University of South China were recorded on it, and a ranking was assigned to them based on their results during the martial arts tournament.
When he saw this, even Wan She had to admit that the Three Lonely Wolves who created the website were not website developers who had hit a lucky streak by jumping on the bandwagon that was World of Martial Arts, found a loophole, and gained fame from it. If they could revise and change the contents of the website within such a short amount of time, it showed that their planning, maintenance, and programming abilities were really good.
When he clicked on the Power Ranking Board, he found his in-game ID on it—Orochimaru.
At second place!
And the one who occupied first place was Happy, who had defeated him. He was the enemy who had given rise to the idea that he could turn the table at the final moment, but who had easily destroyed his plan and crushed his confidence.
Up to that moment, he still could not understand how Happy had known that there were hidden threads made from the silk produced by Japanese oak silkworms on the sword hilts of his swords. He had never used this killing move before, but the masked youth seemed to have predicted this, and he made him embarrass himself by getting hit by his own swords and falling off the stage. When he thought about it now, he was filled with rage once more.
He had nothing to say about this.
There were countless students from the University of South China who cursed u pa storm at Orochimaru on the forum for his appearance and his actions. Wan She only glanced through them with a cold glare before he continued going through the contents on the website, hoping to figure out Happy's real identity from it. However, he found to his regret that the people on the forum were also searching for Happy's real identity all over the place. However, when he ended the battle, Happy did not seem to have any intention to announce his real identity to the public. He had disappeared without a trace, just like Orochimaru.
Sword Among Us c1-1268 Page 40