Chapter 43

Xu Dong, an agile-type Awakened, naturally had a much faster attack speed than Mad Bull. The triangular bayonet he wielded was made of hard material with a sharp edge, making it more suitable for stabbing and slashing compared to his previous iron saber. Having grown accustomed to the small iron saber, he found the new weapon even more convenient to use, giving him a significant advantage. In just two seconds, he had already launched five frenzied attacks.

Mad Bull, who had managed to stand out among the bodyguards, was not to be underestimated. He was skilled in the use of the round shield, and every time Xu Dong attacked, Mad Bull would block with his shield, rendering Xu Dong's attacks ineffective. Although Mad Bull's movement speed had not increased much, his lower body was solid and stable.

With a backhand swing of his shield, Mad Bull interrupted Xu Dong's attack. He roared and took a half-step forward, his left fist striking downward like a heavy hammer from the sky.

Xu Dong, who was testing Mad Bull's strength, did not choose to dodge but instead raised his elbow to block the attack.

The dull sound of muscle colliding with muscle echoed, and Xu Dong couldn't help but groan in pain. The part of his arm that had collided with Mad Bull's fist immediately swelled up, turning red and then quickly changing to a dark purple, indicating that the muscles and soft tissues had been damaged and were rapidly clotting.

Mad Bull couldn't help but let out a light "hmm," a glint of surprise in his eyes at Xu Dong's strength.

Having used up his initial burst of energy, Xu Dong quickly retreated to create some distance. The arena was neither too large nor too small, and with Mad Bull's movement speed, if Xu Dong refused to engage, there was little Mad Bull could do. However, Mad Bull's strategy was to wear down his opponent through attrition, testing patience and trading injuries, so he did not launch an attack but instead observed the situation.

Yang San, seeing the fight come to a halt so soon, asked the nearby Han Bi, puzzled, "What's this kid up to? Is he planning to concede?"

Han Bi's tone was deliberately casual, "They were just testing each other. Once the testing is done, they will take a breath and prepare for the next round of attacks."

Yang San didn't notice Han Bi's unusual demeanor and sneered, "That kid is nothing special. If he weren't younger, I wouldn't even bother with him."

"Nothing special?" Han Bi's face remained a polite smile, but his heart was clouded with a dark shadow. As an agile-type Awakened, he had a more direct understanding of Xu Dong's strength. This kid was fast in movement, fast in attack, and had quick reflexes. If not for his lack of combat experience, Han Bi would have thought he was a seasoned Awakened. If he had seen the ancient armor under Xu Dong's pants, he would have been even more surprised.

Xu Dong's abilities came at the cost of being unable to cultivate the Blood Flesh Armor. Everyone has moments of exceptional performance, but such moments cannot be sustained. For example, Usain Bolt can't run a 9.58-second 100 meters in every race. However, by giving up the ability to cultivate, Xu Dong had achieved a permanent state of maintaining his peak performance.

To put it more simply, if Xu Dong could run a 100 meters in 4 seconds, he would always be able to run that fast.

Xu Dong took a deep breath and began his next round of attacks. With his speed advantage, he could attack or retreat at will, controlling the battlefield. His figure darted forward, and the triangular bayonet sliced horizontally, sparks flying as it scraped against Mad Bull's round shield, the sound like a cat scratching glass, grating and unpleasant.

Mad Bull instinctively frowned at the first impact.

Seizing this moment, Xu Dong let out a roar, his left hand silently landing on Mad Bull's shoulder. As Mad Bull's expression changed, Xu Dong stepped in, kicking his calf joint. The slash, step, and kick were a fluid, seamless sequence of movements.

The arm that had landed on Mad Bull's shoulder exerted force, exposing a defensive blind spot, a weak point!

Xu Dong's eyes narrowed, his lips pressed tightly together. He spun on the spot, his back almost touching the surface of the round shield, swiftly moving to the blind spot. Seizing the opportunity, Xu Dong struck without hesitation, the bayonet piercing Mad Bull's chest. For a moment, his face showed joy, but it quickly turned to shock.

The sharp bayonet first penetrated Mad Bull's leather armor, then the lining, and finally the Blood Flesh Armor. What was the feeling? It was like stabbing a rubber surface, first soft, then slightly rebounding.

Xu Dong, experiencing this for the first time, reacted slowly, his arm tingling from the force of the rebound. He felt as if he had been pushed, losing his balance and falling backward. At that moment, a chill ran down his spine!

A shadow quickly descended, growing larger—Mad Bull's green steel round shield! He had anticipated this moment and struck with the shield.

Caught off guard, Xu Dong had no time to dodge. The shield struck his chest with the force of a fully loaded truck accelerating to its maximum speed. With a loud thud, he was sent flying like a broken sack, vomiting a mouthful of blood mid-air before landing heavily, splashing mud, looking utterly miserable.

Mad Bull did not press his advantage but remained focused on defending his position.

Xu Dong stood up again, coughing up more blood. His eyes darted around, showing his intense emotions. He couldn't help but recall the mysterious adventurer's warning. This powerful demonic body armor had proven highly effective against the bayonet's "stab." If it could defend against blunt weapons with minimal damage, then...

Xu Dong, never one to give up easily, quickly shook off his discouragement. "If I'm not mistaken, this must be the question mark skill. Yes, Mad Bull's defensive capabilities are indeed remarkable, but his speed is slow, his strength low, and his offensive tactics limited... I still have a chance to defeat him!"

Gritting his teeth against the pain in his chest, Xu Dong launched another attack. This time, knowing the characteristics of Mad Bull's chest armor, he focused on the exposed limbs. The round shield's coverage was limited, and while it could protect vital areas, it was difficult to defend the entire body comprehensively.

As Xu Dong darted past, a wound appeared on Mad Bull's arm with a tearing sound. The wound was diagonal, like a cut on a live fish, looking fierce. Blood flowed freely, a vivid and disturbing sight.

Mad Bull roared, swinging his round shield in retaliation. Xu Dong's speed advantage was fully utilized. He struck and retreated, not aiming to inflict serious damage but to leave scars. His strategy was, "If you can endure, I'll make you endure!"

Xu Dong continuously moved, continuously inflicting damage. In just a dozen seconds, Mad Bull's body was covered in wounds. These wounds were concentrated on his limbs, each at least four centimeters long. If this world required stitches to treat wounds, the surgeon would surely be exhausted.

The appearance of the wounds meant bleeding. Mad Bull's blood was abundant, and in a short time, his shirt and pants were soaked through, dripping as if a squeeze would release a stream of blood.

Despite this, Mad Bull's resilience was evident. He remained calm and patient, seemingly unaffected by his injuries.

Xu Dong noticed that Yang San, who usually showed his emotions openly, remained composed. Given his behavior, he should have been raging, like a gambler who had bet on a horse, shouting, "Number 17, go! Number 17, you damn well better go!"

Does this guy have some hidden ace up his sleeve?

Xu Dong forced himself to refocus on the fight, steadfastly adhering to his battle plan.

During a close-quarters exchange, Mad Bull changed his tactics. The frequency of his shield swings remained the same, but he added his left fist to his attacks. His offensive style shifted from defensive counterattacks to a more aggressive, all-out assault, almost abandoning his defense. For Xu Dong, this was a welcome change. He believed his speed and reflexes far exceeded Mad Bull's, and as long as he remained cautious, he could escape unharmed.

Mad Bull's left fist swung from left to right, aiming for Xu Dong's face. Xu Dong bent his knees and easily dodged. Then, the green steel shield came down with a fierce wind, like a mountain collapsing. Xu Dong, feeling confident, bent his knees and sprang backward, evading the attack with the agility of a deer.

At that moment, Mad Bull's face twisted into a strange smile, and even Yang Shaoting in the audience couldn't help but laugh coldly.

A chill ran down Xu Dong's spine, but he couldn't fathom where the danger was coming from!

There was a click, as if a part had broken. As Xu Dong dodged, he suddenly saw the green steel shield split in mid-air, folding open. At the same time, a sturdy steel wire shot out from the split, moving with eerie speed. Xu Dong instinctively blocked with his bayonet, but the wire wrapped around it tightly the moment they made contact.

Xu Dong instinctively pulled, but this brief action cost him the best chance to dodge. Mad Bull's left hand shot out, grabbing Xu Dong's shoulder. His fingers were strong and rough, like a tight iron clamp, holding Xu Dong firmly.

Xu Dong's pupils contracted, his body hair standing on end, a sense of extreme danger exploding within him. His face changed dramatically!

Mad Bull's left hand exerted force, flipping the slender Xu Dong into the air. In the next second, he quickly spun, and with a click, the folded shield returned to its original shape. The fifty-centimeter green steel shield, like a tennis racket, whistled through the air, striking Xu Dong in mid-air.