Chapter 55
If audio player doesn't work, press Stop then Play button again
Chapter 55
The night before the rematch, Anton didnt have a miraculous breakthrough. In fact, he barely slept. When he tried to sleep, his mind told him he should be cultivating. When he tried to cultivate he could only think about how much he needed to win. That was motivation but not usable. He needed a clear and focused mind, not scattered near-panic.
For her own part, upon her arrival Tonina didnt look entirely fresh either. She clearly hadnt had a leisurely month of pleasant cultivation. Her eyes were filled with determination. Anton might have congratulated her change in demeanor if circumstances had been different. However, she was still going to fight him for possession over his grandson. Even if she didnt know the relation it was still someones life. And of course, they would not be having another match to begin with were she not a spoiled brat throwing around her familys influence.
As soon as the match started Anton fired and shot arrows, the twang of his bow crystal clear in the arena nearly devoid of life. Anton no longer had the inclination to be gentle. The previous battle he had simply pieced through her energy defenses to weaken her joints one at a time until she could not fight. Now, if he found the opportunity, he would not mind filling her with holes. While there was merely one level of difference between them still, Anton had merely reached the peak of Body Tempering and shed fully stepped into Spirit Building. He couldnt hold back, even if it meant future trouble. It was already far too late to consider additional consequences. He merely had to win.
Tonina Potenza was from a wealthy family quite interested in her survival, so it was no surprise that her armor was top tier. Though it was durable, it also appeared light enough for her to move easily. No more than the standard weight of steel plate, at least. Her movements were swift and her attacks sharp, while her defenses couldnt be underestimated.
Even with his energy concentrated to a fine point, her energy at early Spirit Building was a large step more durable than it had been during the last battle. While Anton was confident he could have pierced through her armor as well as her energy in the previous battle, now he was having trouble causing more superficial wounds.
Her sword brushed past his face. It wasnt supposed to be so close. When they last fought he let her attacks brush close to him because it required less effort to avoid by a narrow margin, and he was confident in his ability to judge her attacks- but now it was all he could manage. However, he wasnt willing to give up. There was too much on the line and he knew he could do more.L1tLagoon witnessed the first publication of this chapter on Ñøv€l--B1n.
It physically hurt Anton to parry her sword with his bow, despite him being aware that his energy and the nightwood could withstand some level of damage. But if he didnt do it, he would die.
He pulled out all his techniques. Thousand Arrows allowed him to fire at an unreasonably quick rate, but he simply couldnt break through her defenses consistently enough. Tonina wasnt just letting him hit her, either. Whenever he gathered more energy, she took the opportunity to attack or divert her defenses to withstand his improved attacks.
-----
The match was private. Only the participants, the master of the arena, and a few others were there to watch. Devon watched as two young cultivators rushed out to where Anton lay bleeding on the ground. He wished he could go there but he couldnt. Even if he could, he wasnt sure if his grandfather would find solace in his comfort.
Anton was the pillar of the family. He had been what held everything together over the generations. The farm had only grown because of his determination, a determination he passed on to others. Then there had been devastation.
Devon had been there. He was young enough. Healthy. And incapable of even scratching the attacking bandits. He wasnt able to keep track of everything happening in the confusion. They were led away in chains at the fastest speed they could maintain. Faster, even. Some people were thrown away along the way, never even making it to Veron to be sold. Theyd all been split up. Many of the strong young men went to farms or the mines, but hed been sold to the arena.
Hed been given a simple cultivation technique, along with an ultimatum. Win, or die. While it wasnt quite so black and white, if he didnt take care of himself he wouldnt survive in the arena. So he had practiced with a weapon and trained the cultivation technique and won. For no particular reason than he had nothing better to do. He knew he didnt want to die, but he didnt remember why. He kept winning and then there were no more fights. Weeks of that, then another month with talks of him being purchased.
Then Anton had shown up. It was supposed to be a nice surprise, but instead it was sort of a bitter apology. As if hed known he would lose. But it helped Devon remember something. That was why he hadnt given up. Grandpa Anton wouldnt. Even as he lay bleeding on the floor of the arena, Devon felt his energy clawing at the air, trying to do anything. Not just any energy. Strong energy. The energy of a Spirit Building cultivator.
That was crazy. Devon was not well versed in cultivation, but he had reached mid Body Tempering. He wasnt the youngest man in the world, though certainly not old. Even so, hed felt his age. Anton, his grandfather had far surpassed him. It wasnt just possessing a good technique. That could never do so much. Instead, it was the undying determination he possessed. Something Devon had thought gone from the world. But now he saw it.
Would he have preferred to be saved? To no longer be subject to slavery fighting in an arena? Of course. If only he had been just a bit stronger but Devon couldnt say that anyone else could have done better. For his own case, however, Devon had merely been going through the motions of survival because that was what he was expected to do. Yet his grandfather Anton had thrown himself into danger, just for a chance to save him. Hed almost done it, too.
It was a distant hope to think he would survive long enough for Anton to manage to free him now. If it was just about money, he could have been bought away already without the sacrifice. What would be required to force a sale? Devon wasnt sure, but as he felt the Spirit Building energy flickering from his prone grandfather as he was pulled away, he knew he had to survive to find out. How could he give up on himself when someone like that was still looking out for him?
Please report us if you find any errors so we can fix it asap!
Chapter 55
The night before the rematch, Anton didnt have a miraculous breakthrough. In fact, he barely slept. When he tried to sleep, his mind told him he should be cultivating. When he tried to cultivate he could only think about how much he needed to win. That was motivation but not usable. He needed a clear and focused mind, not scattered near-panic.
For her own part, upon her arrival Tonina didnt look entirely fresh either. She clearly hadnt had a leisurely month of pleasant cultivation. Her eyes were filled with determination. Anton might have congratulated her change in demeanor if circumstances had been different. However, she was still going to fight him for possession over his grandson. Even if she didnt know the relation it was still someones life. And of course, they would not be having another match to begin with were she not a spoiled brat throwing around her familys influence.
As soon as the match started Anton fired and shot arrows, the twang of his bow crystal clear in the arena nearly devoid of life. Anton no longer had the inclination to be gentle. The previous battle he had simply pieced through her energy defenses to weaken her joints one at a time until she could not fight. Now, if he found the opportunity, he would not mind filling her with holes. While there was merely one level of difference between them still, Anton had merely reached the peak of Body Tempering and shed fully stepped into Spirit Building. He couldnt hold back, even if it meant future trouble. It was already far too late to consider additional consequences. He merely had to win.
Tonina Potenza was from a wealthy family quite interested in her survival, so it was no surprise that her armor was top tier. Though it was durable, it also appeared light enough for her to move easily. No more than the standard weight of steel plate, at least. Her movements were swift and her attacks sharp, while her defenses couldnt be underestimated.
Even with his energy concentrated to a fine point, her energy at early Spirit Building was a large step more durable than it had been during the last battle. While Anton was confident he could have pierced through her armor as well as her energy in the previous battle, now he was having trouble causing more superficial wounds.
Her sword brushed past his face. It wasnt supposed to be so close. When they last fought he let her attacks brush close to him because it required less effort to avoid by a narrow margin, and he was confident in his ability to judge her attacks- but now it was all he could manage. However, he wasnt willing to give up. There was too much on the line and he knew he could do more.L1tLagoon witnessed the first publication of this chapter on Ñøv€l--B1n.
It physically hurt Anton to parry her sword with his bow, despite him being aware that his energy and the nightwood could withstand some level of damage. But if he didnt do it, he would die.
He pulled out all his techniques. Thousand Arrows allowed him to fire at an unreasonably quick rate, but he simply couldnt break through her defenses consistently enough. Tonina wasnt just letting him hit her, either. Whenever he gathered more energy, she took the opportunity to attack or divert her defenses to withstand his improved attacks.
-----
The match was private. Only the participants, the master of the arena, and a few others were there to watch. Devon watched as two young cultivators rushed out to where Anton lay bleeding on the ground. He wished he could go there but he couldnt. Even if he could, he wasnt sure if his grandfather would find solace in his comfort.
Anton was the pillar of the family. He had been what held everything together over the generations. The farm had only grown because of his determination, a determination he passed on to others. Then there had been devastation.
Devon had been there. He was young enough. Healthy. And incapable of even scratching the attacking bandits. He wasnt able to keep track of everything happening in the confusion. They were led away in chains at the fastest speed they could maintain. Faster, even. Some people were thrown away along the way, never even making it to Veron to be sold. Theyd all been split up. Many of the strong young men went to farms or the mines, but hed been sold to the arena.
Hed been given a simple cultivation technique, along with an ultimatum. Win, or die. While it wasnt quite so black and white, if he didnt take care of himself he wouldnt survive in the arena. So he had practiced with a weapon and trained the cultivation technique and won. For no particular reason than he had nothing better to do. He knew he didnt want to die, but he didnt remember why. He kept winning and then there were no more fights. Weeks of that, then another month with talks of him being purchased.
Then Anton had shown up. It was supposed to be a nice surprise, but instead it was sort of a bitter apology. As if hed known he would lose. But it helped Devon remember something. That was why he hadnt given up. Grandpa Anton wouldnt. Even as he lay bleeding on the floor of the arena, Devon felt his energy clawing at the air, trying to do anything. Not just any energy. Strong energy. The energy of a Spirit Building cultivator.
That was crazy. Devon was not well versed in cultivation, but he had reached mid Body Tempering. He wasnt the youngest man in the world, though certainly not old. Even so, hed felt his age. Anton, his grandfather had far surpassed him. It wasnt just possessing a good technique. That could never do so much. Instead, it was the undying determination he possessed. Something Devon had thought gone from the world. But now he saw it.
Would he have preferred to be saved? To no longer be subject to slavery fighting in an arena? Of course. If only he had been just a bit stronger but Devon couldnt say that anyone else could have done better. For his own case, however, Devon had merely been going through the motions of survival because that was what he was expected to do. Yet his grandfather Anton had thrown himself into danger, just for a chance to save him. Hed almost done it, too.
It was a distant hope to think he would survive long enough for Anton to manage to free him now. If it was just about money, he could have been bought away already without the sacrifice. What would be required to force a sale? Devon wasnt sure, but as he felt the Spirit Building energy flickering from his prone grandfather as he was pulled away, he knew he had to survive to find out. How could he give up on himself when someone like that was still looking out for him?
Chapter 55The night before the rematch, Anton didnt have a miraculous breakthrough. In fact, he barely slept. When he tried to sleep, his mind told him he should be cultivating. When he tried to cultivate he could only think about how much he needed to win. That was motivation but not usable. He needed a clear and focused mind, not scattered near-panic.For her own part, upon her arrival Tonina didnt look entirely fresh either. She clearly hadnt had a leisurely month of pleasant cultivation. Her eyes were filled with determination. Anton might have congratulated her change in demeanor if circumstances had been different. However, she was still going to fight him for possession over his grandson. Even if she didnt know the relation it was still someones life. And of course, they would not be having another match to begin with were she not a spoiled brat throwing around her familys influence.As soon as the match started Anton fired and shot arrows, the twang of his bow crystal clear in the arena nearly devoid of life. Anton no longer had the inclination to be gentle. The previous battle he had simply pieced through her energy defenses to weaken her joints one at a time until she could not fight. Now, if he found the opportunity, he would not mind filling her with holes. While there was merely one level of difference between them still, Anton had merely reached the peak of Body Tempering and shed fully stepped into Spirit Building. He couldnt hold back, even if it meant future trouble. It was already far too late to consider additional consequences. He merely had to win.Tonina Potenza was from a wealthy family quite interested in her survival, so it was no surprise that her armor was top tier. Though it was durable, it also appeared light enough for her to move easily. No more than the standard weight of steel plate, at least. Her movements were swift and her attacks sharp, while her defenses couldnt be underestimated. Even with his energy concentrated to a fine point, her energy at early Spirit Building was a large step more durable than it had been during the last battle. While Anton was confident he could have pierced through her armor as well as her energy in the previous battle, now he was having trouble causing more superficial wounds. Her sword brushed past his face. It wasnt supposed to be so close. When they last fought he let her attacks brush close to him because it required less effort to avoid by a narrow margin, and he was confident in his ability to judge her attacks- but now it was all he could manage. However, he wasnt willing to give up. There was too much on the line and he knew he could do more.L1tLagoon witnessed the first publication of this chapter on Nvl--B1n.It physically hurt Anton to parry her sword with his bow, despite him being aware that his energy and the nightwood could withstand some level of damage. But if he didnt do it, he would die.He pulled out all his techniques. Thousand Arrows allowed him to fire at an unreasonably quick rate, but he simply couldnt break through her defenses consistently enough. Tonina wasnt just letting him hit her, either. Whenever he gathered more energy, she took the opportunity to attack or divert her defenses to withstand his improved attacks.-----The match was private. Only the participants, the master of the arena, and a few others were there to watch. Devon watched as two young cultivators rushed out to where Anton lay bleeding on the ground. He wished he could go there but he couldnt. Even if he could, he wasnt sure if his grandfather would find solace in his comfort. Anton was the pillar of the family. He had been what held everything together over the generations. The farm had only grown because of his determination, a determination he passed on to others. Then there had been devastation.Devon had been there. He was young enough. Healthy. And incapable of even scratching the attacking bandits. He wasnt able to keep track of everything happening in the confusion. They were led away in chains at the fastest speed they could maintain. Faster, even. Some people were thrown away along the way, never even making it to Veron to be sold. Theyd all been split up. Many of the strong young men went to farms or the mines, but hed been sold to the arena.Hed been given a simple cultivation technique, along with an ultimatum. Win, or die. While it wasnt quite so black and white, if he didnt take care of himself he wouldnt survive in the arena. So he had practiced with a weapon and trained the cultivation technique and won. For no particular reason than he had nothing better to do. He knew he didnt want to die, but he didnt remember why. He kept winning and then there were no more fights. Weeks of that, then another month with talks of him being purchased. Then Anton had shown up. It was supposed to be a nice surprise, but instead it was sort of a bitter apology. As if hed known he would lose. But it helped Devon remember something. That was why he hadnt given up. Grandpa Anton wouldnt. Even as he lay bleeding on the floor of the arena, Devon felt his energy clawing at the air, trying to do anything. Not just any energy. Strong energy. The energy of a Spirit Building cultivator. That was crazy. Devon was not well versed in cultivation, but he had reached mid Body Tempering. He wasnt the youngest man in the world, though certainly not old. Even so, hed felt his age. Anton, his grandfather had far surpassed him. It wasnt just possessing a good technique. That could never do so much. Instead, it was the undying determination he possessed. Something Devon had thought gone from the world. But now he saw it.Would he have preferred to be saved? To no longer be subject to slavery fighting in an arena? Of course. If only he had been just a bit stronger but Devon couldnt say that anyone else could have done better. For his own case, however, Devon had merely been going through the motions of survival because that was what he was expected to do. Yet his grandfather Anton had thrown himself into danger, just for a chance to save him. Hed almost done it, too. It was a distant hope to think he would survive long enough for Anton to manage to free him now. If it was just about money, he could have been bought away already without the sacrifice. What would be required to force a sale? Devon wasnt sure, but as he felt the Spirit Building energy flickering from his prone grandfather as he was pulled away, he knew he had to survive to find out. How could he give up on himself when someone like that was still looking out for him?
