The Martial Unity

The Martial Apprentices that had gathered around the ring spectating this important fight were gaping with their jaws dropped. The sight of Fae unveiling a powerful trump card no one had seen before was rather shocking.

At this stage, almost all of them had fought Fae at some point or the other, and all of them had lost. However, when they realized that she could have shaved their flesh off at any point during their fight, they all gulped, sweating inwardly. A few of them even felt a bit relieved that they weren't strong enough to force her to use this terrifying trump card.

At the same time, they felt powerless in comparison. She swept past all of them cleanly and smoothly without even using her strongest weapons? It was a humbling realization, albeit unpleasant. Even the former rank one Martial Apprentices of the top twelve Martial Artists couldn't help but grow a bit bitter. Many of them had fought her and believed to be not too inferior to her, despite losing.

But she had showed them how misguided their notions were.

Even Avi Seth, who had pushed her the most asides from Rui, realized they if they had a rematch now, she would almost certainly crush him if she went all-out from the start.

The reason she didn't use this move against him was probably because she had already been too poisoned to employ the sheer amount of force the attack probably required. If they fought against, she would just use it from the get-go and skin him alive!

His expression sank as he watched Fae and Rui dash at each other.

Rui had been bleeding due to the gaping wound, especially because he had subjected himself to high-speed maneuvering, exacerbating the issue.

He didn't have much time.

If this continued, his condition would fall below the tolerable threshold and he would lose any realistic chances of winning.

WHOOSH

Rui carefully avoided a Whirlpool impact from Fae with his maneuvering techniques and Primordial Instinct.

BOOM

The attack struck the ground, cracking and grinding the ground.

('I need to time it perfectly.') Rui's alertness skyrocketed.

This was it.

If he waited any longer, it would be too late.

He subtly shifted all his weight to his left leg, completely freeing up his right leg for a swift attack without any warning, as he flexed the muscles in the big toe of his right foot, turning the toe into a rigid bullet.

Fae launched herself at him.

Just one more Whirlpool impact.

If she could just land a single impact, the fight would be over. Rui's condition would have degenerated to the point where he simply couldn't sustain optimal fighting condition.

Just one.

Just one!

('Just one!')

determination skyrocketed. She would do anything to land one last Whirlpool impact. She rejoiced when she saw Rui

his mind.') Fae realized. He was no longer running away, that strategy

That was good enough.

as Fae gathered every ounce of force

her left arm, launching herself at Rui. Her left palm rotated with such force that even the very air

the attack approached, even as

WHOOSH

The Whirlpool had arrived.

ducked to avoid

She thrust her attack forward, abandoning

endure whatever Rui threw at

long as the impact landed, she would

soared forward, chasing after

Half a meter.

Quarter.

Ten centimeters.

the attack was centimeters away from

Too close.

Yet, too far.

CRACK!

Excruciating pain

almost there. Just a

Yet she froze.

Victory was almost there.

Yet, she froze.

"It's over." Rui whispered.

the source of her pain.

His toe!

toe was in

It was only then.

only then she

not from Whirlpool

Not at all.

her very own sternum

She was still frozen.

And she wasn't alone.

everyone was frozen. It was such