Not to mention after Elg merged with the Thousand-Star Beast, solidifying Spirit Energy and the body, becoming an extremely tenacious all-rounder. His Spirit Energy attacks constantly try to pierce one’s psychological defenses, while the Necrocaller, though slightly inferior in strength, excels in Spirit Energy confinement as a control skill and has extensive combat experience, never engaging him in direct combat.
As for ’Golan’... this is a true opponent capable of giving Ian a premonition of death.
Flawless combat skills, an elusive combat rhythm, a sure-kill strike capable of breaking through The Unyielding Fortress’s defense, and mastery over power at the pinnacle of finesse make him the strongest opponent Ian has ever faced.
The reason for exposing ’Pioneer of Iron’ power was also to deal with this unexpected formidable enemy.
"If a Fifth Energy Level descendant fights me, hiding my hand would be to court death!"
Although he has revealed another card, Ian knows deeply that the most important thing about a trump card is to be able to reveal it, not just to hide it, only to be punched to death.
Facing these young talents, each wielding predecessor’s power and final trump cards, even summoning ancestor spirits to possess them, he is not yet strong enough to hide his cards!
The defensive power of the Pioneer of Iron hasn’t qualitatively changed compared to the Unyielding Fortress, it’s just that strength and mobility have improved greatly. If not showcased, he might really have his defense broken, bleed out, and be defeated by these second-generation kids of powerful factions with many trump cards.
If that’s the case, show it!
Show the divine power of the Second Generation of the Immovable Firmament, let these guys be astonished, panic! Whether they speculate that Hiliard is dead or not, or whether they think there’s a powerful faction behind him, or that he’s such a genius to have created an inheritance... let them doubt, hesitate, and speculate!
All he needs to do is... defeat all these people to prove that he truly deserves the title of ’Pioneer’!
Compared to Ian’s carefree and satisfaction, the feeling of other young talents is actually quite painful.
If, before, everyone felt a bit ashamed for using elder’s methods and trump cards against the Ghost Valley Knight, now that shame has completely disappeared.
Would anyone feel ashamed for using parental life-saving methods when facing an unbeatable enemy? Of course not—only when facing an opponent of the same level would they feel ashamed, and the Ghost Valley Knight has already created a qualitative gap with them.
—It’s entirely because the Ghost Valley Knight is way too strong; opting to use elder’s power to combat this terrifying genius, rather than directly calling a Fourth Energy Level elder to suppress, has fully considered morality, barely allowing them to bridge the huge gap and merely protect themselves in front of this ’Second Generation of the Immovable Firmament’!
—This way of fighting is not the answer!
Gaer has forgotten how many times his teeth have been shattered and regenerated, but even someone as battle-hungry as him feels it’s too much: (Even if we really join forces and deplete all power, I doubt I could kill this Mahdi—I must conserve energy!)
At this moment, he uses his blood blade to counter Mahdi’s Heavy Abyss Iron Sword, the frenzied power clashing together.
Both figures stalled for a moment, and while the knight enveloped in Blood River Armament had an unreadable expression, Gaer gritted his teeth with determination.
Unlike the static duo, the ground around them started to tremble violently, cracking open with fractures spreading in all directions, and then the broken crust raised upward.
The aftermath of their clash rippled across the land, shattering and stirring the Crystal Stone floor—then, in the next instant, Gaer was sent flying, a massive, gaping wound opened from front to back, while a deep bone-revealing slash appeared on Mahdi.
In the next instant, the knight turned, engaging with the Elves merged within the Dark Shadow Realm, their speed accelerated to a level beyond ordinary people’s sight. They could only see explosion-like blasts forming in the air, visualized by Sublimators as numerous indiscernible shadows in mid-air, performing sword duels, punching moves, or sword energy collisions from afar, each distinct yet simultaneous.
[This is the complete version!]
While battling, Campari laughed maniacally at the Ghost Valley Knight: [Hiliard didn’t die! Indeed, that tough bastard didn’t die even after getting hit by the Ice Prison Calamity Ash, he perfected this inheritance—Kid, you are trying to seize the Source of Dragon Blood, to let him live a second life!]
[But he can’t beat me! This world can’t be changed by pure power; his and Yinaiga’s choices will only bring turmoil and destruction, that’s their reason for failure! Even if he lives another life, he still won’t succeed, and he’ll be defeated by me!]
"Old thing, there’s no need for the teacher to beat you, I can do it!"
And the Black-Haired Knight snickered, slashing down another strike, blasting ’Golan’ away: "As for whether success or failure, you’ll soon never see either again!"
In response to Mahdi’s mockery, Campari outwardly showed no reaction, but was inwardly filled with jealousy.
—Hiliard, why is he so lucky?! Having great talent is one thing, but having a Monarch to support him and finding such a disciple as well?
While he is stuck engaging in scheming with Canaan Moore’s muck and other royal bloodlines, wasting time and life!