My Celestial Ascension Chapter 924: The Duel (1)

Yuan positioned himself at the brink of the enormous arena, his face showing utter composure. He appeared totally at ease, devoid of any strain in his gaze or hint of worry.

His stance was remarkably relaxed, almost like he was simply strolling through a leisurely garden.

"What on earth is this human up to? Isn't he concerned for his own well-being?" Countess Katarina remarked, a trace of letdown coloring her tone.

"Is he intending to end his own life?! This is simply astonishing... I've never encountered such an oblivious human," Count Leopold chimed in, his expression mirroring her disappointment.

"I can't fathom his intentions... Yet, there's an unusual quality about him. I haven't figured it out just yet," Count Eldrick stated evenly, his piercing eyes locked steadily on Yuan.

Seated in his throne, King Evander watched Yuan intently, his features etched with contemplation.

"I don't think he's as straightforward as he seems. Consider how he breached that enigmatic storm barrier to arrive here," King Evander murmured quietly, evidently eager for the clash between Yuan and Countess Isolde.

"I can only describe him as powerful... incredibly powerful!" Nerith declared with a grave look, her gaze fixed unblinkingly on Yuan.

'I'm curious how quickly you'll overcome Countess Isolde—the Empress of Fire... This battle has me thrilled!' she thought to herself, a spark of eagerness lighting up her features.

Countess Katarina arched her eyebrows and let out a gentle laugh. "Oh? It looks like Princess Nerith has already seen the strength of this human... care to share your thoughts with us?"

Nerith gave a nod and explained, "I faced him in a duel and suffered a crushing defeat. It wasn't even a real contest. He played with me like I was just a kid attempting to challenge a seasoned veteran."

"What?! You were beaten by him? How could that possibly happen?!" King Evander shot up from his chair, his eyes bulging in astonishment.

"T-This is tough to accept—that a figure of your standing would fall to a simple human, Princess Nerith...!" Countess Katarina uttered, her words quivering.

Over on the arena's far side, Countess Isolde remained with a frosty demeanor, her stare pinning Yuan like a hunter eyeing its quarry.

'What a fascinating individual... He displays no vulnerability whatsoever. How does he stay so composed before combat?' she pondered silently, a faint smile curling her lips.

"Do you want me to strike first, or will you?" she inquired, her fingers morphing into deadly claws that could rend rock.

"I like allowing my foe to attack initially... go ahead, come at me," Yuan responded with a gentle smile, his tone steady and bold.

"You talk like victory is already yours... I admire that. Such bold spirit you have, Yuan," Isolde replied with a broad smile as her aura exploded outward.

In an instant, the atmosphere grew frigid and oppressive, like an unseen peak had crashed down onto the arena. The intense weight pressed on all who were there.

Fissures started spiderwebbing under her boots as the earth quaked from the raw might of her presence.

'Fascinating... She's clearly more potent than Princess Nerith...' A sly grin crossed Yuan's lips, his eagerness building.

Abruptly, Isolde blurred into a flash of scarlet and hurtled at Yuan with blinding velocity, materializing right in front of him almost instantly.

'Her motions are flawless, without the slightest error... She's truly a force to reckon with,' Yuan reflected as he serenely lifted his hand to counter her assault.

Bang! A tremendous blast wave tore through the arena the moment Isolde's talons met Yuan's hand, which had casually halted the fatal blow.

"..." Amazement surged across the arena as all onlookers gaped at the sight, completely unable to process what they'd seen.

"H-How on earth did that human halt Countess Isolde's strike?! This defies belief!" Katarina gasped, hand over her mouth, her voice shaky with awe.

"I-I don't understand... it ought to be impossible to block her assault... even I couldn't deflect that without getting hurt," Count Eldrick admitted, his eyes stretched wide in shock.

King Evander watched the skirmish quietly for a bit, holding back any remarks. After scrutinizing it, he glanced toward the vampire aristocracy.

"This is hard for me to swallow too. See how he mirrors her every action. He anticipates precisely where her strikes will land," he noted, his attention riveted on Yuan as he darted around the arena.

"Incredible... he foresees each assault with perfect accuracy. It'd require centuries for me to master that," Nerith whispered, her eyes gleaming with thrill as she followed the bout.

"To him, this fight is just a show... a silly act for his entertainment," Valeria commented, a light laugh punctuating her statement.

All eyes snapped to Valeria, who was next to Nerith, wearing a serene smile while tracking Yuan's motions.

"What exactly do you imply, miss?" King Evander questioned, his eyebrows lifting in puzzlement.

Smiling faintly, Valeria answered, "What I'm saying is... he's playing with her. If he chose to, he could finish this in seconds. The result was set well before the duel started."

"This is absurd! How can a plain human grow so mighty? It's utterly impossible!" Count Leopold burst out, his tone laced with denial.

"If my statement doesn't convince you, then let the duel's end settle it," Valeria asserted assuredly, shifting her focus back to Yuan.

Cling! Cling! Fierce clanging resounded, trailed by blasts that splintered the floor and nearby barriers, with embers flying everywhere.

Yuan parried each of Isolde's strikes with casual ease, his unprotected hands sufficient to thwart her keen talons.

"You surpass my first impressions... It looks like I'll have to unleash everything now," Isolde declared with an enigmatic smile as her aura abruptly changed.

A vivid red glow wrapped around her form, and the nearby air quivered fiercely as a mighty blast rocked the arena.

Isolde experienced a striking change. Her teeth elongated into fangs, her face grew icier, and her ghostly skin paled further to a spectral hue.

Crimson liquid welled from her hand, but rather than fall, it coalesced and solidified—crafting a huge scarlet scythe.

"Intriguing... so vampires wield their blood as arms. That's a remarkably distinctive power," Yuan murmured, evidently entertained as he examined the blade.

"Judging by your expression, you clearly know next to nothing about us vampires," Isolde observed while clenching the scythe tighter.

"Sadly, I hail from a realm without vampires," Yuan countered with a steady smile.

"Hmm... fascinating. Your words ring true to me," Isolde replied. "Should you prevail in this duel, I wouldn't hesitate to reveal more about our race."

"Then I'll make sure to claim victory here," Yuan shot back with a grin.

"Would you like me to fashion a weapon for you? Surely you can't face me unarmed."

"No need to go to the effort. I possess my own blade already," Yuan stated, then pulled forth the plain wooden sword for his practice drills.