Chapter 434

Chapter 434: Simon’s Intervention

The only purpose of battle is to defeat enemies.

When the battle’s goal shifted from overcoming an opponent to mindlessly hoarding patterns through rigid, single-minded obsession, Ulhan had already lost.

Patterns were the Battle Mage’s ultimate skill, yet they’d also become invisible chains shackling Ulhan’s mind.

He wasn’t focused on killing Midi, but on stockpiling patterns first—only when they resonated would he strike.

How could such a convoluted approach ever challenge Midi?

Initially, Midi knew nothing about Ulhan. Like others, he feared the Battle Mage’s might and the patterns’ terrifying nature. His only strategy was strict defense, even preparing to unleash his mind-related ability “psychic sniping” if weakened.

Yet Midi never needed his trump card. Instead, through razor-sharp environmental awareness and hard-won experience, he pinpointed Ulhan’s flaw—a weakness even Ulhan himself hadn’t recognized.

This ignorance made it deadly.

Seizing this opening, Midi wrested control of the battle’s tempo.

To Midi now, this fearsome Battle Mage seemed trivial.

What did patterns matter? Ulhan was just a fast, strong novice with high recovery but no grasp of close combat. Worse, he kept fixating on generating more patterns while ignoring Midi’s looming threat.

To spectators, the shift defied logic.

A once-even match now unfolded entirely under Midi’s command. Each of Ulhan’s attacks turned laughably clumsy under Midi’s counters, leaving skills half-formed.

This wasn’t a bonfire gathering final—it resembled a seasoned hunter toying with a beast driven by instinct. Claws and speed meant nothing against prepared cunning.

What was happening?

Most observers, including Level 65 Simon and the Death Scorpion’s martial arts master, only saw “Midi controlling the battle.” Without standing on that battlefield, they missed Ulhan’s fatal flaw.

Alexis alone sensed something deeper, yet remained uncertain.

But whether baffled warriors or perceptive experts, all understood one truth—

Midi was winning.

“No! Impossible! You’re the one who’ll die!” Ulhan roared, eyes bloodshot.

The Death Scorpion heir watched. Water Spider Tribe comrades watched. Mososbury City factions and fourteen tribes watched. This was Ulhan’s stage, his moment to shine as a Battle Mage—failure was unthinkable!

Worse, he couldn’t let his brother’s killer steal his glory.

Never. Not here.

Dark Magic erupted around Ulhan. Icy fragments and snowflakes whirled as temperatures plunged toward freezing. The fading patterns around him reignited one by one.

Creating patterns directly with magic?

Midi’s pupils contracted slightly.

Ulhan’s method, while granting immense power temporarily, was not sustainable. By forcing his magic to overflow instead of generating patterns normally, he would suffer severe damage after the battle, possibly even losing levels.

This was a desperate fight of a cornered beast.

Though Ulhan couldn’t last much longer now, if Midi retreated to avoid the onslaught, the Battle Mage’s attacks would regain their flow. Real patterns would accumulate again.

Once combined with the magic-forged patterns, Midi would lose regardless of Ulhan’s fate.

Retreat wasn’t an option. Midi had to press forward!

Facing the pattern-covered Battle Mage, a faint blue glint flashed in Midi’s star-dark eyes. Golden-red light erupted around him as he stepped into the deadliest combat zone.

Environmental awareness – fully activated!

Spirit Dragon Sword – pushed to maximum!

Dragon’s Blood power – completely unleashed!

Midi’s hidden strength finally exploded. His ancient dragon blood had grown stronger through Bloodline awakening during this fight. With full Dragon Power released, both his speed and power leaped upward.

His movements now left faint afterimages. The Horn King Greatsword struck with renewed force that even Ulhan’s pattern-enhanced strength couldn’t withstand. Instead of being pushed back, Midi forced Ulhan into retreat through peerless swordsmanship.

"This brat hid his cards so well…" Simon’s eyes narrowed warily.

Most fighters would exhaust their trump cards early against a Battle Mage, desperately trying to suppress pattern generation.

This seemingly logical approach often backfired – once stamina faded, the Battle Mage would create patterns during the lull. From there, attack power would snowball until the overwhelmed defender fell to the War Spear.

Yet this black-haired human facing an opponent two levels higher had shown terrifying restraint. He’d hidden strength, let Ulhan generate patterns, endured being outmatched, even risked deadly situations.

Only after identifying Ulhan’s weakness and countering with mysterious precision did he unleash full power.

What patience!

What icy composure!

What absolute self-belief!

Simon found no answers to his own questions. One truth stood clear – this human’s ruthless character made him dangerous. If not allied with the Death Scorpion family, he must be eliminated at all costs.

As Simon reached this conclusion, Ulhan – the tool meant to "handle" Midi – went flying like a severed kite string again.

Even with forced patterns, Ulhan couldn’t match Midi’s fully unleashed Dragon Power and environmental awareness. Trapped like a fish in a barrel, his struggles proved futile.

Ulhan’s War Spear moved fast, but Midi’s greatsword always intercepted first, clashing against the spear shaft with uncanny anticipation. Their hard clashes now favored Midi’s dragon-enhanced strength.

Attacks interrupted. Movements blocked. Even Midi’s shoulder charges sent Ulhan staggering. The Horn King Greatsword’s hilt became a weapon too.

Only in this white-hot combat did Ulhan realize close-quarters fighting wasn’t just about instant skills or brute strength. It demanded split-second decisions, a tempo far surpassing Ice Mage spellcasting.

Am I… losing?

Ulhan’s face twisted as victory slipped from reach.

Midi showed no mercy. Each strike of his dragon-empowered greatsword drew blood. The patterns around Ulhan flickered like dying candles before extinguishing completely.

Without patterns, Ulhan’s wounds gushed freely. His power plummeted – rabbit turned tortoise.

CLANG!

The War Spear went flying. Ulhan skidded across the arena, painting a bloody streak.

It ended here!

Killing intent flashed in Midi’s eyes as he raised his blade for the final strike.

"Enough!"

Simon’s cold voice pierced the arena, magically amplified to reach every corner despite the magic array’s interference. The Death Scorpion heir stood imperiously in the stands.