Chapter 242

Chapter 242: Swallowed Whole

From beginning to end, Midi controlled the flow. Though Batolun believed he held the rhythm, he’d actually fallen into Midi’s crafted illusion, tricked into exposing his trump card.

Tactically, how could any gladiator—no matter how battle-hardened—rival a genius commander like Midi? In tactical skill, ten Batoluns wouldn’t suffice. He was but a puppet in Midi’s hands.

“Surrender. I’ll spare you,” Midi stated flatly, his blade of light aimed at the Berserker.

Now, it was his turn to provoke.

No—not mere provocation, but the magnanimity of one holding absolute dominance. Yet in the arena, wasn’t this another form of coercion?

Batolun’s lip twitched, venom seeping into his glare. If he surrendered now, how could he remain in the Sky Arena? He’d be branded a coward, a Berserker too timid to attack. His reputation would shatter. No crowds would watch his fights. No bets would be placed. Without the audience’s support, a gladiator’s life ended.

He’d lost before, but never like this.

Past defeats came either through overwhelming odds—lower level, weaker gear—or bloody, honorable battles where he’d dealt heavy injuries.

But now? Midi stood unharmed. Worse, he was merely level 51!

Surrender was unthinkable.

Batolun still had one last card. But playing it meant gambling everything—victory or death.

As he hesitated, Batolun spotted the faint rise and fall of Midi’s chest—subtle, controlled breaths.

“Hmph! Human whelp—you nearly fooled me with that act!” Batolun’s eyes blazed crimson. If his foe was exhausted, why yield?

Yet as Batolun made his choice, Midi’s lips curved in a faint smile.

People of the Heavens, Dragonkin, demons, even magical entities—all shared human greed. Fail to restrain it, and death followed. For Midi, this greed became another stepping stone to glory.

Unaware of Midi’s feigned weakness, Batolun channeled pure magic, chanting a spell with rising intensity.

Though Demon Swordmen wielded magic through their demon god’s gifts, relying on instant spells, this incantation signaled a devastating skill.

Midi didn’t interfere. A performance required its climax.

Blood surged around Batolun as arena magic rippled like storm-whipped seas. With the spell’s final syllable, a shadow split from his form, devouring the swirling bloodlight until it solidified—no longer the ephemeral Blood Shadow Serpent, but a living entity. Metallic scales glinted as it hissed, crimson tongue flicking, eyes blazing with killing intent.

“So this is your awakened Secret Technique?” Midi mused, genuine surprise coloring his tone. “A Demon Swordman manifesting his contracted demon god’s true form—the legendary Serpent God Haka’s projection. Impressive.”

His praise held no deceit. Even Perfect Awakened Ones rarely gained unique Secret Techniques without luck. Awakened Ones of Extraordinary Awakening might guarantee such skills, but who could endure Dragon’s Blood and White Crystal’s crushing pressure?

Yet Batolun—not even a Perfect Awakened One, lacking the potential to rank among top practitioners—had forged his own awakened Secret Technique. More astonishingly, he’d evolved a single skill into a system: the shadow snake for ambushes, its corporeal form for slaughter—two wholly distinct arts.

Without a doubt, even Midi the reincarnator found himself amazed, forced to acknowledge humanity’s boundless imagination. Witnessing Batolun’s skills through direct combat even provided inspiration for refining his own Secret Technique, "Sky Sword Dance".

But inspiration aside, Midi could only shake his head at the actual power of Batolun’s "Blood Shadow Serpent". "Your concepts are impressive," Midi said, "but this level of attack power can’t touch me. My earlier panting was just bait. Why not surrender now?" This time, his persuasion held no mockery or hidden traps – only sincerity.

With all his trump cards revealed, Batolun had no intention of backing down. The human’s frankness only convinced him of Midi’s desperation. "Scared? I’ll shred you to pieces!" The demon swordman bared fanged teeth, hefting his greatsword while ignoring Midi’s words.

He canceled the Blood Awakening and Blood Frenzy skills – mere distractions to conceal his true weapon. Now that the Blood Shadow Serpent had fully manifested, such desperate measures were unnecessary. Through flanking maneuvers, Batolun planned to methodically drive Midi to the brink.

"Kill!" The greatsword swung downward. The serpent reared up, spewing corrosive black mist that ate through yellow sand. While Batolun retreated to support range, his summoned beast advanced through the toxic fumes unscathed.

This resembled a Summoner’s tactics more than a Demon Swordman’s style – using summoned beasts as main attackers while waiting to exploit openings. Even Awakened Ones might struggle against such an abrupt tactical shift.

But Midi knew Summoners intimately. How could he not, when the Mist Sorceress Alice – one of his dearest companions – had sparred with him countless times? Compared to Alice’s coordinated packs of void-born ancient beasts, this lone serpent seemed laughably feeble.

"Since you choose death, I’ll oblige." Midi’s cold chuckle preceded his bull-like charge straight into the black mist.

Gasps erupted from the audience. Even Batolun froze – why would the advantaged fighter commit suicide? But their doubts vanished as golden-red sword light erupted around Midi’s body, shredding the mist like blades through rotten cloth. This was his awakened Secret Technique, Sky Sword Dance.

Without activating his Flying Ability, Midi simply unleashed the Dragon Sealing Sword’s golden-red glow. This radiance had let him fly freely, merge with his blade, cleave mountains, and withstand the Lord of Light City’s firepower. Now it reduced the serpent’s scaled body to pulped flesh within moments, as if devoured by an actual dragon.

Throughout the carnage, Midi’s dual swords never left their sheaths.