Chapter 431

 Thunder God , reincarnated as Thunder God , was the

 fastest Professional to break through the ranks at War-Ending Empire Imperial Fighting College. It took him only four years to go from a beginner to an Epic Level Professional.

However, he remained a student, not yet a mentor. He had shattered all previous cultivation records at War-Ending Empire, earning a reputation as invincible among Professionals of his level.

He never lost a challenge, no matter who he faced, even those who specialized in space and time manipulation. His dominance was well-established, and he had become a legend within the college and the city.

Though he hadn't participated in the Magic Martial Arts Conference, the Eastern Region's champion chose to avoid fighting him, not wanting to be overshadowed.

So, when people heard that William was going to compete with Thunder God , they were both surprised and intrigued. They wanted to see if Thunder God's invincibility was indeed justified, and they were curious about the strength of the Dawn City Master, who had just entered the epic level.

"Akkaro, you're a dual cultivator of space and time. Despite your loss at the master level, do you think the Dawn City Master can defeat Thunder God?" Caesar asked, not looking away from the rising thunder.

Akkaro, the biological son of the Chaotic City Lord, felt a bit uncomfortable as he recalled his past loss to Thunder God . He had trained under his father's tutelage and the guidance of mentors at War-Ending Empire Imperial College, but he had unexpectedly been defeated by Thunder God .

However, many people consoled him, explaining that the master level couldn't fully harness the power of space and time. It was only when one reached the realm of a Professional in both space and time that they could truly grasp the unique talents and powers these two rules offered.

The question remained: who was stronger, Thunder God or William, a master of both magic and combat?

"Clearly, Thunder God is superior. He's a ray Professional, and I've never seen one as powerful," Akkaro confidently asserted.

But Cassadin, who had overheard their conversation, had a different perspective. "Haven't you heard the rumors that William might be the reincarnation of Thunder God? At the Southern Magic Martial Arts Conference, he exhibited a high-level thunder field. Who else could do that?"

The debate between the two fell silent. Was this a battle between the old and new Thunder Gods, or was it simply a match between Thunder God and an imposter? After all, the rumors were widespread that William was the reincarnation of Thunder God .

However, in the Eastern Region, William was known as "Little Thunder God ." These two seemingly identical individuals had never crossed paths before, yet their initial meeting had yielded a plethora of mysteries and unanswered questions.

The impending battle commenced right after their exchange of words. Tensions were palpable, and William felt a sense of unease and caution. Both he and Thunder God were seasoned Professionals, but their abilities diverged greatly. While Thunder God harnessed the elemental power of thunder, William's strengths lay in his flesh and Holy Spirit magic.

As the enchantment reached Legendary levels, an arc enveloped William's entire body, turning his eyes a vivid blue. He taunted, "Come, let me witness the might of the Thunder God and your mastery of thunder."

Observers may have believed he sought to learn more about the thunder element, but Thunder God recognized that it was more than just a jest. When he saw the brash grave robber digging his own grave, he snorted and transformed into a bolt of lightning, hurtling toward William.

 Thunder God gestured with his hand, conjuring lightning and thunder within a hundred meters. The sky was filled with dense, menacing bolts of lightning, and he hadn't even unleashed his full power yet.

However, William switched his weapon to a thunderous cleaver, a move that nearly made Thunder God spit out millennium-old blood in disbelief. With a sandbag-sized fist, he struck at William, his punches quick and resounding.

William managed to evade each blow with remarkable agility, even dodging Thunder God's soundwave attacks, which proved quite uncomfortable for the Thunder specialist. Thunder God's roars even splattered spittle onto William's face, an irritating annoyance.

Yet, William, as a Lightning Professional and a Ranger, was well aware that speed was his forte, and his attributes heavily favored agility. He matched, and at times surpassed, Thunder God's speed in both movement and attack, ensuring his counterattacks remained swift.

William delivered a knife strike to Thunder God's left hand, forcing him to retreat several meters after a punch to the abdomen. The brief separation allowed the Yin Thunder's negative effects to affect both combatants simultaneously. Sensing this, they chose to halt their attacks.

William sheathed his knife, relinquishing the power of his Legendary Rank Weapon's sharpness. Thunder God acknowledged this by discontinuing his use of the Yin Thunder effect. It was evident that neither wished to continue along this destructive path.

Their actions went unnoticed by onlookers, who remained silent. Moments later, like two raging bulls, they collided once more, creating an earth-shattering impact that sent shockwaves rippling through the ground.

Their battle was fierce, and their fists and kicks seemed capable of annihilating the heavens and earth. In just three seconds, a radius of one hundred meters was reduced to rubble, and lightning-infused slurry flowed like a river.

Ten seconds later, Thunder God sidestepped one of William's punches, allowing it to strike a protective barrier. The combatants' relentless blows were relentless, with Thunder God's furious roar adding to the intensity. Their punches and kicks landed with explosive force, pulverizing the ground beneath them.

However, in the midst of their brutal exchange, they simultaneously halted, seemingly by mutual agreement. William sheathed his knife and refrained from utilizing the Legendary Rank Weapon's power. Thunder God nodded, indicating that he would no longer employ the Yin Thunder effect. There was no other recourse.

William had unleashed the "Thunder Cleaver" in response to Thunder God's use of the Yin Thunder effect, which would have caused Thunder God to suffer a supercritical hit every twenty seconds.

With the pause in their battle, others remained puzzled, yet none dared to speak. They watched in anticipation as the two combatants, like two charging bulls, prepared for their next clash.

Boom! The ground trembled as they collided once more. Lightning crackled in the air as the two combatants locked eyes, unleashing torrents of lightning in every direction. Their fierce confrontation generated such intense heat that it formed plasma, corroding the ground beneath them.

"Isn't it strange? Both of them are incredibly powerful and fast, but their battle seems awkward. Why haven't they activated their Thunder Fields?" Van Sitt suddenly asked.

Keane Angus, also a Thunder specialist, responded with a bitter smile, "They are both epic Thunder giants, highly resistant to Thunder attributes. For them, activating the Thunder Field would not only harm each other significantly but also burden themselves. After all, maintaining the field requires a constant expenditure of fighting spirit."

Goya, the daughter of the president of the Eastern Regional Federation Chamber of Commerce, chimed in with curiosity, "But why aren't they using special moves?"

"Talent!" the Blood Moon Dark Witch interjected mysteriously.

Everyone turned to her, but she offered no further explanation. Keane Angus pondered, "It's just a competition. They don't appear to be interested in using special moves. They seem more interested in showcasing their Thunder talents."

 Thunder God , however, was growing increasingly frustrated. The opponent in front of him had no intention of experiencing the destructive force of the Yin Thunder, choosing instead to engage him in hand-to-hand combat. Thunder God felt insulted, and he decided it was time to cease holding back.

In a flash, Thunder God activated his "True Thunder" move, unleashing his full power to pummel William. His entire body radiated a blue and white aura, signifying his complete mastery of the Thunder element.

Spectators watched in awe as Thunder God's transformation unfolded. Even Akarlo, a seasoned Professional, couldn't help but gasp in amazement. But would William back down now? Absolutely not. He knew Thunder God had more tricks up his sleeve, but he refused to be outdone.

Without resorting to his ultimate "Unparalleled Holy Thunder" ability, which came with the drawback of reducing his attributes by 50%, William activated his "Power of Holy Soul," boosting his attributes by 40%. He was ready to face Thunder God's full-throttle assault.

Their powers surged once more. Thunder God's Thunder attribute damage and defense reached unprecedented heights, delivering devastating real damage. Meanwhile, William's attributes experienced an astonishing surge, and the battle turned blistering white-hot.

It was as if their fists and kicks possessed the power to reshape the heavens and earth. In mere seconds, the metal floor within a 100–meter radius lay in ruins, covered in Thunder-infused sludge, resembling a river.

Within ten seconds, Thunder God dodged one of William's punches, redirecting it to strike a protective barrier. However, the battle did not cease. Thunder God seemed to transform into lightning itself, his movements blindingly fast. At this rate, he could pummel William without pause.

William managed to strike Thunder God's left hand with his knife, causing Thunder God to retreat several meters. But this brief respite came with a price as both combatants suffered the effects of Yin Thunder simultaneously.

Realizing the danger, they simultaneously halted their attacks. William sheathed his knife, relinquishing the power of his Legendary Rank Weapon's sharpness. Thunder God nodded in agreement, signaling an end to his use of the Yin Thunder effect.

Their actions went unnoticed by the spectators, who remained silent. Moments later, like two raging bulls, they prepared for their next clash.

The impact was deafening, and the ground trembled beneath them. Their eyes locked onto each other, unleashing torrents of lightning in every direction. Shockwaves rippled outward from the epicenter of their clash.

As the battle raged on, it became evident that neither combatant was willing to back down. The palace and its surroundings bore the brunt of their fury, reduced to ruins. Observers were initially concerned, but Caesar Jack's words reassured them

. This was a contest of champions, and they were determined to prove something. The palace's worth was insignificant in comparison.

Without knowing if William had heard Caesar's words, he pressed forward. When Thunder God charged at him, William unleashed a "Dawn Shock" with a burst of light. In an instant, the two collided, with William managing to overpower Thunder God .

He seized Thunder God's head with one hand and sent him hurtling thousands of meters, crashing through one palace after another. However, Thunder God swiftly retaliated. In a blink of an eye, he closed the distance between them, and a punch connected with William's chest.

The impact was colossal, and William was sent flying several kilometers through the sky, leaving indelible marks on his chest and breaking his sternum. But he refused to surrender. Moments later, he descended from the sky, while Thunder God rose from the ground. 

Their collision had unleashed a Thunder Field hundreds of meters above the ground, a spectacle that stunned the entire Imperial City. Observers heard the resounding thunder echoing through the skies.

Caesar Jack, the onlookers, gazed upon the destruction and said with a wry smile, "Two friends engaged in a competition… at what cost…"

"How much will this cost…" he muttered quietly, barely audible to those around him.

Goya, Caesar's fiancée, approached him and gently took his arm. "I'll cover the expenses," she whispered, offering him reassurance.