Solo Duel

"What's going on?" Ye Qiu was puzzled. 

Although the shield formed by the Myriad Manifestations Umbrella has weaker defence judgment, it should still block a normal attack, right? So why was it he who got knocked back?

Suddenly, Ye Qiu noticed that the heavy sword in the hands of Liu Hao, the "Hateful Sword", was glowing with an eerie red light. That was the mark of a No-Edge Slash being executed!

Sun Zheping's [Hidden Blade]! 

Ye Qiu recognised the move. [Hidden Blade] was a Berserker technique developed by Sun Zeping.

As the name suggests, it's a skill hidden within a normal attack to confuse the opponent.

[Hidden Blade] is actually a Berserker technique specifically designed to counter knights. The Berserker's skills have strong judgment, and most parries can't block them. However, a knight's shield has an even stronger judgment, often quickly blocking the attacks.

So, Sun Zheping developed the Hidden Blade technique. After a normal attack, he would immediately stop and switch to the powerful No-Edge Slash, breaking through the knight's defence in an instant.

A knight's shield has both advantages and disadvantages. While it can block an opponent's attack, it also obscures the user's view, preventing them from noticing the opponent's sudden change in moves.

Ye Qiu realised he had been careless because [Hidden Blade] is a relatively niche technique, with a noticeable pause during the move change, and only works well against knights. But now, by opening the umbrella, he had turned himself into a knight.

"Your prediction is really terrifying. Even though I have 24 different classes, you could precisely predict that I would open the umbrella and raise the shield," Ye Qiu said calmly.

"Easy as a baby drinking milk," Liu Hao laughed. Initially, he intended to capitalise on Lord Grim's loss of balance with a combo. Still, Ye Qiu reacted quickly, immediately closing the umbrella and transforming the Myriad Manifestations Umbrella into a ninja blade, using a Shadow Clone Technique to escape.

"The versatility of an unspecialised character is truly remarkable!" Liu Hao sighed, quickly pulling back his view just in time to see Lord Grim thrusting a spear toward him.

It was Dragon Tooth!

Having fought Ye Qiu's Battle Mage at least ten times, Liu Hao could predict this move. With a simple swing of his sword, he quickly dodged Dragon Tooth.

But Lord Grim was too fast. The spear quickly transformed into a thin sword and, with a swift Draw Sword technique, slashed across Hateful Sword's neck, sending a spray of blood flying.

"The attack speed isn't fast enough, or rather, the attack speed of the unspecialised character is too fast," Liu Hao frowned.

Realising that a frontal assault would not defeat Lord Grim, Liu Hao decided to change tactics, opting for a war of attrition, gradually sacrificing health! The Berserker is a crazy class, with the belief that "you don't show off until you're low on health!"

Under the relentless assault of Lord Grim's fast-paced attacks, Hateful Sword held his sword in defence. As Hateful Sword's health dropped below 50%, Liu Hao knew his opportunity had arrived.

Facing another Dragon Tooth from Lord Grim, Hateful Sword didn't use a cross-sword block, but instead, a series of parries, like the ringing of a large bell, deflected Lord Grim's Dragon Tooth.

For a moment, the tension among the spectators reached its peak. A crowd had already gathered around Liu Hao, and Su Mucheng was silently watching nearby.

All the Jia Shi team members, except Su Mucheng, hoped Liu Hao could win a round for them. Su Mucheng kept her eyes on the screen, afraid of missing any details.

She understood Liu Hao's eyes, which could almost predict every move of the opponent. During their partnership, wherever Liu Hao pointed, she would attack, and not a single cannon shot would miss.

According to Liu Hao, his "Evil King True Eye" was a technology recognised by the rules, allowing him to gain the upper hand in any solo match.

Su Mucheng recalled Liu Hao's past solo matches against Ye Qiu. If it weren't for the Battle Mage's high-paced offensive capabilities and close combat suppression, which gave it a class advantage, the Battle God One Autumn Leaf might have been defeated by the small and Total Darkness.

But now, Liu Hao was using the Berserker class, which has powerful close combat abilities. Coupled with the predictive capabilities of the Evil King True Eye, it seemed possible for him to win this match.

"The Berserker's seal should be lifted!" Liu Hao said dramatically.

Hateful Sword let out a roar, with blood energy surging around him. The heavy sword gleamed red and the blood aura spread.

Berserk! Also known as—Blood Rage! 

This is the core skill mechanism of the Berserker class. When the Berserker's health drops below 50%, Blood Rage is triggered. The lower the health, the higher the attack power bonus.

Upon triggering Blood Rage, the Berserker dramatically converts his defensive attributes into offensive ones, becoming a demon returned from the battlefield, with every slash turning into a blood-red Manjusaka flower.

Seeing Liu Hao activate Blood Rage, Lord Grim immediately changed his tactics. With a flick of his Myriad Manifestations Umbrella, the tip of the umbrella revealed a gun barrel, transforming it into a long rifle.

Three rapid gunshots rang out as Lord Grim fired three anti-tank rounds, the recoil sending him flying backwards, increasing the distance from Hateful Sword.

But this didn't trouble Liu Hao. Hateful Sword lightly swayed, dodging through the gaps between the anti-tank rounds without a scratch.

"What was that?" Steamed Bun was shocked.

"Z-movement," Ye Qiu explained to Steamed Bun, though his tightly furrowed brows revealed the immense pressure he was under.

Facing a blood-soaked killing god, even Ye Qiu couldn't remain calm.

Soul Devouring Blood Hand! Siphon!

Hateful Sword spread his palm, and a powerful suction force pulled Lord Grim back. Lord Grim attempted to raise his shield but suddenly remembered that the frame of the Myriad Manifestations Umbrella wasn't stable. If it took this hit, its durability would significantly drop.

With no other choice, he drew his thin sword and executed a critical block! 

But even with the block, Lord Grim was still sent flying by the powerful strike of Hateful Sword.

With just one strike, Hateful Sword had accumulated a significant amount of blood energy.

Hateful Sword pursued again.

Mountain Collapse Strike! 

Lord Grim used Sky Strike + Backward Leap to evade.

Lord Grim kept firing his rifle, but gradually, Ye Qiu realised that he couldn't hit Hateful Sword at all. Liu Hao, this guy, could even predict the bullet trajectory!

Seeing Hateful Sword press forward again, Ye Qiu briefly considered continuing to use the rifle form to wear down his opponent but quickly changed tactics, swinging the Myriad Manifestations Umbrella into a battle spear and launching a Spinning Staff.

Hateful Sword showed no fear, thrusting out his sword, and the two engaged in close combat, with blood constantly splattering. The blood energy grew more intense, turning the battlefield into a blazing path to the afterlife.

"Who do you think will win, the boss or Ye Qiu?" Wang Ze poked He Ming.

"Definitely the boss!" He Ming said excitedly.

Sun Xiang was already stunned. Before taking over One Autumn Leaf, his class was also a Berserker, so he could naturally recognise Liu Hao's technique.

"This is the Blossoming Blood Skill style of Sun Zheping's 'Flower and Blood'."

Although Sun Xiang was reluctant to admit it, Liu Hao's Berserker skills were indeed better than his, and he couldn't help but feel a growing sense of admiration.

(End of this chapter)