Born Almighty Warrior novel Chapter 39

There was no presence that could be felt; no obvious or physical tell-tale signs of something--or maybe, someone--so powerful about to strike. However, the mere existence of Dustin in the area was inescapable. As he was part of the top ten outer disciples, it would have been a foolish move for the other disciples to provoke someone who ranked much higher than they did. Moreover, they needed no further proof that Dustin was a being who was not to be messed with.

Just then, his eyes caught Watson's form rising from the battered floor, surprising the witnesses of the sudden battle in front of their eyes. Even Dustin, who acted rather aloof during the ordeal, raised his eyebrows in slight astonishment at the sight of Watson straightening up from his crumpled position on the ground.

As Watson was one of his subordinates, Dustin was well quite aware of his capabilities.

Closing his eyes and focusing on the auras of the individuals currently engaged in a clash, Dustin made a move to feel the level of power Ricky was exhibiting. With a hum, he blinked his eyes open and measured that Ricky was still under the ninth grade of Skin Refinement.

Now that he was fully standing up, Watson spat on the ground and shouted at his opponent. "Be ready to die!" The eyes of a brave and merciless warrior were reflected on Watson's face. It had seemed like at that moment, he was certain about his victory and was ultimately ready to risk it all for the fight. Running with all his might, Watson then brandished out his long and sleek steel sword from the scabbard hooked on his waist, poised to attack Ricky one more time.

As the onslaught of slashes was doomed to fail, it may have just been the first time he had brought shame on himself in front of numerous spectators ever since he had reached the ninth grade of Skin Refinement.

"Watson, it would be better for you to step down," Dustin stated coldly, choosing to step in the middle of the fight before his subordinate would lose any further than he already had. With heavy breathing, Watson wiped the grime and sweat running from his temple to his chin and reluctantly stepped back. Direct orders from his superior were supposed to be followed no matter what the circumstances were. Primarily, it was best to obey even if acting against it tempted him. "Yes, sire." Watson replied dutifully and lowered his gaze.

Sheathing his sword, Watson turned back to Dustin and walked towards him. It was made obvious to everyone, most especially to him, that Ricky was much too skilled to compete with Watson. 'It was a losing battle, anyway, ' Dustin disgruntledly thought, watching his subordinate limp towards where he stood.

"Now, stranger," Dustin remarked in a frigid tone and shifted his stance to regard the other man. "I am not interested in who you are, or in who you think you are." At this moment, the other people surrounding the area had gathered rather closely and watched the exchange between the two with keen interest. "You have trespassed into my territory and destroyed my gate." With heavy and calculated steps, Dustin strode to the other's position and pointed at his face menacingly before speaking again. "Now you have to be destroyed too." The murderous aura surrounding Dustin rose with purpose that it had reached high and far which made the folks observing the scene widen their eyes with the sheer show of power.

There were many things that Dustin was not aware of during his rigorous training and preparation for the Outer Competition which had lasted for two months. Due to his dedication to succeed and accompanied by his pure concentration, he was not informed that Ricky had been appointed as an outer disciple of the Snow Sect.

"Are you certain that you do not want to know who I am?" Ricky sneered and crossed his arms across his chest. "I'll bet you will so desperately want to know my identity after what I am about to tell you."

Stepping even closer to stare directly into the cold and heartless eyes of the man opposite him, Ricky shrugged his shoulders and smiled ominously before he opened his mouth and spoke.

"Remember your dear brother, Luther? I was the one who killed him." With a startled grasp from the crowd, Ricky continued to torment the other. "I was the one who forced him to face the Saber-toothed Tiger and when he almost survived that," With a dramatic pause, Ricky faced the shocked and appalled face of Dustin and his eyes twinkled with malicious intent. "I broke his neck and finished the job."

Finishing his spiel, Ricky did not have to wait for the violent reactions from the crowd formed around them. Even Dustin's face had taken an ashy and pale hue, clearly astonished by the information just presented to him.

The disciples held their deepening fear and increasing anxiety in their hearts. Moreover, their spirits could not bear to face the man directly, as they chose to look anywhere but the mad man's eyes.

"It was him after all!" They all whisper-shouted surreptitiously. With a sudden realization, the disciples gasped as they connected their thoughts together. "Of course Luther was killed by none other than Ricky! It was naive of us to think Lewis was the one who fought him."

One of the disciples suddenly remembered a certain rumor going around in earlier moments and butted in. "Don't you think Ricky has come here for his revenge?" When the disciples have heard him, he gulped and continued. "It's just that.. I heard that Dustin attacked Lewis in the morning."

The chaos around the arena grew and grew with the sudden revelation of what Dustin and Ricky had done.

With the confirmation of Ricky himself to the vicious murder of Luther, as well as the conspiratorial murmurs of the people around him, Dustin felt something incomparably hot settle in his chest as anger flowed through his very being and his vision went red.

"You will not go out of here alive!"

Yelling those words, Dustin charged at him with the whole force of his pent-up rage and frustration. Akin to lightning, Dustin aimed to deliver a sharp and powerful punch at Ricky's side.

A thunderous sound echoed throughout the place as a strong jab intercepted his own. Another loud thump followed the loud noise as both fighters managed to collide their fists when Ricky attempted to block the attack with his own punch.

Following their assault came a third well-aimed jab and block. Both Dustin and Ricky stepped back, chests heaving, their eyes alight with alertness and utmost resistance. There, in the ground, was shallow footprints proof of their short yet intense scuffle.

"How could this be?" The crowd gasped with awe and confusion. The air sparked with tension; heavy enough to be suffocating. "How strong really is this Ricky?" They murmured against themselves, unbelieving of what they just witnessed in front of their eyes. "How could it be possible that Ricky and Dustin are equally matched?" Some of them added and blinked their eyes in bewilderment. Disciples around the two held their breath in anticipation of what was to come next as they could not comfortably predict the outcome of the battle at all.

Despite the mere fact that Ricky had easily overcome and defeated Watson, it was still a shock that he was currently competing with Dustin.

"He... he has arrived at the ninth grade of Skin Refinement?"

"Was it not a popular rumor that he had no spiritual meridian?"

The crowd mumbled endlessly, getting more and more antsier as the two faced off.

A self-deprecating chuckle was heard from Dustin, then the man took a fighting position and faced Ricky. With a glint in his eye, Ricky responded to the obvious challenge by beckoning him with his fingers. "Very well! It has been a long time since anyone has provoked me like you just did. You have also admitted to killing someone I loved!" Growling, he pushed his hair back and widened his stance, prepared to showcase his incredible skills after having witnessed Ricky's power.

"As I have killed your brother mercilessly and with no regret, I shall end you in the same way!" Replying to Dustin's taunt, Ricky grimly declared in an unnerving tone.

"Why don't we finish this on the Death Arena? I will be waiting."

After turning back and leaving with those words, his clothes billowed behind him as the atmosphere grew thicker with tension. All the swarming disciples could do was to make way for Dustin and watch with rapt contemplation as they waited for him to make a move. 'Is it really about to go down like this?' Some of them pondered, with bated breath.

"Only one of us is going to survive." One could cut the thick silence with a knife. Asserting to the man walking away from him, he continues, "And it is going to be me." With a concentrated glare at the back of his foe, Dustin followed Ricky onto the field.

….

The Death Arena became deafening as soon as word spread about the battle about to commence. Moreover, the once quiet grounds were now filled with chatter and anticipation.

Due to the continuous talks of the outer disciples, the news had reached even the inner disciples and their intrigue had increased.

Within an hour, more and more people had gathered below the Death Arena to witness the fight. Murmurs of who could possibly win and live surround the field and some bets were even placed from the troublesome disciples.