Dawn arrived quietly, without any fanfare. Robert blinked his eyes open, and there was SAI, already awake and sitting up straight across from him. He had his left hand pressed against his side, as if checking for any signs of what the night had brought.
Robert glanced at the empty casing of the Crimson nd Pill next to SAI. It was a high-grade recovery pill, ant for single use. Sai had taken it in the early hours of the night without waking Robert.
Robert asked, "How is your left hand?" Sai replied, "i am almost recovered." Robert nodded, and they both stood there together.
With a final glance, Robert inspected the storage ring. He had three Rank Three cores from day one, one Rank Two from day one, three Rank Three cores from day two, and one Iron Claw Titan core at Rank Four. The total ca to one hundred sixty-five points. He looked at the figure, but it did not evoke any emotion.
Not enough.
The system task lingered in the corner of his vision—activated and ready. Win the competition. No half-asures. Not second place. Just win. He shifted his focus away from the storage ring.
They made their way to the extraction point. After about forty minutes, they heard it—the sound coming from the east, fast and loud, with no attempt to hide it. Robert ca to a halt.
Sai stopped beside him.
Not a beast, but a cultivator moving swiftly through the dense territory, unconcerned about the surrounding sounds. Harvey. Harvey Walker erged from the tree line about thirty ters ahead and ca to a halt.
Both were still.
Aaden Walker appeared two steps behind Harvey.
He looked at Robert.
Then there was Sai. He stepped aside, not to get ready for the fight, but to find a better view of it. Sai understood what was happening and moved to the opposite side without anyone telling him to.
This conversation was between Robert and Harvey. Harvey glanced at Robert's storage ring and said, "You found a Rank Four." It was not really a question.
"Yes."
Harvey's jaw shifted slightly. "So did we," he replied, glancing at Robert. The gap was still very much there. "Then it looks like there is only one way this will end," Harvey said.
"I know."
Harvey made his move. Iron Collapse Fist — unleashed at full strength. You could actually see the air in front of it compressing. Robert crossed both swords, not to block but to redirect the force.
The force split, sending shockwaves left and right. Two ancient trunks cracked at the sa ti. He was already on the move. With a swift turn, he unleashed full power, darting to the left. His right sword ca down in a diagonal strike aid at Harvey's outstretched arm.
Harvey pulled back, but Blade only managed to catch the sleeve. With a boulder shift, Harvey's centre of gravity dropped—he transford his forward montum into a circular motion—and his right fist ca in from an entirely unexpected angle.
Robert had gone through the right foot and was already making the necessary adjustnts. He aid his left sword to intercept at the right angle, and the blade connected with Harvey's forearm at the rotation's midpoint.
Both absorbed the impact. Both stepped back one pace. Both fell. Harvey looked at the mark on his forearm. Then at Robert. You read my action.
He launched another attack. Iron Collapse Fist—this ti, he loaded his right foot differently. He made a subtle adjustnt. Robert quickly picked up on the new pattern within the first half-second.
He moved right instead of left. Harvey's fist passed his left side. Twin Dragon Fang—right sword—full power. First strike — Harvey's left shoulder.
Second strike — sa point before the defensive response is completed.
Harvey stepped back two paces. First ti. Sothing shifted in his expression.
He reached into his robe. Pulled out a small dark stone—compressed black, dense, the cultivation energy inside it visible as a faint dark pulse even at this distance.
He held it firmly in his palm. Iron Soul Compression — Stone Release. Within two seconds, the shards absorbed into his skin. His cultivation energy output transford right away.
This is not about being at a higher level; It is all about density. It is compressed in a way that the open output was never made. The undergrowth surrounding him slowly spread out.
The air grew thick and heavy. Robert could sense it even from eight ters away. It was a hidden talent. The energy he had built up was now flowing straight into his body, bypassing all the usual pathways.
This is what Zilton Walker gave him that a month of array training could not replicate.
His grip on both swords tightened. Harvey stepped forward, no words this ti—just a punch. But the force behind it felt completely different.
Iron Collapse Fist—Iron Soul Compression version. Robert kicked off with a Swift Turn. The shift in direction was seamless. Harvey made a quick adjustnt mid-strike—the compressed energy boosted his speed in a way he had not experienced before.
The fist connected with Robert's right shoulder—not a full hit, but enough to send him crashing into the ancient trunk behind him. The trunk held firm, showing no signs of cracking, despite already being split down the center.
He was on his feet in one second. Right shoulder — the joint had taken the compressed force directly. He tried to raise the right sword.
It ca up halfway. Stopped. The rotator is compromised. Full grip is gone. Technique execution from the right side — reduced by half. Harvey read it imdiately.
He returned, this ti targeting just the right side. With an Iron Collapse Fist in hand, he approached from that angle. Robert quickly shifted to the left—his only safe bet at this point. He made a Swift Turn, slipping right past the guard. With his left sword, he went for a strike at Harvey's neck.
Harvey's head jerked to the side as the blade sliced a gash across his left cheek instead. They both pulled away, panting heavily. Harvey reached up to touch the cut, staring at the blood that stained his fingers.
The surrounding energy surged, rising by a full degree. It was the second stage. The Stone Release had reached its next level. Robert glanced at his right arm, lifting the sword once more. He raised it halfway, then paused. Finally, sheathed it. Just one sword.
Harvey glanced at the one sword once more. "You keep doing that," he remarked. "Well, it keeps being right," ca the reply. Iron Collapse Fist—compressed version—second stage. It was quicker than anything from their earlier exchanges.
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