Chapter 335 A Test of Strength and Will
Master Bertha's absence was a mystery that lingered in the minds of those gathered. Her reputation was such that her presence was always expected at any significant event, especially one like this. Yet, despite her unparalleled beauty and formidable martial arts skills, she was nowhere to be seen. They had searched for her frantically, but it was as if she had vanished into thin air.
"Could it be that she doesn't care enough about him to come?" one of the men in the room mused, his thoughts mirroring those of others. There was a strange sense of relief in this realization, as if the mystery of Bertha's absence somehow made the situation feel less dire. Perhaps, in their minds, this absence meant that John Lopez's situation was not as grave as they had feared.
As they pondered, the atmosphere in the venue grew even tenser, and their collective attention shifted back to the center of the room where the confrontation between John Lopez and Bruce Will was about to unfold.
Bruce, his confidence emanating from every pore, was the first to speak, his voice cutting through the silence. "Where's your weapon?" he asked, eyeing the man standing before him.
John Lopez, a figure of cool composure, stood there without any weapon in sight, his bare hands at his sides. Bruce, who had come prepared with supplements and weapons, found this curious. The stakes of the fight were high—life and death were on the line. Both sides needed every advantage they could get, including weapons and other enhancements.
"I don't need a weapon," John replied smoothly, his tone calm but carrying an undeniable edge of confidence. "I'm used to doing things bare-handed."
The remark, while simple, caused a ripple of surprise among the onlookers. Bruce, who had never been one to underestimate his opponents, felt a spark of irritation mixed with curiosity. His own confidence was unquestionable, yet he couldn't quite shake the feeling that John wasn't just some ordinary fighter.
But John wasn't entirely unarmed. In fact, he had a weapon—a divine sword given to him by his old master five years ago. It was a weapon of extraordinary power, but John had chosen not to use it unless absolutely necessary. He wanted to treasure the sword, saving it for the most critical moments.
Bruce's eyes narrowed as he processed John's words. After a long pause, he suddenly took out a strip of cloth and wrapped it around the sword at his back. He let out a cold snort. "I don't need this with you," he declared, clearly eager to demonstrate his belief that he could defeat John without any aid.
With that, the battle began in earnest. Bruce, in his confidence, had dismissed the idea of using his sword, and John had chosen not to wield his divine blade. They were about to test each other's strength and skill to the fullest.