Chapter 95: Victory
The dragon’s body was covered in black scales, pulsing with something that resembled crimson veins.
At the center of its chest burned what looked like a raging crimson sun, surrounded by numerous sinister dark-red cracks.
Unlike Ricky’s long, slender fangs...
Iris’s fangs were enormous, appearing as though they had been forged from pale bone itself, existing solely for destruction and tearing.
Upon his head rose four massive horns, curving backward...
A symbol of protection and status.
— "I know Star Dragons are usually purple and golden, radiating a noble and dazzling aura..."
— "But why is this dragon black...
— And what is that sinister, savage sun at the center of its chest...
— Is this the result of his mutated bloodline?!"
The announcer could no longer contain himself and shouted at the top of his lungs.
Iris spread his bat-like wings before shooting into the sky, stopping level with Ricky.
He looked at him with eyes that resembled two quietly burning crimson stars.
Without exchanging a single word...
The two charged at one another and began tearing into each other’s bodies.
KRAAAAAAAGH!
ROOOOOAAAR!
— "Ooooh! My God! My God!"
— "This is no longer a battle between two Wis (4) fighters!
This has far surpassed that!"
— "I’d bet right now that either one of them could fight a Wis (5) cultivator...
And win!"
Both Ricky and Iris roared, unleashing their flames upon each other while tearing apart as much of the other’s body as they could.
Ricky wielded his bloody flames, carrying one of the abilities of the Cosmic Law of Blood Nirvana...
A technique known as Blood Liberation.
This terrifying ability specialized in stripping the blood cells of any impurities or foreign elements...
Whether energy, laws, or anything else that did not originally belong to the blood itself.
Even if that liberation was only temporary...
It was more than enough for Ricky to inflict devastating damage upon Iris’s body using his fangs and razor-sharp talons.
Meanwhile...
Iris didn’t simply endure those attacks.
Drawing upon the power of the Cosmic Law of Stars...
The strength of Okarcus’s Star Dragon bloodline...
And above all, the greatest ability he possessed...
The power of his mutated bloodline—
Star of Torment.
With every breath of Star Flame Iris unleashed...
The crimson mass burning within his chest flared ever brighter and fiercer.
With every increase in its brilliance...
His Star Flames gained faint streaks of black.
And every wound Iris inflicted upon Ricky...
Left behind a horrifyingly deep gash.
After each injury...
Ricky immediately used another technique from the Cosmic Law of Blood Nirvana.
Blood Limit Removal!
Using that technique...
Ricky pushed his body’s regenerative abilities to their absolute limits, allowing those wounds to heal relatively quickly.
But even after those injuries closed...
Something still remained...
"Hehehehehehe!"
Covered in dozens of bleeding wounds...
Iris let out a deep, hoarse laugh as he looked provocatively at Ricky.
"Even if you erase every wound I inflict...
Can you erase the traces of the Secondary Law of Torment, derived from the Cosmic Law of Hell...
That remain within your body after every attack empowered by my mutated bloodline—
Star of Torment?"
Pride filled Iris’s voice as he stared at Ricky with open provocation.
"The first time someone fights you while you’re using the Cosmic Law of Blood Nirvana...
They’ll think you’re invincible.
Even I believed that.
But after fighting you for a while...
I realized you’re only invincible against attacks from Laws.
Against pure physical attacks...
You’re not.
And in my Dragon Form...
I’m far superior to you in that regard!"
Iris’s smile widened as he looked over the countless wounds covering Ricky’s body...
Even though his own body bore twice as many.
— "Hahahaha!"
— "Has Iris Lagnar finally discovered Ricky’s weakness?!"
— "If direct physical combat truly is his weakness...
Then Dragons are among the greatest monsters in existence in that aspect...
Though we certainly can’t underestimate Phoenixes there either!"
The announcer waved toward Ricky as he spoke.
At that moment...
Madness blazed within Ricky’s eyes.
He narrowed them while looking at Iris and spoke in a sharp voice.
"This is the first time I’ve met someone at my level...
Who has pushed me this far.
A Heaven-grade mutated bloodline truly deserves to be compared with an Immortal-grade bloodline...
Even if it’s still slightly inferior.
And since my growth isn’t complete yet...
My Heaven-grade Blood Liberation technique can’t fully counter your mutated bloodline ability—
Star of Torment."
Ricky gritted his teeth as he spoke, enduring the agony caused by the Secondary Law of Torment spreading throughout his body...
Despite nearly all of his physical wounds having already healed.
"But that doesn’t mean...
I can’t defeat you."
Ricky beat his four wings and ascended even higher into the sky until he finally reached the announcer’s height.
Positioning himself before the artificial sun of this world...
He blocked its light from reaching Iris, casting an enormous shadow over him.
"If you possess a mutated bloodline...
Then watch carefully...
And learn what it truly means...
To fight an Alpha Monster."
Ricky’s voice was cold and sharp.
He looked down at Iris with pity...
As though the battle had already ended.
— "What?! What?! What?!"
— "Did he just say Alpha Monster?!"
— "An Alpha Monster possesses an Immortal-grade bloodline!"
— "Does that mean his talent rivals those with a mutated Immortal-grade bloodline?!"
The announcer’s voice trembled before exploding louder than ever as his eyes widened.
Blessing of the World — Boundless Liberation!
The moment Ricky activated the Alpha Monster ability...
His body ignited and continued growing until he transformed into a colossal bird made entirely of bloody flames.
Before this gigantic blood-forged bird...
Before that overwhelming aura...
As the blood flowing through Iris’s body was seized by an ancient fear...
Iris felt fear...
And hesitation...
For the very first time.
Even in his Dragon Form...
He was barely as large as this monstrous bird’s beak.
No matter how desperately he tried to move...
His body refused to obey him.
KRRRRRRAAAAAAAAGH!
Ricky let out a deafening cry before diving toward Iris.
Iris remained frozen in place, overwhelmed by the sight before him.
To his eyes...
Ricky seemed to be moving incredibly slowly because of his immense size.
But in reality...
His speed was terrifying.
In a single instant...
Ricky’s enormous bloody beak expanded and swallowed Iris’s entire body.
Moments later...
The bloody flames receded.
Ricky’s human form slowly descended from the sky...
Without the slightest trace of Iris Lagnar remaining.
— "Th... The battle is over!
Ricky of the Primordial Fangs is victorious!"
The announcer declared the winner, still unable to recover from his shock.
The artificial world gradually collapsed.
The plains vanished...
And the Colosseum arena reappeared once more.
The entire audience stared in stunned silence at Ricky’s back as he calmly walked away from the Colosseum...
Without sparing anyone a glance...
Or showing the slightest interest in the announcement of his victory.
---
Eternal Night Sky — The Eternal Path
"Hahahahaha...
I’ve finally succeeded...
My comprehension of the Law of Life has reached 100%!"