“Ray, what’s going on?”
“Chris, come over quickly! I have something important to tell you!”
After hanging up the phone, Chris’s face showed a trace of confusion. What could be so urgent? But knowing Ray, it must be something critical.
Chris turned to Esther and said, “Darling, wait for me here. I’ll be back soon.”
With that, Chris drove off.
Not long after, Chris arrived at a small lounge bar. Entering a private room, he saw Ray waiting for him.
“Ray, what’s the matter? Why the urgency?” Chris asked directly as he sat down.
Ray didn’t respond immediately. Instead, he pulled out a folded note and handed it to Chris.
“This is from Sai Hunter. He asked me to give it to you.”
Chris unfolded the note, his eyes narrowing as he read it.
“A duel at Maple Hills?”
A cold smirk appeared on Chris’s lips as he processed the message.
Ray looked at Chris with a serious expression. “Chris, you need to be careful. If Sai Hunter is challenging you on Maple Hills, there’s probably a trap waiting for you.”
“Thanks, Ray. Don’t worry-I know what I’m doing.”
Chris crushed the note into fragments as he spoke. No matter what schemes Sai Hunter had in store, Chris would not back down. If Sai Hunter dared to play dirty, Chris was prepared to retaliate with ruthless precision.
News of the duel spread quickly, causing an uproar throughout Riverton.
At the same time, Esther also caught wind of it.
Determination flashed in her eyes as she murmured to herself, “I have to go.”
The last time, Chris had been ambushed and barely survived being thrown off a cliff. She wouldn’t allow history to repeat itself. If it came to life or death, she’d face it with him.
Maple Hills, the tallest mountain in Riverton, was known for its year-round blooms of red maple leaves and plum blossoms, creating an enchanting landscape.
Chris and Ray ascended the mountain together, the path steep and winding.
“Chris, stay vigilant. Sai Hunter is bound to have tricks up his sleeve,” Ray warned.
Chris nodded in acknowledgment. Since leaving Monster Camp, his strength had grown tremendously. Today, he was curious to test just how powerful he had become.
Before long, the two reached the mountaintop. The summit was eerily silent, with nothing but the vibrant blossoms swaying in the breeze.
Chris’s expression turned cold. “Come out!”
Swish!
Swish!
Two shadows descended swiftly from above. They were none other than Sai Hunter and Blood.
Sai Hunter’s gaze locked onto Chris with an icy intensity. “Chris, I didn’t think you’d have the guts to show up. No matter. Today, this place will be your grave.”
Chris had humiliated the Hunter family by killing Sai Hunter’s brother, Sean Hunter. As the heir to the Hunter family, Sai Hunter saw this as an unforgivable disgrace. He was determined to kill Chris and erase the shame.
Ray stepped forward, his voice firm. “Sai Hunter, I’ve told you before-Chris is my friend. If you go after him, you’ll have to go through me.”
Sai Hunter let out a mocking laugh. “Ray, you’ve come too? For years, you’ve been competing with me for the title of Riverton’s top young talent. Today, I’ll end that rivalry once and for all by killing you. Let everyone see who the real number one is!”
Turning to Blood, Sai Hunter ordered, “Blood, take care of Chris. Kill him!”
“Understood,” Blood replied without hesitation.
In an instant, Blood unsheathed a long sword and lunged at Chris.
Sai Hunter charged forward as well, intending to join forces with Blood to overwhelm Chris.
But Ray roared in defiance, stepping in to block Sai Hunter’s path. “Sai Hunter, I told you-if you attack Chris, you’re fighting me too!”
“Then die!” Sai Hunter bellowed, his fist hurtling toward Ray in a furious strike.
The two soon clashed in a fierce battle, each exchanging powerful blows.
Meanwhile, Blood’s sword came slashing toward Chris.
Chris scoffed, drawing his weapon, the Dragon Slayer. With one powerful swing, he countered Blood’s attack.
Clang!
A deafening crash echoed as their weapons collided. Blood was forced back several steps, while Chris only took a single step back.
Chris glanced at Blood with some surprise. This man was stronger than Sai Hunter-truly a formidable opponent, as expected of Riverton’s top fighter.
Blood, on the other hand, looked at Chris with shock. He had never encountered such a powerful adversary. For years, Blood had been undefeated in Riverton. The only reason he’d sworn loyalty to Sai Hunter was that Sai had saved him from a desperate situation where Blood had been hunted by countless enemies.
But now, facing Chris, Blood could feel the immense strength radiating from him.
Blood’s expression turned grim. He gritted his teeth and charged at Chris once more, sword gleaming in the sunlight.
Boom!
Boom!
Boom!
The clash between Chris and Blood intensified, their battle shaking the mountaintop.
At the same time, at the base of Maple Hills, a sports car screeched to a halt.
Esther and Lindsay hurried out of the car, both looking anxious.
Upon hearing about the duel, they had rushed over as fast as they could.
Esther looked up the long stone stairway that led to the summit. Turning to Lindsay, she said firmly, “Lindsay, wait here. I’ll go up alone.”
Lindsay’s eyes widened in alarm. “Esther, it’s too dangerous! I can’t let you go by yourself.”
“Don’t worry about me. I’ll be fine,” Esther replied before starting her ascent.
“Esther!” Lindsay called after her, stomping her foot in frustration.
Unable to stand by, Lindsay gritted her teeth and decided to follow.
Back on the summit, the battle had reached its peak.
Chris was clearly dominating Blood, whose desperate attempts to defend himself were beginning to falter. It was only a matter of time before Blood was defeated.
On the other side, Ray and Sai Hunter were locked in a fierce struggle. Their skills were closely matched, but Ray’s training at Monster Camp had given him a slight edge.
Sai Hunter’s frustration was evident as Ray began to take control of the fight.
“You’re disappointing, Sai Hunter,” Ray taunted. “Is this the best you’ve got? Pathetic.”
Enraged by the insult, Sai Hunter roared, “Ray, how dare you mock me?! I’ll kill you!”
Fuelled by anger, Sai Hunter launched a relentless assault, his attacks growing increasingly ferocious.