After hearing Wolf’s words, Gavin’s face twitched slightly. He let out a scoff and said, “Wolf, I know you lost to him and now have a psychological shadow because of it. But don’t overestimate him too much. Can’t you see he’s at a disadvantage? Your master just needs to seize the right moment to deliver a fatal blow. He’s merely giving the youngster a chance.”
Wolf shook his head helplessly, choosing not to argue further. Continuing this debate would only be a waste of breath.
As the group harbored their own thoughts, Kayden suddenly kicked Oliver Prescott square in the chest.
Oliver Prescott’s body flew backward, while Kayden stood firm, unmoving, as steady as a mountain.
Oliver Prescott staggered through the air before landing, forced to retreat several steps. Only by planting his sword into the ground did he manage to stand still.
He looked up sharply, locking eyes with Kayden. Their gazes clashed again, intensity building. Sweat beaded on Oliver Prescott’s forehead, soaking through his clothes.
In stark contrast, Kayden remained composed-not a bead of sweat, not even a heavy breath. His face showed no flush of exertion.
The difference in strength was already clear for all to see.
Oliver Prescott gripped his longsword tightly, shocked at the power of his opponent. He hadn’t expected this man to be so strong.
“Mr. Prescott, stop holding back! Look at this guy-he’s utterly shameless. You’ve been going easy on him, and yet he took advantage of your momentary lapse to sneak-attack you. What a disgrace!” Ryder shouted at Oliver Prescott.
To Ryder and Gavin, Kayden’s kick was nothing more than a cheap shot. Without such tactics, they believed he’d already be dead.
Hearing this, Oliver Prescott’s expression, already unpleasant, darkened further as if he had swallowed something foul.
A sneak attack?
Oliver Prescott knew full well this was no sneak attack. That young man’s strength was far from simple.
He had already used ten moves from his Thirteen Blades of Destiny, and none had been able to touch Kayden. Each move had been neutralized effortlessly. The man’s strength was undeniable.
“Old man, got any more tricks?” Kayden suddenly asked coldly, his face curling into a mocking smile.
Oliver Prescott felt insulted. Though he hadn’t managed to maim or injure his opponent, neither had Kayden harmed him.
He scoffed arrogantly, “You’re overestimating yourself! You leave me no choice but to show my hand.”
With that, he raised his longsword and slashed it across the ground. A deep fissure appeared where the blade passed, a testament to the force of his sword aura.
Oliver Prescott’s swordsmanship was indeed formidable. But today, he faced Kayden-the God of Death of this era.
“Today, I’ll show you the true power of my Thirteen Blades of Destiny!” he declared.
Swinging his sword upward, the blade shot toward the sky. At the same time, a fierce wind swept through the Walsh family courtyard. Leaves fell and scattered, the gale cutting like needles against the skin.
Oliver Prescott leapt high into the air, grabbing his airborne sword in one fluid motion. The blade plunged downward, aimed directly at Kayden’s head, with a force that seemed capable of obliterating everything in its path.
As he descended, a radiant white light burst from Oliver Prescott’s body. Surrounding him were countless spectral figures, each wielding a sword, charging down alongside him.
It was a sight beyond imagination, as if plucked straight from the realm of cinematic special effects.
It was over.
Who could possibly withstand such an attack?
Kayden stood still, unmoving. Was he frozen in fear?
A cold smile appeared on Gavin’s face. “This time, he’s done for! Look at him-clearly petrified.”
“Thirteen Blades of Destiny truly lives up to its name,” Wolf murmured in awe. “Such an overwhelming display-it’s no wonder my master spent thirty years perfecting this technique.”
Gavin snorted. “Didn’t you just say your master couldn’t defeat him? Now you’re changing your tune? Wolf, he’s your master. How can you favor an outsider over him?”
Wolf shook his head slightly. “No. If my master were facing someone else, he might have a chance. But against this man, even the Thirteen Blades of Destiny won’t be enough to kill him.”
Wolf saw the confidence and composure in Kayden’s eyes, while his master’s gaze was filled with fury and desperation. It was clear-Kayden had already won in spirit, and his master had lost, completely and utterly.
“You…” Gavin was left speechless. With a flick of his sleeve, he said, “Then let’s wait and see!”
The sword struck Kayden, the white light engulfing him. The ground beneath his feet caved in.
“Boom!”
The impact sounded like two massive forces colliding. The ground exploded, the blinding light forcing everyone to shut their eyes.
Even Sophie, desperate to see what was happening, couldn’t open her eyes against the dazzling brilliance.
It was too much. The scene was terrifying-a force so destructive that the ground beneath had cracked. Could anyone survive being at its center? Surely not. Surely even the bones would be pulverized.
Tears welled up in Sophie’s eyes. But until she saw Kayden, she refused to let her imagination run wild.
Time seemed to freeze, crawling by at an agonizingly slow pace.
Sophie silently counted the seconds. Finally, after a minute, the light began to dim, and she could make out what had happened.
Oliver Prescott’s longsword was caught between two of Kayden’s fingers.
The ground beneath Kayden had sunk, but he remained unscathed, standing tall and firm, completely unharmed.
“Kayden is fine! Kayden is fine!” Sophie cried out, leaping with joy.
In the air above, Oliver Prescott held his sword, staring down at Kayden. Kayden, on the ground, looked up at him.
Their gazes locked, unyielding.
Oliver Prescott’s eyes were bloodshot, his temples suddenly streaked with white hair-an effect of the Thirteen Blades of Destiny, which caused premature aging. It was a technique he avoided using unless absolutely necessary.
And yet, to his disbelief, the Thirteen Blades of Destiny had failed to harm this man in the slightest. What’s more, Kayden had stopped his sword with just two fingers.
It was unfathomable.
“Who… who are you?” Oliver Prescott asked, his voice trembling with shock and fear.