165. My Weakest Ability Surpasses What You Pride Yourself On
Li Aozi instantly closed the gap, raising his arm to block. This allowed Diaran to only score the most basic points for hitting his limbs while he gained valuable time and momentum.
Feinting with a straight punch, he baited Diaran into dodging. Using this to seize the centerline, Li Aozi abruptly swung his elbow toward her face, making her think he was targeting her head for maximum points.
However, Li Aozi's true aim was her torso.
His elbow strike deliberately missed. Then, abruptly halting, he raised his leg and delivered a direct kick squarely to Diaran's chest.
This time, she had no way to avoid it.
Bang!
The immense strength granted by his bloodline instantly launched Diaran backward.
Points scored!
Li Aozi landed the hit but chose not to press the advantage.
He stood in place, gazing at the flung Diaran before suddenly saying:
"Having fun?"
"… What did you say?"
Diaran sat on the ground, expressionless.
"Still pretending?"
Li Aozi placed one hand on his hip, speaking irritably:
"You're a dragon-titan hybrid. Where's your bloodline power? Can't use the pseudo-spells inherited from your lineage? You're not even releasing your aura. What are you thinking?"
Diaran calmly retorted:
"It's just not suitable for this environment—"
"—If you're planning to throw the match on purpose, I'm out."
Li Aozi shrugged.
"I need you." Diaran lowered her head, speaking softly: "But if I go all out, you'll get hurt. If word spreads, your reputation—"
"Cut the crap. If you're gonna fight, fight properly!"
Li Aozi, thoroughly annoyed, dashed forward, grabbed Diaran by the neck, and punched her square in the face.
Smack!
The spell shield absorbed the lethal blow, but Diaran's head still snapped to the side, her coldly elegant face now showing a reddening imprint.
"I don't care who you are, Diaran. Don't forget: this is a transaction."
Li Aozi yanked her by the collar, pulling her close as he said coldly:
"In a deal, you uphold your end. My goal is the credits you promised and guaranteed workshop access—everything else, I couldn't care less. Understand?"
"… But what will others think of you?" Diaran murmured, turning her gaze aside. "I don't care about these things because I have my mission. But you shouldn't suffer because of me…"
"Why should I care what they think? Anyone who's got a problem can catch these hands!"
Li Aozi sneered:
"Look at you. You call yourself a dragon-titan? Don't disgrace those two bloodlines. I came to fight, not to babysit. If you're not into it, pack your skirt and get lost! Drop out, for all I care."
Diaran fell silent.
Li Aozi suddenly realized something.
Despite Diaran's tall and slender figure, her student ID stated she was only 17.
Come to think of it, she's still underage. Grabbing her like this… is this crossing a line?
[Right, she's just a young girl. Sensitive and naive… maybe this is normal.]
Li Aozi's eye twitched.
[Am I bullying her? From others' perspective…]
Sure enough, as silence fell, the spectators began murmuring.
[Isn't Leoz like 22? Grabbing an underage girl like that… desperate much?]
"Why'd they stop? Boring. I wanted blood."
"Picking on a young girl? Pathetic."
[Called it.]
Li Aozi's lips twitched. Just as he was about to let Diaran go, she spoke up:
"Yes, you're right."
"Huh?" Li Aozi was dumbfounded.
"You're right, Leoz. I just didn't want you caught up in unnecessary trouble because of me. Honestly, I underestimated you. Based on your past, I thought you were too weak to handle this."
Diaran raised her head, her entire presence radiating an intense, terrifying aura.
"But I was wrong."
Her pupils elongated into dragon-like slits.
A heavy repulsion force emanated from her, sinking Li Aozi's feet into the ground and pushing him back.
"Leoz, you're no mere weakling. You're a worthy opponent."
Gold and red markings emerged on Diaran's face, resembling intertwining scales. A searing metallic aura enveloped her, scorching Li Aozi's throat with every breath.
Hah…
Diaran exhaled deeply, her face flushed. Li Aozi felt a strange familiarity.
[Where have I felt this before?]
Boom!
Diaran's stance widened, the ground beneath her feet turning golden from the heat. Her ponytail burst apart, her shimmering gold hair writhing like a thousand luminous serpents.
Sharp scales pierced through her skin. Her slender arms morphed into terrifying dragon claws. With a flick of her wrist, the metallic elements in the air seemed to ignite, and Li Aozi's clothes threatened to catch fire from friction alone.
[Enemy has activated Bloodline Talent—[Molten Gold Inferno]: Every 5 seconds, forces an 'Ignition' check within the domain.]
[Ignition: Failure results in continuous burns. Any attack on the target ignites them, causing 11 true damage per second and stacking with each attack.]
Standing in the molten inferno, Diaran's clothes burned away, replaced by a fiery battle dress and molten armor. A long dragon tail trailed behind her, her fair skin covered sparingly by shimmering dragon scales.
Her blazing eyes locked onto Li Aozi, delivering a soul-piercing gaze.
[Diaran has activated Bloodline Talent—Tyrant's Stare.]
[Performing a bloodline check. If your bloodline rank is lower, 20% of your primary attributes will be stripped.]
Chains of fine light coiled around Li Aozi, a shackle effect from Diaran's noble dragon-titan lineage.
Failure would result in these chains piercing his body, temporarily robbing him of attributes while empowering Diaran.
A terrifyingly domineering talent.
Dragon-titan hybrids truly stood atop the hierarchy of bloodlines. Their power was terrifying.
[Sequence Eighty-Two •Bloodline Activation!]
[Your supreme bloodline reigns above all beings!]
[Bloodline check automatically passed.]
[Your bloodline is unparalleled. Any who dare challenge it will pay the price.]
[You've suppressed Diaran's bloodline, reducing her output by 15%.]
"Too bad, you're just a bit short of matching me."
Li Aozi casually flicked his fingers, shattering the bloodline chains. His eyes glowed a pure blood-red, and Diaran shivered when their gazes met.
If her aura was an unscalable glacier, his was a solar flare, obliterating everything in its path.
"Your bloodline… surpasses mine?"
Diaran's voice faltered, tinged with relief.
Diaran's voice faltered, tinged with relief.
"Cut the chatter! Let's fight!"
Li Aozi slammed his fists together, igniting his hands purely through friction.
With his bloodline's growth, his health regeneration had reached 2,000 points. Even his natural recovery could keep up now.
"Let me show you my new abilities."
"Unnatural Ignition!"
"Non-Immortality Blood!"