Returning to the Mysterious Era
Chapter 526 - Dominator Fist Against Dominator Fist!

Chapter 526 - Dominator Fist Against Dominator Fist!

Dong!

The blue giant whale leaped up, its pupils filled with deep unwillingness and wrath. It smashed madly through the air, its tail fin accelerating like a roaring propeller. Its colossal body blurred for a moment.

Boom!!!

Blue Qi and black Qi collided and exploded, scattering star‑like fragments that burst violently upon hitting the ground. A shockwave that warped the spectators' vision swept the soil away.

The two colossal phantoms vanished beneath the sky as two ordinary human figures remained. Whale King Arlington had planted one foot in front like a steel pillar while the other was stabbed deep into the soil behind.

The black combat attire that had clung to his torso like armor had been ripped into ragged strips that now hung from his shoulders. Steel‑hard muscles bulged, and veins spread across his body like writhing black earthworms.

Arlington kept his left arm tucked in at his side, while his right fist was thrust straight and fierce like a spear. Bones all over his body cracked in succession, producing a grating sound that made one grind their teeth. His taut, resilient muscles occasionally emitted the snap of reaching their limits. Several massive tendons bulged absurdly on his neck and his hot blood was flowing like streaks of red light.

Arlington's face looked terrifying. Dense veins on his cheeks and his bared fangs made him resemble a ferocious beast. He glared at his opponent, his skin flushed crimson and steaming. But the man standing opposite him had a bearing that was the complete opposite of Arlington's.

If Arlington was a crude, wrathful beast, the other was a graceful and composed gentleman. The blond man was not in a power‑generating stance; he simply stood quietly with his legs together.

The black trench coat on his body was utterly intact and spotless. He slowly raised his right hand to catch Arlington's final punch. That might, enough to blast a small hill apart, poured into Cassius and vanished without a trace. After all, what ripple could a stream cause when merging into an ocean?

"Your physical strength has waned. Your power has dropped a level. It is still the fifteenth punch, but this blow is unworthy of my effort..." Cassius shook his head and stated blandly.

No veins or vicious look filled his face, nor did sweat or steam appear. He gazed at Arlington, whose body was drawn taut like a bowstring, every muscle maximized and his spine nearly snapping.

He gave a faint smile, then calmly pressed his right palm forward.

Ka‑ka‑ka‑ka‑ka!

Crackling sounded through Arlington's body like beans popping. His striking right arm trembled involuntarily, bending bit by bit.

"Impossible! How can this be?!" He roared.

The pain of having his pride crushed piece by piece was agonizing.

Whale King Arlington had been taken as a disciple as a child and had entered the world of Covert Martial Arts because of his innate divine strength! Later, he had trained in East‑Pole Whale King Fist, a domineering, suppressive mighty fist technique. Combined, Arlington's strength had been unmatched.

He had been defeated before treading the path of the Dominator Fist. However, he had never lost in raw strength, only overall prowess. Thereafter Arlington grew step by step, refining his fist technique and continually gaining strength. His strength had already reigned supreme in the United States of Yana's Covert Martial Arts community even before he became an extreme combat artist.

In his heart, strength was his surest asset. Yet now, his belief had been easily broken, destroyed, and dulled by the enemy. The opponent's spearhead was sharper, harder, and more fearsome than his!

Even now, with Whale King Arlington exerting one hundred and fifty percent of his strength, he still could not draw out the other's full strength. Cassius had behaved like an adult toying with a child from start to finish. That stifling sense of being belittled enraged Arlington beyond control.

His body had lost the test of strength, yet his will and pride would not allow surrender. Thus, Arlington continued to brace himself. His entire body swelled, skin reddened, feverish heat surging. Both feet were driven deep into the earth, channeling all force he bore into the ground.

Rumble‑rumble... rumble‑rumble...

The ground behind Arlington’s feet transformed, forming peaks and valleys. It spread widely, fanning outward. It even swept through the forest, toppling the trees. Many bubbles appeared on the lake's surface as the lakebed cracked. Spider‑web fissures raced across the land, giving a channel for the lake water to stream through.

"Your strength is indeed not bad; it has finally caught my eye. That is no easy feat. You are the first to do so. However, your physique is still far too frail. Though stronger than most, it remains terribly weak. You're practically a glass cannon, able to strike yet unable to withstand..." Cassius delivered his critique as emotionless as ever, like a chef sampling dishes.

Of course, he did not review every eatery. At least this restaurant's fare was edible enough for Cassius to give it a glance. Arlington deserved to feel some pride from that alone.

The two figures at the battlefield's center were still matching strength for strength. Cassius looked at steam‑shrouded Arlington and sensed his stubbornness.

"See, your muscles and bones are as brittle as biscuits... A gentle push and they crumble." Cassius's right hand pushed forward slowly.

Ka‑ka‑ka! Boom‑boom‑boom!

The usual crack of bones rang out, along with the sound of the whale's skin rupturing. Arlington finally could not hold on as he groaned through clenched teeth. His entire body shot backward, his right arm bursting with blood. He glided nearly a hundred meters before flipping in mid‑air and landing on both feet. Then, he skidded dozens more meters. His shoes tore apart, leaving bare feet carving two long trails.

"Whale King Arlington is at a disadvantage in this test of strength!"

"Whale King Arlington is injured!"

"As expected of a fist technique master! That elder from the Golem Sect is in the extreme combat artist realm! I guessed right! Fantastic..."

The Hongli Empire Covert Martial Arts spectators grew excited and beamed after seeing the fight's outcome. They seemed more engaged and concerned than Cassius himself.

Whale King Arlington's feat of felling two top-tier combat artists from Hongli had been crushing. Some had even despaired and could not lift their heads. Yet, in less than three minutes, the situation had flipped and Arlington now appeared outmatched.

Meanwhile, the mysterious powerhouse of Golem Sect remained composed, seemingly more at ease than Arlington. The Hongli spectators instantly envisioned victory. They erupted in cheers as their morale soared.

In contrast, the United States of Yana's side was full of stunned faces, unable to believe the invincible Arlington had been forced back.

"The Hongli side also have an extreme combat artist?!"

"They had a fist technique master? Why didn't he appear earlier instead of sacrificing two top-tier combat artists?"

"Elder Whale King isn't going to lose, is he? This..."

"The situation looks grim..."

The high spirits of Yana dimmed into gloom.

They stared unblinkingly at the battlefield, hoping Arlington would erupt again, reverse the defeat, and suppress Cassius once more.

That was what Yana's people thought—and Arlington as well.

He touched his right shoulder with his left index finger, activating a self-devised healing technique. A thick band of muscle bulged at the top of his upper arm like a black bracelet and slowly slid downward.

It passed from the upper arm's top to the elbow, then slid over the forearm to the wrist. The ring of muscle left behind healed skin and restored blood vessels in mere moments. This was an extreme combat artist, a master forged in deadly battles with many domineering Secret Techniques at their disposal.

The former First General King was a similar case. Though he didn't invent the Seventy-Seven Secret Technique, they were crafted by a past Covert Martial Arts expert. Seventeen of the seventy‑seven formidable Secret Techniques were healing types. That exceeded one‑fifth. Clearly healing arts were vital and almost everyone devised their own.

However, Cassius had none, because he did not need them. His physique rivaled an extreme combat artist's strength so Cassius had not been hurt in ages. His body was steel tempered by endless trials; almost no one could breach its defense.

Moreover, his Golem Covert Martial Arts endowed the flesh with ultra‑fast healing. Its passive effect alone surpassed many masters' healing arts, granting an undead quality akin to dark creatures. This formidable physique freed Cassius from worrying about defense, healing, or recovery. He needed only to refine offensive techniques and focus solely on attack power.

That was his advantage, something no one had been able to replicate to date.

Whoosh...

A gale swept high above them, shoving broken clouds along.

"Huff, huff, huff..." Arlington panted, using his recovery technique as energy flowed to refill his spent muscles. He stared at the motionless Cassius, puzzled.

"Why let me recover? Are you giving me a handicap?"

"Heheh..." Cassius laughed lightly. "I merely respect a pure martial fanatic. You used only strength. I appreciate that..."

"Now, unleash your full might. Strength, Qi, Will, fist techniques—display them all before me like delicacies on a banquet table..." He stepped forward, strolling toward Arlington. His domineering Qi spread, boiling the air. It formed a translucent monster baring its claws in mid‑air.

Tap, tap, ta‑tap, ta‑tap, ta‑tap‑tap...

His steps quickened and quickened. Cassius raced across the ruined, cracked earth like an accelerating meteor.

"Huuu..." Whale King Arlington exhaled a long breath, his deep black eyes fixed on the charging Cassius. "As you wish..."

Boom!

Arlington took a combat stance, arms spread beside his chest, knees bent and muscles tensed. His spine arched like a fish gathering strength before breaching the water.

"East... Pole... Whale King Fist!"

Bang!

He punched, and the ground quaked. A blue phantom whale appeared behind Arlington, hurtling forward to overlap with his right fist!

Dong!

Two formidable figures collided. It was Dominator Fist against Dominator Fist!

Cassius' fist barreled straight into Arlington's iron punch. Scarlet Qi coiled along his right arm as it swung. His fist was perfectly encapsulated by a raptor’s beak.

Scree! Roar!

Two opposing roars sounded one after another. Whale King Arlington trembled and staggered two steps back as blood spurted from his fist.

Cassius seized the chance, whipping his left fist forward like a battering ram. Arlington raised both hands to block while his right leg shot out like a meteor.

Cassius took the kick to his abdomen and flew into the air. A cold gleam flashed in Arlington's eyes. He inhaled sharply, nearly drawing all surrounding air into his abdomen. His spine bent back like a bowstring at full draw. Both hands swept back, ten fingers clasping into a fist.

Zing! Swish!

The bowstring released; his arms smashed forward, fists blasting the air.

Dong!

Cassius pressed a palm down in midair, meeting the twin‑hammer fist head‑on. A ring of shockwaves burst outward.

Arlington's knees bent as the ground nearly a hundred meters behind him split open. Yet, the light in his eyes burned hotter as he watched Cassius drift away.

"East‑Pole Whale King Fist, Treading Waves!" Blue Qi erupted explosively over Arlington, propelling him forward. Each stride blasted blue Qi from his soles to propel him forward, making his figure vanish. He grew ever faster, gliding as a blue tail flame trailed behind.

"Parting Seas!"

Boom, boom, boom!

His terrifying Qi cleared the air ahead, nearly forming a vacuum. Blue cracks spread across Arlington's arms, heat geysering up from within. The gathered force naturally formed a vortex at his fists.

Each swing made the air explode. It sucked in air, soil, pebbles, and water. Unimaginable power lurked within the vortex.

He fixed his gaze on Cassius and spoke word by word.

"East‑Pole Whale King Fist, Overturning The Sea!"