The Ashen Dominion
Chapter 76 - Hardwork & Talent [1]

Chapter 76: 76 - Hardwork & Talent [1]

CLANG! TANG! SWOOSH!

TAP— TAP— SWISH!

Viktor and Yin continued their battle!

No magic. No special powers.

Just pure, raw skill and strength!

Every swing from Viktor’s axes was met with a parry or dodge.

Every slash from Yin’s blades was narrowly avoided or deflected!

They weaved and exchanged blows like seasoned fighters.

Viktor’s brutal, heavy axe swings forced Yin on the defensive— But Yin’s speed and flexibility let him slip out of harm’s way like a snake!

CLACK!

Viktor blocked a fast thrust from Yin, sparks flying.

SWOOSH—!

Yin ducked low and spun, trying to slice Viktor’s side—

But Viktor twisted his torso just in time, making the attack miss him by a hair’s breath!

Neither of them could land a clean hit.

And in moments where they did—

S L A S H—!

It was always a trade!

A shallow cut on the arm for a scratch on the thigh.

A graze on the ribs for a slash across the shoulder!

They both knew it—

To hit the other meant being hit too.

Despite Viktor’s large frame and heavy weapons; his footwork was sharp, tight, and well-trained. His axe techniques were top-notch... Nothing wasted, no openings.

Yin’s attacks were fast and hard to read, but Viktor’s reflexes weren’t letting them land cleanly.

He kept up with every feint and real strike.

And because Yin was so damn fast and flexible—

Even Viktor’s strongest swings—

SWOOOSH—!

Would slice through the air and hit nothing!

"GRGH...! I thought that would hit..."

"Me too..."

"This fight is making me nervous!"

The crowd was on the edge even though they were just watching.

Nobody was cheering now, they became silent.

Everyone was holding their breath... Waiting to see who’d make the first mistake.

CLANG! TANG—!

TING! THUNK—! TIIIIING—!!

Viktor’s axes and Yin’s swords collided at blinding speed!

From the spectators’ eyes; they looked like blurs! Their arms were moving so fast it was impossible to track!

TINK! CLAAANG! TONK—!!

Each time their blades met; a loud, deafening metallic screech echoed through the arena!

Sparks scattered like fireworks from every violent clash!

They weren’t dodging anymore!

They weren’t running or retreating!

They stood right there in the middle of the arena—

Attacking!

Parrying!

Deflecting!

Blocking!

Countering!

Their feet were planted, and their blades never stopped!

They couldn’t even move forward... And neither could step back!

TINK! TINK! CLACK! TUUNK—!

It was pure instinct and technique now!

The crowd eyes were wide, mouths hanging open.

Then—

TIIIIIIIIING—!!

Viktor’s right axe slammed against Yin’s right sword!

The impact created a sharp, shrill ring that shot through the arena like a bell struck by lightning!

Both of them froze.

Just for a second.

Their weapons locked, eyes glaring into each other’s soul.

And as if they both agreed without words—

BAM!

They kicked back at the same time, dashing away from each other in perfect sync!

Dust swirled around their feet.

Sweat dripped from their brows.

Their chests rose and fell heavily...

But their eyes—

"..."

"..."

Still sharp. Still locked.

Still burning with the will to fight.

’This man... he’s as strong as me.’

Viktor and Yin had the same thought as they stared each other down.

They had retreated to rest their bodies, and to think.

Because at this rate... they both knew.

If they kept fighting like before, it would end in a draw.

"..."

"..."

The two began walking in slow circles, just a few meters apart.

Their eyes never left one another.

Swoosh~

The air around them grew heavier.

The crowd remained completely silent... Waiting, holding their breath, anticipating the next explosion.

Then, after a few tense seconds...

BAM!

Viktor kicked off the ground and charged at Yin!

CLANG! CLANK! TANG! SHIIING!

Their weapons clashed again in a blur—swing after swing, parry after parry! Their arms moved like lightning, too fast for the naked eye to follow!

Sparks burst into the air with every collision, a loud, metallic ring echoing across the arena!

But this time... they weren’t standing still!

Yin began stabbing and weaving through Viktor’s range, keeping just far enough that the axes couldn’t reach. After each attack, he immediately thrust his sword forward!

But Viktor—

He simply stepped back. His footwork precise. His timing, flawless.

They were now moving constantly dodging, weaving, creating space, and closing in to attack again! Neither of them wasted a single breath!

TIIIING—! SHHHING! TAK!

Still, they were evenly matched.

Still... not a single clean hit had landed.

Minutes passed, and yet—no victor.

"This... Is something..."

"Yeah... It’s making my stomach hurt..."

"Ugh, same..."

The crowd couldn’t believe it.

Both of them hadn’t landed a clean strike on each other.

’Are they really going to be equal the whole time?’

That question hovered in everyone’s mind.

Until—

Tak-

"...?!"

Yin’s foot caught on a rock as he stepped back to dodge!

It was small, but enough to mess up his rhythm!

He stumbled!

His balance collapsed—he was falling!

And Viktor—

S W I S H—!

He didn’t waste such opportunity—he swung his left axe downward with all his strength!

"!!!"

The crowd gasped—finally, an opening! Something is happening!

But then—

T A N G—!!

Yin twisted mid-fall, and with perfect reflexes, he slashed upward with his right sword—deflecting the axe with a sharp, metallic clang!

And after that—

Tap—

SWISH~!

He used his left hand to support himself on the ground, and in one fluid motion—he performed a one-handed back handspring!

Returning to a full stance, sword raised and eyes locked again on Viktor!

"WHAT?!"

"HE RECOVERED FROM THAT?!!"

"THAT’S CRAZY...!"

The crowd couldn’t believe it—even after that mistake, nothing happened to push the fight forward.

Or so they thought—

Crack—

"...!"

The wooden shaft of Viktor’s left axe—it cracked!

He had been using his axes for a while now and it’s not really high quality, then just earlier... Yin hit it on a bad spot when he parried it!

Only Viktor and Yin noticed this.

And the moment Yin saw it—

BAM!

He was the one who rushed in this time!

SLASH—

Yin swung his right sword horizontally, aiming at Viktor’s left, where his damaged axe was! Viktor frowned, but with a smirk—

TANG!

He just blocked it with his right axe!

SWOOSH—

But right after that; Yin followed up with a downward swing of his left sword!

"Tch—!"

Viktor clicked his tongue in annoyance.

TING!

Then he intercepted the strike with an upward swing of his right axe!

And in that moment—Yin confirmed something:

’He’s avoiding using his left axe now.’

He smirked. And with that information in his head—

He started unleashing a barrage of attacks with his dual swords!

CLANG! TING! WHACK! SWISH!

"Shit!"

Meanwhile, Viktor did his best to block, parry, and deflect with just his right axe. He started dodging more, trying to buy time. But slowly—

Slash—

"Ugh...!"

Small cuts started appearing on his body—on his arms, thighs, even across his cheek...

The balance between them had shattered the moment one of his weapons cracked. He knew it too.

So Viktor—

"FUCK IT!"

CLANG—!

He used his left axe again and parried one of Yin’s strikes!

"...!"

Yin’s eyes widened in surprise.

But before he could even respond—

SLASH—

A deep cut appeared across his left cheek—Viktor had followed up with a powerful thrust from his right axe!

Yin was just able to tilt his head before it fully hit so he survived!

He immediately realized what Viktor had decided to do.

’He’s trying to finish this fight before his axe fully breaks!’

And from that point—

CLANG! TANG! SWOOSH! TWHACK—!

They started clashing on equal footing again! Their weapons smashing together without mercy!

SHIIING—! THUNK! CLANK!

Their fierce battle continued, intense enough to silence the crowd in awe.

But then—

C L A N G—!! TIIIING!

Amid their vicious exchange...

CRACK—!

The shaft of Viktor’s left axe suddenly snapped.

PHUCK—!

Leaving him wide open—as Yin’s sword pierced into the left side of his stomach!

"GRRGH...!"

Viktor’s eyes widened in pain and surprise.

But before Yin could follow up another attack—

THUD!

"Ugh...!"

Viktor retaliated with a powerful front kick—sending Yin skidding backward several meters. Yin had crossed his arms in time, reducing the damage.

Meanwhile—

Drip. Drip. Drip.

"..."

Blood gushed from Viktor’s stomach, staining the ground.

And upon seeing that—

"...!"

"HE’S HIT!"

"A DIRECT HIT!"

"H-HIS WEAPON BROKE...!"

The entire arena gasped.

Finally—something happened in their fight.

"That’s unfortunate... You could’ve won."

Yin said, looking at Viktor, who was pressing on his stab wound with his left hand to slow the bleeding.

Viktor had already thrown his broken left axe far away.

Anyway... he looked back at Yin.

"What are you talking about?"

He asked.

Then, without waiting for a response—

"I’m still winning this."

He declared that with a confident smirk on his face.

"I advise you surrender now... You’re a good fighter, they would definitely let you fight again after you recover."

Yin stated.

But ignoring him—

TAP!

Fwip-

Viktor stepped forward with his right foot and placed his right hand with his remaining axe in front of him. He just took a fighting stance.

"You’re throwing your life away."

Yin told him, frowning.