The Ashen Dominion
Chapter 77 - Hardwork & Talent [2]

Chapter 77: 77 - Hardwork & Talent [2]

"You’re throwing your life away."

Yin said as Viktor took a fighting stance with his remaining axe, blood still dripping from the wound on his side. His breathing was heavy, but his grip on his weapon didn’t waver.

Anyway—

"..."

Viktor didn’t reply. He just stared at Yin with sharp eyes—focused, unwavering.

Swoosh~

The tension between them was thick, like a blade pressed against skin. They stood still, their bodies ready to explode any second.

Then—

BAM!

Yin kicked off the ground!

SWOOSH—

He rushed at Viktor again, aiming to finish it! His steps were fast, calculated. And seeing him coming—

Viktor’s eyes sharpened. He took a deep breath and lowered his stance.

TING—!

He blocked the overhead slash coming from Yin’s left sword!

After that—Viktor saw the right sword coming next, aiming for his injured side again!

Fwoosh—

He ducked low just in time, letting the blade pass right over him. And from that low stance—

BAM!

He swung his left fist into Yin’s side, a solid hook crashing into his ribs!

"Khugh...!"

Yin grunted, his face twisted a bit in pain.

But he reacted quickly—he tried to launch a front kick with his right leg!

TAP!

Viktor’s hand shot forward and caught his knee mid-lift, blocking it with his open palm! He stopped Yin’s leg before it could gain any force.

And then—

SLASH!

From below, Viktor launched a fierce upward swing with his axe!

"...!"

Yin’s eyes widened in alarm—

He immediately pushed off with his left leg and retreated a few meters back!

Tap—

He landed cleanly, holding both swords up again.

And looking at Viktor—wounded, bleeding, panting...

’He’s still dangerous.’

Yin concluded that in his head, frowning.

"..."

Neither of them said a word.

The crowd was silent too, watching with wide eyes and clenched jaws.

This was the best mach they had watched today!

The two fighters stood their ground once more.

Tap- tap- tap—

Yin slowly walked to the side, circling Viktor. Meanwhile, Viktor just stayed still, gripping his axe tight with one hand, the other still pressing against his bleeding wound.

Drip... drip...

Blood continued trailing down his side, but his eyes were sharp. He remained focused.

Then—!

TAP!

Yin kicked off the ground again! He dashed at Viktor with incredible speed, slashing his right sword diagonally!

CLANG!

Viktor blocked it with his axe—but it was heavy, his arm trembled from the force.

SWISH—

Yin’s left sword followed, a horizontal cut aimed at Viktor’s chest!

"Ugh—!"

SLASH-

Viktor stepped back just in time, the blade grazing his shirt!

Then—he countered!

FWIP—!

He threw his axe with full force!

"...?!"

Yin’s eyes widened, he didn’t expect Viktor to throw away his remaining weapon!

CLANG—!

"Urgh...!"

He blocked it with both swords—but the force sent him stumbling back!

And before he could recover—

B A M—!

Viktor reached in front of Yin and smashed his right fist into his face!

"GAH—!"

Yin’s head snapped back violently from the blow, blood spurting out of his nose!

Before he could even regain focus, Viktor raised his left hand, and with perfect timing—

CLACK—

The axe he threw earlier spun in the air... then landed right in his grip like it was nothing!

"...!!"

Yin’s eyes widened in disbelief when he saw that.

’What the hell...?! He planned this?!’

But before he could react—

SWOOSH—!

Viktor brought the axe down like a hammer, aiming to split Yin’s skull open!

TANG—!

Yin barely managed to shift his head to the side and raised both swords over his right shoulder just in time to block the blow!

CLAAANG—!

The impact sent vibrations through his entire body—but he held it! He blocked it!

Though just then... Yin saw it.

Viktor smiled!

"...!"

Chills ran down his spine. And the next second—

FWIP—!

Viktor’s right hand suddenly grabbed his left hand!

His little, ring, and middle fingers were caught tightly!

Then—

S N A P—!!!

Viktor broke them!

"GRRRGH!!!"

Yin groaned loudly as his fingers bent the wrong way, breaking with a loud, sickening crack!

TAP— TAP— TAP—

He stepped back quickly, putting distance between him and Viktor.

TINK—

The sword in his left hand fell to the ground.

"Kh..."

His fingers were twisted unnaturally—broken and swollen. He clenched his jaw in frustration. There was no way he could hold a blade with that hand now. And even if he forced it... it’d be as good as dead weight.

So he didn’t bother trying to pick up his sword. Instead, Yin kept his focus on Viktor, tightening his grip on the sword in his right hand. His brows furrowed.

"..."

Viktor looked back at him, smiling.

"We’re equal again now."

He declared calmly.

Yin scoffed.

"You’re continuously losing a huge amount of blood, you wouldn’t even last five minutes now. How can you call that equal?"

And opening his mouth again—

"BECAUSE LESS THAN FIVE MINUTES IS MORE THAN ENOUGH FOR ME TO WIN!!!"

Viktor roared back with a grin!

BAM!

He charged forward with confidence!

FWIP—

He switched the axe to his right hand as he sprinted, and then—

CLANG!

Viktor’s axe and Yin’s sword clashed again! Sparks exploded between them as their weapons met, their arms jerking from the force!

TANG! SWISH—! TAK!

They fought wildly—but not recklessly. They were precise with their movements!

Yin swung with sharp speed!

TING!

Viktor responded by parrying, then he countered!

Fwish~

Yin dodged with agile footwork!

They both exchanged blows too—fists, knees, elbows!

BAM! TWHACK! SWOOSH—!

They punched and kicked while clashing blades! There was no rhythm, only instinct! Both men passed their weapons between their hands mid-fight to expand their reach, to create new angles of attack!

CLANG! THUNK! TIIING—!

A dance of violence unfolded before the crowd!

Drip- drip—

Blood trickled from Viktor’s wound.

His shirt was soaked. His breaths were getting heavier.

But even so—

"...Hah!"

He smiled!

His eyes were burning with adrenaline, and he refused to slow down!

’This guy...! Even after all that—!’

Yin couldn’t believe it.

Despite the stab wound, despite the blood gushing out from Viktor’s side...

They were still fighting evenly!

’THIS GUY IS A FUCKING MONSTER...!’

He cursed in his head. But even so, he kept his cool. Kept his breathing steady. Because now—

He was slowly gaining the upper hand.

TING—! TANG! TAK!

Viktor’s swings were getting slower and his footwork was getting sloppy. The blood loss was affecting him as time passed by!

Then not long, when Yin spotted an opening—

THUD—!

He sent a heavy side kick straight into Viktor’s bleeding wound!

"GGRRGHH...!!"

Viktor’s entire face cringed up in pain—his body flung up from the impact!

The kick was so strong it launched him backwards!

But just before he hit the ground—

FWISH—!!

Viktor suddenly hurled his axe mid-air at Yin again!

"Shit—!"

Yin’s eyes widened. But this time, he didn’t make the same mistake.

He quickly sidestepped—

TUK—!

And the axe crashed into the sand behind him; no bounce, no spin, it just sank!

And seeing that—

’Now you can’t recover that again.’

Yin smirked. He already made a plan to keep Viktor away from it!

So with confidence, he turned his gaze back forward—

"...?!"

But what he saw made his eyes shoot wide open! Viktor was already charging at him again!

And in his hand—was a sword!

’That sword...!’

It was the same sword Yin dropped earlier when his fingers got broken!

He was so focused on the axe—he didn’t realize Viktor landed near the blade after the kick!

But still—

"IF IT’S WITH SWORDS—THEN I’M CONFIDENT I’LL WIN!"

TIIIING—!

The two swords collided, sparks bursting between them!

Viktor didn’t back down.

Even injured, even bleeding—he pushed forward!

CLANG—! SWISH—! TAK—!

Steel sang in the arena once again!

But just like Yin had said earlier—He was slowly winning.

Not only was he clearly more refined in sword technique... Viktor’s movements were getting slower too!

FWISH!

CLANG—!

TING!

He slashed here and there, aiming for every possible opening—

But Yin deflected them all without even breaking form.

TAP— TAK— SWISH!

His footwork was clean, precise, efficient.

’Tch... I’m losing ground...’

Viktor knew—if things kept going like this, he’d be the one on the ground first.

CLANG!

Their blades locked.

Yin pushed forward slightly.

"Your swordsmanship is decent... But you will not be able to defeat me."

He declared with a calm, unwavering tone.

"..."

Viktor didn’t answer.

He just stared at Yin.

Then—a smirk slowly crept up his face.

"I know."

He replied.

And opening his mouth again—

"I’M NOT TRYING TO WIN USING SWORDSMANSHIP!!!"

Viktor roared that!

And with a fierce expression—Viktor raised the sword in his hand!

Then, with both hands gripping the hilt tight—

S W O O S H—!!!

He swung it vertically down with all his strength!

"..."

Yin raised his sword calmly, not thinking much of it.

CLAAAANG—!!!

He blocked it.

But—

"URGH...?!"

His face twisted.

The impact rattled his entire arm!

This attack was way stronger that before!

Yin’s eyes narrowed, and that’s when it clicked—Viktor was now swinging with both hands. His strength wasn’t dulled by the stab wound, it just slowed him down.

He could still go harder. Stronger.

And Yin—

He only had one good hand left to block all of it!

"Shit—!"

SWOOSH—!!

Viktor raised the sword again, then—

T A A A N G—!!!

Yin blocked it again—

"GRGHH...!!!"

But the blow sent him stumbling back!

And Viktor, not letting up—

BAM!

He stepped forward again, raising his blade once more!

The momentum had shifted!

Viktor continued attacking with both of his hands.

CLANG—!! TANG! TIINGG—!

The sound of steel crashing against steel echoed through the arena like thunder.

"Ugh...!"

Yin gritted his teeth, blocking every single one of them.

Again—! And again—! And again!

He couldn’t counter. He couldn’t breathe. He just blocked and blocked and blocked...

Until eventually—

That was all he could focus on.

Then at that exact moment—

Fwip—

"...Huh?"

Yin felt something grab his right wrist.

He looked forward—and saw Viktor holding it with his right hand.

And before Yin could even react—

PHUCK—!!

"...!!!"

A sword pierced into his stomach.

Held in Viktor’s left hand.

"Thanks for letting me borrow your sword. Here, I’m giving it back."

Then he muttered that with a smile on his lips.

"...!"

Yin’s eyes widened.

He was played—again.

Viktor baited him into full defense—And in that moment of tunnel vision...

Viktor landed a decisive blow.

"Fuck..."

Yin muttered under his breath.

And that was the last thing he remembered.

BAM!

Viktor’s right fist smashed into the side of his head, a brutal hook to his temple.

Viktor punched him unconscious.