Too Late

Too late

"Brother Fire Bull... died just like that..." The others looked at Fire Bull's lifeless corpse, seemingly unwilling to believe it was real.

"Without strength, you have no right to speak. I truly admire your courage in daring to provoke Spirit Hall. Every one of you is like a monster, really~"

After saying that, Rota did not hesitate. A Cross Laser pierced through the remaining dozen or so people in succession. Their levels were far lower than Fire Bull's; once pierced by the Laser, there was no chance of survival.

"Sorry, you've made such a mess of the shop. You'll receive proper compensation afterward~"

With that, Rota transformed into a flash of light and flew out through the large hole in the wall.

Deklai had been kicked by Rota all the way to a spot five streets away from the bar. He now lay collapsed amid a pile of rubble.

"Damn it, how is this guy so strong? Is he really just an ordinary elder?" Deklai covered his face, unwilling to accept the miserable fact that he had been sent flying.

Just from taking Rota's kick, half of the black armor on Deklai's body had shattered.

"Still, even if you're strong, I won't be defeated by you so easily."

On closer inspection, Deklai's injuries were not that severe. He had not even suffered more than a little dust on his body.

"Oh my, such tenacious vitality. It seems you do have some skill. I was hoping this would be easier~" Rota sighed helplessly.

Deklai took Rota's actions as mockery, and his rage was ignited in an instant.

"Don't look down on me! I'll show you my true strength right now!"

Deklai stomped the ground fiercely, and the violent tremor made the surrounding buildings creak and sway.

"Martial Soul, manifest—Elastic Violent Bear!"

"Eighth Soul Skill, Elastic Heavy Fist!"

"Have a taste of your own power too!" Powerful force gathered in Deklai's right fist as he charged at Rota.

"This is..." Rota was slightly surprised. The other man's power had increased so drastically in such a short time. Could it be...

Deklai's heavy punch slammed into Rota, sending him flying backward.

"Haha, now you've brought this on yourself! My Martial Soul is the strongest! No one can beat me in a one-on-one fight, not even a Titled Douluo!"

After sending Rota flying, Deklai roared arrogantly.

"I see. I think I understand your Martial Soul now. Simply put, it absorbs your opponent's power and turns it into your own. What a terrifying Martial Soul~"

Cold sweat broke out across Deklai's body. Hadn't this guy just been sent flying by him? How had he appeared behind him? More importantly, why had he felt nothing at all?

If Rota had not tested it himself, he would never have known the terrifying aspect of Deklai's Martial Soul. Deklai's earlier strike had absorbed Rota's power while adding his own strength to it.

That meant every strike he made could surpass Rota's own power. However, this only applied to the first strike after absorbing Rota's attack.

A Martial Soul that was practically a bug like this was indeed exceptionally powerful in a one-on-one fight. It was no longer hard to understand why that level-91 Spirit Hall elder had been defeated.

Without understanding Deklai, he had been killed alive by the rebound of his own power. It was truly regrettable. It could only be said that elder had lost to Deklai's Martial Soul.

That was the wonder of Martial Souls. Some Martial Souls were simply absurdly overpowered.

Rota felt that he needed to take this fellow a little more seriously. If he allowed him to escape, he would definitely cause even greater harm.

Previously, Rota had planned to beat him into repentance with his strength. Now, Rota had changed his mind. An evil man like Deklai could never possess that kind of awareness.

Taking advantage of Rota's moment of thought, Deklai launched another attack. It was the same Elastic Heavy Fist as before.

Rota caught it easily with one hand. This time, Deklai's power was nowhere near as terrifying as before. This was his true strength.

"What's wrong? Scared? Do you dare attack me?"

Deklai taunted him wildly. As long as Rota dared to attack, his own power would become immensely stronger.

The problem now was how to attack him and still defeat him. If there was no upper limit to his absorption ability, then the only way to defeat him would be to exhaust his Soul Power.

"What's wrong? Attack me! I didn't think a dignified Spirit Hall elder would be afraid!" Seeing that Rota had not attacked, Deklai assumed his Martial Soul ability had suppressed him.

Rota was an old hand. Such harmless verbal taunts could not disturb his tranquil heart in the slightest.

Then, as Deklai wished, Rota's long leg came down directly onto Deklai's head from above. The tremendous force drove Deklai into the ground.

Deklai's head was embedded in the ground, leaving his entire body standing upside down like a carrot in a vegetable garden.

"How was that strike, hmm? Hello? Can you answer me?"

"Tch, don't get too smug. An attack like that doesn't hurt or itch." Though Deklai's posture was inelegant, he did not seem to be injured much.

Rota scratched his chin. That attack had merely been a test. Yet Deklai was still completely unharmed. He really was a troublesome one!

"My, now this is quite a big problem~"

"My Martial Soul can absorb any impact force. Stop wasting your effort!" Seeing that Rota seemed unable to do anything to him for the moment, Deklai became somewhat smug.

"Oh my, did you say impact? I have an idea now~"

Before his words had even faded, a Laser suddenly shot from Rota's fingertip.

The golden Laser pierced through Deklai's abdomen without the slightest resistance.

It happened too quickly. Deklai did not even have time to react; he only felt a burning sensation in his stomach.

"How? When?"

The Laser was so fast that even the pain came with a delay.

Deklai stared at Rota in disbelief, unable to believe that his Martial Soul had been countered so quickly.

"Thanks for the reminder. Sayonara~"

Rota fired another barrage of Lasers, riddling Deklai's body like a beehive.

With only his last breath remaining, Deklai lay weakly on the ground, his body full of bloody holes, looking up at the tall Rota. He understood that he had truly fallen this time.

"So Spirit Hall has an expert like you. You're truly too strong. I did not lose unjustly..."

In the end, Deklai accepted his fate and slowly closed his eyes to await death.

Images from his past flashed through Deklai's mind. When he recalled the scene of defeating that Spirit Hall elder, he felt even more disdainful.

That pride had gradually inflated his ego and caused him to lose himself, until he met Rota today. Under Rota's merciless beating, Deklai was finally knocked awake.

"Please give me the final blow. I'm a little tired..."

At the end of his life, Deklai saw through many things. Now, he could already hear the wronged souls he had tortured to death calling for him.

Rota delivered one final Laser, completely ending Deklai.

"Some things are always so embarrassing. Be a good person in your next life!" Rota turned and left.

Those who harm others would ultimately pay the price for their actions. That was an eternal truth.