"Oh?"
The sudden change in direction caught Viego off guard. He clearly hadn't reacted in time, his movements slowing by a beat. With a boom, he forcibly blocked with his sword, but the erupting flames instantly sent him flying hundreds of yards away!
Wang Gou Dan stood where he was in confusion, staring thoughtfully at his dragon claw.
In the distance, Ling Ji and Bald Head, who had witnessed this through Mental Strength, immediately exchanged a glance. They both saw the shock in each other's eyes.
That guy...
"Just a coincidence?" Ling Ji asked quietly.
"Partly a coincidence, partly a test." Bald Head's voice was solemn. "That little fellow's combat instincts are extraordinary. The captain will have to get serious!"
In midair, the sword in Viego's hand had somehow vanished. The green light around his armor surged, and a powerful force erupted from his body, firmly arresting his backward flight. He slid several thousand meters before finally managing to stand steady.
"Tsk." Viego clicked his tongue softly. Looking toward Gou Dan, who had not pursued his advantage, he smiled. "Not bad."
Gou Dan narrowed his eyes at him. "I hit you."
"Oh?" Viego smiled. "What do you mean?"
"I mean I really hit you this time." Wang Gou Dan stared at him seriously. "I couldn't hit you the previous times!"
Viego's smile froze. "Why do you say that?"
"Because your power wasn't actually that great." Wang Gou Dan spoke seriously. "I've felt something was strange from the beginning. Every time we exchanged blows, you had to avoid my edge first, but after fighting for a while, you kept getting stronger. Your power and speed both surpassed what they were at the start, and your movements became more coordinated. After we fought for long enough, you could even suppress me completely.