Finally Facing Each Other

Leolox truly lived up to being the top contender favored by both Durotan and Leiluo. After only a few brief exchanges between Leiluo and Durotan, he had relied on his extensive combat experience to defeat two Gold Tier opponents in succession. Yet in Leiluo's eyes, Leolox's fighting style in the arena differed somewhat from the style he had displayed during their sparring matches.

Just as Leiluo had thought, Leolox had changed his fighting style at this moment.

Leolox knew how difficult it was to remain standing until the end in a war of attrition. That was why he had been seeking allies everywhere. Yet Leiluo, whom he had been certain would join him, had refused. The other clans looked down on him, and Durotan had no intention of getting involved either. The pressure on him had multiplied.

As a warrior, he had always charged forward without hesitation in battle. But this time, he fought with extreme caution, constantly calculating how to defeat his opponents at the lowest possible cost. Though he had won repeatedly, it left him utterly frustrated. It was like Bolt—his body and mind felt free after the instantaneous burst of a sprint, but if you made him run long-distance races, he would have to constantly restrain and suppress himself. How could he not feel stifled?

"Come on! Who else?!"

He had dealt with another opponent, yet the victorious Leolox felt increasingly uncomfortable.

Leiluo, standing at the edge of the arena, had also noticed Leolox's discomfort. He said to Durotan, "Looks like I'll have to go up early. If Brother Leolox keeps fighting like this, he may end up with hidden injuries."

"Fine, but be careful too. If things get bad, just throw yourself out of the ring." After such a short time together, Durotan had found this little brother quite to his liking. He did not want Leiluo to suffer any injuries because of this contest.

In the end, Leiluo was simply too young. Durotan could not help worrying.

Leiluo waved his left hand to show that he had heard, then carried that pitch-black Battle Axe onto the arena.

"Brother Leolox, I didn't expect you to push yourself so hard for victory. You're fighting in a way you're not used to. Even if you win, you'll end up with hidden injuries." Leiluo's tone was somewhat heavy as he looked at Leolox.

"Little brother, you don't understand. I don't want another year to pass only for children or women from the clan to be taken away again. I don't want to see familiar faces fall beneath the feet of Ogres again."

"I know your strength as well. I can't defeat you by fighting in an unfamiliar way. Let's settle this once and for all in this arena." As he spoke, Leolox immediately used Battle Roar and charged toward Leiluo.

"Ah... you don't understand, Brother. When we sparred, I didn't use my full strength!"

Before his words had even faded, Leolox had already rushed before him and brought down a Cleave.

Leiluo remained calm. A halo lit up beneath his feet, and he caught Leolox's powerful blow with one hand.

Seeing his attack stopped by Leiluo's single hand, Leolox hurriedly retreated. As he backed away, he shifted from his combat stance into a defensive stance, then opened his mouth and used Intimidating Roar.

Seeing Leolox retreat, Leiluo did not pursue. He placed another blessing on himself, then used Divine Protection, nullifying the effects of Intimidating Roar.

Only after that instant of exchange did Durotan, watching from the side, understand where Leiluo's confidence came from. Leaving aside his composed combat experience and Gold Tier strength, the monstrous power that allowed him to block Leolox's strike with one hand was enough to leave even Durotan, a Heroic Rank warrior, in amazement.

Seeing that Leiluo had not been controlled, Leolox immediately shifted into Berserker Stance, activated Rage of the Berserker, and charged at Leiluo once more. During the charge, he unleashed Whirlwind Slash.

As for Leiluo, he placed a Holy Seal on himself, then entered Berserker Stance and used Intercept on Leolox.

When the watching orcs saw Leiluo charge headlong into Leolox's Whirlwind Slash, they thought the battle was about to end. Just as they secretly mocked the young fangless orc, a jaw-dropping scene unfolded—Leolox's Whirlwind Slash stopped.

When the dust settled, everyone finally saw clearly. Leiluo's Battle Axe had caught against Leolox's weapon, forcibly interrupting the Whirlwind Slash with sheer strength. Leolox, in his berserk state, could only watch helplessly as his attack was neutralized, his weapon was disarmed by Leiluo, and then he himself was hoisted up and thrown toward Durotan.

When Durotan saw Leiluo throw Leolox toward him, he knew Leiluo was demonstrating his dissatisfaction with what he had said earlier. He was not angered and caught Leolox instead. Only at the moment of catching him did Durotan gain a more direct understanding of Leiluo's strength.

"This kid's strength is almost catching up to mine!"

Seeing Durotan catch Leolox, Leiluo slowly walked over, placed the disarmed weapon beside Leolox, patted him on the shoulder, raised an eyebrow at Durotan, then walked back toward the center of the arena.

"This time, you really lost face. That kid threw you right out of the ring, ah." Seeing Leolox still wearing an incredulous expression, Durotan teased him.

"Back at Blade's Edge Mountain, this kid's strength was already astonishing. I never expected it to become this freakish now."

"Don't lose heart. Didn't you see what that kid did just now? He was using the Holy Light to enhance himself, which is why his strength could reach such a level."

"The Holy Light? It's that strong?" Even after hearing Durotan's words, Leolox still found it hard to believe.

"Didn't you experience it firsthand? That kid told me the Holy Light can not only enhance someone, but also heal injuries and gradually improve the user's physical constitution." Durotan sighed. "This is an entirely new profession, completely different from shamans, warriors, and hunters. If one could master it, wouldn't it be even stronger than Ner'zhul's potions?!"

Leolox fell silent upon hearing Durotan's words.

After directly encountering the Holy Light this time, he felt that the power it brought was no weaker than the power granted by Ner'zhul's potions. Moreover, from Leiluo and Durotan's words, Leolox also sensed that the Holy Light was far more reliable than Ner'zhul's potions.

"Besides, Leiluo and I have reached an agreement. I'll send warriors from our clan to study under him—one person, one Frostwolf." Seeing the silent Leolox, Durotan added more fuel to the fire.

"You have that much confidence in this power?" Though he still persisted verbally, Leolox's eyes had long been fixed eagerly on Leiluo in the arena.

"Whether the Holy Light is worthy of confidence depends on whether this kid can win." Durotan crossed his arms and watched Leiluo in the arena with a smile, watching him continuously switch between halos, blessings, and Holy Seals.