Forty-one wins, forty-two wins, forty-three wins.
Lin Qin's winning streak continued. Every match ended with a single slash. By the forty-fifth match, his opponents were veteran Six-Star Fiends who had spent years on the Blood Battle Platform. Most of them had fought over a hundred matches there. Experienced and ruthless, they were considered notable figures even in Thick Earth City.
Yet the outcome remained no different.
His opponent in the forty-fifth match was called Blood Hand, a skinny old man whose claw techniques had reached an extraordinary level. Rumor had it that he had once torn apart three Six-Star Fiends. After taking the stage, he stared at Lin Qin, his eyes filled with apprehension.
"Lin Qin, right?" Blood Hand said in a hoarse voice. "I watched all forty-four of your matches. Forty-four slashes, forty-four lives. Fine blade work."
Lin Qin said nothing.
Blood Hand was not angered. He simply continued, "I know I'm no match for you. But I still have to come up here."
Lin Qin looked at him.
Blood Hand gave a bitter smile. "Those are the Blood Battle Platform's rules. Once you register, opponents are assigned at random. I got picked. If I don't take the stage, I die.
"If I do, there's still a sliver of hope. Though that sliver is pitifully small."
After a moment of silence, Lin Qin finally spoke. "You can surrender."
Blood Hand shook his head. "Surrender? There is no surrender on the Blood Battle Platform. Only when one side dies does it end."
Lin Qin said nothing more.
Blood Hand took a deep breath, and his aura surged. He knew he would die, but even in death, he wanted to die with dignity. He wanted everyone to see that Blood Hand was not some worthless fool who could be killed in