Chapter 210

"Thank you." Chen Ce released his embrace.

Just as he was about to ask the other person why they were dressed like that on the street and kept looking around, a loud voice suddenly rang out:

"That soldier, you're quite skilled!"

A deep voice rang out, and everyone's attention turned to the person Jax was pointing at.

Chen Ce also looked in the same direction as the people next to him.

It turned out that the people in front of him were looking back, while the people behind him were looking forward.

That is to say...

"I?"

"Yes, it's you!" Jax stood on one leg on the bridgehead, the staff in his hand exuding a masterly air. "I saw it. You're quite skilled! You just leaped over the heads of the crowd? I can sense the power within you...!"

Chen Ce frowned.

He wanted to talk to Jax privately... There are many things that are inconvenient to discuss in public, and a fight would seem unnecessary.

That was a bit of a miscalculation... I didn't expect this guy to be able to sneak a glance while eating an egg; he's so observant...

Furthermore, he can actually "see" the power within his own body? Could he be talking about magic...? This is definitely not something to be taken lightly...

Thinking this, Chen Ce prepared to quickly bow and leave.

But just as he took half a step, a wooden stick flew towards him.

Thump! Whether it was due to the extraordinary material of the wooden stick or some special technique or force, the wooden stick actually pierced straight into the granite floor.

The shattered stones drew gasps from the crowd.

The Mageseekers had just been urged by squad leader Jonathan to go up and "do the test" also shouted loudly, "I can't refuse such kindness, brother!"

Jonathan pulled a second Petricite from his pocket.

"Are you Demacia all cowards?" Jax used a provocation tactic, letting out a disdainful snort.

The crowd below the bridge was immediately filled with righteous indignation.

But Chen Ce was just...

He nodded readily. "Yes."

Anyway, he's not from Demacia, so the insults can't be directed at him.

A hush fell over the crowd. Jax frowned in surprise and displeasure—this was the first time in so long that he had encountered such a cowardly Demacia.

Chen Ce kicked aside the wooden stick blocking his way and prepared to continue squeezing out.

But Jax seemed determined to fight him.

"Young man, you don't want others to know about your 'power,' do you?"

Bang! Another wooden stick flew by, this time exploding along with the floor.

The force was so great that it was like a cannonball being dropped from the bridge.

Chen Ce silently gazed at the "King of One-on-One the Rift".

He deliberately emphasized the word "strength"...

The Heartsteel also shone...

Since there's no way to avoid it...

The sword was drawn, and the power of the gale began to gather.

"I can fight, but only a little bit..."

Chapter 74 Lux: I think I saw two helicopters

Chen Ce knew Jax well.

His original Jax Sejax Kayu-Rains Ekason, a weapons master from Icathia who was once famous throughout the country in that land that had fallen millions of years ago.

He was exceptionally skilled and had been a military commander since his youth. He led the Icathia Resistance Army against the army of the "Sun Emperor" and made outstanding contributions in that epic war.

He even killed an Ascended while still a mortal during the war.

Ascended... that was what everyone called the Ascended at the time. Those tall Shurima people, whose bodies shone with golden light, had the ability to destroy the world and move mountains and fill seas. They could almost easily defeat an entire army by themselves.

In that war, Jax faced more than just one Ascended.

It was a group.

The Ascended Legion.

He fought bravely, using his superb martial arts and clever strategies to contend with the Ascended, and ultimately succeeded in blocking the attacks of those "divine warriors".

He even personally killed an Ascended during the war.

Even though he didn't rely solely on his own strength, even though the Ascended was already weakened, even though...

Even with various influencing factors, it is enough to prove his strength.

The mortal slaying Ascended is unprecedented in the entire history of Runeterra.

But...

His fame was destined to remain unspoken.

Because there are no living people left.

After that war, everyone, friend or foe... died.

Whether they were slaves of the Sun Emperor, Ascended, or even members of the "victorious" side of Icathia... none survived.

All that remained were endless ruins and wreckage.

Jax was filled with despair... He saw twisted monsters... things were devouring the world... and he was powerless to stop them.

He arrived at the massive crater left by the Void's summoning, determined to end his life like Kohari had done in the past. But before he could finish his own life, he found a torch-staff amidst the chaos.

He recognized it as the one he had seen in Saabera —the eternal flames still burning there could damage the Void. This fire ignited Jax's heart.

He picked up his staff, leaving the ruins of his homeland behind, and carefully tended to this "Last Light of Icathia," protecting the hope it represented.

So he embarked on his journey once more.

His lifespan has become infinite under the influence of the Torch Staff; he has plenty of time... He must find companions to fight alongside him for humanity before those damned monsters return.

He needs to find more qualified warriors.

At least... a decent soldier.

Somewhat decent.

For example, right now, he has seen a promising young talent.

Although that "promising talent" may not have wanted to... at least not originally, but was forced into it.

Chen Ce fully drew the Muramana from its sheath and slowly walked towards the bridgehead. Another loud noise erupted from below the bridge.

At this time of day, the only people gathered here to watch the show, besides the Mageseekers and patrol guards, are the "unemployed people of Great City" or "flexible employment people of Great City".

"Come on, let me see your strength."

The strange man in the cape standing at the bridgehead twirled the stick in his hand with practiced ease and imposing presence. His voice sounded deep and resonant, as if it came from a thousand-year-old bronze bell.

He wasn't tall, but he gave off a giant-like aura. His face mask completely covered his features and skin, letting in no wind, making him look very mysterious.

His mask had several "eyepieces"... making him look like a monster with many eyes.

"Young warrior, come and show me your skills!"

"Although I didn't want to..." Chen Ce shrugged, his gaze drifting to the other man's fingers holding the wooden stick—still covered by his coat, so no one could see... In fact, he only had three fingers.

Is it that the Icathia's physical structure is different from that of ordinary people? Or has he been... changed over millions of years of trials and tribulations? It's unclear... In any case, he can now be called a "monster"—his body is as strange as that of a troll.

Fortunately, his shining humanity never changed.

"Come on." Chen Ce gripped his longsword tightly, ready to fight at any moment.

Seeing this, Jax launched a charge without hesitation.

"Be prepared for battle!"

He wasn't using the torch-staff burning with sacred fire—[The Last Light of Icathia]. He was only holding a wooden stick that looked utterly ordinary—perhaps just pulled from some unfortunate soul's sheep pen.

However, its power should not be underestimated.

Superior martial arts skills can overcome the difference in weaponry—using skill to overcome brute force and maximizing strengths while minimizing weaknesses.

"Watch out below!"

Chen Ce heard Jax's admonition, which sounded like a mentor's guidance, and then saw the short, stocky figure quickly dodge in front of him.

This master, who was almost at the pinnacle of martial arts in Runeterra, dodged the first attack by sidestepping, crouched to avoid the second, blocked the third, and then turned and cut into the gap below the blade.

Then came the upward elbow strike.

The short distance and the high speed gave Chen Ce absolutely no chance to dodge.

So he had no choice but to tough it out.

Of course, it's not about stubbornly enduring it with your face.

He sheathed his longsword at a tricky angle, then twirled the blade with one hand.

[Counter Strike]

Clang! Jax's elbow strike slammed into the sword, the crisp metallic clang echoing across the bridge.

"Wow!" The crowd gasped in surprise. They had almost never seen such a spectacular fight before.

Furthermore, Chen Ce's reaction was also unexpected—they had thought Chen Ce would be defeated by this unavoidable elbow strike—just like any challenger or dueling master before him; everyone who dueled Jax had been knocked down in the first round.

Or be knocked off the bridge.

"Oh?" Clearly, it wasn't just the onlookers below the bridge who were surprised.

Jax was surprised that the young man in front of him could block the attack—more importantly, the move that blocked his elbow strike looked familiar.

Only the objects they were waving were different.

The only difference is... they replaced the stick with a longsword.

"Who did you learn this move from?" Jax smiled with interest.

"With you." Chen Ce replied with a smile—it looked like he was joking.

"Is that so? Then I'll see if you've grasped the essence." Jax laughed, holding the wooden stick horizontally in front of his chest and beckoning with a finger.

"Come on, it's your turn to attack."

Upon hearing this, Chen Ce didn't hold back and immediately ducked down and charged forward.

Offense becomes the new defense, and a fierce wind begins to blow.

The longsword, which had just been sheathed, was drawn from its sheath once more, but this time with a speed several degrees faster than a direct slash.

[Steel Tempest]

Jax only saw a flash of cold light, followed by the sword's edge right in front of him.

He was somewhat surprised by his opponent's speed and swordsmanship.

But there wasn't much panic.

He raised the wooden stick above his head, spinning it rapidly with his three-finger hand, while his other hand waited for an opportunity to counterattack.

Ding ding ding--!

Jax's skill was superb; he could always deflect attacks by striking the sword with a wooden stick that was no match for a sharp blade.

In the gaps between the opponent's repeated attacks, he had already found an opening to counterattack—in the next instant.

"Take this!"

The longsword was deflected by the wooden stick one last time, leaving a fatal opening in Chen Ce's face.

Based on his previous attack route, he would have thrust his sword forward in the next second, and then been struck squarely on the head by the wooden stick before the blade could react.

Jax could almost foresee everything that was about to happen.