Baron Zeppeli had been too reckless, placing too much faith in the power of Ripple Energy, and got caught off guard. Jonathan had rushed to save him without thinking it through, turning it into a case of one rescue after another walking straight into danger.
Fortunately, Link understood the importance of caution. He had activated the Lighting Rod from the very beginning of the fight. At this moment, one hung at his waist while another was in his hand. Taking advantage of Dio's hands being restrained, he decisively launched an attack.
Ripple Energy burst forth. Vampire Dio had no spare focus to use Freezing Qi three ways at once. Instinctively, he tried to leap upward, but Jonathan and Baron Zeppeli clinging to his left and right hands prevented him from taking off. In that brief instant of delay, Link's fist struck Dio in the abdomen, tearing open a huge wound.
Enduring the pain, Dio raised his right foot and delivered a swift, precise front kick at Link.
Even before becoming a vampire, Dio had been a ruthless and highly skilled fighter. Now that he was a vampire, his speed and strength were even more extraordinary. If that kick landed, Link would be lucky to survive with his skin intact.
Link did not dare hesitate. He raised the hand holding the Lighting Rod in front of him. With a bang, the rod shattered under the kick, and Link was sent flying backward, landing seven or eight meters away.
Having suddenly sent Link flying, Dio did not feel much better either. The Ultraviolet Light Stick, while nowhere near as powerful as sunlight and less damaging to vampire Dio than it was to Corpseborn, still caused him trouble. More importantly, his abdomen had taken a solid hit from Ripple Energy, and the wound