Ch. 161A Mere Fatal Scratch
Key plot points and events
- Randall agrees to let Dragon test his strongest attack, promising to stand still and take a single hit.
- Dragon spends time charging a devastating technique, Wind God Grudge: a compressed, spinning cone of wind with enough force to shred even seastone.
- Worried the attack may be too powerful, Dragon offers to stop or call the test a draw. Randall insists he can withstand it.
- Wind God Grudge shatters Randall’s armor almost immediately. Dragon fears the attack will kill him, but Randall transforms into his Shattered Form and blocks the cone with his bare hands.
- Randall manages to twist the attack aside. It flies into a giant Sea King, obliterating it, then continues into the distance.
- Though Randall is left gravely wounded, he declares that his body—not his armor—is his strongest defense, and treats the injuries as a “mere fatal scratch.”
Character developments and interactions
- Randall shows immense confidence and toughness, deliberately allowing Dragon a full-power attack to test his own limits. His resilience surpasses Dragon’s expectations, even after his armor is destroyed.
- Dragon reveals both the destructive power of his wind abilities and his caution: he gives Randall a chance to back out, then is horrified when the attack breaks through the armor. His awe and confusion at Randall’s survival are evident.
- Their exchange is built on mutual testing and respect: Randall wants reassurance about Dragon’s strength, while Dragon tries to honor the challenge without causing needless harm.
Significant themes
- Strength beyond appearances: Randall’s armor proves less important than the body and transformation beneath it.
- Power and responsibility: Dragon’s hesitation highlights the danger of unleashing a technique whose full force he cannot control.
- Confidence, endurance, and spectacle: Both fighters demonstrate extraordinary power, while Randall’s bravado turns a near-fatal encounter into a boastful victory.