Unfortunately, his current combo still could not hide an ultimate in a basic attack, or the match would have been over.
But the power of that strike still could not be ignored. Two overwhelming forces exploded with a boom, sending both of them flying backward.
Yet both had already adjusted their bodies in midair. The moment they landed, they charged forward and swung heavy punches at each other.
The meaty impact of a fight between men was on full display. Zhou Yang tilted his head to dodge a punch while striking back at his opponent's chest armor. But his opponent refused to be outdone, bending to dodge an attack before slamming an uppercut into Zhou Yang's abdomen.
The two traded blows as though they had entered a death match, displaying their ferocity to the fullest.
Every dodge was a hairbreadth escape, every collision incredibly fierce. The clash of armor, the dull thuds of fists, and the groans of their bodies intertwined into an especially staggering spectacle.
As their fists struck each other, the resulting explosion of energy blasted them apart once more, forcing both back several steps.
Neither suit of armor was intact anymore, both displaying obvious battle damage and jarring dents.
Fuck, wasn't this fight a little too brutal?
Zhou Yang had not expected his final battle before his debut to be this intense, but he could hardly suppress the competitive spirit it had stirred within him. He had only experienced this kind of pressure back when he still did not know how to fight.
Hehe, I was definitely going to win.
His conviction supported his body, and he moved, his fingers deftly pressing the three buttons on the Kabuto Zecter.
[1, 2, 3]
As the countdown sounded, the horn was pulled back, returning the Kabuto Zecter to its original form. Yet it released a tremendous amount of energy, which turned into blue arcs of electricity that flowed toward the horn atop his head.
Energy continued pouring out and enveloping him, finally gathering into an immensely terrifying strike and surging swiftly toward his right foot.
At the same time, the Power of Ohma within Zhou Yang burned as though ignited. Dark golden radiance enveloped his right foot, adding even greater destructive power to this strike.
[Rider Kick]
The crisp mechanical announcement rang out. Meanwhile, Hyper Kabuto opposite him had already completed the same movements. Both belts made the same sound as the two kicked fiercely at each other.
They unleashed all their power, their terrifying kicks colliding in midair. A destructive pulse erupted between them, and a violent explosion engulfed them both.
The shock wave spread in every direction, immediately sending enormous ripples across the lake and raising waves that surged toward the surrounding trees alongside it.
It swept through their surroundings. Leaves scattered and flew, trees toppled and snapped, and uneven craters appeared in the ground.
With a deafening explosion, a figure flew backward out of its center and slammed hard into the ground, rolling several times before stopping-it was Hyper Kabuto.
Not far away, Zhou Yang barely steadied himself. His chest heaved violently, his arms hung limp, and he panted heavily. His armor was covered in scratches, yet still flickered with a faint light.
Once he had collected himself and looked at Hyper Kabuto again, he saw his opponent slowly rise from the ground and give him a slight nod.
Then that figure gradually turned transparent before finally vanishing into thin air.
"It's finally over."
This marked the end of his trial before his debut, and his arduous training came to a temporary halt as well.
"Hah... hah... I'm fucking exhausted."
The Kabuto Zecter slipped free of his belt on its own and flew out, circling Zhou Yang several times while making pleasant cries. Clearly, defeating the "self" opposite it had made the Kabuto Zecter especially happy.
After nuzzling affectionately against Zhou Yang, the Kabuto Zecter flew away.
After undoing his transformation, Zhou Yang simply relaxed and leaned back, collapsing onto the ground.
As Hyper Kabuto left, a strange power repaired their surroundings, restoring their original appearance. It was still the picturesque mountain behind them, still the lakeside that left one refreshed and carefree.
Apparently, his opponent rather liked protecting the environment, even repairing this place.
Zhou Yang breathed in the fresh air, circulating the Power of Ohma throughout his body to heal his injuries. That battle had made him think he was fighting a berserk Rider.
Brutal though it had been, he had gained a great deal from it.
"No more slogging through training like that from now on. Hell yeah!"
That Hyper Kabuto had appeared to train him, giving him enough strength to do what he wanted.
And today, he finally had enough confidence to truly take the first step toward his debut as a king.
The Spirit Pagoda's Heavenly Pillar Branch in Eastsea City was a hundred-story building that towered into the clouds, standing at the heart of Eastsea City.
This branch tower rose over a hundred stories, roughly four hundred meters tall. Its broad octagonal base was firmly embedded in the ground, like a silent giant overlooking all of Eastsea City.
As one of the Spirit Pagoda's Heavenly Pillars, this place had always been the heart of Eastsea City. Soul Masters were the most distinguished profession on the Douluo Continent, and the Spirit Pagoda, so closely tied to them, was even more so.
The tower was clad in smoothly polished, light gray soul tool alloy panels, reflecting the shifting clouds in the sky like mirrors. A band of golden soul tool ornamentation encircled it every three floors, glittering gold beneath the sunlight and displaying its prestige and majesty to the fullest.
A medium-sized soul tool crystal was set into the spire, clear and translucent. After nightfall, it emitted a soft, bright glow, becoming a landmark for parts of Eastsea City and guiding passing pedestrians.
This was not merely an economic center, but a political one as well.
As the supplier of Spirit Souls to today's Soul Masters, the Spirit Pagoda's standing was plain to see.
Not to mention that, as Heavenly Pillars of the Spirit Pagoda, they would all have more or less inseparable ties with the Federation, busy with various collaborative projects.
However, this Heavenly Pillar of the Spirit Pagoda was an exception.
A man with fluffy blue, side-swept bangs, dressed in a gray-green coat and a gray scarf, sat in the tower master's seat.
At this moment, however, he was looking rather excitedly at the blue book in his hands.
The pages, which had always been blank, were now mysteriously displaying lines of text. As he read their contents, the man grew increasingly excited.
"Lord Demon King, have you finally decided to make your debut?"
There was a hint of excitement in his voice.
Elsewhere, also within the cloud-piercing Spirit Pagoda, somewhere on a similarly high floor.
An exceptionally beautiful woman sat before a floor-to-ceiling window, gazing at the scenery below. She held a soul tool in her hand and seemed to be speaking with someone.
The communication soul tool in her hand was exceptionally advanced, using projected calls. It was also an encryption device that used a dedicated line, leaving no fear of eavesdropping whatsoever.
That alone was enough to show her extraordinary status.
No one knew why someone like her would appear here.
After all, she was the tower master in charge of a higher-ranking Heavenly Pillar.
"How unusual. You actually contacted me first. Did you need something... Sister Yali?"
"Can't I contact you without needing something? Yaozhu~"