As for Escanor, Qi Ling only knew that he was a power-focused fighter like himself, and that Escanor possessed a special ability that made it impossible for Escanor to dodge his attacks, thus forcing him into a direct confrontation of strength.
This special power meant that Escanor, despite being at a disadvantage in speed, didn't need to worry about that. Coupled with his incredibly strong defensive physique, he was a master of both offense and defense, which is why he was able to achieve such a result.
Holding his divine axe with ease, Escanor said, " Qi Ling, I've been waiting for this battle with you for a very, very long time! After fighting you, everyone else is insignificant in my eyes. No matter how many people I fight or how many enemies I defeat, I will never be satisfied."
"But last time, you unilaterally ended the battle, which was extremely regrettable! This time, our battle must continue until one of us is defeated; you can't escape this time!"
Qi Ling stood before Escanor and said, "Ah, I also feel sorry about last time, but don't worry, today I will witness your full power and completely destroy your pride, so that you can have a satisfying battle."
"Hehehe, if that were really the case, I would be extremely glad!" Escanor said. "Don't talk big too soon, take this axe first!"
As Escanor spoke, his muscles bulged, and he swung his divine axe at Qi Ling with his right hand! The divine axe, which was already enormous, looked as delicate as an ornament in Escanor's hands, creating a sense of incongruity.
Escanor's muscular physique swelled even more, making him appear taller, as if his body contained only pure muscle, not bones.
This all-out attack was Escanor's greatest respect for Qi Ling, because he knew that the opponent before him was not one of those nobodies he had dealt with before, but a truly worthy and equally matched opponent who could satisfy him.
"Let me see your power, Qi Ling!" Escanor swung his divine axe at Qi Ling with all his might, shouting, "Divine Axe: Break the Demon!"
With a deafening roar, the sheer force of the attack blew everything around it away, even collapsing houses and causing swathes of trees to fall to one side as if swept away by a gale.
But when the dust settled and the true situation inside was revealed, what happened there was astonishing. As for Escanor's divine axe, it did not cause any harm to Qi Ling as he had expected. Instead, Qi Ling held it firmly in one hand.
"What's wrong? What's so surprising?" Qi Ling said calmly. "You attacked with one hand, and I blocked it with the other. Isn't that normal?"
But everyone knows that launching an attack and receiving an attack are different concepts and cannot be compared at all. Qi Ling's words undoubtedly shocked Escanor.
However, Qi Ling was not without pressure. Escanor's power was indeed incredibly strong. Even with Qi Ling's abilities, she had to use " Divine Power of the Earth " to channel Escanor's power into the earth to neutralize it.
Even so, the ground beneath Qi Ling's feet began to crack, because this immense power was so great that even the ground beneath Qi Ling's feet could not withstand it, demonstrating just how astonishing it was.
Despite missing his first attack, Escanor remained unfazed, instead bursting into laughter. "Hahaha! Interesting, extremely interesting! You're the first person to have withstood my attack so easily! Does this mean your strength has surpassed mine?"
"This is absolutely impossible!"
Strength seemed to be Escanor's pride; admitting that he was inferior to others in strength was tantamount to admitting defeat, so Escanor would never admit to this.
"Come, Qi Ling, prove your strength to me!" Escanor slapped his chest, making a deep, resounding thud. "You withstood my attack, and I'll prove to you that I can also withstand yours!"
From the beginning until now, everyone who has uttered those words has regretted their decision without exception, and some have even paid a heavy price for it. Escanor will be no exception.
After hearing what Escanor said, Qi Ling laughed and said, "Oh? There's such a good thing? My goodness, I really didn't expect that. Why don't you think about it again?"
"Enough with the nonsense, just attack!" Escanor said confidently. "These muscles of mine aren't just for show; they're my strongest defense! I won't care about any attack, so bring it on!"
"Oh dear, but I still feel really bad. This is a bit like bullying me," Qi Ling said. "How about this, I won't use a weapon for this attack. You just need to take my punch, okay?"
"And I won't take advantage of you. If you can still stand after taking this punch, I'll admit defeat. How about it?"
Escanor scoffed, "How dare you underestimate me like that! You'll regret it later!"
"Hahaha, no, no, how could I regret it? The only ones who ever regret are my enemies," Qi Ling laughed. "Ready? I'm about to throw a punch."
As he spoke, Qi Ling raised his right fist once more. He could feel that Escanor's defense was indeed astonishing, especially against attacks like fists, which were difficult to counter.
Whether it's an explosive attack or a concentrated strike, it's unlikely to cause effective damage to Escanor. Therefore, this time, Qi Ling will use his newly acquired power, which is also one of the techniques he mastered on Sea God Island.
At that time, when Qi Ling went out to sea, she discovered an extremely powerful force: the whirlpools in the ocean! No matter how powerful the sea beasts were, they dared not approach them casually, as the power of the whirlpools was enough to easily tear them to pieces.
Therefore, after Qi Ling comprehended this power, he incorporated the power of rotation into his attacks. This was his first attempt, and Escanor was a good opponent for testing his skills.
"If you feel you can't handle it, be sure to tell me in advance!" Qi Ling said to Escanor with a smile after gathering her strength like a spring. "Otherwise, don't blame me if you die!"
"Take this! Tyrant Dragon Heaven-Spiraling Break!"