The spectators went wild with delight, giving the two teams about to clash their most enthusiastic cheers. Although those cheers sounded rather strange, they certainly stirred the fighting spirit of the Shrek Seven Devils and the Mad Battle Team. The two teams faced each other, and the referee stepped in. After he explained the basic rules, the match began!
"Brothers, unleash your Martial Souls!" ×2
As the referee announced the start of the match, both the Shrek Seven Devils and the Mad Battle Team unleashed their Martial Souls. In an instant, Soul Rings in three colors-white, yellow, and purple-filled the Soul Fighting Arena. Powerful fluctuations of Soul Power spilled outward, turning the spectators' lifeless eyes scarlet as they howled like wolves.
"Attack!"
Dai Mubai charged at the forefront, his presence imposing under Martial Soul Possession! With his top-tier Power Attack System Beast Martial Soul, the White Tiger, coupled with his level-thirty-seven Soul Power, Dai Mubai fearlessly collided with Mad Rhino, the Mad Battle Team's captain! This was a battle between two Power Attack System Soul Elders. Off to one side, the Mad Battle Team's two sheep Soul Masters met Xiao Wu and Zhu Zhuqing, while the two monkey Soul Masters hovered nearby, itching to act. At the same time, the Support System Soul Masters of both teams began exerting themselves. Although the Shrek Seven Devils' Martial Souls were of higher quality than the Mad Battle Team's, the difference in Soul Power could not be ignored. For now, the situation barely held at a stalemate.
"Pretty boy, you're not all that strong!"
With the Wishful Disc Soul Master's support, Mad Rhino's strength rose another notch. Charge, a Soul Skill from a mere ten-year Soul Ring, was enough for him to suppress Dai Mubai, who had activated his White Tiger Protection Barrier.
"Seven treasures turn forth, revealing colored glass! Seven Treasures Have Names, First: Strength!"
Ning Rongrong's support arrived at just the right moment. His strength surging, Dai Mubai forcibly drove Mad Rhino back!
"Get lost!"
The first clash between the two sides delivered the thrill of fists pounding flesh, sending the spectators' adrenaline soaring. What puzzled them, however, was that neither team's Control System Soul Master had acted yet. Shangguan Hong, with his monstrous Soul Rings, and the Mad Battle Team's two monkey Soul Masters had not joined the battle either.
"Cave Demon Spider, let me test your ability!"
Tang San released his Blue Silver Grass, linking all the Shrek Seven Devils together. With slight flicks of his wrists, he directed every member of the Shrek Team. Meanwhile, Spider Woman was not standing idle either. An enormous spiderweb spread across the sky, actually enveloping everyone from Shrek beneath it.
The spiderweb drew the Shrek members' attention. Dai Mubai and the others quickly put distance between themselves and their opponents. Spider Woman's move was practically a check: if the web fell over them, the team's two Support System Soul Masters would definitely be eliminated.
"Twin monkeys, move out!"
Spider Woman had seized the initiative, and her eyes lit up. As the team's boss, she swiftly issued orders! The two monkey Soul Masters, who had been quietly awaiting their chance, shot forward, with the two sheep close behind. Wishful Disc promptly provided support, while Mad Rhino roared, the Thousand-Year Soul Ring beneath his feet lighting up as he hurtled toward Shrek's formation like a speeding train.
The Mad Battle Team's formation changed in an instant. From fighting individually at the start, they now gathered into a sharp blade, attempting to plunge into Shrek's heart with speed, precision, and ruthlessness.
Mad Rhino was unstoppable. With a Thousand-Year Soul Ring and a support Soul Skill, his strength was now in no way inferior to that of a Four-Ring Soul Ancestor. Even Dai Mubai could not withstand him!
Shrek Academy seemed to have fallen onto the back foot.
The spectators cheered, their eyes fixed on Mad Rhino's sharp horn, eagerly awaiting some unlucky soul to be pierced through. Yet under their gazes, Shrek's formation changed as well! Dai Mubai, Xiao Wu, and Zhu Zhuqing, who had been blocking the front, swiftly withdrew to the sides. They willingly opened their defensive line, and standing behind it, in front of Ning Rongrong and Oscar, was Shangguan Hong!
"You like charging, like crushing people with strength? Fine, let's see who hits harder!"
Shangguan Hong swung the enormous spatula in his hands, fearlessly watching Mad Rhino approach. On either side of Mad Rhino, four Soul Elders had already closed in. They paid no attention whatsoever to Dai Mubai and the others nearby, instead fixing their gazes entirely on Shangguan Hong.
This was the Mad Battle Team's plan! In fact, their target had been Shangguan Hong alone from the very beginning. Eliminating him took priority even over eliminating the two Support System Soul Masters. Although they had no idea why Dai Mubai and the others had willingly stepped aside, the situation before them was exactly what the Mad Battle Team wanted!
"Get the hell out of the match!"
Mad Rhino could not help accelerating.
"First Soul Skill, Trample!"
"First Soul Skill, Clone!"
The four Soul Masters-the two monkeys and two sheep-also activated their respective Soul Skills. Behind them was Wishful Disc's full support; above them was Spider Woman's sky-obscuring web. Facing them was Shangguan Hong, who seemed to have been abandoned by all his teammates.
Seven against one. No matter how one looked at it, this was a death trap for Shangguan Hong!
Below the stands, the corners of Yu Xiaogang's mouth lifted slightly. As long as Shangguan Hong was eliminated, his disciple would be the only protagonist left on the field!
Yes, he had not restricted Tang San's use of hidden weapons.
However, his fantasy was doomed to shatter!
"Insolent!"
"Across ten thousand miles of the dead realm, not a soul remains; one gate opens upon the cycle of life and death!"
"Third Soul Skill, Iron Blood · Noxus's Conquest!"
The enormous Golden Spatula erupted with dazzling light, and the third Soul Ring beneath Shangguan Hong's feet suddenly blazed. This was his first time using his Third Soul Skill as Purple Dead Sea. As the towering Gate of Life and Death unfolded, Mad Rhino, charging straight toward him, suddenly felt an ominous premonition.
"Destiny, dominion, deceit!"
"I am the King of Life and Death!!!"
Clad in heavy armor, with netherfire manifesting his life, the nearly five-meter-tall Mordekaiser descended! He held a spiked warhammer, and the instant he stepped into the Soul Fighting Arena, he noticed Mad Rhino charging straight toward him. Mad Rhino realized something was wrong, but by now, it was already too late for him to stop!
The enormous spiked warhammer smashed down from overhead. The muscular Mad Rhino, a full two meters tall, had met a true enemy. The five-meter-tall Mordekaiser possessed boundless monstrous strength. How could a mere three-ring Soul Elder like him withstand it?
Boom-
The warhammer crashed down, cracking even the Soul Fighting Arena beneath their feet. Dust rose like a dragon. The two sheep and two monkey Soul Masters, who had been gathering their strength to attack, froze in place. The spectators at the sidelines, ready to enjoy the show, went stiff-faced. Not far away, the smiling Yu Xiaogang demonstrated what it meant to change faces: the slightly raised corners of his mouth flattened, and his face rapidly turned purple.
The referee had no time at all to stop Mordekaiser's attack. When the dust cleared, a large, human-shaped crater had appeared in the Soul Fighting Arena. Mad Rhino lay inside it, already unconscious!
Mordekaiser pulled the iron hammer out of his upper body, its spikes drawing up a garishly vivid trail of blood. The King of Life and Death roared at the satisfying impact, then raised his warhammer again without hesitation and smashed it toward Mad Rhino, who was powerless to resist.
Judging by his stance, he probably intended to beat Mad Rhino to death!