As the Weakening Aura descended layer by layer, Lancelot could clearly feel his body, spirit, and will weakening at an alarming rate.
It was as if in an instant, he had gone from a vibrant youth to a frail old age.
Even the once vibrant Life Essence fell into a state of dormancy, as if it had transformed from a clear spring into a stagnant pool.
However, Lancelot was not surprised but rather pleased by this situation.
What he wanted was this intense pressure. If he could rekindle the flame of will in a state of decay and death, then even if the Flow Method couldn't directly break through to the state of Absolute Focus, it could still tear a breakthrough in the solid shackles and fetters.
Thoughts flashed through Lancelot's mind like lightning, and his steps did not falter at all, but his speed inevitably decreased significantly.
His constitution attribute decreased by 15 points, which means that the bonus from his Body of Steel was completely wiped out, leaving him with only his original 11 points of constitution.
Secondary attributes such as speed and strength have been reduced by more than half.
Seeing this, Mark smiled broadly. "Everyone says that Iron Fist's fighting skills were the best in the initial stages. I wonder how much he can still demonstrate now?"
After saying that, Mark slightly bent his knees, his expression suddenly turned serious, and he charged at Lancelot without showing any weakness.
Before the match, Mark had carefully studied Lancelot's data and found that the latter's physical attributes were not high. Even when he activated his Body of Steel to the limit, he did not reach 30 points, and was even far from it, probably in the upper-middle level of the Tier Three.
Lancelot's unparalleled success and sweeping victories were largely due to his exceptional fighting skills and perfect control over the rhythm of battle.
However, even the strongest combat skills require a strong body to support them; otherwise, they are just castles in the air, illusions that will burst at the slightest touch.
Mark believed that with his 16 points in constitution and his more than ten years of hard training in physical skills, he could defeat Lancelot in his current state.
With this unwavering belief in victory, Mark's fighting spirit soared, and his body shot forward like an arrow, instantly crossing half the arena and colliding with Lancelot.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The two men's fists clashed, the metal gauntlets clanging crisply. Their high-speed movements created a whooshing airflow, like transparent snakes coiling around their bodies. Their hair danced in the air, and their equally intense eyes met in mid-air, as if sparks were flying.
"So you really only have this much strength left." Mark chuckled, his fighting spirit intensifying.
The moment they clashed, he could clearly sense that Lancelot's strength had weakened considerably. Even though the latter had compensated for much with his superb Combat Skills, his physical weakness and powerlessness were undeniable.
This means Lancelot's stamina will be greatly reduced.
Especially with the continued weakening of the Weakening Aura.
In contrast, Mark was in good condition, and his "Weakening Aura" Ability Energy was not greatly depleted.
Aura-type abilities are a major category within the spectrum of Transcendent abilities, sharing a common characteristic: low cost and long duration.
Therefore, Mark wasn't worried about a protracted war at all; the longer it dragged on, the happier he was.
Furthermore, in order to reduce the consumption of his aura, after engaging Lancelot in combat, he reduced the aura's coverage area to a radius of three meters around himself.
Mark's strategy for this battle was simple: if he could win in hand-to-hand combat, he would fight; and he wanted to finish the battle quickly.
If you can't beat them, stall for time and wear Lancelot down.
Therefore, as soon as the battle began, Mark went all out, unleashing a variety of superb physical skills that swept over the enemy like a storm.
Even disregarding his Ability Energy, Mark's talent in physical combat alone makes him a genius.
However, compared to Lancelot, his skill level is far inferior.
Strong Fist, Flash Step, Hadoken...
Lancelot unleashed a series of martial arts techniques one after another, executing them flawlessly and with effortless grace, creating a unique and natural aesthetic.
If Mark is a genius in physical combat, then Lancelot is a master in martial arts.
Despite having his physical attributes severely suppressed and his mental attributes weakened to only 1 point, leaving him weak in the limbs and with a waning will, Lancelot still managed to withstand all of Mark's attacks.
In Mark's mind, the man before him was like an unfathomable abyss, unmoved by any raging storm.
In fact, if Lancelot had gone all out, he was 70-80% confident of defeating Mark quickly. However, he did not make a move. Instead, he silently endured Mark's attacks, turning them into a hammer to temper his own impurities, hone his will, and clarify his spirit.
The will is suppressed by the Weakening Aura, just like the body is in a gravity chamber, where even the smallest areas can be trained.
As time went on, Lancelot could clearly feel that the membrane of restraint was fluctuating, creating ripples.
A crack is slowly appearing, gradually shrinking from nothing to something.
After three minutes of intense fighting, Mark realized that the possibility of a quick victory was extremely slim, so he decisively switched tactics from offense to defense.
The pressure suddenly decreased, but Lancelot was not satisfied.
What's wrong with you, bro?
I was just starting to feel good, and you were already done?
A real man for three minutes? That won't do!
Since you're not attacking, then it's my turn.
Lancelot raised an eyebrow, deciding to force himself on her.
As the saying goes, if the mountain won't come to me, I'll go to it.
With a thought, the muscles on Lancelot's right arm rippled like waves, resembling hills spread across the earth or waves crashing against the sea, pushing and pulling against each other, accumulating a terrifying force in an instant.
Hadoken!
Snap!
The air exploded with a loud bang, the speed of the punch was so fast that it was impossible for an ordinary person to catch it with their eyes. Like a cannonball being fired, it flashed through the air, leaving only a burning black mark on the retina.
Upon seeing this, Mark's eyelids twitched violently, his pupils contracted, and he raised both hands simultaneously.
Up and down, forward and backward, pressing forward and supporting backward, palm shadows danced, drawing spiraling air waves that completely dissipated the powerful kinetic energy contained in Lancelot's fist.
However, Mark was not happy; instead, he felt heavy-hearted, as his defensive rhythm had been broken.
Lancelot seemed to have anticipated this scene. He smiled slightly, stepped forward to the left, raised his right leg to the outside, twisted his ankle thirty degrees to the left, and then tore through the air to kick Mark's side waist.
This kick was as sharp and powerful as a spear thrust. If Mark were to be hit squarely, given his physical attributes, he would at least suffer broken bones and ligaments.
He certainly didn't dare to take the attack head-on, so he had to retreat again, create distance, and try to rebuild his defensive system.
Thus, under Lancelot's proactive pressure, Mark was forced to give it his all, daring not to slacken in the slightest.
Under these circumstances, both of their physical strength and energy were rapidly depleted, and the Weakening Aura exerted an increasingly stronger suppressive force on Lancelot.
Exhaustion and weakness washed over me in waves, and the emptiness in my spirit and will made me drowsy. It was as if a seductive voice was ringing in my ears.
"Give up. Just stop what you're doing and you can get some rest."
"You've done well enough; a top-five finish is more than enough proof of your talent."
"The moon wanes after it is full, and water overflows when it is full. Nothing in this world is perfect, so why not accept it with equanimity?"
One after another, ear-piercing demonic sounds echoed in the mind; if one's willpower was not strong enough, one's mental defenses would have been shattered long ago.
Mark's Weakening Aura is indeed an extremely troublesome Ability Energy; its physical weakening effect is secondary.
The truly fatal flaw is actually the weakening of willpower.
A true strong person, even if knocked down ten thousand times, can still get up and fight again as long as their will is not broken.
But if his will is shattered, then he's truly finished.
As the owner of the "Weakening Aura," Mark naturally knew the essence of his Ability Energy, and therefore he kept a close eye on Lancelot's eyes.
Eyes reflect the mind and project will; Mark can accurately grasp his opponent's state by observing changes in their eyes.
However, to Mark's horror, he couldn't see through Lancelot's gaze.
Every time he looked directly into those pupils that shimmered with black light, he felt as if he were in a vast and boundless Starry Sky, enveloped by its immensity and vastness, almost losing himself in it.
This was the Ability Energy awakened, causing Mark's gaze to wander. He dared not stare directly into Lancelot's eyes any longer, and began glancing at him every now and then.
Bang!
Their fists clashed, and in the brief moment of stalemate, Mark seized the opportunity to look up into Lancelot's eyes.
What did he see?
Fire!
Two flames appeared in the man's pupils before him!
How could my eyes catch fire?
Mark didn't understand, but he soon noticed that his opponent's offensive rhythm had inexplicably quickened!
"You're useless now. This pressure is too weak!" Lancelot grinned. Just now, the shackles of the Flow Method had been broken, and the state of Absolute Focus was beckoning him.
However, at this point, the pressure Mark was no longer sufficient.
He needs stronger, more terrifying oppression.
"Defeat!"
The flames of will in Lancelot's eyes burned fiercely, unleashing an astonishing fighting spirit. An invisible wave burst forth, covering half of the arena.
This is the power of will.
A willpower strong enough can even interfere with reality.
The dust particles in the surrounding air quieted down under the interference of this willpower, and the Weakening Aura seemed to encounter obstacles as well, its effect gradually diminishing.
Lancelot could feel his physical attributes gradually recovering.
12 o'clock, 13 o'clock, 14 o'clock...17 o'clock!
Although only a small portion has recovered, it's enough.
His waist was like a bowstring, his fists like arrows; he drew the bow, nocked the arrow, and shot it out suddenly.
In an instant, his Strong Fist rained down like a dense storm, their incredible speed creating shockwaves that even crackled with electricity.
Mark was horrified, not understanding why Lancelot's combat power had suddenly increased so drastically. He could only frantically parry, but due to the difference in strength and skill, he quickly revealed a weakness.
Bang! Bang!
Chest, lower abdomen, thighs, shoulders...
Once the first breach was opened, the entire defensive line collapsed.
Facing Lancelot's all-out attack, Mark was like a rag doll, brutally tormented. After struggling a few times after falling off the ring, he lost consciousness.
"Contestant number 1022 wins!"
When this line of text appeared on the projection, half the venue erupted in cheers, especially Lancelot's fans.
The screams and howls nearly shattered the stadium's windows, and the words "Iron Fist" echoed throughout the semi-enclosed space.
"We won! Hahaha, as expected of Brother Lan, even Mark couldn't stop him. That wretched brat finally got a beating, right? Let's see if you'll still be so cocky now!"
In the waiting area, Burke stood with his hands on his hips, laughing heartily. Seeing Mark get beaten up felt like drinking an ice-cold beverage on a sweltering summer day—refreshing, exhilarating, and completely invigorating.
Rui and Cole smiled, and a large group of Leite City training camp members behind them cheered as well, feeling proud of themselves.
"Good lad, could it be that he can actually challenge for first place in the preliminary round?" Instructor Bette's eyes widened. He had thought Lancelot would stop at the top five, but this kid had surprised everyone once again.
"To get first place in the preliminary round, you have to get past Walmart. It's tough..." Instructor Jace shook his head slightly. He knew all too well how terrifying an S-level potential student could be.
Any S-rank expert, as long as they don't perish, is a Legendary powerhouse. Such geniuses are extremely rare, even in the Crimson Alliance with its trillion-strong population. Each one is a precious gem.
"Keep watching, Lancelot... aren't you very good at creating Miracle?" Instructor Tarn smiled faintly, a hint of anticipation flashing in his eyes. Over the years, he had led several training camps and encountered at least eighty or a hundred geniuses, but among them, only Lancelot truly amazed Tarn.
"Go for it, a wider world is beckoning you!" Director Harvey murmured to himself as he watched the Joint Entrance Examination livestream in his office.
Not only him, but also the top officials of the Leite City are paying attention to Lancelot. If he can get first place in the preliminary test of the Joint Entrance Examination, these officials will also get a very impressive political achievement.
After defeating Mark, Lancelot stepped off the ring, whereupon a beautiful figure came into view.
She wore a light pink short-sleeved shirt, exposing her fair belly to the air, and black shorts. Her two straight, shapely legs, as if sculpted from white jade, were very eye-catching. Her oval face was adorned with a pair of bright, obsidian-like eyes, surrounded by thick, long eyelashes. Her long hair was tied up and hung down to her waist. She was full of youthful vitality, like a vibrant sunrise.
It's Walmart!
Unsurprisingly, Kant was defeated by her, and it didn't take long.
Despite its defensive prowess, the Mandela Giant Python's bloodline was no match for the monstrous power of the Power of Disintegration, and it crumbled after only a short time.
After winning the battle, Walmart turned her attention to the other side of the battlefield, watching Lancelot and Mark's second half of the fight unfold.
"His fighting skills are excellent, Iron Fist, truly lives up to its name!" Walmart tilted his head, revealing his cute little tiger teeth.
"Hmm!" Lancelot nodded slightly and walked straight past Walmart.
"Hey, use up your last chance at the treatment chamber, it's just a waste to leave it."
"Um!"
"A cold-hearted guy."