An Understated Dominance (Dustin Rhys)

"What the heck? Didn't Brian just land a blow? How is that man still standing? "He's too fast. Brian's sword seemed to hit, but it only struck the man's afterimage." "Damn! Who is this guy? Pulling off moves like sghost." The Celestial Alliance disciples were stunned to see Shadowcloak emerge unharmed.

Brian was a master martial artist, and his strikes were incredibly swift. Yet, he didn't even graze Shadowcloak, which bewildered them.

They had never witnessed such fluid movements. It was as if he was teleporting, which made it impossible to track.

"Alicia, can you decipher that elderly man's techniques?" Aurora asked with a deep frown, and her expression turned serious. She prided herself on keen observation, yet she struggled to follow Shadowcloak's movements.

"He's too fast, and I couldn't see clearly." Alicia shook her head. Then, she said somberly, "It looks like Brian has met his match today." Even among grandmaster martial artists, there were differences in skill.

Just from Shadowcloak's evasive maneuvers, it was clear he outmatched Brian. Unless Brian had shidden tactics, it would be tough to gain the upper hand.

Suddenly, Grace whispered, "Dustin, did you notice anything strange about that elderly man?" "You mean his technique?" He raised an eyebrow.

"Yes, his techniques are remarkable. But his energy fluctuates unpredictably, sometimes solid as a rock, other times light as a feather. It's contradictory," she said thoughtfully.

Typically, one's appearance might change, but their energy waves were challenging to manipulate. For discerning martial artists, energy waves could swiftly unveil a person's prowess.

However, Shadowcloak was an exception. His energy fluctuated unpredictably, appearing strong one moment and weak the next. This inconsistency made it difficult for others to assess his true strength accurately.

"I've noticed it too." Dustin nodded.

He continued, "Given the circumstances, there are only two potential explanations. Either this man possesses an incomprehensible level of strength, which enables him to manipulate his energy waves at will. Or he's just a master of disguise without real strength." In the martial world, smartial artists spent decades perfecting a single skill. While they might achieve mastery in one aspect, they often struggle in others.

For instance, a martial artist might possess tremendous strength but lack agility, speed, or technique. Great power alone didn't equate to overall prowess. Even with tremendous strength, if they couldn't land a hit, it was useless.

Such specialists have clear strengths but also significant weaknesses. If Shadowcloak were truly a well-rounded expert, that would be noteworthy. However, if he had been just an extrspecialist focused on agility, then the fight could have been interesting.

"Young man, you're quite powerful. But you're still miles behind compared to me," Shadowcloak spoke again. "I appreciate your talent and don't wish to kill you. Step aside now, and I'll spare your life." "Hmph! If you seek a fight, then let's engage in one. Enough with the chatters. Take this." Brian was infuriated by his two failed strikes. So, he swung his halberd again.

Shadowcloak stood calmly with his hands behind his back. As the weapon swung toward him, he lightly tapped his toe and soared into the air.

"Go to hell!" Brian's gaze narrowed as he shifted his attack from a horizontal swing to an upward thrust, which aimed directly at Shadowcloak's groin.

As Shadowcloak hovered mid-air and had no place to dodge, Brian saw his chance for a decisive strike.

Despite acknowledging Shadowcloak's formidable strength, Brian also discerned a flaw in his opponent's arrogance, which ultimately left him vulnerable. It appeared that Shadowcloak had inadvertently set the stage for his own demise.

Just as Brian poised to deliver what seemed to be a fatal blow, Shadowcloak's form abruptly erupted into a swirling cloud of dark mist and dispersed into the air. Brian's blade sliced through empty air again.

"You're moving at a snail's pace. With that kind of sluggishness, do you even think you can land a hit on me?" The voice echoed from above.

All eyes turned upward to see Shadowcloak, who had transformed into dark mist and was now perched atop a tree. He stood there with his hands casually tucked behind his back. His white hair billowed in the breeze, and his form swayed.

His demeanor exuded a sense of detachment and superiority. It was particularly evident in his disdainful gaze, which only served to stoke Brian's fury further.

"Argh!" Brian couldn't contain his anger, and his eyes turned bloodshot. He lunged forward with his halberd aimed at the tree. A tremendous blade aura erupted as it swiftly penetrated the tree and relentlessly slammed into the wall.

A thunderous noise reverberated as the wall, standing several feet high, collapsed. Debris scattered and enveloped everything in swirling clouds of dust. With a sharp crack, the tree, cleaved in half by the blade aura, crashed down.

The crowd scattered in shock.

As for Shadowcloak, perched on the treetop, he had vanished without a trace.

Brian's strike had once again missed its mark.

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