Chapter 24

The grand final of the Battle of Generation started with booming roars and excitement that reached every corner of the tribehold. Ulfar and his friends expanded as their Ancient Power triggered. A cacophony of cracking bones echoed, followed by the sight of massively bulging muscles.

Then came their presence. Ulfar’s presence engulfed the entire stage and pressed down on everyone, allies included.

The Giant Blood warriors grunted and stepped to the side until their presence blocked Ulfar’s. Hakon couldn’t sense the Giant Blood warriors’ presence as easily as Ulfar’s, but by using [Inspection] and [Sensory Expansion], he discerned ripples of energy. ‘Lifeblood’ erupted from within and clashed with one another.

He topped up on his discovery with [Flow Observation] and [Weakness Detection], which also triggered [Split Focus]. His mana reserves trickled down quickly, but the things Hakon learned were worth it.

Ulfar stirred first. He leaped into action the moment the Shaman started the battle. The stone stage cracked underfoot as Ulfar charged ahead. Eyes narrowed, Hakon studied his rival, Crusher hefted, not an ounce of worry emitting from his body.

Björn barreled past him and Astrid, his axes clutched with iron-tight grips.

Hair grew from Björn’s massive body at a visible pace, and it did not take long before a wild, seemingly uncontrollable presence shrouded him as well.

A Skill that uses his Blessing, Hakon recognized, all while maintaining his Skills for a few more seconds. Barely long enough to witness Ulfar and Björn’s first clash.

Ulfar punched out in a casual manner. The air around his fist rippled and seemed to distort as it burst out. Björn didn’t slow down. He executed a quick cross-slash aimed at Ulfar’s fist. That turned out to do a lot less damage than Björn expected.

The Blessed Barbarian’s brows furrowed when Ulfar’s fist did not turn into a mass of blood and bones. The only damage his axes inflicted was a pair of scratches that barely seemed to bleed. Even the bleeding stopped after a droplet of blood trickled onto the stage.

Instead, Björn’s axes suffered greatly. One of them chipped the moment it collided with Ulfar’s fist. While not rendered useless, one more punch aimed at the right spot would certainly destroy the axe. Björn’s tactic changed immediately. He shifted to a more defensive stance the moment he realized just how tough Ulfar was.

Tougher than he is strong, stronger than he is fast. Hakon repeated in his head as a familiar sense of wrongness embedded itself into his mind.

[Proficiency gained. [Flow Observation Lv.2] improved to [Flow Observation Lv.3]]

He discarded the notification and deactivated most Skills a moment later. He only maintained [Weakness Detection] and [Split Focus] as his attention shifted away from Björn.

Hakon trusted that Björn the Bear would stall Ulfar no matter what. Even if it meant that he would lose, Björn would fight Ulfar and his legendary Ancient Power with all he had. And he would add it to his wall of achievements. That much was as clear as day.

Astrid was already amidst the Giant Blood warriors as well. She engaged with two simultaneously, twisting and turning her body in angles Hakon didn’t think were possible for a Barbarian. Astrid evaded most lethal attacks but allowed the Giant Blood warriors to cut into her. But whenever they did, the attacks would never cause more than light to mild injuries.

Astrid was in full control of her fight. She sustained wounds, but her counterattacks inflicted far more pain and suffering. And for every drop of blood she or her enemies spilled, Astrid grew faster. A crimson hue oozed from her, and it only grew denser as her fight with the two Giant Blood warriors intensified.

[Split Focus] helped him keep tabs on the third and last Giant Blood warrior. [Inspection] had determined him to be the strongest of all warriors earlier. Except for Astrid and Ulfar, of course. Björn had received the same danger rating as the third Giant Blood warrior, which was good enough for Hakon.

He watched the warrior’s body expand and caught him glancing at Astrid in a way he did not like at all. The warrior readied his broadsword and charged at Astrid, ready to break her rhythm.

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“No, you won’t,” Hakon growled, triggering [Circulation] and [Dash] at once.

He burst into action, his movements smooth and his mana flowing without restraint, and crossed the distance to his opponent in a moment.

[Combat Awareness] flared up as the Giant Blood warrior changed his target to Hakon. His sword swung down, and Hakon had to use [Evasion] to leap to the side. Rolling over the ground, he nearly lost his grasp on the Maulaxe Crusher. Instead, he leaped to his feet and swung Crusher upward, the weapon thrumming with mana.

[Weapon Mastery] and [Mana Infusion] triggered seamlessly as he struck upward, and the flat maul-side of Crusher impacted a moment later. The sound of cracking bones echoed as Crusher crushed the warrior’s hand. The Giant Blood warrior roared in pain and anger and instinctively closed the distance, blocking Hakon’s use of Crusher, and his own weapon.

The broadsword clattered to the ground, but Hakon did not follow. He didn’t release Crusher. He found something curious with [Weakness Detection], shifted Crusher to face the opponent with the bladed side, and released one hand from the handle to hold the flat back. Adjusting his stance and grip only took a moment, but that was all he needed to ram Crusher’s mana-infused blade into the approaching Giant Blood warrior.