Chapter 1552
Chapter 1552: Section 1553: One Move in Chess Chapter 1552: Section 1553: One Move in Chess “That Book Spirit, it's the one who was begging on the street before, right?” At this moment, Angel heard Sabo's voice.
Angel smiled and nodded.
Originally, Black Classic was playing the saxophone on the street, claiming to be a performer, but it looked more like begging.
According to Black Classic himself, to avoid recognition or rather getting beaten up, he would definitely not use that look in today's competition.
“That's quite interesting.” Sabo paused for a moment and couldn't help but ask curiously: “Is it true as the audience guessed, that he is related to Book Elder?”
Book Elder is one of the three Ancestral Spirits of Barbarian Cave, recognized by almost all wizards as 'the most learned in Southern Domain'.
In a sense, Book Elder is also the most representative person of Barbarian Cave, even more prestigious than Lord Rhein.
Angel pondered for a moment: “I've heard from Serum that he indeed has met Book Elder, but I don't know the nature of their relationship.”
Angel spoke the truth. Serum had indeed met Book Elder. Serum's insistence on becoming a Sage Body was actually because Book Elder told him that only a Sage Body could potentially activate the spirit. However, Angel did not inquire about their exact relationship.
Perhaps Book Elder valued Serum greatly, or maybe Book Elder was just offering guidance to his junior, it's hard to say. After all, Book Elder is elusive, even though it's known he's always in the Cloudtop Library, he's never to be found.
After hearing this, Sabo's eyes flickered: “Now, I am rather looking forward to his performance.”
Sabo did feel expectant, mainly because of Angel's concern and the possible connection between Serum and Book Elder. But as he carefully watched the match, his frown deepened.
The reason for frowning was not other; simply because he couldn't bear to watch any longer.
Serum and Xiliu both seemed to belong to the dark category. For a dispute between the same type, it depended on who was more skilled.
Whether it be combat experience, the diversity of tricks, response speed, or even physical strength… Serum was completely defeated by Xiliu.
Moreover, Black Classic was muttering continuously, endlessly giving Serum tricks and advice on what to do.
Even so, he couldn't withstand Xiliu's onslaught.
In just five minutes, Serum was already swollen with bruises, his body plastered with blood. Xiliu, however, remained unchanged with no visible difference, walking within the dark lines, with an atmosphere of gloom around him, praying and hoping with his mutters.
Meanwhile, in the spectator stands.
Everyone from Fangling Hall had come out for Serum's match. Including the sleeping Xiliu, who Shan had forcibly dragged to the spectator stands to sleep.
Shan, sitting on Ganke's shoulders, covered her eyes with her hands, not daring to watch Serum's condition. Yet out of concern, she kept occasionally asking about the situation.
Thus, around Shan, everyone could hear Ganke's voice, which was always the same: “No good… no good… no good…”
Lyon also looked extremely anxious, very worried as he watched Serum being thoroughly defeated on the field.
Seeing Serum in such a dreadful state, he couldn't help but ask Nausicaa standing beside him: “Can there really be a chance if this continues?”
Nausicaa, holding her pipe horizontally, took a deep breath and then slowly exhaled the swirling smoke.
Within the swirling smoke, Nausicaa shook her head: “I don't know, from my point of view, I can't see the light of victory, but… Serum is not a reckless person, he hasn't chosen to give up, and Black Classic hasn't persuaded him to concede either, maybe there's still hope?”
Right after Nausicaa finished speaking, after being blown away again, Serum shakily stood up.
At the same time, a Dark Mist slowly began to form on his body.
“Dark Incarnation,” Nausicaa whispered softly: “This is Serum's strongest measure at the moment, transforming into darkness, trapping the opponent forever in it.”
Hearing this was Serum's strongest measure, Lyon's eyes brightened: “Can it defeat the light ghost?”
Nausicaa pondered for a moment: “It's difficult.”
Dark Incarnation indeed is a very powerful tactic, but for Xiliu, who is also of the dark type, can it really be as invincible as before? Nausicaa was doubtful.
When the Dark Mist began spreading around, Serum's figure started gradually fading away, as if he had hidden in the darkness, or as if being swallowed by it.
This is the Dark Incarnation; when in the darkness, Serum's form can almost be said to be illusory, hardly susceptible to physical damage.
The audience also expressed their expectations for Serum's Dark Incarnation, after all, Serum was really in a dire situation now; if there was a chance for a turnaround, they were pleased to see it.
However, Serum's Dark Incarnation had not fully formed yet. His opponent, Xiliu, muttering “hope,” suddenly exploded.
But there was no splattering of flesh and blood, at the moment Xiliu's body exploded, it turned into an endless dark aura.
This dark aura was filled with corrosion, hallucination, gloom, and utter silence.
Seeing this scene, Nausicaa's face turned pale: “This is also a Dark Incarnation, and…”
And Xiliu's Dark Incarnation was instantaneous, suggesting that Xiliu might have placed the Dark Incarnation in the Witchcraft Slot. Moreover, the properties contained in Xiliu's Dark Incarnation even included a corrosive effect, more than what Serum had.
Using Dark Incarnation against Xiliu, Serum was sure to lose!
Nausicaa's worries soon came true, Xiliu's Dark Incarnation completely overshadowed Serum's, turning into a larger mist and enveloping the arena.
Now, the center of the arena was shrouded in a massive black fog, and the audience could only see the swirling dark air and the occasional piercing screams from within.
After a long while, a figure walked out from the midst of the black fog.
It was a person radiating a halo, fluttering the pure white wings at his back, slowly stepping out of the dark fog.
Undoubtedly, this person was Black Classic.
In Black Classic's arms, he held a bloodied body.
From the almost torn clothes, it was clear that the bloodied person was Serum.
He was completely corroded by the darkness, not a single spot of his skin was intact, oozing a murky yellow fluid, looking extremely miserable.
At this moment, the Dark Mist behind them slowly dissipated, finally transforming into a somber woman, Serene Glow.
Serene Glow was unscathed, looking completely unharmed. She quietly watched Serum, who was almost completely corroded in Black Classic's hands, and said slowly, “You should know that I can kill him. Allowing you to take him away is already my limit.”
Serene Glow did not make a move, her gaze fixed on Black Classic. The radiant light on Black Classic, akin to a sanctuary, made Serene Glow vaguely see “hope,” and therefore, at that moment, she ceased her actions, allowing Black Classic to take Serum away from the Mist.
Her goal was clear: to make Serum willingly concede.
Black Classic looked at Serum in his arms and sighed softly, “You need to make a choice now.”
To everyone, Black Classic's words seemed like he was persuading Serum to give up the match. But in fact, that was not the case.
Sabo shook his head in the judge's seat, sighing, “Why persist? You should have listened to the Book Spirit's advice and conceded earlier, there was no need for it to end so tragically.”
After speaking, Sabo looked towards Angel, “You and Serum are close, what do you think?”
Angel: “Actually, you're mistaken.”
I'm wrong? Sabo looked at Angel, puzzled.
“Before the match, it was Serum who advocated for conceding. It was the Book Spirit who persuaded him not to,” Angel slowly explained. Therefore, what Sabo mentioned about listening to the Book Spirit was inherently incorrect.
In fact, after watching the match between Serene Glow and Si Man yesterday, Serum wanted to fight earnestly, and Black Classic suggested he concede.
But then, the situation suddenly reversed; Black Classic suggested Serum fight earnestly, while Serum wanted to concede.
The reason lies in the strategy suggested by Angel and Black Classic after consultation, “Black Classic balances the scales, laws replayed.”
This phrase actually refers to a powerful skill, it can also be seen as a strategic move.
This move itself poses no harm to Serum but is closely related to Black Classic's future.
It is a risky move that might plunge Black Classic into an endless abyss, but it could also be a move brimming with infinite possibilities.
The move has been presented before Serum since Black Classic's advent, but he always wanted to maintain balance, never touching it.
Maintaining balance only wastes time without progress.
Black Classic actually wanted to break the balance because only then could the deadlock be broken, allowing for variances. Even if the outcome was not ideal, Black Classic was willing to take the risk.
However, Serum, the one who makes the moves, wouldn't touch it.
Do not be misled by the frequent bickering between Serum and Black Classic; what Serum least wants to lose is Black Classic.
Serum is harsh on himself, willing to risk the slim chance to fuse with the Azure Bloodline, but he cannot bear to risk Black Classic.
This bond caused Serum to be stuck. Black Classic had no choice but to cooperate with Serum, not bringing it up anymore.
Yesterday, due to Angel's presence, Black Classic mentioned this possibility, hoping Serum would consider Angel's advice.
Black Classic didn't know what choice Serum would make, but if Serum directly admitted defeat, then there would be no choices left. Thus, before the match, it was actually Black Classic who didn't want Serum to concede.
And at this moment, Black Classic said to Serum, “You need to make a decision now.”
He was not responding to Serene Glow but telling Serum whether he wanted to make this move or not.
Serum's face was covered with the murky yellow fluid and blood, making it almost impossible to distinguish his features, even his eyes appeared dim.
As Black Classic asked him to make a choice.
Serum's mouth opened, instinctively wanting to refuse.
But Black Classic's eyes were bright, filled with hope, desire, and a subtle, barely detectable plea.
Black Classic, who usually liked to contradict and verbally spar with Serum, probably showed this expression for the first time.
Suddenly, Serum felt somewhat suffocated.
At that moment, all the noisy sounds from the audience disappeared, the severe pain on his body seemed to vanish too, and his eyes only saw Black Classic's eyes in front of him.
The eyes of longing, the eyes of pleading… and also, if he refused, the possible eyes of anger and disappointment from Black Classic.
Serum struggled with his emotions, his thoughts tangled like numerous threads.
He wanted to refuse, but he didn't want to witness Black Classic's disillusioned look, which felt like a silent accusation, making him feel cruel for depriving Black Classic of his future.
In a trance, his thoughts were fluctuating.
“Have you made your decision? Are you choosing to concede, or continue seeking death?” At this moment, Serene Glow's cold voice entered Serum's ears, jolting him sharply back to reality.
Serum knew, it was time to make a choice.
“I…” Perhaps it was the dark corrosion, damaging his throat; Serum's voice was somewhat hoarse, and he couldn't complete his sentence.
But Black Classic knew Serum too well, and as he started to speak, Black Classic knew, Serum was likely to concede.
His eyes filled with disappointment, Black Classic murmured softly, “Actually, whether taking a step forward or a step back, both require a trial to know the outcome. Why don't you trust me?”
Looking at Black Classic's downcast appearance, Serum clenched his fists, ready to concede, but suddenly changed course halfway.
“I… will not concede.”