"Damn it! Lucian's already over ten meters ahead of me now. Catching up won't be easy!" Kael's brows furrowed deeply. Lucian had seized the opportunity perfectly, overtaking Kael by more than ten meters and reaching the latter half of the Chrono-Light Array. He was now just a few dozen meters away from the Water Dragon.
At this rate, it seemed likely that Lucian would be the one to inherit the Water Dragon's legacy!
Though No. 3 of the Black Armors had been punished by the Water Dragon, a sinister on his lips. His goal had been achieved—he refused to believe Kael could close such a gap now.
"These Black Armor warriors are cunning, but they're in for a disappointment. I'm not so easily defeated!" Kael's frown deepened, yet his resolve only grew firmer.
His heart was as unshakable as stone.
Settling scores with the Black Armors could wait. Right now, the most urgent task was securing the Water Dragon's inheritance!
"Idris,t let my scroll go to waste, you hear me…?" Arjun, having nearly reached his limit, could barely move forward anymore. But since Kael still had a chance, he offered words of encouragement.
Kael nodded silently and pushed onward!
"I refuse to believe I can't catch up to Lucian!" Kael steeled himself. In truth, most participants had already struggled to advance past the halfway point of the Chrono-Light Array. Those who persisted now relied solely on sheer willpower.
The pressure on Kael intensified, yet he had no intention of giving up. Even with Lucian leading by over ten meters, surrender was not an option!
Step by grueling step, Kael began his pursuit. But this time, progress was far more arduous than before. The closer one got to the Water Dragon, the stronger the array's suppression became—every movement turned into a battle.
Yet despite everything, the distance between Kael and Lucian was gradually shrinking. The gap closed slowly, almost imperceptibly—but it was undeniably happening.
"That kid's a real monster. Doesn't he feel any pain? Just a few steps in, and my skin feels like it's being pricked by needles—unbearable! Yet he acts like it's nothing!"someone exclaimed in disbelief.
"Not just him—Lucian's the same. Both of them are freaks of nature…"
"Compared to Lucian, that kid's even more insane. He started later but overtook Lucian. If not for that black-armored bastard's interference, he'd still be way ahead…"
Amidst the murmurs, there was a tinge of regret. Though everyone marveled at Kael's tenacity, few truly believed he could prevail.
Because the gap between Lucian and Kael had widened! The agony of moving through the Chrono-Light Array was something they all understood intimately. Closing that distance seemed nearly impossible!
"Kid, no matter who you are—you can't win against me." Lucian glanced back, his voice dripping with cold certainty as he delivered his verdict.
You can't win against me! His words carried the weight of an unshakable decree.
"Save your gloating for after you've claimed the Water Dragon's legacy." Kael remained unmoved. He recognized Lucian's psychological warfare but refused to let it rattle him, responding with icy calm.
Lucian snorted and pushed forward, though even he struggled against the mounting resistance. Despite his full effort, his strides were reduced to a painstaking crawl.
Kael summoned every ounce of his strength to match the pace, his eyes blazing with determination.
Lucian said he couldn't win? Then he'd prove him wrong.
That singular thought consumed Kael as he advanced. He no longer had the luxury of fixating on Lucian—every shred of his focus and energy was poured into his next step, into the path ahead!
The oppressive force resisted him at every turn. Though Kael accelerated, the backlash was brutal. The array's pressure seemed to converge on him alone, multiplying severalfold compared to before. His entire body burned as if pierced by countless needles—
Tiny beads of blood began seeping from his pores, staining his skin…
"As long as I can obtain the Water Dragon's legacy—as long as I can surpass Lucian—what do these minor wounds matter?!" Kael remained utterly focused, not even sparing a glance at the injuries marring his body.
"That guy's going all out!"
"Damn, this is insane—he's speeding up again!"
Many cultivators had already given up on competing for the inheritance, standing idle as they murmured in awe. To most, the Water Dragon's legacy, though priceless, was an unreachable dream. Surrendering was only natural.
But Kael's actions baffled them. Despite the glaring disadvantage and slim odds, he fought relentlessly to close the gap!
"Good. Very good."
The Water Dragon observed everything, nodding inwardly. Lucian's talent and potential were exceptional—worthy of becoming its heir. But that other young man… his gifts were peerless. Across the three continents, none could rival his innate prowess.
Yet talent alone meant little. In its youth, the Water Dragon had been but an average magic apprentice, yet it still rose to dominate the continent. What truly impressed it about Kael was his tenacity and unyielding will.
Now, both Kael and Lucian had entered the final stretch!
The Water Dragon's position lay less than twenty meters ahead!
And thanks to Kael's relentless pursuit, the distance between him and Lucian had shrunk to under five meters!
Closer… ever closer…
Lucian, sensing the threat, strained to quicken his pace. But Kael moved faster still, inching forward step by grueling step!
"He's almost there!"
"Just a little more! Go, Brother Idris!" Arjun muttered under his breath, fists clenched in solidarity.
The gap between Kael and Lucian—now less than four meters!
The gap continued to narrow.
Less than three meters! Two meters! One meter!
The distance between them shrank with each step, and as they drew closer to the Water Dragon, their fierce rivalry became no less intense than a life-or-death battle.
Every spectator watched with bated breath, some even holding theirs as if they themselves were the ones competing.
Kael and Lucian were nearly side by side! Their bodies almost parallel!
Lucian's face paled as he gritted his teeth and lunged forward with everything he had.
Kael, however, had long entered a state of absolute focus—his mind singularly fixed on one thought: He had to win. The Water Dragon's legacy would be his, and his alone!
Then, in an explosive final effort, Kael pushed just a fraction harder than Lucian—surpassing him at last!
Kael's body fully overtook Lucian's, seizing the lead!
"Idris won…" Arjun exhaled in relief. His efforts hadn't been in vain—that eighth-rank defensive scroll had served its purpose.
Now, Kael stood with his brows tightly knit, his entire body drenched in blood from the Chrono-Light Array's crushing pressure. Though the injuries weren't life-threatening, the sight was gruesome.
He was the first to arrive, his hand reaching out to touch the Water Dragon's coffin.
"Damn it! That brat actually took first place and claimed the legacy!" Black Armor No. 1's face twisted in fury. Despite all their scheming, Kael had still triumphed!
The other Black Armors exchanged uneasy glances, their expressions dark.
"Hell, this is just hell!" Others muttered in disappointment, though none matched the Black Armors' bitterness.
Lucian, standing just a meter behind Kael, had been so close to touching the coffin himself. His face was stormy with disbelief. He had always believed his talent and potential were peerless—ranked among the continent's elite, hailed as his clan's greatest hope. Yet here, he had lost.
Lost so completely. So decisively.
How could he not be enraged?
Kael let out a long, slow breath, the suffocating tension in his chest finally dissipating. His gaze locked onto Lucian as he uttered five simple, devastating words:
"You can't win against me."
The same phrase Lucian had thrown at him earlier—now thrown back, word for word, with absolute conviction. Each syllable landed like a mountain, crushing Lucian under their weight.
Yes, Kael had won.
At this moment, Lucian was no match for him at all.