Translator: SumTLMan
The commotion outside didn’t disrupt the competition; the battle inside the dome continued unabated.
Trom’s energy was steadily being depleted, yet Onassis remained calm and unfazed. Trom sensed that something was wrong. If he kept attacking, he might very well drain himself first. After some contemplation, Trom launched a comparatively weaker attack. Instead of dodging the backlash, he went with the force of the golden reflection, performing a backflip and landing gracefully on the original reef he had started on.
Trom observed Onassis with a solemn expression.
It seemed as though there was an impenetrable light shield around Onassis. Without finding a way to breach it, Trom could hardly envision a path to victory.
What should he do?
As Trom’s thoughts raced, he failed to notice the increasing humidity in the surrounding air.
On the other hand, Onassis looked around, perplexed. He pondered to himself, “The atmosphere grows more oppressive. I feel a growing unease… Perhaps it’s time to conclude this?”
“What method should I employ to end this?” Philosophical texts flashed through Onassis’s mind.
However, just as Onassis was deep in contemplation, the lighting dimmed suddenly, as if transitioning from daylight to night.
As his vision underwent a momentary shift, a resounding “boom” echoed in his ears.
Simultaneously, a bolt of lightning streaked across the darkened vista, flooding the ocean with blinding white light. The previously stifling atmosphere felt like it was ignited in an instant.
Already on high alert, the sudden roar of thunder startled Trom, causing a subtle change in his complexion. He quickly raised his head, his eyes gleaming with suspicion, as he observed the low clouds drifting ceaselessly across the sky.
On the other side, a change occurred in Onassis’s expression. It wasn’t that he was frightened, but there was a twitch between his brows, as if some great terror was drawing near.
At that instant, neither of the two contestants looked at each other. Instead, they were on guard against the sea, which now seemed to be teeming with hidden undercurrents.
“Boom——” The sound of thunder echoed once again, accompanied by a lightning strike.
The lightning struck just behind Onassis. The flash of white light enabled Trom to clearly see the blue electric glow over the distant sea. However, more than the buzzing electricity over the sea, what Trom was more concerned about was something else——a massive wave!
Out of nowhere, a wave over ten meters high surged up right behind Onassis.
But the most terrifying part was not the wave. It was the vague, horrifying silhouette visible within the wave…
Due to the deafening thunder and lightning, Onassis initially didn’t notice the commotion behind him. It was only when he saw Trom staring intently at something behind him, with wide, round eyes and pupils narrowed to slits, that Onassis had a sudden realization.
Turning his head, he found the monstrous wave right before his eyes.
Along with the wave came a roar that resonated through the heavens!
In Trom’s view, Onassis was swallowed by the towering wave in an instant. However, Onassis must have done something because his figure suddenly became ethereal, as if he had transformed into an illusory being, his physical form no longer present in reality.
The monstrous wave, carrying with it a terrifying water energy, had no effect on Onassis whatsoever.
But this wasn’t the end. The wave was merely an appetizer; the dreadful figure within the wave was the main course!
Because the surroundings were too chaotic, Trom could no longer discern specific sounds. All he felt was a bout of ringing in his ears, then the nearly twenty-meter-tall wave suddenly burst open.
The colossal wave’s explosive burst not only sent water droplets scattering in every direction but also hurled Onassis into the air with great force.
Trom could clearly see that as Onassis was thrown, for the first time, he bore visible injuries. Fresh blood oozed from the corner of his mouth, and his face turned a frightful shade of white.
Onassis, like a cannonball, plummeted into the vast expanse of the ocean.
As the mist from the wave enveloped the surroundings and Onassis began to sink, Trom finally caught sight of a figure that had been hidden behind the massive wave until that moment.
It was a gigantic humanoid creature, of which only its upper half was visible above the waterline!
From its waist to the top of its head alone, it stood at a staggering ten meters tall! One could only speculate that, with the portion submerged underwater included, this terrifying being would measure at least twenty meters in height!
Its skin had a bluish tint, covered in grayish-black round scales. Although its facial features resembled that of a human, they were grotesquely enlarged and distorted, giving it a hideous and ferocious appearance. Atop its head, it bore two devil-like horns, symbolizing its identity——
A Sea Troll!
Those without horns are considered humans, while those with are deemed demonic. This is the distinct differentiation between trolls and giants!
In the grasp of this Sea Troll was a weapon resembling a mace, and a noticeable dent was evident on it. It was clear that this weapon was responsible for smashing the giant wave and sending Onassis flying.
Trom swallowed hard, a lump forming in his throat. This Sea Troll was a sight of sheer terror. Even though he was aware that its strength was equivalent to a third level apprentice, the overwhelming might and the daunting aura it exuded far surpassed any apprentice Trom had ever encountered before!
After the Sea Troll sent Onassis flying, its gaze turned to Trom, who stood atop a reef. With a roaring bellow, it swam towards Trom.
Seeing this, Trom quickly retreated, planning to put some distance between them while pondering his next move.
However, as Trom looked over his shoulder, he noticed that behind him, seemingly out of nowhere, a small island had appeared. Atop this island stood two symmetrically placed rock formations.
Trom paused in surprise. Observing the two rocks, he had a sudden realization. His initial retreat halted, and he dashed in a different direction.
Simultaneously, the island began to rise slowly.
By the time it fully emerged, it became evident that this was no ordinary island; it was an immense skull. And those so-called ‘rocks’ on the ‘island’ were actually its pointed horns!
It was yet another Sea Troll!
Both Sea Trolls now swam in Trom’s direction!
Though the Sea Trolls appeared massive and clumsy, one must remember they are creatures of the sea. In their aquatic domain, they move with a grace and speed that’s astonishing. They closed in on Trom rapidly.
Especially the troll that had appeared behind Trom earlier; it surfaced just a short distance from him in a mere blink of an eye.
Trom, gazing at the vast, boundless sea ahead, realized there was nowhere left to run.
He came to a halt, turning to face the Sea Trolls.
At this juncture, he had only two choices: either quickly end the competition or defeat the Sea Trolls.
The prerequisite for ending the competition is for Onassis to concede or, to put it bluntly… to kill him. This is indeed challenging, let alone whether Trom can defeat Onassis. Just the mere act of battling Onassis under the pressure of two Sea Trolls, Trom doubts his ability to accomplish that.
Apart from this, the only alternative is to defeat the Sea Trolls.
Facing one troll might still be manageable, but two Sea Trolls… Trom feels it’s a daunting task.
As Trom wavered, a sudden explosion sounded from a distance. With a puzzled look, Trom gazed in that direction, only to notice that at some point, Onassis had emerged from the sea and was now confronting another Sea Troll.
Trom paused in bewilderment. Both Sea Trolls had originally targeted him, and if Onassis took this moment to strike at him as well, Trom figured he’d have no choice but to surrender. Yet, Onassis didn’t take this course of action, much to Trom’s surprise.
Trom wondered whether Onassis was playing the fool or genuinely seeking a fair duel. But at the very least, Trom didn’t have to face both Sea Trolls now, which brought a small sigh of relief.
Due to the distant sounds of the battle between Onassis and the Sea Troll, the troll chasing Trom couldn’t help but glance back in curiosity. Seeing this, Trom thought inwardly: “This is my chance.”
Taking a deep breath, visible changes began to manifest on Trom’s body.
Bloodline Unleashed!
In an instant, Trom’s limbs transformed into a more beastly state, muscles bulging, and his feet hardened into moose hooves.
A white mist slowly emanated from Trom’s limbs. However, instead of dissipating, it swirled around him, giving him an ethereal, otherworldly appearance, as if he was amidst the clouds.
The mist that blanketed the scene emanated an intense chill. One could infer the freezing power of this mist from the icy formation that spread beneath Trom’s feet.
Once Trom’s limbs transformed, he instantly sprang into motion.
He moved like a genuine moose, all four limbs touching the ground, dashing at an astonishing speed across the ocean’s surface.
Every time his hooves touched the water, the chilling mist turned it into a solid, frosty platform, ensuring Trom never risked plunging into the depths below.
Trom was already swift, but upon taking the form of a moose and running on all fours, his speed increased even further.
On the undulating ocean, diverse ice platforms trailed behind him, extending all the way to the front of the Sea Troll.
The Sea Troll, initially engrossed in battle with Onassis, only turned its massive head when it felt a bone-chilling cold in front of it.
The first sight it beheld upon turning was a seemingly ‘joyful’ moose charging straight at its face.
In the spectators’ eyes, Trom made a swift leap. The enveloping frosty mist surrounding him suddenly transformed into ice spikes. With a move filled with terrifying force, they pierced directly into the left eye of the Sea Troll.
Even though the Sea Troll quickly shut its eye, its reaction was still a bit too slow.
With a booming sound, the troll’s eyeball burst open. A gruesome mix of red and white viscera smeared Trom’s face.
Yet, Trom didn’t halt his assault. Using the giant’s nostril as a leverage point, he darted towards its right eye.
This time, the Sea Troll was prepared and closed its eye in advance. Though Trom failed to cause its right eye to burst, he left a trail of chilling mist around it.
After completing these actions, Trom skillfully evaded the water energy emanating from the Sea Troll, initiating a close-quarters combat with the creature.
In such proximity, Trom truly comprehended the terrifying nature of the Sea Troll.
The Sea Troll’s physical body was incredibly menacing, and it wasn’t dim-witted either. Whenever Trom positioned himself at a critical spot on the troll’s body, the creature wouldn’t foolishly slap itself. Instead, it would unleash powerful surges of its water power, compelling Trom to constantly shift positions. During this dance of combat, the Sea Troll began mounting aggressive attacks on Trom.
No matter how agile Trom might be, he couldn’t outmaneuver the broad, sweeping attacks of the Sea Troll. He suffered several direct hits. Thankfully, Trom was currently in his half-beast state, ensuring that the injuries he sustained were not severe.
However, continuing in this manner of combat would certainly be detrimental to Trom.
From the spectator stands, concern flashed in the eyes of Trom’s admirers. Those who had placed bets on Trom’s victory also displayed visible unease, furrowing their brows.