Chapter 160: Collateral Damage
After their initial exchange, the battle seemed evenly matched on the surface. However, that first test of strength was far from enough to determine the true gap between them.
Neptune decided to stop holding back. The golden glow on his Sea God's Trident didn't fade after his last attack on the contrary, it grew even more intense as he continued pouring in divine power. Golden patterns rippled across the trident's surface, and its massive blades became as translucent as golden crystal.
With a mighty swing of his weapon, water from all directions gathered, condensing in an instant into a colossal creature
A gigantic whale made entirely of water!
"WUUUUUUUU !"
A deep, resonant cry echoed through the mountains.
The very ground trembled under the sheer force of the whale's roar, sending powerful sound waves rippling through the air. Countless soul masters felt blood trickle from their noses, ears, and mouths. Some of the weaker ones coughed up blood on the spot, collapsing from the impact. Only those at the Soul Douluo or Titled Douluo level could barely resist the effect.
Even those who weren't immediately harmed still felt their blood roiling inside their bodies. They had to circulate their soul power to suppress the internal damage.
But what frustrated them the most was that this wasn't even an attack!
They could only watch, dumbfounded, as the enormous whale hundreds of meters long leaped into the air, riding the storm with its massive tail. Despite being composed entirely of water, the sheer weight and density of its form made it an utterly terrifying sight.
And, of course, if Neptune had shaped this massive water construct into the form of a whale, it was clear that it wasn't just for show. Otherwise, he could have just thrown an enormous ball of water at his opponent why go through the trouble of creating such a massive form?
Everyone understood this simple truth, but none of them could do anything to stop it. They could only watch helplessly as the gigantic water whale reached its peak in the sky, then began to descend its massive head crashing downward with the force of a raging tsunami.
Leaf City, facing the beast from below, watched as the creation he had technically made himself now turned against him. He couldn't help but marvel at the spectacle.
Unfortunately, it was little more than an impressive display.
Such an attack might be useful for sweeping away Titled Douluo level opponents, but against a true powerhouse, it was far too slow and cumbersome.
The simplest solution was to simply move out of the way.
Leaf City vanished from his original spot in a flash, effortlessly evading the monstrous attack.
But the mountain peak where he had just been standing wasn't so lucky.
"BOOOOM!!!"
The impact shattered the entire mountain peak, splitting it apart as though it had been struck by a divine hammer. The ground quaked violently, and massive cracks spread through the surrounding mountains.
When the whale finally crashed into the earth, its watery form instantly dispersed, transforming into a surging flood that swept across the landscape, carving deeper fissures into the terrain.
And then, the spectators suffered the consequences.
Many soul masters were caught in the sudden flood, swept away before they could react. If they hadn't been soul masters, countless lives would have already been lost to drowning.
Leaf City reappeared on another mountaintop, gazing at Neptune from afar. In a calm voice, he said, "Brother Ni, while your water control techniques are indeed impressive, they hold little significance in a battle between people like us. Worse, they easily affect bystanders. Perhaps it's time to switch tactics."
Hearing his words, Neptune glanced at the struggling soul masters caught in the flood. He nodded slightly, a trace of guilt appearing in his expression. "I forgot that this isn't the ocean. Sea soul masters like us aren't affected by water, but… I was careless."
Hearing this, the watching soul masters finally breathed a sigh of relief. They had caught the underlying meaning in both fighters' words there wouldn't be any more large scale environmental destruction.
Many among them couldn't help but feel a newfound sense of respect for the two. True power wasn't just about overwhelming strength it was also about knowing when to control it.
In this world, most soul master battles showed little regard for collateral damage. When fights broke out, rarely did anyone care about the innocent lives caught in the crossfire.
The soul masters struggling in the flood had once thought the same way. It wasn't until they became the victims themselves that they truly understood how those affected by their past battles must have felt.
"If I can't use water control, then I'll fight you with a technique personally inherited from the Sea God!"
As Neptune spoke, a golden glow flared around him, rising like divine flames. Behind him, a massive golden silhouette slowly emerged. The figure was three times his height, its form hazy yet imposing. It appeared to be a human clad in golden armor.
As the image grew clearer, its radiant golden aura exuded a sense of divine majesty. The entire body was covered in golden armor, except for the face which, unmistakably, was Neptune's own.
"Oh? A technique personally passed down by the Sea God?"
Leaf City's eyes flickered with interest. It was evident that he was eager to see what his opponent's divine technique could do.
The spectators, too, were captivated. Forgetting their own disheveled states, they stared in anticipation, eager to witness a technique that belonged to a god.
Neptune's expression turned solemn. Behind him, the golden figure shrank, merging into his body. At the same time, his Sea God's Trident erupted with dazzling golden light.
Finally, he took a single step forward.
With that step, the surroundings instantly turned gold. The mountains, trees, and grass all took on the appearance of shimmering gold, as if the entire world had been gilded. The visual spectacle was breathtaking.
Neptune raised his trident and swung it lightly. From the motion, a series of golden rings rippled outward. They seemed chaotic at first, but upon closer inspection, they moved with eerie precision each one aiming directly for Leaf City.
As the golden rings closed in, Leaf City remained still. His soul rings lit up in sequence from first to sixth, and his Flying Rainbow Sword shone with brilliance.
A sharp gleam flashed through his eyes, and with a single horizontal slash
A crescent shaped sword light shot forward, colliding directly with the golden rings.
Upon contact, the rings shimmered with a thin golden barrier. The moment Leaf City's sword energy touched them, it was instantly erased, as if washed away by an invisible tide.
Leaf City's face showed a flicker of surprise perfectly played for effect.
But in truth, he was well aware of the technique.
After all, the Golden Thirteen Halberds was a skill he himself had mastered. If he used it now, it would expose the truth, so he had to act as if he was encountering it for the first time.
This golden ring attack was the first move of the Golden Thirteen Halberds Unstable Ripples.
It was a unique technique that functioned both offensively and defensively. Among all the skills in the Golden Thirteen Halberds, this was the only one designed for restraint and the strongest at that. If it landed on an opponent, no matter how powerful they were, they would be unable to move for eight seconds.
Of course, that was an exaggerated claim. In reality, if the target was strong enough, it wouldn't be nearly as effective. If it truly worked on anyone regardless of strength, the Sea God would be far beyond the rank of a mere First Class God.
(End of Chapter)
Thank you for the support, friends. If you want to read more chapters in advance, go to my Patreon.
Read 20 Chapters In Advance: patreon.com/cortez10