The battle in the arena had entered a white-hot stage.
Facing Gatling's airtight offensive, Mumen Rider did not meet it head-on.
His footwork began to move with a peculiar rhythm, always managing to avoid fatal attacks at extreme angles with minimal movement.
This was precisely the footwork from KING Style Mysteries · Martial Arts—"Drifting with the Current."
"He dodged it!"
"What incredible footwork! Gatling's fists can't touch him at all!"
The tide in the audience had completely turned; ridicule transformed into awe, and everyone was captivated by his exquisite evasion skills.
"It's that footwork... It must be!"
In the contestant area, Suiryu's gaze completely changed; he suddenly stood up straight, his usual flippancy and laziness vanishing without a trace, replaced by unprecedented solemnity and excitement.
This footwork was almost identical to that senior's in his memory!
Was it the senior himself? Had he come to participate in the competition under an assumed name?
No, that's not right... It shouldn't be possible.
Given that senior's level, this kind of childish tournament probably held no meaning for him.
Then, that means... Is he the senior's disciple? He actually took on a disciple?!
In stark contrast to Suiryu's excitement was Bakuzan's fury.
"Useless! Coward!"
Bakuzan's face grew increasingly grim, and his clenched fists made a "crunching" sound.
"All he does is scurry around like a rat! If you have guts, fight head-on! This kind of match is an insult to the words 'Martial Arts'!"
In his view, Martial Arts should be a head-on confrontation, a clash of strength against strength, a battle of will against will.
And Ghost Dragon's actions in the arena were nothing more than a coward's evasion, a betrayal of the spirit of Martial Arts!
Unlike Suiryu and Bakuzan, Lin Mo's smile deepened.
There wasn't a trace of tension in his heart.
Because he knew better than anyone that Mumen Rider was currently walking a path he had personally laid out for him, a path of Martial Arts perfectly suited to him.
He knew that with Mumen Rider's current physique, his strength and stamina were still shortcomings.
Therefore, the initial content of that manuscript didn't teach him how to attack, but how to maximize the limited stamina and strength he possessed.
Of course, once his physique caught up, the latter half of the manuscript contained even more fierce and overbearing offensive techniques.
In the arena, Gatling, unable to land a hit for a long time, began to breathe heavily.
His stamina was being heavily depleted by his frantic attacks, while his opponent, though also sweating on his forehead, maintained a steady breathing.
"Damn it... Damn slippery eel!" Gatling's eyes were bloodshot; he knew he couldn't keep this up.
He suddenly took a step back, his arm muscles bulging exaggeratedly, and adopted an all-or-nothing stance.
"Take this! Mystery · Runaway Locomotive!"
He gathered all the strength in his body into this single charge, and he lunged straight at Mumen Rider like a charging rhino!
Facing his opponent's full-power strike, Mumen Rider no longer dodged.
He took a deep breath, and the calmness in his eyes turned into determination.
He saw through his opponent's intention and also saw the flaw.
The moment Gatling was about to collide with him, Mumen Rider's body suddenly sank, he took a step forward, and, facing that violent impact force, he moved into his opponent's embrace!
His hands precisely pressed against Gatling's waist, and force erupted from his palms!
KING Style Mysteries · Martial Arts—"Star Shift"!
Gatling only felt an irresistible guiding force, and his headlong charge was forcibly diverted.
His massive body lost control due to inertia, brushing past Mumen Rider, and a huge opening was completely exposed.
Now!
Mumen Rider's eyes flashed with brilliance, condensing all his strength into one point, and he slammed his shoulder into Gatling's center of gravity!
He had used this move countless times on dark nights, to protect citizens he didn't know, to defend the justice in his heart.
This move carried his entire will as "Mumen Rider" and his unyielding belief.
However, this time, it was no longer a tragic, suicidal attack born of mere courage, but a fatal blow infused with the essence of Martial Arts, capable of deciding the outcome with a single strike!
"Justice..."
He roared out, shouting the name of his own move, a name already etched deep in his soul!
"...Crash!!!"
"Boom—!!!"
A heavy, muffled thud.
Under the incredulous gazes of the entire audience, Gatling was sent flying by the impact, crashing heavily onto the ground outside the ring, completely losing consciousness.
One second, two seconds, three seconds... The entire venue was deathly silent.
Then, the referee awoke as if from a dream, violently striking the gong, and roared with all his might:
"The—win—ner—!!! Ghost Dragon—!!!"
"Oh oh oh oh oh oh—!!!"
A tsunami of cheers erupted instantly, almost tearing the dome of the entire arena off!
"Ghost Dragon! Ghost Dragon! Ghost Dragon!"
The audience frantically chanted "Ghost Dragon's" name, offering their most fervent respect to this classic battle where the weak triumphed over the strong.
Contestant preparation area.
"Clap, clap, clap."
Suiryu clapped his hands with interest, a brilliant smile on his face:
"A beautiful strike. Using the opponent's strength, plus all of one's own strength, delivered at the perfect moment."
He licked his lips, his eyes filled with fighting spirit, "'Ghost Dragon'... I'll remember you."
"Let me see the strength of the senior's disciple!"
Meanwhile, Bakuzan's face was livid with rage on the other side, his features almost twisted together.
He suddenly slammed his fist hard against the sturdy concrete wall beside him!
"Boom!" A clear fist print was left on the wall, and spiderweb-like cracks spread outwards.
"Outrageous! That trash actually lost! Lost to such a opportunistic guy!" He gritted his teeth, his eyes flashing with fierce light.
"Just wait, Ghost Dragon! Don't let me encounter you in the competition, otherwise, I'll let you know that in front of absolute power, your ridiculous techniques aren't even worthy of tickling me!"
In the arena, Mumen Rider knelt on one knee, gasping for breath.
Sweat drenched his martial arts uniform, and his entire body trembled from exhaustion.
But he slowly raised his head, looking at the boiling audience, his eyes shining with a light he had never experienced himself.
He won.
He won fair and square with his own two hands.
He slowly stood up and bowed deeply to the surrounding audience.
In the audience, Lin Mo let out a long sigh of relief, an undisguised smile of satisfaction on his face.
"Well done..." He whispered in his heart, in a voice only he could hear.
"...Mumen Rider."