Volume 4: Hidden Battles – Chapter 175: The European Overlord
Chu Tianyu punched repeatedly against the energy barrier created by Thorne, the collisions producing deafening noises. Energy waves formed hurricanes that ravaged everything in their path.
Fernando stood on a high ridge in the distance, using a high-powered energy lens to observe the battle. He murmured involuntarily, “Terrifying, truly terrifying! So Thorne actually possesses such strength. With that sacred staff’s aid, he’s even more formidable. I was lucky not to confront him before; otherwise, even with the Vampire’s Ten Commandments, I doubt I could have held out much longer! Ah, not to mention that pervert. And it seems neither of them has yet used their full strength. Watching this battle today fills me with no regrets! Huh? That glow… tsk tsk, that ruby is absolutely dazzling. What a precious gem! If only it could be set in mine…”
By the end, Fernando forgot about watching the battle. With the speed of the two fighters and the dust rising around them, it was impossible for outsiders to see anything. Thus, he indulged in fantasies about the huge red ruby on Thorne’s sacred staff.
Yet the situation on the battlefield was changing rapidly. Although Thorne relied on the sacred staff and the divine power of the entire church, he was gradually struggling to withstand Chu Tianyu’s relentless attacks and his seemingly tireless pace. The glow emanating from the staff was already starting to fade. Thorne knew that once this glow disappeared, the red ruby—the source of sacred power on the staff—would be directly exposed to Chu Tianyu’s fierce energy. By then, it would be too late to devise a countermeasure to protect the sacred stone.
Moreover, Thorne himself was showing signs of running out of strength. His clothes were soaked several times over, but as soon as sweat soaked them, the intense heat from their clashes caused it to evaporate instantly, leaving no visible signs from the outside.
Thus, Thorne’s horror was beyond description. Though he had guessed that this mysterious Easterner possessed extraordinary skills, meeting him in person revealed that the so-called “shadow” was just a young man. No matter how advanced his skills might be, age limitations made it understandable.
And it is said that among Chinese monks, the level of their mastery is mainly determined by their age and the duration of their cultivation. Only when seeing Chu Tianyu’s true nature did one realize his arrogance and conceit—truly a sign of youthful exuberance—that made Thorne dare to gather energy right in front of him, believing that a mere small core of life energy could kill him! But it was only in this close combat that Thorne realized he had been utterly wrong. The opponent’s strength was undoubtedly the result of his arrogance. After all, Thorne had relied on two external forces, barely enough to hold back the attacks, and even now, the opponent seemed tireless, maintaining the same intensity and speed of attack, leaving Thorne with no chance to counterattack. With a “bang,” the radiant light emitted by the sacred staff was completely shattered under Chu Tianyu’s strike, revealing a large, relatively intact ruby. However, judging from its dull color, it must have been severely depleted. If Fernando saw this, he would surely be heartbroken beyond measure! Thorne paid no attention to the sacred staff’s condition. Instead, he retreated rapidly due to the shock of the collision, throwing an energy ball with his left hand in an attempt to stop Chu Tianyu from pursuing him. But after landing his strike, Chu Tianyu did not pursue. Instead, he stopped, waved his hand to dismiss the energy ball, hovered in mid-air, and stared at Thorne expressionlessly, saying, “Is that all you’ve got? I still have several ancient boxing techniques left unused. Don’t disappoint me!” With that, Chu Tianyu moved at lightning speed, swinging his right fist. His right arm seemed filled with explosive power, as if all his energy was concentrated at the tip of his fist, rushing toward Thorne. The wind generated by the punch seemed capable of shattering space and destroying everything, causing Thorne, who was still at a distance, to tremble in fear at its intensity… But Thorne wasn’t panicked by fear, for he also had his ultimate trump card. With a loud shout, he said, “Ring of Years!” Suddenly, a huge virtual vortex appeared on Chu Tianyu’s path of attack, emitting a sucking force as if to take away the essence of all life. Even a green leaf caught in it withered and disappeared in the blink of an eye!
After releasing the “rings,” Thorne didn’t pause at all. Instead, he suddenly untied his black robe, flung it open in the wind, and draped it over himself. A black eagle appeared on the back of his robe, and a strong beastly stench instantly filled the entire area.
Thorne’s “rings” could only block and delay Chu Tianyu’s attack, which was wrapped in Purple Void True Energy. When Chu Tianyu’s fist struck, the entire virtual structure, resembling swirling rings, acted like a solid mirror and was shattered into pieces. After a crisp sound, it vanished without a trace…
By now, the dark mist behind Thorne had also taken the form of an eagle-like shadow. As Chu Tianyu broke through the “rings,” he sensed that familiar eerie presence—no trace of life beyond bloodshed.
Chu Tianyu stopped attacking and stared coldly at Thorne, saying, “So, the so-called Eagle of London is really just an animal! Why is the whole of Europe under control of those three giants? I guess even that Norse War God Faluk, who died in China, must be one of yours. Ha, it seems the true ruler of Europe is actually just one person—our respected Archbishop Thorne, right?”
Encircled by the dark mist, Thorne let out a long laugh and uttered a resonant voice. It seemed that after summoning the demon eagle, even his voice had changed.
“Exactly. If that worthless Faluk hadn’t underestimated his opponent and died in China, triggering chaos among European powers and endless wars, I wouldn’t have had to resort to such drastic measures. But it’s too late now. Since I’ve made this choice, it’s fine. At least I can use this opportunity to reunify all of Europe’s forces. A powerful Europe will be born from this destructive rebirth…”