Chapter 18: The Great Ant Squashing Step

"The time has come for your judgement, you, Hazel Grave brat!" Neebo stood imposingly. His aura erupted once more mixed with his intense killing intent, and the intensity of it keeps on getting stronger.

As Neebo erupted with even more killing aura, Prince Archilles had a perplexed look on his face. He never would have expected Neebo to display such intense internal energy. As the wind inside the sanctuary became turbulent, Neebo's aura as the center of the blowing force blew Prince Archilles a few inches away. This greatly affected the confidence within Prince Archilles. He thought Neebo had just a strong physical constitution, but to think that he would possess such powers all this time.

Connecting the dots, Prince Archilles figured out the reason why Neebo's body was so resilient and strong. All along, Neebo had stepped on to the Qi Condensation Stage, same as him, but at a much earlier date.

'Neebo, you have truly exceeded my expectations! to think a sixteen-year-old like you would achieve such feat at such an age. Compared to me, I am truly lacking.' Prince Archilles thought dejectedly, he was twenty-years old this year. He had the coming-of-age ceremony when he was eighteen-years old here at the Nefarious Sanctuary, and even him, could barely make it through a month of perseverance here.

'But I am not the same as I was two years ago!' Prince Archilles erupted with his own powerful aura. As both auras clashed amidst the roiling dark energy, it created a powerful gust of dark energy winds in the surrounding. The walls of the sanctuary creaked, as tiny cracks appeared on it.

Both Neebo and Prince Archilles couldn't back down. Their internal energies were at full display. Both Neebo and Prince Archilles was shocked at the other for displaying the same strength that rivals each. And within one of the cells of the sanctuary, Ultgar, the older King's Guard that was tasked to keep an eye on Neebo was still struggling against the corrupted energy within the sanctuary. He was drenched in sweat as he felt the powerful surges of energy from the training hall that Neebo was staying. He figured, Prince Archilles had finally come to deal with the demon Neebo.

Beside him was an unconscious King's Guard, and Ultgar had been keeping guard against it this whole time. They had just been captured by Neebo not more than a day, but his companion has already succumbed to the dangers of this forbidden place. "Tsk, Beltos you poor kid! It must have been too overwhelming for you. Forgive me, I wouldn't want to risk my life fighting against a soulless body."

Ultgar struggled to come close to the unconscious body of Beltos, as he drew his short knife that he had hid from Neebo. He grasps unto it tightly, and slashed it through the throat of Beltos. Beltos's body convulsed, but as the blood poured out from his neck, Beltos had finally succumbed to his death. Ultgar struggled to stand up and made his way into the training halls, maybe he could provide Prince Archilles some help. He was a veteran soldier, and he was sure, in some way he could be of service.

'that demon must never leave this place! If its to risk my life, I would gladly give it! Prince Archilles must succeed!' Ultgar's determined resolve kept him going.

As Ultgar made his way into the training hall, what he saw was a spectacular seen that never even in his imagination could he ever thought to happen. What he saw was both Prince Archilles and the demon Neebo standing a few meters apart erupting massive energies that stormed within the training hall. Massive spherical auras colliding and rolling against each other; Prince Archilles was emitting a viridescent green aura that is colliding against an azure aura emitted by the demon Neebo.

Inside the training hall, as Prince Archilles rivaled Neebo's own energy; Neebo was baffled by the upturn of Prince Archilles martial prowess. It seems that within the months' time that they haven't seen face-to-face with each other, Prince Archilles put an effort to match Neebo in Cultivation. Neebo thought of this outcome as nothing to be shocked about, since Prince Archilles was surrounded by Immortal Cultivators. His ego definitely couldn't allow being at disadvantage against Neebo, he would definitely find ways to rival Neebo.

Neebo smirked, "You have truly placed a lot of effort in catching up to my greatness! Now that the stage is set on equal footing, you can't blame anyone or into anything, the defeat that you are about to experience!"

Prince Archilles who had a serious reaction felt pressured. Against Neebo, he couldn't let his guard down. He had already underestimated Neebo before, time and time again. But this time, even when Neebo is bound by chain mace's in his arms and legs, Prince Archilles still felt Neebo's dominance in martial combat. As a martial expert himself, he was confused where did this threat came from. This skinny looking wild beast of a boy shouldn't have that massive advantage against his experience and battle prowess. Prince Archilles drew his sword and stood imposingly with his sword pointed on the ground, on his back-right stance. This stance displayed Prince Archilles confident advantage in swordplay against Neebo.

Neebo who saw Prince Archilles's actions, felt funny. He only had his Nine Steps of Suppression, and even then, he only had started training the First of the Nine steps. Neebo looked below his arms and legs, and thought that this chain maces could be another weapon of his. Since he had grown accustomed to their weights, and the chains was about two meters long. Neebo thought of using these against Prince Archilles sharp swordplay. Neebo gaze returned to Prince Archilles as he dashed and leapt, in a blink of an eye, Neebo disappeared from Prince Archilles sight.

Prince Archilles had been a victim of Neebo's dirty tricks before, he raised his sword and stood close guard, awaiting Neebo's attack.

Neebo appeared above Prince Archilles as he drove his chain maces against Prince Archilles. Taking advantage of the chain maces weight, Neebo swung both his arms from his left and right, towards Prince Archilles. Sending two massive chain maces coming to Prince Archilles's left and right sides. Seeing Neebo's attack, Prince Archilles retreated ten steps backwards.

Boooom!

The deflections did not deter Neebo, as he brought forth another round of his attacks. Leaping and sprinting before Prince Archilles who was doing his best to evade the heavy metal balls.

Boooom! Booooom! Boooooooom!

Everything happened quite fast, and after a dozen rounds of attack, the two were separated in the distance. Two ten-kilogram metal balls clashed against each other, the chains clangs and Neebo retrieved them back on his side. Prince Archilles took this opportunity to attack Neebo, as he sprinted forward and slashed his sword towards Neebo.

Neebo saw it coming, and as he pulled his metal balls back, he made use of this motion and sprung forward, evading the sword slash. Neebo then pulled the metal balls to his front, as Prince Archilles was right in front of its direction.

Against these huge metal balls, Prince Archilles sword were greatly at disadvantage. Neebo had clearly mastered how to fight equipping them. Prince Archilles could only take advantage of the massive disparity in weight if the user of the chain mace was not a master of equipping them as weapons.

Prince Archilles erupted with strong sword intent and leapt forward against the metal balls and performed his sword arts, the Thunderous Rain Sword. Fueled by Prince Archilles's inner energy, his sword arts greatly evolved into greater heights. Deflecting the incoming metal balls was a barrage of thunderous rain of swords that landed from above. Thunderous sword Qi could be seen lingering planted within the ground as if a hundred swords truly existed. After a few moments, the sword Qi faded along with the thunderous sparks that it contains.

Prince Archilles landed amidst the barrage of Thunderous Rain Sword, and smirked back at Neebo.

"Neebo, I am truly grateful of your existence. Without you, I wouldn't even imagine reaching this level of strength. It could be said that today, I have achieved the level of a Martial Grand master." Prince Archilles turned around facing Neebo, "Today, I shall end you, to express my appreciation."

Prince Archilles leapt forward towards Neebo, his sword was an illusion that sent massive barrage of the Thunderous Rain Sword.

Neebo displayed his full strength as he tried to defend against the sword rain by swirling both the chain maces in his arms, infusing his own internal energy to fortify his defense. This action created two azure wheels defending Neebo of the incoming attacks.

The clash brought forth a multitude of changes within the ancient sanctuary, as the cracks grew bigger, the sanctuary seemingly struggling to keep both powerful attacks contained.

Ultgar bore witness of everything and the battle before him. He thought that he had already seen everything in this world already, even the battle of two martial grand master's he thought, wouldn't be on the same level as Prince Archilles and Neebo's fight. He felt like an ant before the both fighters, and he was dumbstruck lying from afar.

Both Neebo and Prince Archilles displayed their full strength against each other. And both felt exhilarated as they displayed their full strengths, as both had never had the opportunity to test their new found powers against any opponent.

Both attacks lasted for a short burning time of an incense. After both their attacks faded, and as they were both once again separated in distance. Both had the look of satisfaction and determination against each other.

Cuts and bruises appeared before both Neebo and Prince Archilles's bodies. As they couldn't completely block off all of the attacks from their opponent.

"Hazel Grave brat, you've impressed me!" Neebo laughed in satisfaction, he never expected a battle could be this entertaining. "But it seems to me that you are still greatly lacking!" he let out a short boisterous laugh and lifted his right leg into the air.

"Take my first step, the Great Ant Squashing Step!!" making a fake extravagant name, Neebo roared as he controlled his internal energy and channeled it through specific spiritual points within his body to execute the first step of the Nine Steps of Suppression; the Step of Foundation.

Prince Archilles on the opposite side felt great pressure against Neebo's movements. He struggled but still clearly saw every small movement Neebo made. As if in slow motion, Neebo's right foot landed to the ground with great power.

Suddenly, Prince Archilles felt an intense and massive weight was about to be brought forth. He gapes as he caught sight to what was above him. What he saw was a massive ethereal azure foot descending from above.

This was the illusion created by the Divine Art, a massive foot that weighs about five-hundred kilograms. And Neebo had successfully executed the Divine Art for the first time.

"This shall be your end, now die!" Neebo stomped his foot with all his might, as he sent all his frustrations and hugot against Prince Archilles.

BOOOOOOOOOOOOM!!!