Gleam Karma Cultivator Isekai

Chapter 52: Metal Dragon Art

Yeo landed across the arena from Jake. If he was perturbed by having to go up against the other boy, he showed no signs of it. He just raised his hands, egging on the crowd as he turned in a slow circle before he returned to face Jake, drawing his kusarigama from its place at his side.

Jake tapped the butt of his hammer against the ground, unwilling to make any more movement than necessary. If anything, he looked bored.

For what its worth, I dont get any sick sense of pleasure out of doing this, Jake said. You could have been so much more. Instead, you chose to be a disappointment. Just remember that.

Shut up, Yeo replied. This is who I am.

People change, Yeo, Jake replied, grabbing his hammer with both hands and hoisting it into the air. And, to quell your curiosity before it starts, there was a special request for me to go against you. This isnt some freak coincidence.

Yeo faltered, his confident expression flickering for just an instant before he plastered it back across his face. All the better, then. Theres more than one way to the Essence of Metal, and Ill prove it.

There are other ways, Jake agreed. But not yours.

It looks like these two fighters have some personal history! Analise called, interrupting them. That should make this fight all the more interesting. Lets get to it without any further delays, then. Begin!

Metal Dragon Art: Twin Heads! Links of metal erupted from within Yeos bag, trailing up his kusarigama and splitting off into a second one. Jake shook his head in disgust as the other boy pulled the two weapons apart, spinning them on either side.

So damn flashy. So pointless, Jake spat, twirling his hammer above his head. Come on, then. I want this over with. It makes me sick.

Yeo charged, his kusarigama whistling in the air around him. He leapt as he grew close to Jake and whipped his Kusarigama forward, scoring their blades across the other boys armor. They screeched as they ran along the metal, but the strike did little more than scratch Jakes defenses.

Jake extended a hand, thrusting it into the path of the spinning chains. One of Yeos weapons snapped around his hand, entangled. He yanked, pulling Yeo off balance and driving his fist into his face.

Yeo rolled with the blow, flicking his weapon to free it from Jakes body as he came back up. Blood trickled down his nose, but it didnt look like hed even noticed. He unleashed a flurry of rapidfire blows against Jake, each one leaving a new scar on the other boys armor.

Still, not a single one of them got through. In retaliation, Jake took precise, calculated strikes, only moving when he needed to. If Yeo was a determined termite, Jake was a mighty tree.

A hammer blow caught Yeo in the chest, throwing him across the ground and knocking one of the kusarigama from his hands. He staggered to his feet, clutching his side as he rose, then gritted his teeth.

The kusarigama flew back into his hand, and he spun them both to get momentum back before charging Jake again. The other boy reared back, allowing Yeo to strike him several times before his hammer flashed.

Yeo managed to avoid the blow, but Jake spun and unleased a second one, nearly catching him in the head. The nimble boy managed to lean back, but Jake followed the motion and clipped him in the arm with the continued attack.

The force of the blow tossed Yeo again. This time, Jake stamped on the kusarigamas chain as it rattled through the air, slamming it to the ground. Yeo jerked to a halt on the ground, refusing to release his grip on the weapon.

Learn already! Jake brought his hammer down on the chain, shattering it. This damn obsession is why father gave up on you, Yeo. Give. It. Up.

Yeo staggered to his feet, one of his arms hanging out of socket. He grabbed it and shoved back into its place with a pop, not breaking eye contact the entire time.

Hell come around.

No, Yeo. He wont, Jake replied, grinding the chain beneath his metal-clad boot. Youre a failure. He gave you everything he could afford to become a powerful cultivator. You chose to be this instead. Look at yourself.

I followed my Essence, Yeo snarled.

You followed a delusion. Thats why Father gave up on you. Youre a failed cultivator and a failed son. Imagine what I could have done if I had half of what Father gave you. Luckily, my talent makes up for your shortcomings. He still got the cultivator he always wanted, and I got left to pick up the scraps that you left behind.

You dont understand what youre talking about. Yeo spun his kusarigama and charged Jake. And he hasnt abandoned me. Im just seeking my own path for a little.

The other boy swung his hammer and Yeo vaulted, stepping off of it and flipping over Jakes head. He hooked his kusarigama beneath Jakes helmet and yanked, ripping it off and throwing it to the sand.

He landed, spinning to capitalize on the attack, but a blur of metal flashed through the air, carving a line of blood across Yeos head as he threw himself back at the last second. Yeo scrambled across the ground and back to his feet as Jake turned to face him.

The head of Jakes hammer had split to reveal a long, jagged point that had been nestled within it. Faint glimmers of light ran along the hilt of the weapon, curling around Jakes hands and hissing as it touched the air.

Yeos eyes went wide, and his grip on his kusarigama loosened. Dads spear.

Thats right, Jake said, pointing the spear at Yeo. He gave it to me, Yeo. And do you want to know what he said when he did? Make something of yourself. At least I can have one son to be proud of. Hes done with you, Yeo. No more wasted time. No more dreams. Its time to face reality.

Yeos hands trembled and his lips pressed together. Then his eyes narrowed, and he rose to his feet, pulling the kusarigama up with him. Jake shook his head.

Father will be proud, at least. At least one of us turned out to be something. Since is the last time youll ever see it, how about I show you the technique that he taught me?

Jake changed his stance, aiming the spear at Yeo. Then he blurred, a line of light tracing through the air. Yeo leapt back, but Jake followed after him with surprising speed. Several flashes lit the arena and blood sprayed across the ground as half a dozen lines carved across Yeo, cutting through his leather armor.

Yeo stumbled, several gaping wounds seeping blood all over him. They were all deep enough to be fatal if left untreated for more than a few minutes. Jake spat on the ground and spun away as Yeos kusarigama slipped from his fingers and coiled to the ground.

This fight is over, Jake said. He cant continue.

Yeos trembling lips opened. Blood Demon Art: Stitching.

Jake paused, not even looking back at Yeo. Are you just making shit up now, Yeo? If all youre ever going to do is lose, you could at least do it with some dignity.

The blood pouring from Yeos body started to slow. A faint hum emanated from his body as tiny tendrils shot through him, pulling the wounds covering him shut. They hadnt been healed theyd simply been stitched shut. Yeo drew a shuddering breath, then let it out.

He reached down, wrapping his fingers around the hilt of his kusarigama, and started to spin it slowly in the air beside him.

Turn around, Jake, Yeo said.

Jake turned, surprise washing over his face when he saw the other boy whole, the wounds closed. The surprise quickly faded, and he pointed the spear at him again.

Idiot. Giving fancy names to basic techniques. That wont stop you from bleeding out internally. Its just a surface fix. You might actually die if the healers dont get to you.

They can get to me when Im done here, Yeo replied, spinning his kusarigama faster. But I wont have my debut ruined. Its just gotten exciting.

If you want me to break you so badly, I will. Jake charged Yeo with a roar.

Yeo flicked a blade at Jake, who deflected it. It spun off, thunking into the wall of the arena with surprising force.

Metal Dragon Art: Executioner! Metal poured down Yeos kusarigama and the blade at its head grew larger and heavier. He swung it toward Jake, putting all the force he could behind the blow.

Jake raised one hand as the tip of his spear shimmered with a silvery light. Yeos kusarigama struck his hand and, with a loud crash, shattered into thousands of fragments that rained across him.

At the same time, Jakes spear punched into Yeos chest. Bands of light ballooned out of it, erupting from Yeos back as half a dozen new wounds opened up, these ones even deeper than the last. Jake ripped his spear free. He took a step back, then paused.

The screen zoomed in on Yeos wounds. Countless strands of metal shot out within his body and the wounds pulled themselves shut again. This time, it was abundantly clear that every single part of his body was being reconnected, not just his skin.

That isnt possible. Youre stitching your organs back together? Jake asked. Theres no way you can do that. Its too precise. Metal Essence cant

Not yours, Yeo agreed, pulling his arm down.

Jakes arms were yanked into the air as dozens of tiny metal threads materialized around them, running up to the blade stuck in the arena wall and then back down to Yeos hand.

Oops, Yeo said. Did I say Executioner? I meant Puppetmaster.

Jakes hands lifted higher into the air. The other boy struggled, trying to pull himself free, but the dozens of scratches that Yeo had carved into his armor made great grips for the thin strands. The spear slipped from his grip as it was forced open, and Yeo grabbed the weapon before it could hit the ground.

For a moment, Yeo studied the spear. Then his eyes narrowed. He tossed it to the ground and extended his hand. Links of chain flew from his pouch, forming into a kusarigama. The metal threads holding Jakes hands up tightened, starting to cut into his armor from his repeated struggling.

Thats the thing, Yeo said, raising the kusarigama. With enough time and effort, your impenetrable defense really isnt all that impenetrable. You can keep fathers spear. I dont need it.

He whipped his hand forward, bringing the hilt of the kusarigama down on Jakes head with all the force he could muster. The strike snapped the boys head back, and his body went limp, still suspended in the air by the metal threads. Yeo stared at him, his chest rising and falling with heavy breaths as seconds ticked by.

The arena had gone silent for the last part of their fight, as if everyone were holding their breath to see which of the two would come out victorious. Evidently, the proctors had too. But, after several more seconds passed, Analises voice crackled to life.

Three is incapacitated and unable to continue the fight! Ninety-two takes the victory over three in a complete upset! What an incredible fight, folks!

A roar filled the arena, louder than it had been for any of the previous fights. Yeos strands unraveled, turning back to tiny fragments of metal and plinking to the ground as he staggered, dozens of wounds carving themselves back across his body.

Two cultivators flashed down to the stage, each forcing a healing pill into one of the boys mouths. Yeo swallowed his, blood still trickling down his lips, and raised a closed fist in victory. Then, wounds weeping even as the pill worked to heal them, he pitched backward and fell unconscious.