Chapter 197 God Of War's Prideful Spirit
As the fierce battle raged on, the clash between Wang Hao and Tristan intensified, pushing both combatants to their limits.
Time seemed to blur, with minutes turning into eternities, as the combatants unleashed their formidable techniques and clashed in a flurry of strikes and counterattacks.
In a surprising twist, Wang Hao's disciplined control over his bloodlust persisted, an impressive feat considering the overwhelming intensity of the battle.
For over ten minutes, he maintained his composure, channeling his spirit and unleashing his techniques with unyielding precision.
It was a testament to his unwavering focus and unrelenting willpower, setting a new personal record.
However, every triumph has its limits, and the consequences of Wang Hao's extended exertion soon made themselves known.
A blood-red aura, ominous and foreboding, began to seep from his very being, enveloping his fists and even the weapons he had materialized.
The aura pulsated with a malevolent energy, lending an eerie glow to his attacks.
Though his outward appearance remained calm, a subtle hint of struggle flickered across Wang Hao's face before vanishing like a wisp of smoke.
His gaze, now tinged with an otherworldly intensity, bore into Tristan's own, evoking a sense of unease akin to standing in the presence of an indomitable force perched upon a mountain of corpses.
"To witness my chosen inheritor take so long to vanquish a mere demon. What a disgrace. It seems I must personally intervene," the words emanated from Wang Hao's mouth, yet they felt detached, as if a vengeful deity spoke through him.
Amidst the cacophony of the battlefield, Tristan, his voice tinged with both curiosity and caution, dared to inquire, "Who... who are you?"
In response, Wang Hao's features contorted with anger, his countenance transforming into an expression befitting a wrathful deity. "You dare question me, lowly demon?"
With a swift and fluid motion, a sword materialized, forged from the ominous crimson qi that radiated from Wang Hao's being. It surged forward with deadly intent, aimed directly at Tristan.
Drawing upon his mastery of Wind and Water Qi, Tristan conjured a twofold barrier, an intricate fusion of elemental forces.
It was a desperate attempt to fend off the impending assault.
For a fleeting moment, it seemed that his defenses would hold, that he had successfully repelled the onslaught.
Yet, in a cruel twist of fate, Tristan's hopes were shattered as the sword shattered his barriers, breaching his defenses with unforgiving precision.
The blade found its mark, piercing deep into his gut, eliciting a gasp of pain and disbelief.
"I have extinguished the lives of countless of your kind, reduced them to mere ashes. What are you compared to them?!" Wang Hao's mouth spat forth those words, each syllable dripping with scorn and contempt.
Tristan's vision blurred with anguish, his wounded form wracked by torment and his spirit assailed by a potent cocktail of emotions.
Advancing with a calculated step, Wang Hao's voice resounded with heightened arrogance, each word dripping with unbridled confidence.
His very presence seemed to radiate an aura of indomitable might, an embodiment of a wrathful god of war.
"I, with my own hands, tore apart the very flesh of the Storm Devil God. If even he failed to best me, do you truly believe your feeble imitation of his prowess stands a chance? How laughable!" Wang Hao's declaration reverberated through the air, a thunderous proclamation of his unassailable dominance.
Tristan, his body trembling with pain and defiance, found himself caught in the merciless grip of reality.
The weight of Wang Hao's words bore down upon him, crushing his hopes and shattering his illusions of grandeur.
And yet, amidst the agony, a flicker of determination burned within his eyes, a stubborn flame refusing to be extinguished.
Defiantly, he raised his voice, his words laced with both pain and an unwavering resolve. "What does it matter if you vanquished the mighty Storm Devil God? What significance does it hold if you are merely a sentient spirit, a relic of the ancient God of War? Your demise has proven that you are but a product of the inexorable passage of time! But I, I care not for your accolades. I shall surpass you. I shall transcend the realms of the Devil Gods and stand triumphant over you all!"
With unwavering determination, Tristan summoned the strength to extract the sword that had been mercilessly embedded within his wounded body. The weapon's release was accompanied by a surge of pain, intermingled with a renewed sense of purpose.
Wang Hao, in response, emitted a frigid scoff, his voice dripping with disdain, "What utter nonsense!"
In a display of his godlike prowess, Wang Hao manifested an array of hundreds of armaments, each exuding a foreboding crimson aura.
Meanwhile, Tristan clenched his fist, tapping into the depths of his boundless power.
With unparalleled mastery, he deftly harnessed three elements simultaneously, bending them to his will.
The winds encircling the battlefield whirled in a mesmerizing counter-clockwise motion, gradually morphing into a tempestuous tornado that surged towards Wang Hao with indomitable force.
Dark clouds congregated overhead, their presence heralding the imminent arrival of a torrential downpour.
As raindrops cascaded from the heavens, they carried within them the formidable might of Tristan's Storm Devil God Fury, each droplet brimming with concentrated power.
And then, amidst the electrified atmosphere, purple lightning crackled within the roiling storm clouds, illuminating Tristan's visage with a lethal glint in his eyes. He stood, a force to be reckoned with, as his expression contorted into a mask of deadly determination.
"I will kill you even if it is the last thing I will do!" Tristan bellowed, his voice resonating with unyielding conviction.
In that pivotal moment, a flicker of struggle danced within Wang Hao's eyes, hinting at a battle waging within his very being. The voice of the true Wang Hao, determined and resolute, broke through the tempestuous clash.
"Return control of my body to me!" Wang Hao commanded, his voice resolute and carrying the weight of unwavering conviction.
Yet, the ominous voice of the God of War's spirit retorted with disdainful defiance, refusing to yield. "Not before I have extinguished this demonic presence!"
Unyielding and undeterred, Wang Hao countered, his words laced with indomitable determination. "I alone will be the one to vanquish this formidable demon!"
A sneer of superiority curled upon the spirit's ethereal lips as he dismissed Wang Hao's claim, mocking his perceived weakness. "You? Feeble and weak? You stand no chance."
Unbeknownst to them, Tristan had seized the opportunity amidst their clash of wills and unleashed a devastating assault.
In an instant, a barrage of thunderbolts surged forth from the dark clouds, converging upon Wang Hao's form from all directions.
Enhanced by the raindrops that imbued them with augmented power, the thunderbolts blanketed a vast area, ensuring there was no escape for Wang Hao.
Simultaneously, the unleashed fury of the powerful tornado propelled towards Wang Hao with unparalleled force. Its winds carried an aura of razor-sharp Wind Qi, capable of tearing anything unfortunate enough to come into contact with it into minuscule shreds.
Amidst this onslaught, the God of War's spirit shouted at Wang Hao, his voice seething with urgency. "Let me handle these attacks! If you continue to interfere, we shall meet our demise!"
Defiant and fueled by anger, Wang Hao unleashed his retort. "I would rather face death than relinquish control of my own body to you!"
A fury raged within the God of War's spirit, his rage evident upon hearing those words. Yet, before he could respond, Wang Hao seized the moment to deliver his heartfelt plea.
"I recognize your immense power as a being from a higher realm. But remember, while your power may be great, it is through my mortal vessel that we can achieve true victory. Only I possess the ability to fully harness the potential of this physical form. If you deny me the opportunity to grow and demonstrate my true potential, your influence shall be forever confined to the forgotten annals of history. Give me this chance, and I promise not to disappoint. Together, we can transcend realms and etch our names into the very fabric of eternity!"
For a fleeting moment, the God of War's spirit wavered, moved by the earnestness and conviction in Wang Hao's words.
"Very well," the God of War's spirit finally conceded, granting Wang Hao this one opportunity. "Prove your worth, mortal, and reclaim your body. Show me that you possess a strength far greater than I had perceived."
A glimmer of triumph gleamed in Wang Hao's eyes as he seized the granted chance, knowing that his words had pierced through the deity's arrogance and secured his path to reclaiming his own destiny.
The battle of wills unfolded within the depths of their minds, transpiring in a fraction of the time it took in the physical world.
However, as Wang Hao regained control of his body from the clutches of the God of War's spirit, he was immediately met with Tristan's relentless onslaught, each attack brimming with devastating power.