Chapter 242

“You’re asking for death!” Enraged, the King of Kicks finally decided to give it his all. He leaped into the air, delivering multiple flying kicks as he landed near Dustin. This time, he didn't just attack point-to-point—his moves were indiscriminate, offering his opponent no escape.

“You punk! Let’s see how you’re going to dodge this!” He laughed maniacally as the number of kicks increased and covered a wider area. Dustin, the target, stood unflinching.

“It’s clear who’s the winner here.” Maximus shook his head and stood to leave. He was initially surprised by Dustin’s agility, but even that was no match for the King of Kicks. No level of agility could save the young man from the King of Kicks' indiscriminate attacks. In the face of true talent, Dustin's tricks would be useless.

Suddenly, a deafening explosion erupted from the ring. The kicking legs were gone. Instead, the King of Kicks’ leg stopped inches from Dustin’s ear, but it wasn't an attempt at mercy. His shin was locked in Dustin’s grip, immobilizing him.

“Did I ever say I’d dodge your attacks?” Dustin grinned, holding the King of Kicks’ leg.

“Did he block the kick?” Maximus, about to leave, stopped, astonished. Even he wouldn't dream of blocking a full-strength attack from the King of Kicks, yet Dustin seemed to have grabbed his opponent's leg with ease. Maximus wondered what had happened. Was the King of Kicks conserving energy, or had he underestimated Dustin’s capabilities?

“H-how is that possible? How did you block that move?” The old man’s eyes widened in disbelief, knowing he hadn’t held back. Even though the kick wasn't his most lethal move, it was more than enough to defeat most martial artists. He was shocked to see Dustin holding his powerful leg with one hand. It was too bizarre to comprehend.

“Is there even anything great about that kick of yours? It’s so weak that even a three-year-old could block it,” Dustin remarked, unfazed.

“Nonsense!” The old man, a ball of rage, leaped into the air, striking again with earth-shattering force.

“Hey! You used up your three moves! You lost!” Ruth yelled, but he ignored her, using gravity to strike Dustin on the head. This time, he was confident Dustin couldn't defend himself.

“You never learn, do you?” Dustin snorted, lifting his arm to block the kick without moving. The collision produced an explosive sound. An invisible blast wave spread from the impact point, accompanied by strong gusts of wind. Dustin stood firm, unmoved, though multiple cracks formed beneath his feet.

The old man had one leg on Dustin’s arm, using all his strength to press him to the ground. No matter how hard he pushed, Dustin’s arm remained motionless, as if made of metal.

“Is that all?” Dustin raised an eyebrow disdainfully. “Is that all the King of Kicks has to show?”

“No! This can’t be! How could you possibly block that attack? You aren’t even ranked on The Hundred Immortals!” Shock was written all over the old man’s face. He was sure Dustin wasn't ranked because he had fought the top ten.

“The Hundred Immortals?” Dustin chuckled and whispered, “Let me tell you a secret: I made it to The Heavenly Immortals ten years ago.”

“The Heavenly Immortals?” The old man was stunned. The Heavenly Immortals were far superior to The Hundred Immortals; those ranked there were the best of the best. It seemed impossible that a twenty-something like Dustin had made the list. The martial artists who reached The Heavenly Immortals had achieved, at the very least, divinity!

“No! Impossible! You must be bluffing!” The old man refused to believe him. It was rare to encounter martial artists ranked on The Heavenly Immortals, and a ranked martial artist wouldn't live in a small town like Swinton.

“Look out for my Phoenix Kick!” The old man distanced himself, launching himself into the air. With a series of kicks blurring into shadows, he attacked Dustin furiously.

“All show and no go!” Dustin scoffed, punching the sole of the old man’s foot. Another explosion sent the old man flying through the air like a soccer ball. He landed heavily under the ring, bleeding from facial orifices and suffering leg fractures.

The crowd fell silent at the sight of the lifeless King of Kicks. People stared, alarmed. They couldn't believe the King of Kicks, from the top ten of The Hundred Immortals, had lost so quickly and unexpectedly. Some spectators hadn't even recovered from the shock.

More importantly, Dustin seemed to have attacked only once during the fight, aside from his defensive moves and dodging. That was the night's scariest observation. Had they not witnessed it, they would have scoffed at the idea of the King of Kicks losing to an unknown young man.

“Has the King of Kicks lost?” Brody’s mind went blank. He couldn’t comprehend the situation and even suspected the King of Kicks of staging the loss.

“My lord! Where did that guy come from?” Otto swallowed hard. His disrespect for Dustin was replaced by shock and fear. Dustin’s victory was a testament to his ability. Thinking of his earlier taunts, Otto felt a prick of fear. Thankfully, Dustin hadn't taken his remarks seriously; otherwise, Otto might be dead.

“Im—impossible!” He’s just a good-for-nothing! Since when has he become a master? Julie was dumbfounded and doubtful. She refused to believe Dustin was capable of such powerful moves. The only explanation was that the two men were putting on a show. The King of Kicks must have been bribed by Dustin. That must be it!

“Haha! He won! We won!” Ruth squealed excitedly, showing off to the others. “See that? That’s my brother-in-law! Isn’t he amazing?”

“Wait, he won? How did he do it?” Quentin stared, eyes wide.

“Never have I thought he was a hidden talent. Since he beat the King of Kicks, I believe he’s capable of ranking in the top eight of The Hundred Immortals,” Jessica mused. She admitted she’d missed an unpolished gem. Dustin Rhys was more remarkable than she’d assumed.

“He’s my man! So impressive!” Natasha smiled dazzlingly. Affection filled her lovely eyes. Curiosity grew—she wondered about Dustin’s true identity.