Marvel: The other side of the double-passing door is Devouring the Stars

Chapter 258 Catching a Sword Barehanded?

Thor leaped off the ring and strode back to the contestants' bench. His entire body was enveloped in a faint layer of lightning energy, a manifestation of the afterglow of his battle. His tall and imposing figure was like a moving mountain, each step carrying an invisible pressure that drew the attention of many spectators.

"Thor, that was a great game." Rowan smiled and raised his drink to Thor.

Thor grinned, revealing a set of pearly white teeth. Every crease on his sharply defined face radiated a sharp edge. "Piece of cake. That guy's no match for you."

Luo Feng sat to the side, silently observing the other contestants around him. As one of the best among Earthlings, his goals went far beyond this; participating in the competition was more about gaining experience. Hearing Thor's words, he couldn't help but smile slightly.

Hong sat in a slightly secluded corner, intently watching the game on the field.

Thor sat down next to Hong, casually picked up an energy drink, downed it in one gulp, and then let out a long sigh. "Ha! That felt great."

Hong didn't turn his head, still staring at the field, "How's the opponent?"

"Too weak." Thor shook his head dismissively, the veins on his strong arms bulging slightly. "I didn't even use my full strength, just casually released a bit of my lightning domain, and that guy panicked. I reckon it'll be like this for the first few rounds; he won't encounter any decent opponents."

Hong finally shifted his gaze from the arena to Thor, his eyes as deep as the starry sky, seemingly containing boundless wisdom. "Don't be careless; everyone who has made it here is extraordinary."

Thor chuckled and patted Hong on the shoulder with a force almost capable of shattering a mountain, but Hong remained unmoved. "I know, I know. You're always so cautious. But to be honest, the first few rounds weren't very challenging. As for you, who was your opponent in the first round?"

“Silver Feather of the Silver Blue Empire,” Hong said calmly, his voice as still as water.

"Oh? That legendary 'Fallen Leaf Swordsman'?" Luo Feng suddenly interjected, a hint of curiosity flashing in his eyes. "It's said that his sixth-level domain and wood-elemental laws are perfectly integrated, and he once killed three experts of the same level with a single sword strike."

Hong nodded. "It's him."

Thor laughed heartily, "That guy may have some fame, but he's no match for you. Your Sevenfold Domain has reached a new level, and coupled with your understanding of the laws of light, he probably couldn't even withstand a single beam of your light."

“No opponent should be underestimated.” Hong’s voice remained calm, but a sharp glint flashed in his eyes. “I’m studying his fighting style.”

The large screen in the arena was playing a recording of Silver Feather's previous match. Silver Feather was a tall, slender man with long, flowing silver hair, as beautiful as a flowing galaxy. He wore the unique combat suit of the Silver Blue Empire, adorned with starlight-like decorations. Most striking were the wings on his back, seemingly made of blue energy, gently fluttering and emitting a soft glow.

In the video, Silverfeather is facing an opponent from the Shadow Empire. The opponent is burly and covered in black scales, looking terrifying. However, Silverfeather remains calm. He lightly draws a wooden sword from his waist. The sword looks ordinary, but it contains immense power.

“Watch his footwork,” Hong suddenly pointed to the screen. “He makes a slight shift in his center of gravity before each sword strike; this is a characteristic of his sixth-level domain.”

Rowan leaned closer to the screen, observing carefully. "Indeed, he seems to have incorporated some kind of special footwork into his technique."

“Moreover,” Hong continued, “his wood-elemental laws are seamlessly integrated with his swordsmanship. He doesn’t use his sword to cut through matter, but rather guides the wood-elemental laws through the sword to distort or alter the nature of matter. This is a very sophisticated fighting style.”

On the screen, Silver Feather swung his sword seemingly effortlessly, but the Shadow Warrior opposite him suddenly froze in place as green vines rapidly grew from his body, tightly binding him.

“Look, this is his ‘vine cage,’ an ability that materializes the laws of wood,” Hong explained. “Once entangled, it’s very difficult to break free unless one possesses power beyond the laws of wood.”

Thor waved his hand dismissively, "This little trick is nothing to you. Your laws of light can easily sever any material structure."

“That’s true in theory,” Hong nodded in agreement, “but the situation in actual combat is much more complex. Besides, for him to stand here as a stellar-level powerhouse, he must have some extraordinary abilities.”

Just then, the match ended, and a contestant from the Flame Empire emerged victorious. The referee announced that the next match would begin: Hong from the Black Dragon Mountain Empire versus Yin Yu from the Silver Blue Empire.

“It’s your turn.” Thor patted Hong on the shoulder. “Give it your all, we’re here waiting to celebrate your victory.”

Luo Feng nodded, "Better safe than sorry, don't be careless."

Rowan smiled and said, "Hong, I believe in your abilities."

Hong stood up, straightened his robe, and said, "I'm going." With that, he vanished from his spot and reappeared on the arena.

The arena is a circular platform approximately one kilometer in diameter, surrounded by an endless starry sky. While its surface appears ordinary, it is actually constructed of a special material capable of withstanding the full force of an attack from a stellar-level powerhouse without damage. Several holographic projections float above the platform, displaying real-time information and combat data of both competitors.

Hong stood at one end of the arena, his expression calm and his aura restrained. Opposite him, Yin Yu had been waiting for a long time, her pair of blue energy wings trembling slightly, as if ready to take off at any moment.

“I have long admired the name of Hong from the Black Dragon Mountain Empire,” Yin Yu said, his voice as gentle as a breeze rustling through leaves, yet carrying an undeniable power. “I have heard that your seventh level of domain has reached a new height, and today I finally have the opportunity to experience it for myself.”

Hong Wei nodded slightly, "Silver Feather of the Silver Blue Empire, the title 'Fallen Leaf Swordsman' is well-deserved. Your combination of the six domains and the wood-elemental laws is unique, and I'm really looking forward to this match."

Yin Yu's lips curled into a slight smile. "I hope I won't disappoint you." With that, he slowly drew the wooden sword from his waist. The sword appeared ordinary, but everyone present could feel the terrifying power it contained.

"The match is about to begin. Both players, please prepare." The referee's voice echoed throughout the arena.

Hong took a deep breath, and a golden light flashed in his eyes—the manifestation of the Law of Light. At the same time, a faint halo began to appear around him, indicating that his domain was gradually expanding.

Seeing this, Yin Yu was not to be outdone. His sixth-level domain instantly opened, and a powerful wave of wood-type energy swept across the entire arena. Behind him, the pair of blue energy wings also became more solid, as if they were real wings.

"3!"

"2!"

"1!"

"Game start!"

The moment the referee finished speaking, Yin Yu moved. His speed was astonishing; he vanished from his spot almost instantly, appearing behind Hong the next moment, his wooden sword aimed directly at Hong's back. But Hong seemed to have anticipated this. He didn't turn around; he simply waved his hand lightly, and a golden ray of light shot from his fingertips, accurately intercepting Yin Yu's wooden sword.

"Boom!"

The light collided with the wooden sword, producing a muffled thud. Silver Feather's attack was blocked, but he didn't panic; instead, a slight smile appeared on his face.

"As expected of a seventh-level expert, your reaction is truly swift," Yin Yu exclaimed, then thrust out another sword. This time, the tip of his sword was wreathed in green energy, a manifestation of the wood element law.

Hong turned around, his right index and middle fingers joined together like an invisible sword, to meet Yin Yu's attack. Golden light condensed at his fingertips, forming a sharp sword of light.

"Ding!"

The two attacks collided again, creating ripples of energy that spread throughout the entire arena.

“Interesting,” Hong said softly, a hint of interest flashing in his eyes. “Your wood-elemental laws are indeed exquisite, capable of instantly altering the properties and strength of a wooden sword. No wonder you’re known as the ‘Fallen Leaf Swordsman.’”

Yin Yu smiled slightly. "You flatter me. In comparison, your laws of light are purer and more powerful. However," his voice suddenly sharpened, "this is far from my full strength!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Yin Yu's domain suddenly expanded, and a powerful wood-elemental energy erupted from his body. The green energy wrapped around his wooden sword became even more concentrated, and at the same time, countless green vines began to grow on the arena, wrapping around Hong.

"A vine cage?" Hong raised an eyebrow. "That's certainly a good technique."

Faced with the overwhelming vines, Hong remained calm. He fully unleashed his seven-layered domain, a golden halo enveloping an area of ​​several hundred meters in radius. Within this domain, the laws of light were pushed to their limit, and all light obeyed his command.

“Light cutting,” Hong said softly.

The next moment, countless sharp rays of light shot out from all directions, precisely slicing through each vine. The vines were severed the instant they touched the light, but strangely, they did not die. Instead, new branches quickly grew from the cuts, and their numbers increased.

"Haha, this is my 'Immortal Vine'," Silver Feather laughed smugly. "They absorb light as nutrients, and the more they are cut, the faster they grow. Your laws of light have actually become their nourishment."

Hong frowned slightly. "That's interesting."

Just then, the vines completely enveloped Hong, forming a giant green cocoon. From the outside, Hong's figure was completely covered by the vines, seemingly trapped in danger.

In the audience, Thor, witnessing this scene, couldn't help but sit up straight. "This guy's really something, managing to push Hong to this point."

Luo Feng shook his head. "No, Hong hasn't used his true strength yet. He's testing Yin Yu's trump card."

Rowan nodded in agreement, "That's right, Hong's strength is far more than that. He's probably studying his opponent's fighting style and weaknesses."

On the field, Hong, surrounded by vines, seemed unable to move. Silver Feather slowly approached, his wooden sword pointing at the green cocoon. "Admit defeat, Hong. Your laws of light are useless against my 'Undying Vines.' These vines will continuously absorb your energy until you are completely exhausted."

From within the cocoon came Hong Ping's calm voice, "Your wood-based laws are indeed exquisite, capable of bringing the characteristics of living things to their fullest potential. However..."

Before he finished speaking, a dazzling golden light suddenly burst forth from the cocoon, instantly evaporating all the vines. Hong's figure reappeared before everyone, enveloped in a golden halo, appearing sacred and inviolable.

“But you’ve forgotten one thing,” Hong continued, “light can not only cut, it can also burn.”

Yin Yu's expression changed slightly, but he quickly regained his composure. "As expected of a seventh-level expert, he certainly has some skill. However, this match has only just begun."

As he spoke, Yin Yu's sixth domain expanded once more, this time enveloping his entire body in a layer of green light. His wooden sword also changed, transforming from ordinary wood into a translucent green crystal, appearing even sharper and more mysterious.

"This is my 'Sword of Life,' embodying my understanding of the essence of life and the ultimate application of the wood element's laws," Silver Feather explained. "It can not only cut through matter, but also life force. Once wounded by it, the wound will be difficult to heal, and life force will continue to drain away."

A hint of admiration flashed in Hong's eyes. "Indeed, a powerful weapon. However, have you considered this: light itself has no life; will your 'Sword of Life' be effective against it?"

Silver Feather was slightly taken aback, but quickly recovered. "You want to use pure light to fight me? Interesting. Then let me see just how powerful your laws of light really are!"

After saying that, Yin Yu charged at Hong again, the 'Sword of Life' drawing a beautiful arc in the air as it slashed towards Hong's head.

Hong did not dodge, but instead stretched out his right hand with his five fingers spread, to meet the 'Sword of Life'.

"Is he crazy?" someone in the audience exclaimed.

"Catch a sword with bare hands? Even a seventh-level expert would be incredibly arrogant!"

However, to everyone's surprise, when Silver Feather's 'Sword of Life' touched Hong's palm, it stopped in mid-air and could not advance an inch.

Upon closer inspection, a thin film of light had formed around Hong's palm, a protective shield woven from countless tiny rays of light. Silver Feather's sword was stuck within this film, unable to move.

"How is this possible?" Silver Feather stared at the scene in disbelief.

Hong calmly explained, "A fundamental application of the laws of light: a light shield. By controlling the density and arrangement of light rays, a nearly impenetrable protective shield can be formed. No matter how sharp your 'sword of life' is, it cannot cut through light itself."

Yin Yu tried to pull back the sword, but found that it was firmly fixed in place by the light membrane and could not be moved even slightly.

“Now, it’s my turn.” Hong’s voice remained calm, but it contained unparalleled confidence.

(End of this chapter)