Solar Blood Masters (189)

Chapter 189 - Snow General Bailof

THUD! THUD!

A hush fell over the courtyard. The festive atmosphere, the boisterous laughter, the whispers of anticipation, all faded as a hulking warrior stepped forward from the crowd. An ice club rested on his shoulder with its tip dripping with frozen water.

“I am Genin!” he proclaimed boldly. And his gaze, full of arrogant lust, settled upon the balcony where the Snow Maidens resided. “And those Snow Maidens… They’ll be adorning MY bed tonight!”

He flexed his muscles and a ripple of icy energy washed across the courtyard, and the crowd roared its approval.

“Genin! Genin! Genin!”

“He’s a 7th Star Soul Layer! He’s strong!”

“No one can match his might!”

“Those maidens will be his!”

Their cheers were met with disdain from the soldiers stationed around the arena. They glared at Genin with disapproval.

‘That brute! How dare he be so lecherous!’

They couldn’t fathom serving such an arrogant fool as their Snow Lord.

Genin laughed. “Bring out your strongest contender! I don’t have time to waste on weaklings! I have maidens to deflower!”

“That brute! How dare he be so lecherous?!” Yukiana Snow gestured to one of the soldiers on the balcony.

The soldier nodded and without a word, leaped from the balcony. He landed with a thud that shook the ground and sent a wave of snow swirling outwards.

When the mist cleared, Genin and the crowd gasped.

“Snow General Bailof!”

“He’s here?!”

“I heard he’s the strongest! He commands over FIVE THOUSAND troops!”

“His military merits are legendary!”

“He slew two Saint Rulers at once!”

“He served under the former Snow Lord. And he defended the outer walls for a century!”

Snow General Bailof stood before them. An imposing figure of 9 feet tall with muscles that dwarfed even Genin’s. He wore silver ice armor, a long scar marred his face, adding to his already intimidating presence, and two large gauntlets, crafted from ice and infused with potent Solar Essence, adorned his massive hands. He looked ready for battle.

He glared at Genin dangerously. “Let’s get this over with, small fry.”

“Small fry?!” Genin bit his lip in anger.

‘This bastard! Why did HE have to show up?! I remember a decade ago, when I applied for his regiment, he hit me with a denial countermeasure… treated me as if I wasn't good enough! Today, I’ll show him! I’ll show them all!’

“GRAAAH! I’LL MAKE YOU SUBMIT!”

He charged his Solar Essences and raised his ice club, channeling his power into it. Its tip glowed with a chilling blue light. He slammed it onto the ground.

BOOM!

A wave of icy energy erupted outwards, freezing the ground beneath Bailof’s feet. Then, from the ice, dozens of sharp, icicle spears shot upwards!

Bailof simply… sidestepped.

He watched Genin’s attack with a detached amusement and yawned, showcasing rows of pearly-white teeth, “Your strength and speed… they’re truly PATHETIC for a supposed Solar Blood Master! This is all you got?!”

Enraged by Bailof’s condescension, Genin unleashed a flurry of attacks, each strike enhanced by his ice club and fueled by the potent energy of his Soul Planets.

“Ice Shatter!”

“Boiling Avalanche!”

“Blizzard Barrage!”

But Bailof effortlessly evaded every blow, his movements were swift and graceful as if he were dancing with those very icy blasts Genin so eagerly hoped would be his undoing.

With one hand clasped casually behind his back, Bailof blocked Genin’s ice club with his ‘Glacier’ gauntlet. The impact reverberated through the arena, yet Bailof remained unmoved.

Then, with a swift motion, he twisted the club, yanking it from Genin’s grasp!

Before Genin could react, Bailof’s other gauntlet, ‘Avalanche’, slammed into his face.

BOOM!

“ARGH!”

Genin stumbled back as he crashed on the ground. When he stood, he discovered that all his teeth were knocked out of his mouth. He looked dazed.

“BASTARD! ARAHH!”

“Hmph! Rubbish!”

Bailof unleashed a barrage of punches and kicks. Each blow was precise and powerful that targeted Genin’s weak points.

Bam! Bam! Bam!

Genin tried to defend himself, to counterattack, but he was no match for Bailof’s overwhelming strength and speed. In the end, he faltered to his knees.

Bailof stood over him. His ‘Glacier’ gauntlet glowed with a menacing blue light.

“You’re not worthy to even gaze upon the Snow Maidens.”

He slammed his fist downwards and knocked Genin unconscious.

The crowd roared its approval.

“Bailof! Bailof! Bailof!”

“He’s the strongest!”

“That’s what that brute gets for being so arrogant!”

“General Bailof didn’t even use his Solar Blood Spirit! Just one of his gauntlets was enough to defeat that 7th Star Soul Layer!”

Soldiers rushed forward and carried Genin away on a stretcher.

On the balcony, Yukiana and Labeach smiled pleasingly with Bailof's victory.

“That was satisfying. He defended our honor.” Yukiana said, watching Bailof being praised by his comrades.

“Indeed. That brute Genin deserved to be humiliated. But those other challengers…” Labeach scoffed.

“They’re no match for Bailof. This contest is a farce.”

“My daughters…”

Xavier Snow sighed and clutched his chest. He winced. “That’s enough, my children. It pains this old heart to hear you speak so ill of my subjects.”

“They’re not our subjects, Father. They’re just… beasts, masquerading as men. Their Solar Essences are weak. Their intentions are impure.” Yukiana’s words had Labeach nodding her agreement.

Xavier shook his head sadly. He understood his daughters’ disdain, but he still held onto a sliver of hope. ‘Perhaps… among those men… one heart will be pure…’

Bailof turned his gaze towards the line of challengers.

“Anyone else eager to die? Come forth and prove your strength. Otherwise leave. You’re wasting my time.”

A wave of fear washed over the challengers. Some turned and left, eager to avoid a similar fate as Genin.

However, others whose ambitions fueled by the prospect of winning the Snow Maidens’ hearts, stepped forward, and stood defiant.

“I’ll be the next challenger.”

Everyone look at who spoke.

A scrawny old man with a long, white beard, a bald head, and only two rotten teeth stepped forward. His ice cane was clicking softly against the stone floor. He looked more than old, perhaps near death. His eyes were squinted like a cunning fox.

“Huh? That old man is the next challenger? He looks as if he’s over a thousand years old!”

“That old man should be on his deathbed! What does he think he’s doing?”

“Maybe he wants a taste of maiden heaven before he enters the afterlife.”

“Hahaha!”

The old man ignored their whispers and focused his gaze on Bailof.

“Young man, please go easy on me.”

“What?” Bailof couldn't believe his ears. He scoffed. “Are you mocking me, old man? What’s your name?”

“My name… is Enel Snow.”

Recognition flickered in Bailof’s eyes. But this frail figure before him… it couldn’t be the legendary Enel Snow.

“Enel Snow… your name sounds familiar. But it doesn’t matter. Come at me, old man. I’ll give you five moves without retaliating. How’s that for going easy?”

“Oh… thank you, young man.”

Enel Snow’s fox-like eyes opened slightly. He stamped his staff onto the ground.

BOOM!

A chilling aura exploded outwards! Heralded the grand reveal of Enel’s Star System.

Behind him, a spectral image of a massive scorpion materialized. Its exoskeleton shimmered with a thousand hues of blue and white. Its pincers clicked menacingly. Its tail had venomous stinger that throbbed with potent energy.

A Ligwei Ice Scorpion.

Three Soul Orbitals came to life around the scorpion, each radiating the vibrant energy of Soul Planets.

“What the heck?! That old man’s Star System… has 14 Soul Planets?!”

“3rd Stellar Soul Layer! He’s a powerhouse!”

“He was hiding his strength!”

“This is going to be a good fight!”

The crowd buzzed with excitement.

Bailof stumbled back, slightly startled by Enel Snow’s sudden display of power. ‘This old bastard! He deliberately suppressed his strength!’

Enel Snow smiled. “Young man, you promised me five moves without retaliating. You're not going back on your word, are you?”

Bailof gritted his teeth. He was a man of his word.

“I am a man of my word! Come at me, old man!” He clamped his gauntlets together at the elbows; a defensive stance.

“Don’t mind if I do.”

Enel Snow straightened his hunched spine and then one of his Soul Planets flared! A beam of pure energy shot into him from the sky!

His frail form bulked up. Muscles rippled beneath his skin. His two rotten teeth fell out, replaced by rows of pearly white fangs.

“Ligwei Ice Scorpion Possession!”

He merged with his Solar Blood Spirit. A poisonous tail extended from his backend and pincers protruded from his jaws. His once-feeble frame was now a ‘Scorpion God of War’.

‘This old bastard… he tricked me!’ Snow General Bailof tensed his muscles and prepared for the worse.