The Decisive Strike

Zhang He gripped his guandao with both hands and let out a thunderous roar, like a sudden clap of thunder shaking the earth. The sheer force of it stirred the air around him.

With a sudden shift in his stance, he launched forward like a raging bull, charging straight at Dustin.

Though the heavy guandao should have been unwieldy, it moved like a feather in Zhang He's hands, slicing through the air with fierce momentum. The blade screamed as it tore through the wind, as if it could cut through anything in its path.

With the weight of a mountain, the guandao came crashing down at Dustin.

This strike contained nearly all of Zhang He’s strength. The ground trembled beneath its force, dust swirling into the air in thick, towering columns.

He knew clearly in his heart—Dustin was no ordinary opponent. To defeat him, he had to seize the initiative.

“Nice technique.”

Despite the ferocious attack coming his way, Dustin remained calm and composed.

He moved with ease, like a wisp of smoke. With a simple sidestep, the deadly guandao slashed past him, only grazing his robe and whipping up a gust of wind.

In the same instant, Dustin’s sword flicked forward like a nimble snake, aiming directly for Zhang He’s shoulder as he passed.

Zhang He reacted swiftly. After missing his initial strike, he immediately shifted tactics, turning his downward chop into a sweeping horizontal slash.

Under the sunlight, the blade gleamed like a silver ribbon, slicing toward Dustin's waist with incredible speed and strength. It was a reckless move—clearly meant to trade blows.

To Zhang He, a sword to the shoulder was a minor wound. But if his guandao landed, it would be enough to cut his opponent in half.

He was certain—Dustin wouldn’t dare take it head-on and would have to dodge.

And he was right.

As Zhang He swept his blade sideways, Dustin instantly abandoned his attack. With a light tap of his toes, he leapt high into the air, narrowly dodging the deadly strike.

While airborne, his sword flicked again—this time like a whip—stinging down toward Zhang He’s arm.

The angle was sharp and the speed was blinding, catching even the most seasoned warrior off-guard.

Zhang He once again reacted quickly, raising his guandao vertically to block.

Clang!

A sharp metallic ring echoed across the dueling ground, sparks flying as the blades collided.

The force of the strike made Zhang He’s arm go numb, and he couldn’t help but be startled.

He had assumed Dustin favored agility and speed—but he hadn’t expected such raw power. Truly impressive.

There was no time to dwell on it. Zhang He launched another fierce assault.

His guandao was a weapon designed for sweeping, devastating attacks. Each strike carried the potential to end the battle.

If he could just land a single solid blow, even grazing his opponent, it could cause serious injury.

Back and forth they went, exchanging offense and defense in a furious rhythm.

Zhang He’s battlefield experience was vast. Even when in a disadvantageous position, he could rely on his instincts and skills to turn the tide.

In this regard, he was far superior to his former deputy, Wu Yong.

The duel between Zhang He and Dustin had the audience spellbound. The clash of weapons, the pace, the intensity—it was breathtaking.

Zhang He’s guandao was a force of nature—heavy, far-reaching, and brutally powerful. Paired with his bold and forceful style, his attacks were explosive.

Dustin’s sword, on the other hand, was light, quick, and nimble. Combined with his elusive footwork, it was a perfect complement.

At this point, no one could say for sure who had the upper hand—but the battle was undeniably dazzling.

After a prolonged exchange, Zhang He began to feel the weight of the fight.

No matter how fiercely he attacked or how many powerful strikes he landed, Dustin always seemed to handle them with ease and respond in kind.

At first, this wasn’t a big concern—but now his stamina was fading.

If this continued, it was only a matter of time before he lost.

He had to find a way to break the rhythm and disrupt Dustin’s flow to have a chance at victory.

Taking a deep breath, Zhang He’s eyes gleamed with resolve.

He knew—if he didn’t use his ultimate move now, defeat was certain.

“Heaven-Shattering Strike!”

Seizing an opening, Zhang He raised his guandao high above his head, pouring a torrent of master-level energy into the blade.

In that instant, golden light burst forth from the weapon, shining like the sun itself.

“Strike!”

He roared, bringing the weapon down with all his might toward Dustin.

This blow contained every ounce of his strength, spirit, and will.

As the blade descended, the air itself seemed to twist from the pressure, strange currents forming in its wake.

These currents surrounded Dustin like a cage, momentarily restricting his movement—an effect perfectly in sync with the overwhelming power of the strike.

At that moment, everyone held their breath, eyes wide.

They knew—this was the deciding blow.

If General Zhang’s attack connected, the battle would be his.

But even as the guandao came crashing down, Dustin remained perfectly calm—as if the earth-shattering blow before him was nothing of concern.

Just before the blade reached him, Dustin suddenly moved.

His sword traced a graceful arc at a seemingly impossible speed and angle—what looked like a casual strike was, in fact, incredibly precise.

It struck the joint connecting the guandao's blade and hilt.

Crack!

A sharp snap rang out.

Zhang He’s heavy guandao had been cleaved in two.

The upper half of the weapon, now unsupported, dropped to the ground with a thud.

Zhang He, having thrown his full weight behind the attack, staggered forward and nearly fell.

His so-called ultimate technique had been effortlessly dismantled by Dustin.  -Vivek