An Understated Dominance by Marina Vittori (official version)

“Die!” the nine Judes roared in unison as they attacked Dalen.

The clones flashed across the battle ring. They wove in and out, blurring the line between reality and illusion. It was impossible to tell which was the real one.

With his mastery of the Spectral Sprint technique, Jude was already hard to follow. And he became nearly impossible to track when he used the Spectral Clone technique.

Dalen quickly channeled his internal energy to form a white barrier around himself. Just as the shield materialized, a relentless storm of punches rained down from every direction. Each blow sent ripples through the barrier.

As the punches rained like a torrential downpour, Dalen’s barrier shook like a boat caught in a fierce storm and threatened to break at any moment.

“Do you think you can stop me? I'll rip you to shreds.” Jude vented his pent-up rage as he threw more punches.

As a renowned master on the Legendary List, it was embarrassing to be injured by an unknown rookie. If he didn’t reclaim his honor right then, how could he hope to establish himself in the martial world again? While Jude unleashed his relentless attacks, Dalen didn’t rush to counter. Instead, he focused on channeling his internal energy to strengthen his protective barrier.

Jude's countless clones were a major problem. They made it impossible for Dalen to identify the real one.

Every time a clone or the real Jude threw a punch, they disappeared quickly, and Dalen had no chance to counterattack. At this rate, he wouldn't last long, no matter how strong he was.

“Oh my gosh! Who could possibly withstand this combination of Spectral Clone and Spectral Sprint techniques?”

“As expected of a master on the Legendary List, Jude is truly extraordinary. He can unleash such terrifying power even while injured. Amazing.” “To be fair, that disciple from the Shadow Citadel fought valiantly. He was close to winning but ultimately fell just one move short.” As the spectators observed Dalen taking hits in the center of the battle ring, their reactions varied.

Some cheered for Jude because they were impressed by his strength and ferocity despite his injuries. Others felt sorry for Dalen, who nearly achieved an upset victory and could have become another dark horse like Caleb.

But unlike Caleb, who defeated the ninth-ranked Sam through sheer skill, Dalen’s earlier advantage seemed too opportunistic.

“What now? Mr. Shade’s situation seems dire.” Ruby watched the intense scene in the ring with growing anxiety.

When Dalen had executed an impressive series of moves earlier, she thought he might win. But unexpectedly, Jude had caught on and launched a fierce counterattack.

“Jude is furious now. He is showing why he’s ranked on the Legendary List with his strength. It'll be tough for Mr. Shade to turn this around.” Crystal shook her head.

Even though Jude was wounded, his foundation remained solid. With the combination of Spectral Sprint and the Spectral Clone techniques, he was utterly unstoppable.

At the moment, Dalen was just passively defending. He couldn't turn the tide of the match unless he had some hidden ace up his sleeve.

“Die! Just die!” Jude grew furious and aggressive with each strike. His internal energy surged as countless shadows and fists rained down on Dalen’s protective barrier.

Cracks soon appeared on the white protective barrier, invigorating Jude. If he could shatter it, he could kill Dalen to vent the pent-up anger inside him.

But as the crisis deepened, Dalen surprised everyone by closing his eyes.

Jude's Spectral Clone and Spectral Sprint techniques were nearly impossible to track by the naked eye. Dalen knew he could only rely on acute perception to track Jude’s unpredictable movements. It was as difficult as finding a needle in a haystack.

But Dalen had no choice because Jude's relentless strikes intensified the cracks in the barrier, and it spread like a spider web.

“I'll gladly grant your wish since you want to die.” Jude sneered. He channeled all his internal energy into another heavy punch against the barrier.

Finally, the barrier shattered with a loud bang. He seized the moment and directed his clones and his real self to strike at Dalen’s vital points.

Then, Dalen finally opened his eyes. He didn’t put up any defense or try to dodge. Instead, he turned and pointed sharply at the flashing figure.

This seemingly ordinary gesture concealed a powerful force of destruction, which caused the surrounding space to warp slightly.

Jude's fist struck Dalen hard, while Dalen’s finger landed precisely on Jude’s chest.

In the next second, Dalen was thrown back as if hit by a truck. He flew over 30 feet before landing and sliding several more feet before coming to a stop. Blood trickled from his mouth and nose, clearly a result of Jude's heavy punch.

In contrast, Jude remained rooted after being struck by Dalen’s finger. His face showed a mix of shock and disbelief.

All his clones vanished, and only his real body stood there in stunned disbelief. Despite using Spectral Clone and Spectral Sprint techniques, he couldn’t understand how Dalen had pinpointed him so precisely. It was utterly unbelievable.

“You... you...” Jude raised a finger to point at Dalen.

Before he could say anything more, he suddenly coughed up a mouthful of blood. In the next moment, he collapsed and lay unconscious.