The Max Level Hero Has Returned!

Chapter 873. Hey, That Looks Good

Swish!! Boom!! Bang!!

The audience was stunned by Maximus’s explosive transformation. His unimaginable power was far beyond what a teenager could normally achieve.

He wielded fist energy, the ultimate symbol of a master. Otherwise known as aura fist.

His fist energy flamed with a brilliant blue hue, a manifestation of his willpower and resolve.

Blue flames like his were often associated with pure fervor and determination.

“Incredible. Truly a blessing for the Terraria Kingdom,” one noble murmured in awe.

The King of Terraria remained stern, gazing at his son.

“Victory is all that matters. Without it, there’s no point.”

“But—”

“The martial arts of the Terraria Kingdom are the strongest on the continent. To lose against any opponent is unthinkable, especially for someone who’s mastered them.”

“But... he’s just a child. If he’s allowed to grow with time, he’ll surely become one of the most renowned figures on the continent...”

“Prince Davey isn’t in his twenties either. And what Maximus is—it is far from perfection. If he loses, there will be severe consequences.”

“But—”

“Since when did you gain the right to interfere in another nation’s affairs like this?”

The king’s obsessive pursuit of perfection made everyone around him exchange uneasy glances. They all knew he was being excessive—yet, like he said, none of them had the power to challenge him. Even the nobles of Terraria seemed to pity Maximus, their expressions heavy with regret and sympathy.

“Tsk, tsk...” an elder noble muttered, shaking his head.

“Isn’t this a bit too much?” a noble from the Pallan Empire asked.

“What can we do about it? The king’s as stubborn as a mountain.”

“It’s unfortunate. Even if he’s technically of age, throwing him into such a ruthless world won’t end well.”

“I heard about Prince Maximus—how the king has pushed him so relentlessly ever since he was around thirteen.”

“It’s cruel, isn’t it?”

"Did you know that there are two factions within the Terraria Kingdom: the Eastern and Western factions? Well, I suppose it's the kind of political divide you'd find in any country. They're so fiercely opposed that if one side proposes a policy, the other immediately rejects it without a second thought..."

“Your point?”

“The funny thing about them is that both sides pity Prince Maximus so much that they try to protect him at all costs, pleading for the king to stop and to ease up on Maximus. Just hearing about it makes my heart ache for him.”

“...”

It was unimaginable how dire Maximus’s situation must be when two opposing factions that normally tore at each other’s throats united out of pity for him.

“The king already severed the head of his beloved fiancée, killed his mother, and gouged out his sister’s eyes. I can’t imagine what punishment awaits him if he loses again, regardless of his incredible talent...”

Swish! Boom!!

Maximus let out ferocious energy. Davey could tell how much stronger he had gotten. He couldn't help but grin in satisfaction.

“Still haunted by your trauma?”

Boom!!

Maximus continued to attack relentlessly, solely determined to win. Davey deflected the sharp Tai Chi blows that ruptured the ground, countering slowly and carefully. Maximus, however, blocked his counters with ease, getting back at him as if his attacks weren’t even a threat to him.

The years of effort Maximus had poured in—the efforts that he hated after losing everything he had—were blooming as they came together with karma. He had overcome his trauma to become his stronger self.

“Should I call it gratitude? Or cruelty?” Maximus mused as their blows collided.

Bang!!

He hurled a punch enveloped with Tai Chi fist energy.

“You’ve helped me realize how weak my so-called strength truly was.”

Pow! Pow!!

His movements were astonishingly fluid and fierce, his attacks relentless, constantly seeking an opening. Davey defended himself by deflecting and blocking the attacks, but even he couldn’t deny how unnervingly intuitive the strikes were.

He was hurling attacks that would overwhelm most fist masters. It wasn’t that Maximus was better than them; it seemed like he was withstanding them with instinctual precision.

“No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t change my nation as a single individual. So, I gave up.”

Maximus had mistakenly believed his strength was absolute, and any further effort would be meaningless. He had been convinced that no matter what he did, he wouldn’t be able to overcome the overwhelming might of a nation.

Despite having gained the immense power of Tai Chi, Maximus despaired over his helplessness and the inadequacy of his strength, unable to stand against the nation. Thus, he became the powerless individual he was right now.

“But fighting you, and facing the fears that I’ve run from for so long...”

For the first time in a long time, Maximus smiled. It didn’t have bitterness or anger—it radiated genuine determination.

“I’ve realized just how vast the world really is.”

Crack!!

The ground beneath them gave way under the force of his energy. Even though Davey had reinforced it earlier, it still shattered, leaving behind swirling patterns carved into the surface by his Tai Chi. Then, a red and blue internal energy came together with the blue energy fist in an instant.

“Do you regret it?” Davey asked, his expression calm.

“If I’d had just one more year—no, even one more month—I wouldn’t have so much regret. I could’ve fought you under better circumstances, giving my all.”

He lamented not pushing himself further, not fighting harder against the despair that had once paralyzed him.

“But from now on, I’ll protect everything. Everything that matters to me—I’ll protect it all.”

Davey couldn’t help but laugh at his fierce determination.

“Come at me, then. I’ll take everything you’ve got.”

“This is going to hurt, Davey!!”

Maximus charged with a radiant smile lighting up his face. Ignoring the toll his body would take, he pushed himself beyond his limits, channeling his internal energy as he unveiled the essence of Tai Chi.

To see such power coming from a nineteen year old left the audience stunned. In the middle of their disbelief, the raging storm of his Tai Chi suddenly stilled. The internal energy was soon absorbed by the Yin-Yang symbol on the ground before beginning to glow.

[Tai Chi]

[Yin and Yang Grand Radiant Strike]

A massive surge of yin and yang energy shot forth, resembling the form of a mighty dragon descending from the heavens.

* * *

Even as they fought, Maximus continued to evolve.

Though he had once been absorbed in despair, believing all his efforts to have been for nothing, Davey thought differently. His strength and talent hadn’t come from nowhere—they were the result of years of effort. It was because of his efforts that his abilities bloomed, along with his unyielding determination, that let him grow so quickly.

This was what Davey wanted him to understand.

Though Davey had said he wasn’t his friend, he couldn’t help but feel a certain kinship with Maximus.

“Well, I guess it’s time for me to reciprocate with some strength of my own.”

With Maximus launching himself forward, his next strike carried power akin to a strategic bombardment spell, far beyond the level of a simple punch. Davey clenched his fist toward him as well, pulled it back, and stomped lightly on the ground.

Thud!

A shockwave rippled out from the faint stomp, making the nearby air vibrate.

[Heavenly Destroyer Divine Art]

[Combination]

[Devil Ylgr’s Crowd Suppression]

Davey combined the Heavenly Destroyer Divine Art with the combat techniques of the Demon King Ylgr from the Berdel Continent. Black and white flames rose from his palm, spinning violently until they formed a small storm.

[Full-Power Slap]

He released the wave of black and white flames as they made a crackling sound. For a moment, all sound vanished as if time itself had stopped.

Whirrr!!! Boom!!

After a shockwave that easily surpassed several times the speed of sound, a deep, resounding boom gradually echoed, shaking the air.

Maximus was the first to be affected. He had thrust his fist forward, closing the distance, but that was as far as he got. He had been stopped in midair by Davey.

The shockwave didn’t stop there—

Crack! Crack!!

It surged outward, shattering the already broken arena floor and shaking the entire stadium. The shockwave was reaching spectators despite the protective barrier he had set up.

The fact that the barrier Davey had set up shook meant that he hadn’t been able to control his strength. He had held back as much as he could, but it seemed like the determination and passion Maximus had shown him played a role in him getting excited as well.

He frowned, reaching toward the barrier that was collapsing behind Maximus. He knew using magic would result in an automatic forfeit, but preventing injuries was more important than winning. Just as Davey was about to cast a spell—

Thud!!

In the audience, Perserque raised her hand, gathering a brilliant light that quickly formed into the Transcendence’s Demise.

Thud!!

Soon after, the powerful barrier enveloped the arena once again, absorbing the leftover shockwaves and containing the residual force. Though it wasn’t completely neutralized, the remnant energy was redirected upward, creating a fierce updraft that twisted the atmosphere, forming rain clouds.

A gentle, warm rain began to fall over the arena.

Davey turned to look at Perserque, who stood there with a playful smirk, mouthing silently:

‘You owe me one.’

‘Ha, not on my watch. Don’t try to get out of the deal.’

Davey didn’t hesitate to activate a messaging spell. Being disqualified over the use of magic was the least of his concerns at the moment.

[Cat paws and a cat tail. No negotiations. The other two as well.]

His firm message made her flinch before she glared at him sharply.

The jaw-dropping fight—something even master-level martial artists couldn’t replicate—made everyone in the audience stands dumbfounded, staring at the arena despite the pouring rain.

Technically, it was a match between Maximus, who fought with everything he had; and Davey, who deliberately limited his strength. Even so, Davey ensured he held back within the limits of what Maximus could handle. If Maximus chose to sacrifice his future for a pyrrhic victory, he was planning to forfeit without hesitation.

Maximus lay on the shattered floor, coughing up blood as he struggled to rise. But after giving everything he had and still losing, he couldn’t even muster the strength needed to stand. He looked up at the sky from where he lay and gave a hollow laugh.

“Ha...”

“Sorry.”

“At least put in the effort to lie. Hah.”

“How do you feel?”

“Well, I think I now understand why you acted that way.”

Giving up on standing, Maximus muttered quietly in regret.

“For someone who received a fated opportunity that others would sacrifice everything to obtain, doing nothing with it was my mistake. Facing you in this fight helped me to realize that I still have a future to live for.”

After collecting his breath again, he continued.

“The realization just came too late.”

“Hmm...”

As Davey just gulped, Maximus quietly called out.

“Davey.”

“What?”

“We’re friends, right?”

“I thought we called it off, didn’t we?”

“Let’s just be friends again.”

‘What a ridiculous guy.’

Normally, someone would feel bitter about not receiving help, but he seemed more relieved than anything.

“Davey.”

“What is it now?”

“If I had tried a little harder, do you think I could’ve landed a hit on you?”

“Yeah. You came close.”

Sitting down beside him, Davey looked at him with a grin, prompting a burst of laughter.

“You liar... Right to the end...”

With those words, his breathing slowed as he began to lose consciousness.

“This fuckin’ sucks...”

He murmured with regret, but there was no trace of despair.

“If you ever work yourself to death and feel like trying again, let me know. I’ve got plenty of good liquor.”

“Hahaha!”

With that final bout of laughter, Maximus passed out.

The fact that he stayed conscious despite taking his Full-Power Slap was proof that this sparring session had already made him stronger.

* * *

The Continental Martial Arts Tournament came to an end.

Some had expected the result, but there were others who expressed their astonishment.

Those who knew about Davey O’Rowane took the result as a given. Additionally, those aware of just how absurdly strong he was praised Maximus for lasting as long as he did—especially since he was only a teenager.

Of course, there weren’t many who took this stance.

It was amusing in a way, as Davey himself was technically not even in his twenties yet was excluded from his age group in everyone’s eyes.

“You’re kidding, right? Anyone who’s seen you fight would think you’re either inhuman or some hidden top dog maintaining a youthful appearance.”

“Not wrong.”

With a chuckle, Davey glanced at the mithril medal in his hand. The intricately designed medal was awarded to the winner of the Continental Martial Arts Tournament.

“Are you going to use that for anything?”

“No.”

In truth, Davey didn’t really care about it.

“Then let me have it.”

“What for?”

When Davey asked, she nodded decisively.

“There’s a lot I can use it for.”

“Fine, then take it.”

“Put it on me.” n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

Davey leaned down and placed it around her neck. But as he wrapped his hands around her neck, she tilted her head curiously.

‘She’s the one who asked me to do it—why’s she acting surprised?’

She suddenly reached out, wrapping her arms around his neck.

Then...

She suddenly lifted her heels and kissed him. He felt the soft sensation as her lips pressed firmly against his.

Caught off guard by her abrupt move, Davey half-closed his eyes as he stared at her. She simply pretended to not know what had just happened.

He wondered why she was so embarrassed about a simple kiss between husband and wife.

Though Illyna often expressed her affection freely, especially at night, even her boldness didn’t usually extend to public displays.

Even so, he was too curious.

“What are you doing?”

“Hm? Isn’t it obvious? I kissed you.”

Still making a confused, innocent face, she tilted her head again.

“If you don’t like it, never mind. Just think of it as a reward for winning first place.”

“Not a chance. There’s no negotiating your way out of dressing up as a bunny girl.”

“I-I know...”

As her confidence wavered and she fumbled, Aeria couldn’t help but giggle quietly. Her sense of humor had always been odd.

Meanwhile, Illyna licked her lips lightly and gave him a seductive smile.