## Chapter 191: Clash of the Strongest Experts
In Lut Gholein, the sandstorm in the depths of the Desert did not subside with the arrival of the Divine Birth Day. Hurricanes that swallowed the sky and covered the sun swept up the scorching yellow sand, turning the entire Desert into a Death Zone. Any power seemed so fragile before Nature. Here, it was a fiery hell of wind and sand, a forbidden zone of life.
However, within the sandstorm where one could barely see five fingers in front of them, a Shadow faintly appeared.
This was a tall Shadow. Upon closer inspection, its entire Body was tightly Enveloped by a Cloak, and even its face was obscured by the shadow of its Hat. Ignoring the violent wind and sand coming at it, the Shadow moved slowly with even Footsteps, like a black Shadow in the Great Desert.
As if tireless, the Shadow kept moving towards the depths of the Desert, as if it had been doing so forever, and there was no telling when it would stop.
Then, without warning, it suddenly stopped. From movement to stillness, its Actions were as natural and smooth as flowing water, without the slightest sense of abruptness, as if it was meant to stop here. If an Expert like Kashya were present, they would immediately see from this tiny Movement that this was a Realm of smooth, flowing movements achievable only by controlling every inch of one's Body Muscle to near perfection.
The Shadow stopped because not far in front of it, another Shadow stood quietly. If the original Shadow was described as tall, then the Shadow that appeared in front of it could only be described as huge. Doug was considered tall among Barbarians, but this Shadow looked even a head taller than him. Standing In Front of it felt like standing In Front of a solid iron tower, leaving no option but to look up.
The Shadow in front took off its Hat and Cloak, revealing a bald Head covered in Tattoo Totems. A small braid was tied at the back, indicating its Barbarian Status.
Its Eyes were wide open. A crazy Battle Intent emanated undisguised from its dark pupils, like a Fierce Beast with extreme Attack Power. Completely ignoring the scorching yellow sand hitting its face, it grinned at the Shadow opposite.
"Yo, I said Kaka, look at the bright Sunlight today, the brilliant wind and sand. Why are you walking here all alone? Aren't you lonely?"
After the teasing remark, the Barbarian pulled out a Wine Pot from somewhere and gulped down a few mouthfuls of Wine.
"Teacher Kashya's bad habit, you've learned it perfectly, Seattlek."
The Shadow opposite replied in a flat and cold Tone.
"Don't say that. Look, I specially rushed over from Harrogath just to see you. Is this how you treat an old Friend? It's really heartbreaking."
The teasing Tone of the Barbarian named Seattlek, if listened to carefully, truly had ninety-nine percent of Kashya's essence.
"I'm afraid it's not just something as boring as seeing me, is it? Also, don't call me Kaka." The Shadow's Tone remained cold and lifeless.
"Haha, Kaka, you really know me. Damn it, the Quality of those little guys in Harrogath has been getting worse and worse lately. Fighting them isn't satisfying at all. Divine Birth Day is almost here. I was thinking if I should celebrate it myself."
After speaking, his already battle-ready Gaze suddenly erupted with an even fiercer Presence, so much so that the Cloak tightly wrapped around his Body couldn't withstand the bursting Strength.
With a "bang," the Rope connecting it snapped, and the entire Cloak flew high, draping behind him like a war god. In an instant, the fierce sandstorm seemed to be forcefully pushed away. A dazzling Golden Light radiated from his entire Body. Exquisite and smooth Golden Armor, Helmet, and Iron Boots tightly wrapped his sturdy Figure, making him look like an invincible Golden Colossus, tall and mighty.
"You should really change your warlike personality. You've probably accidentally killed more than a single digit of Adventurers, haven't you? If you're looking for an Opponent, I suggest you go to Harrogath in Act II."
The Shadow on the other side also untied its Cloak, revealing its Radiant Light-shimmering Golden Equipment. If the Barbarian in full Golden Equipment looked ferocious and unstoppable, then the Paladin was as steadfast and solid as a rock.
"Hmph, don't mention that Junk. With their Level, even if they went to Act II, they'd just be sending fertilizer." He paused.
"I do want to visit Act II, but lately, I don't know why those old guys have strengthened the Management of the Worldstone. Traveling between the two Acts isn't as convenient as before."
The Barbarian Seattlek said muttering unhappily, while simultaneously drawing two Golden Battle Axes and raising them high against the Wind, as if to vent all the frustration in his Heart. The two Axes clashed violently against each other with a "bang bang," the Metal Collision Sound almost solidifying into sound waves that spread from the sparks of the collision, blowing away the sandstorm within dozens of meters.
"Then just go play bullfighting with Baal obediently."
The Paladin named Kaka... no, perhaps nicknamed Kaka, his Eyes suddenly sharpened. He slowly drew a... Unique One-Handed Sword from the Void!!! That condensed and non-dispersed Unique Light, what else could it be but a Unique Item?
Among the limited types of Unique Weapons, with that fiery red hilt and beautifully curved blade, there were only two in the entire Diablo world. One was an Elite grade, a top-tier Unique Longsword that could never appear in the First World or Act II—Frostwind, Mythical Sword. And the other one, the ordinary grade Longsword currently in the Paladin's Hand—Hell Plague, Long Sword!
Hell Plague, Long Sword (Unique)
One-Hand Damage: 13-61
Durability: 50-50
Required Level: 22
Required Strength: 55
Required Dexterity: 39
+80% Enhanced Damage
+2 Fire Skill
+50-100 Fire Damage
+60-100 Poison Damage over 6 seconds
5% Life Steal per Hit
5% Hit Steals Mana
+(1-5) Skill Point
And in her other Hand, she raised a blue Paladin Only Heraldic Shield.
The two no longer spoke. In the pervasive sandstorm, only the trembling Presence and soaring Battle Intent remained, constantly swirling and rising.
"Whoosh—"
The next second, the Paladin disappeared out of thin air. Where did she go? Could a Paladin really have such Speed?
"Haha— Haven't seen you in a few months, your 'Instant Step' seems to have gotten a little bit faster!!"
Seattlek's Gaze flashed, and he laughed heartily towards the Sky. The Sand beneath his Feet suddenly collapsed, forming a Crater several meters deep and over a dozen meters wide. At this moment, Seattlek had already appeared hundreds of meters high in the Sky.
Where was she? Seattlek's senses were fully open in the high Sky. His Eyes and Ears were tightly locked onto the area within a few miles. The fierce sandstorm around him didn't affect his judgment at all. In less than a moment, a cruel Smile curved at the Corner of his mouth. Suddenly, his entire Body plummeted towards the Ground like a rapidly falling cannonball.
"Bang—"
As if several kilograms of TNT buried in the Ground had exploded, a sand pillar over a hundred meters high erupted above the spot where Seattlek fell. Centered around the sand pillar, a violent shockwave spread out horizontally, lifting all the sand dunes within several hundred meters and shaking the entire Desert a few times.
"Thump—"
The moment after the sand pillar erupted, Seattlek's Body shot up into the Sky with the sand pillar, leaping high into the Sky over a hundred meters again.
"Tch. What a shame—"
He muttered unwillingly, but the Eyes searching everywhere erupted with even more frantic Battle Intent.
And what about the Paladin named Kaka he mentioned?
"Hiss— hiss— hiss—"
It was as if a discordant Wind Sound had been added to the fierce sandstorm. Adventurers whose senses weren't sharp enough would only feel a gentle breeze brushing past them, completely unable to imagine that a Living Person had just passed by them, and it was a tall Paladin not known for Speed.
At this moment, the Paladin had transformed into a Shadow of the Desert. Even if one listened intently, they could only hear a faint Wind Sound. With a "hiss," before they could react, this breeze had disappeared a hundred meters away. Even a sharp Assassin would probably only detect a few afterimages.
And where the breeze passed, only a shallow little pit was left on the soft Sand, quite like the Traceless Snow Tread in Wuxia novels.
But it wasn't like that. The Paladin's Movement Technique was completely different from light body techniques. Upon closer inspection, where her Footsteps had trod, there was faintly a mass of Air compressed into a physical Entity. After her Figure disappeared, this mass of Air, compressed to the point of distortion, suddenly released. Its Power was not much weaker than a hand grenade.
Created based on the Paladin's Tier 3 Skill—Charge's movement method, a brand new Skill that relies almost entirely on explosive Foot Strength to create Air resistance for forward movement—this is the essence of the 'Instant Step' created by the Paladin Kaka. And because of this, wherever she stepped, a mass of compressed and distorted Air would form.
The Great Desert Enveloped by the sandstorm, the ubiquitous Paladin like a Shadow, and the Figure of the Barbarian transformed into a Sky Eagle swooping down to hunt constantly intertwined.
Among those of the same Level, engaging in Melee Combat with a Barbarian and competing with a Barbarian in Stamina are acknowledged as stupid behaviors in Sanctuary. Therefore, the Paladin's only choice was Guerrilla Tactics, and her Tactics were also acknowledged as one of the most typical Paladin Guerrilla Tactics.
Aura switching, to be precise, switching between Vigor Aura and Holy Freeze Aura.
Vigor Aura: Can increase the Stamina and movement Speed of the user and teammates.
Holy Freeze Aura: Slows down surrounding Enemies and deals Damage to them.
Especially for a Speed-type Paladin like Kaka, activating Vigor Aura was like adding wings to a tiger, while Holy Freeze Aura could reduce the Speed of surrounding Enemies, having a similar effect to Vigor Aura.
Perhaps some would ask, since the effects of the two Auras are similar, why not just use one instead of the troublesome switching back and forth? Generally speaking, using Holy Freeze Aura would be better, as it can both reduce the Enemy's Speed and deal Damage.
This Idea is undoubtedly a conclusion reached by ignoring the three-dimensional World and viewing it on a parallel plane.
Firstly, there is a buffer Time when switching Auras. For example, switching from Vigor Aura to Cold Magic Aura. Vigor Aura doesn't immediately become ineffective; it requires a little buffer Time. Cold Magic Aura doesn't immediately take effect either; it also requires a little Time. Although this little Time is only as much Effort as a blink of an eye, it is enough for an Expert.
Another point is that by switching between the two Auras, one can create an unpredictable fluctuation in Speed, sometimes fast, sometimes slow. If this is combined with irregular Movement, then it is undoubtedly even more difficult for the Enemy to predict one's Actions or capture one's Figure.
And the Enemy's Actions will also be influenced by the Holy Freeze Aura that could be switched to at any moment. It's like playing a Game, where the Enemy shoots you from afar with Ice Arrow. Although your Cold Resistance is very high, the Opponent can grasp the timing. Just as you shake off the influence of the Cold Magic and are speeding up to chase, they turn back and give you another Arrow.
And what about the Barbarian named Seattlek? Although Holy Freeze Aura is indeed troublesome for Barbarians with low Resistance, its influence on him is not very great, because he is not running or walking now, but using his Body to project—leaping hundreds of meters high into the Sky, and after capturing the Target's Figure, plummeting down like a cannonball to Attack.
He was also doing this out of helplessness. Only by using this move, a modified version of the Barbarian's Tier 4 Skill—Leap Attack, could he catch up to this Abnormal Paladin who was several times more slippery than an Assassin.
The Battle lasted for an unknown amount of Time. It was the nth time Seattlek flew into the Sky when his Vision suddenly lit up.
Finally caught her. Where can you run now!!!
He took a deep breath, and his entire Body plummeted towards the Shadow below with even fiercer momentum than before.
The Paladin running on the Ground suddenly skipped a beat in her Heart. Her Intuition, honed through countless Trials of War, told her that her Movement had finally been captured. She frowned slightly. There was nothing she could do; who told that Battle Maniac that he occupied the Aerial Advantage.
The whistling sound of breaking Air had already made her eardrums hurt. Without hesitation, she switched to another Golden Gothic Shield. Based on the captured Sound, she slanted it behind her Shoulder.
"Screech—"
Not even half a second more, the Paladin had just completed her posture when a fierce Collision came from the Shield. The Barbarian's two Golden Battle Axes scraped fiercely against the Shield. An extremely harsh Metal friction Sound, accompanied by dazzling sparks, reverberated on the Contact Surface of the Shield and Axes.
Using this Strength, the Paladin leapt far away, breaking free from the Barbarian's entanglement. As for the Gothic Shield she had just taken out, its Durability had been reduced by more than a third, and the Pattern on the entire Shield Surface had been scraped off a layer. One could imagine the terror of that Barbarian's strike.
"Boom—"
The Barbarian plummeting from high altitude raised another sand pillar over a hundred meters high.
"Hmph—"
The Paladin who had leapt out narrowed her Vision. In the instantaneous Melee Combat just now, although she had suffered considerable Damage, the Barbarian had also temporarily lost some balance.
Thinking this, her Body that had leapt out suddenly folded back. Ignoring the strong shockwave caused by the Barbarian's landing, the Unique Longsword in her Hand turned into a White Light the instant it brushed past the erupting sand pillar over a hundred meters high.
Coordinated with the Instant Step, the Paladin's Tier 4 Skill—Vengeance.
A swift Sword slash cut through, even the entire raised sand pillar was neatly cut in two, making one recall the highest Realm of drawing a sword to cut water.
"Roar—" The Barbarian roared as he leapt high out from the cut sand pillar, while the Paladin's Figure had already disappeared in the distance.
Kaka, you guy, you keep saying I'm a war maniac, but you yourself can't stand losing even a little bit. You just suffered a little Damage and immediately wanted to get back at me.
Although the Paladin's flash-like Attack just now was blocked by his Axes, the Weapon Stats and the Elemental Damage attached to the Vengeance Skill were not something Axes could block.
"Haha, satisfying, satisfying..."
The Barbarian suddenly burst into frantic laughter. His Figure paused, and he flew up into the Sky over a hundred meters again, plummeting towards the Direction the Paladin had run...
This Battle lasted for a full day and night. Finally, the Paladin stopped, and the Barbarian also stopped not far behind her. Both were gasping for breath. Although the Paladin's Stamina was the second highest among the Seven Major Classes, Instant Step also consumed a lot. A full day and night of non-stop pursuit had consumed most of her Vitality.
As for Seattlek, the Barbarian known as the Stamina Maniac, his Stamina was several times that of a Paladin of the same Level, but his Leap Attack consumed several times more than the Paladin's Instant Step, so he was also exhausted.
"Let's stop here for today, phew phew—, damn it, that was really satisfying."
Seattlek put away his two Axes and said, panting heavily.
"Happy Divine Birth Day."
He made a Gesture towards the Paladin, and his Cloak was draped back over his Body. Although he still had remaining Vitality, the Paladin did too. Retaining enough Vitality to deal with potential Danger at any Time is common sense that every Adventurer should possess. Although Seattlek was warlike, he wasn't a fool. In a Death Zone like this where even Town Portal Scrolls couldn't be used, if he didn't save some Vitality, he might really die a wrongful Death.
After wrapping himself tightly in his Cloak, he didn't wait for the Paladin to Reply before disappearing into the sandstorm without looking back. He indeed had the Style of Kashya.
"..."
The Paladin speechlessly looked at the Barbarian's disappeared Back View, then looked around blankly.
Here... where is this?
This damn barbarian!
And while the two absolute Experts of the First World were clashing, someone who was completely unaware was living quite leisurely. In the subsequent few days, besides practicing Archery intimately with Sharna in the Training Ground for a while, most of the Time was spent chatting and boasting with the big-mouthed Doug and others in the Tavern.