Chapter 9: Changes

Honestly, when he realized that he was not human, he was neither particularly surprised nor anxious. It seemed that, on a subconscious level, he accepted this identity quite naturally. One might say it was too natural, or perhaps he had already been somewhat psychologically prepared for it. When he confirmed this, he hardly felt any panic or sadness.

Without the healing of a priest and the sorcery of the fairy race, Ken completely relied on his own recovery abilities to withstand the side effects of using his ultimate power. However, it is evident that this is no ordinary strength possessed by a typical human

At this moment, his breath seemed to be completely integrated into this icy world. From a distance, he appeared like an ice sculpture standing majestically on the ice field

The Fist of Wave, imbued with terrifying power, howled as it struck towards Ken. After undergoing training in the icy world, Long's full-force attack could even pierce through the clouds in the sky. At such a distance, even an eighth-level expert could not afford to underestimate the Fist of Wave.

The power of the Wave Fist, while immensely strong, is also a force that can easily harm the user if not handled with care. Concentrating the entire body's energy fluctuations into the hands is not as simple as it appears; even a slight miscalculation can lead to an explosion. To stack such power three times, one can imagine the level of control required.

Boom! Although Bilong was slow to strike, Ken's blood-red energy sphere was even faster. It broke through Long's Wave Fist in one blow and directly hit his body. The Wave Fist, which gathered all of Long's energy, only managed to block it for one second before being completely dissipated.

Ah, it's so noisy! Who is causing trouble here? Don't you know this could have a negative impact on the children?" A very angry female voice came from the distant sky. Then, an icy storm swept in from the north

As he gathered his strength, a tremendous force concentrated in his hands, forming a sphere of nearly tangible white light.

The shadow of a giant dragon engulfed in flames merged with Ken's figure, representing a power that far surpassed the limits of the Hero's Conference and the battle with Helen, a fusion of his scorching power and the wave-like force of newfound enlightenment, culminating in the strongest Rising Dragon Fist.

However, it is evident that this individual is not satisfied with this punch. He shook his head, then retracted his fist, crouched slightly, and placed both fists on his waist

What is this power? It resembles the fluctuations of flame power, yet there seems to be a subtle difference. For him, who has mastered the fluctuations of power, it is clear that this kind of power also possesses great danger.

After uttering these words, the red glow in Ken's eyes became even more intense. Soon, his eyes were completely stained with blood. Within those transformed eyes, there was a gaze filled with a wild, frenzied ferocity, akin to that of a beast.

What! Ken was taken aback by the force that was charging towards him. It seems that Ken has become much stronger than he had imagined!

The frenzied gusts of wind swept everything away, transforming the tranquil world of ice and snow into a chaotic and shattered realm. Two top-tier fighters unleashed their utmost powers, engaging in a wild clash.

Strength ... ... ah ... ... '' Ken Masters raised his hands, and although they looked exactly the same as before, he knew they were different, completely different. The current him and the past him were entirely different, after `` that ''.

This fluctuation of power is still not fully mastered... After looking at the already battered iceberg, he shook his head, then closed his eyes and placed his hands on his waist

However, the subsequent few punches did not meet his expectations. Although one of them even pierced through the iceberg that served as the target, he did not come here merely to pursue that kind of pure destructive power, but rather to master a higher level of control over strength

With both hands placed on his waist, he smirked mischievously and struck a pose identical to that of Long Yi.

However, at the very moment he had just turned around, with the headband still fluttering in the fierce winds caused by the iceberg's eruption, an overwhelmingly powerful force surged skyward from the collapsing iceberg

Roar! No longer harboring any concerns, nor concealing anything, it is a roar of anger that expresses the strongest power within oneself

Why do I have this feeling? ... I shouldn't be human, but why do I have this strange sensation ...? ... Eucis lies in the embrace of the Ice Phoenix, soaring through the cloudless sky. Beautiful auroras flow around his body, yet his heart is no longer as calm as it once was.

It has come to an end... Hmph, I suppose it is indeed over... However, the manner of its conclusion is quite unexpected... Ken Masters, who once participated in the Hero Tournament and consistently advanced to the fourth round, displayed a very peculiar expression, one that seemed to convey both pain and confusion.

The boy dressed in a white robe did not speak; he merely stared blankly at the two humans frozen into ice sculptures. It seemed he was pondering something, yet also appeared to be in doubt about something. His gaze was particularly focused when looking at Ken Masters, who was dressed in red.

Long had lost count of how many times he had witnessed this provocative gesture. This time, just like before, he tied the white headband around his head and prepared for battle

Yes, this is his final battle with Long. Because, after today, he will no longer be the same as before. No, it should be said that after the Hero Conference, he has already ceased to be the original Ken Masters.

Although he was well aware that he should not be the true child of the Ice Phoenix beside him, her meticulous care and selfless love still moved him deeply. Although her way of expressing love seemed somewhat strange, the tenderness that emanated from her heart ultimately led him to truly acknowledge her

As Ken assumed the stance to unleash his finishing move, he revealed an evil grin, reminiscent of a beast that has spotted its prey

Alright, that should be enough. Good children should not look at these unseemly things too much. If you must look, you should seek out beautiful types, like the girls from the Dragon Tribe. There is no need to continue looking at such things. " The Ice Phoenix held onto Yuxis's hand and, taking advantage of his momentary distraction, let the three strands of blue hair on her head sway slightly backward.

What is that... Yuxis does not understand, whether it is a sense of déjà vu or a primal instinct, he cannot comprehend. The only thing he understands is that when he sees him, he experiences an unusual feeling. It is a sensation that has never been felt in this icy and snowy world

This state lasted for about one minute. He suddenly inhaled, and the relaxed muscles began to contract violently. When the tension in all the muscles reached a certain limit, he let out a loud shout

Drink

The Ice Phoenix Mother told him that in this world, she had never heard of any race whose young had golden blood. He was very likely the descendant of an extremely rare evolved super magical beast. Although his power was still weak now, he would undoubtedly become extraordinarily strong in the future. This was because she sensed a terrifying power within his blood.

With a thunderous roar, the towering iceberg, reaching heights of over 100 meters, exploded violently, sending countless chunks of ice and snow flying in all directions, crashing onto the ground with loud "bang! bang!" sounds

The massive ice layer appeared fragile under the full force of the two individuals' stomping. After simultaneously creating two large holes, the distance between them was reduced to about one meter. They could even clearly see the fine hairs on each other's faces.

I will come here. Perhaps it is because I want to fulfill my long-standing greatest wish in the end. That is to defeat his best friend—Long!

At this moment, the frenzied consciousness, akin to that of a beast, perfectly merges with the powerful physique that is no longer entirely human, culminating in Ken's most formidable Rising Dragon Fist of flames.

With a thunderous roar, Ken unleashed the strongest punch he had ever thrown.

"No... it is you who is stronger..." Ken shook his head. Even in the final battle of the Hero Conference, the power he unleashed was only barely on par with that of Long from a few months ago, let alone being compared to Long now.

Boom

"What is this..." Ken stared in astonishment at the drastically changed Ken. In his understanding, it seemed that only the legendary orc super berserk state could exhibit such symptoms. However, having trained under the same teacher as Ken, he was well aware that Ken was undoubtedly one hundred percent human; neither his father nor his mother had any orc bloodline.

Upon seeing the human from his memories for the first time in this cold world, Eucis found himself somewhat shaken. This was because he sensed something in the person dressed in red among the two, something that evoked a strange feeling within him

With a bang, the ice layer centered around him suddenly exploded, and a blazing red light shot up into the sky. It looked as if a volcano had erupted suddenly

In this boundless world of ice and snow, a human clad in a simple white garment secured by a black belt, with both arms and legs completely bare, delivered a powerful punch towards his front.

On the ground, just as Long had speculated, even the current Ken could not easily execute the continuous triple flame wave fist. After forcibly using this move, blood flowed from his ears, eyes, and some parts of his body due to excessive strain. However, those wounds were visibly healing at a remarkable speed.

"Long, summon your strongest power! Otherwise, you will undoubtedly die later." While he still had the ability to control his own body, he gave his best friend the final piece of advice.

Boom! Boom! Unlike the earlier burst of destructive white light, what emerged from the collapsing iceberg was a force as fierce and dominating as blazing fire, melting away a significant portion of the massive iceberg debris in just one second

For Long, who solely pursues the highest realm of power, this is indeed a matter of great joy. After all, it signifies that for a long time to come, Ken will continue to walk alongside him. Although the manner of utilizing power differs, it is undoubtedly a form of formidable strength that can contend with the fluctuations of the power he currently wields

When the storm has passed, on the icy and snowy land, only two shining ice sculptures remain. One is poised as if to strike upward with a fist, seemingly ready to soar into the sky at any moment. The other maintains a stance centered on the left leg, with the right leg lifted, as if about to spin into the sky.

Bang! Long fearlessly kicked, receiving this punch. However, the scorching power contained in this punch burned through his clothes, leaving a shocking burn mark on his foot

The Wave of Fluctuation! With all the power of his body concentrated in his hand, Long unleashed his ultimate strike

Indeed, he is his eternal rival and friend. After he breaks through, has he also broken through? As long as he can properly control the power of this flame, he is likely to reach that limit soon.

He chuckled self-deprecatingly. Even now, how could he not accept this body? Without this body, how could he have the right to be here, facing his best friend, who was also his enemy, in their final battle

It is not a pleasant memory... Never mind, I didn't come to chat with you today... Today, let's have a good and intense match. Ken did not bring up the topic of the Hero's Tournament again, but instead twisted his wrist and beckoned his best friend and rival, Long.

It is clearly visible that there are some strange, shell-like things resembling insects on his hands and feet. The enormous and frenzied hot energy is continuously surging forth from these peculiar organs

It is so hot! Compared to just now, it has almost doubled in intensity! I can truly feel the overwhelming power of Ken with my own body. Indeed, just as Ken said, if I do not exert all my strength, I will undoubtedly perish.

The world has once again returned to silence. The ice surface, which had been disrupted by the two fighters, has completely reverted to its original state, as if nothing had ever happened.

Hello

Haha, of course! However, you are quite strong as well; I didn't expect you to catch up to me so quickly. Long did not notice the unusual behavior of his best friend, but instead laughed heartily. For him, who only pursued the highest realm of power, having a good rival was the best thing possible

No longer hesitating, Ken placed his hands on his waist and began to accumulate immense power. A few months ago, Ken was completely defeated by this move, which carried a powerful wave of energy; it was also the first time he had used the power he had comprehended.

On Ken's raised fist, the scorching power of flames erupted along with a frenzied wave. In the blink of an eye, this fist transcended all obstacles and appeared beneath Ken's body

This battle is unlike any he and Ken have fought before. Because now, Ken is filled with a murderous intent. Just by looking into his eyes, one can tell that they are the eyes of someone who would not hesitate to kill him

It is unacceptable to allow such an ugly human to remain here. The lost dragon girl from last time was of no concern, but this muscle-bound fool has no right to stay in this world and must be expelled as soon as possible

Place the left hand on the chest, raise the fist high, and Ken assumed a very familiar posture. It was unique to Ken Masters, a powerful stance reminiscent of an angry dragon taking flight.

Let us conclude for today. After thoroughly destroying the target selected for today, he turned around, prepared to leave this place, contemplating the true essence of the dynamic force he had experienced today

By next summer, those icebergs will be able to drift over to the hot zone with those two troublemakers...

If you don't come, I will go over! Long was completely unaware of his friend's unusual behavior; in his current state of fervor, what he needed most was a vigorous and exhilarating battle

This is the northernmost point of the world, a snowy realm where white ice and snow stretch all the way to the horizon.

"Long time no see, Long." Amidst the remnants of an ice mountain that had nearly completely melted away, a young man dressed in red emerged. The style of his clothing was almost identical to that of Long, who wore white, and he too was bare-armed and bare-footed. The only difference was that he and the figure in the book wore red, while Long was dressed in white.

Both of them, possessing the strength of nearly level 8 super fighters, were overwhelmed by the icy storm sweeping in from the north, unable even to resist

"Go ahead, I can hardly wait. Ken, let me see what kind of power you have gained in the Hero's Tournament." Long, who was facing Ken, had completely dispelled the heat that had invaded his body moments ago and was eager to try it out.

Now, he is able to integrate the fluctuations of this power into his ultimate technique. However, this alone is not sufficient; he will only be considered to have truly broken through the final limit and reached the legendary realm of his school when he can freely wield this powerful fluctuation in every gesture and movement.

After all, it is impossible for humans to have four ears. Moreover, this body seems to be significantly different from that of a human. Not to mention, the ability to walk freely in an extremely cold world at over minus one hundred degrees appears to be something that humans cannot possess

"I really don't understand what is so appealing about this." The ice-blue bird flapped its wings and then transformed into a woman with blue hair, three strands of hair gently swaying on her head.

A continuous triple strike, still infused with the power of flames! How is this possible? I have not even mastered this technique! Long is not unaware of the techniques that can be employed. However, he has never succeeded even once. Such a high level of power manipulation cannot be achieved without thousands of repetitions in training.

At this moment, Long had just adjusted his posture in the air after being blasted away.

If it is said that the storm stirred up by Ken and Long's battle is enough to cause the collapse of several kilometers of land, then this ice storm sweeping in from the farther north is a catastrophic disaster capable of freezing an area of a thousand miles.

Although he has regained the ability to move, writing still seems to be extremely difficult. Even now, he can only manage basic walking, and cannot even run. The last time he tried to run, he accidentally fell from a mountain and sustained some injuries, which frightened the Ice Phoenix, who rarely ventured out to patrol her territory, half to death. Since then, she has not left her nest again.

"Oh, good child, do you want to see what is over there? Actually, there is nothing much to see... Alright, I will take you to have a look." Ten minutes after the two were frozen, a large ice-blue bird finally descended onto the ice surface, and on the bird was a young boy dressed in a white robe.

The punch was exactly the same as the one before. However, this punch was even more powerful and more formidable! The violent force of the punch even swept up all the ice in front of him, creating a bursting wave of ice that surged forward.

The blazing sphere of scorching energy broke through Long's defense against the powerful wave of force that permeated his entire body, leaving his chest and abdomen mangled and bloodied. The intense heat directly burned half of Long's skin, making him appear as if he had just been dragged out of a fire as a severely injured victim

Facing the ferocious onslaught of Ken, Long also let out a furious roar. At this point, he could only fight with all his might. The most uncontrollable and frenzied aspect of the power of fluctuation erupted uncontrollably within his body, and its name was—Wave of Killing Intent

In addition to this, his body has many differences from that of a human. For instance, during an accidental movement, he was injured, but what flowed from the wound was golden blood instead of the red he vaguely remembered. When he saw his own blood for the first time, he was indeed taken aback.

With a loud "bang!" after a brief exchange, both sides stepped back, wiping their cheeks. The place where he was struck by Long's fist burned with pain, accompanied by a strange wave of power. This was precisely the wave of power that had completely defeated him over two months ago. In such a short time, could Long really have applied this power to ordinary punches and kicks?

Roar! There is no interruption; for Ken at this moment, that kind of injury just now is merely a light drizzle. Only after launching Long Hong into the sky does his true attack begin

Boom! The blazing Rising Dragon Fist collided with the frenzied Tornado Kick, resulting in the collapse of the entire land

The immense power left both parties astonished. Long had not anticipated that in just over two months of absence, Ken, whom he had recently cast aside, would possess the strength to rival him equally. During these two months, he had not been wasting time; rather, he had made significant progress, and was just a step away from breaking through the final limit.

Although the parts beneath the red battle robe are not visible, it is evident that there are similar elements there, akin to a part of the Zerg's body

Yousis stared blankly at the two humans who had been completely frozen. This was, after all, his first time seeing humans in this snowy world. Although he resembled humans quite a bit, he had a vague memory that he should also be human. However, after countless teachings from Ice Phoenix Mother, he gradually began to accept his identity as a super beast.

A loud crash! This ice wave, over three meters high, surged directly onto the ice mountain, which is about one hundred meters tall, creating a massive dent in its surface.

The storm, nearly one kilometer in diameter, formed by their all-out efforts in battle, was completely engulfed by the massive snow and ice tornado that spanned several dozen kilometers, without even stirring a ripple.

Very good! Ken was excitedly shaking all the muscles in his body. Originally, after his last crushing defeat at Long's hands, he thought he would never come before Long like this again in the following years. However, fate is indeed a marvelous thing

The fierce fighting spirit that was evident in Ken also manifested in Long, even while his body was suspended in mid-air and he had already sustained significant injuries; however, this did not in the slightest affect the eruption of this immense power

In the tranquil world of ice and snow, the stirrings within the young man's heart begin to slowly take root

Bang

This is the unique way in which the two of them greet each other. Every time they meet again, the first thing they do is not to embrace, but to engage in a full-scale battle. This has become their favorite way under the guidance of the same teacher and has turned into a routine

Isn't it obvious? This kind of momentum and power is not unfamiliar to the white-clad fighter who came alone to the northernmost end to repair things. He easily called out the name of the formidable presence that had suddenly appeared behind him.

What a surprise, didn't you say before the breakup that you were going to participate in the Hero Conference? Has it already concluded? Although I also had the qualification to attend the four-year Hero Conference organized by the Supreme God Sect, Long, who was in the most critical stage of his training, ultimately chose to come alone to this icy world for an extreme breakthrough, regrettably giving up the opportunity to compete with powerful individuals from around the world

"Little darling, let's go home with Mommy. Once we get home, Mommy will let you touch your favorite breasts as much as you want, come on, let's go." After embracing Yuxis, the Ice Phoenix soared directly into the sky, cherishing the rare outing with her child. This time, they could take their time flying home, treating it as a leisurely stroll. Next time, she would be more careful, blowing away the intruder in one breath, ensuring her child would not notice.

Hmm! This time, he nodded. Clearly, the effect of this punch was much better than the previous one, and its destructive power was significantly stronger. However, this was not the main reason for his satisfaction. The reason he nodded was that, compared to the previous punch, the strength and technique embodied in this punch were more outstanding

This power is something that even Long cannot fully control. In the last battle, it was this power that severely injured Ken. Compared to the fluctuations of his own training, this power is even more violent and carries a more terrifying intent to kill. Ken's current posture is actually very close to the stance he takes when this power erupts.

He exhaled forcefully, a thick stream of white vapor escaping from his mouth. As he breathed out, his muscles began to relax, entering a state that was almost motionless.

It can no longer be controlled. However, this is now his strongest power, a product of completely integrating his own frenzied fighting spirit with the new strength acquired by his body, comparable to Long's strongest power in a state of madness

Ugh... Seeing her child staring intently at the two humans causing trouble, the Ice Phoenix clearly felt uneasy, very uneasy. This feeling of being overlooked was truly not pleasant at all

Boom! Two consecutive explosions sent Long directly into the sky. In addition to the explosive sound from the elimination of Long's wave fist, the blood-red orb used by Ken also detonated. In total, there were three explosions.

This is not a place where humans can survive; only various creatures that have adapted to the icy and snowy world can exist in temperatures that drop to several dozen or even over a hundred degrees below zero

Then, centered on his left foot, he lifted his right foot and began to spin his body at high speed. A powerful wave of energy erupted with his rotation, directly creating a massive tornado in this icy world

As Ken unleashed the Wave Motion Fist, his entire body was enveloped in a bright red light. Soon, this crimson light converged in Ken's hand, forming a burning blood-colored sphere—an object identical to the sphere of the Wave Motion Fist unleashed by Long.

"Long! You are truly formidable, far stronger than I am." This was merely a tentative confrontation, and it became clear immediately. Even in my current state, attempting to defeat Long remains an exceedingly arduous task. Despite having transformed into my present self, I still lack the power to completely overwhelm Long.

In the blazing red light that soared into the sky, the figure of Ken and the *Map* slowly emerged. The thin red battle robe could no longer conceal the changes in his body, as thick green veins surfaced on his skin, and a certain force filled with a sense of madness radiated uncontrollably from his body.

This time, it was only after he clearly expressed his desire to come and see that Mother Binghuang reluctantly brought him along. Although it took quite some time to convey his thoughts without the use of language, he ultimately succeeded.

The thick layer of ice was completely melted by the shockwave contained in this punch, as if magma were flowing over it.

Long spread his legs apart, his fists tightly clenched in front of his chest. The pain from being kicked in the waist was not ordinary; beyond pure physical strength, there was a force that surged through Long's feet into his body like a burning flame. Even though he had channeled his energy fluctuations throughout his body for defense, this strange fiery power still inflicted direct harm to his body

This is undoubtedly the Ice Phoenix and her child, Yousis, who reside in the world of ice and snow

The violent gust of wind lifted the white headband on his head high into the air, and the white robe he wore, which was clearly out of place in this world, also exhibited a noticeable ripple, sufficient to demonstrate the tremendous power of the punch he had just thrown

Unfortunately, this body still cannot speak until now. Therefore, he is unable to say the words "mother" to her

Drink

Bang

It is worth noting that even she herself has not been observed so meticulously and earnestly by her own child on several occasions. Why would these two troublemakers from the icy world matter so much to her child? Although they appear somewhat human, her child is undoubtedly a super magical beast, destined to be adored by countless magical beast ladies in the future. Why pay attention to these two ugly humans?

Did the teacher not say that such techniques should not be used lightly without the physical strength of an eighth-level expert? Otherwise, it is almost equivalent to self-harm? Wait, could it be that he is using self-harm to execute this move?

A powerful surge of murderous intent coursed through Long's entire body, and then, in one breath, it converged upon his feet, causing his body to astonishingly pause in mid-air for a second

Keng was equally astonished. Initially, he believed that after a significant enhancement of his strength, he would possess the power to overwhelm Long. However, it turned out to be a draw. How could this be possible? Could it be that Long has made tremendous progress in just over two months since their separation?

Under the continuous enlightenment of the Ice Phoenix mother, he began to feel that with so many unique traits, it was likely that he could not be human. After all, which human possesses golden blood and can move freely in an extremely cold world at over minus one hundred degrees without using any special powers? This is absolutely impossible

Here, it is regarded as the end of the world, the most lonely and cold place. At the coldest times, the temperature can drop to over minus 100 degrees, a level of extreme cold sufficient to instantly kill an ordinary human.

"Fist of Fluctuation!" Accompanied by his shout, the hands that were resting at his waist suddenly thrust forward, and that ball of white light, propelled by the full force of his hands, shot towards the chosen target, the iceberg, at an astonishing speed

A white storm swept the two ice sculptures into the sky, flying towards the edge of the icy world. She remembered that there were some icebergs that drifted regularly every year, and in the summer, they would automatically move southward with the ocean currents

Boom! The ice and snow before him suddenly exploded, and a powerful shockwave extended from in front of him for dozens of meters, leaving a deep mark on the hard ice surface

He is an outstanding fighter, and the reason he chose this place as his training ground is to eliminate all distractions to the greatest extent possible, allowing himself to fully experience the fluctuations of power hidden within his body. This fluctuation of power is something he has only recently comprehended. However, he has not yet been able to use it with complete ease. Thus, he came here, to this extreme environment, to further train his perception of power.

What happened at that Brave Conference that allowed Ken to improve so much in such a short time

"Unexpected? What happened?" Ken looked strangely at his best friend and rival, as he had never seen such an expression on his face before. In his memory, he was a warrior who was always full of confidence, regardless of the opponent he faced. Moreover, the stronger the opponent, the more excited he became. (In this regard, he was the same.)

So, what is going on in this situation! How could his good friend have turned out like this

Long's right fist struck Ken's face with great force, deforming his handsome features. At the same time, Ken's foot landed a powerful kick to Long's waist, making his strong waist appear as if it had suddenly shrunk