251: Challenge the God of War

Maple Leaf’s words and actions were not met with ridicule, but rather with respect.

This was because in Odyssey World, challenging the gods was recognized, but not everyone had the courage to challenge a deity.

This kind of challenge was not some kind of provocation or “rebellion.”

Because there were also conditions; for example, some special divine authorities, like the God of Happiness or the God of Fertility and Harvest, basically couldn't be “forced to abdicate.”

These special divine authorities were basically passed down to successors, or the deities voluntarily abdicated, or after a deity fell, the divine authority changed hands, which was considered inheritance.

And while deities were immortal, immortality was not “eternal life.”

The most easily challenged were many gods related to martial power, especially some acquired gods.

For example, the God of Martial Arts, simply put, was a god who became one through martial prowess.

There were also other acquired gods like the God of Spears and the God of Swords.

Innate gods in this regard included the “God of War and Wisdom,” the “God of Slaughter and Death,” and so on.

Facing a challenge from a “junior,” the God of Martial Arts, standing at the pinnacle of martial arts, was naturally extremely pleased.

He was not afraid of being challenged, nor was he afraid of failure; what he feared was having no goal to advance towards, no higher path.

Moreover, this world was not peaceful; there were also some internal problems, such as some people with ulterior motives, some gods or people with “impure intentions,” and internal strife, which was an unavoidable matter for humans, or rather, for intelligent life.

And externally, there were often invasions by Otherworldly Demon Gods, which was one of the primary reasons for the fall of deities.

Being a deity was not that easy; they were always protecting humanity!

And so, when Maple Leaf turned 18, she felt she had reached her peak, and thus, she challenged the God of Martial Arts.

In the Arena of the Gods.

The massive arena, blessed with divine power, was not only incredibly hard but also capable of automatic repair after damage, and it had always been used for “Godly Challenges.”

This news was also publicly announced.

Nearly the entire population of Yamacity came here to watch.

Furthermore, the God of Records used her power to “broadcast” it in the sky; such an important event was to be recorded in the long river of history.

“Are you ready?” The God of Martial Arts appeared as a resolute middle-aged man, wearing only a pair of white drawstring pants, his bare feet on the smooth arena The Ground.

The God of Martial Arts, standing 192cm tall, had sharply defined muscles, not overly bulky but perfectly proportioned, full of strength and aesthetic appeal.

And Maple Leaf, with her handsome white short hair, stood opposite the God of Martial Arts.

She was 175cm tall, with only bandages wrapped around her chest, revealing a flat and firm lower abdomen that could be grasped with one hand, yet subtly showing six-pack abs.

Her long legs, at least a meter long, were also bare-footed on The Ground.

She had a “loincloth” around her waist, with tight shorts underneath.

Compared to the God of Martial Arts, Maple Leaf appeared quite “petite,” and her figure was even more slender and delicate.

“Of course!” Maple Leaf looked at the God of Martial Arts, her eyes bright, full of determination and confidence.

At this moment, Maple Leaf suddenly heard a message about “joining the Cross-World Group,” but she ignored it.

“Good eyes!” The God of Martial Arts nodded, “Then, let’s begin!”

As soon as the God of Martial Arts finished speaking, his expression instantly turned stern.

An indescribable aura erupted with a roar.

As the God of Martial Arts’s martial will, it descended upon Maple Leaf with a roar as his aura exploded.

Maple Leaf’s body sank, and she gritted her teeth, enduring the God of Martial Arts’s will, her gaze fixed on the God of Martial Arts, her fists clenched tightly.

“Hmph!” Maple Leaf let out a soft cry, and a faint but extremely tenacious will rose from her body; although it couldn’t resist the God of Martial Arts’s will, it could completely keep it at bay.

With the oppression of the God of Martial Arts’s will gone, Maple Leaf lifted her foot.

Her forefoot stomped violently on The Ground.

Swish!

Maple Leaf shot out like an arrow from a bowstring, covering hundreds of meters in a single breath.

Maple Leaf punched towards the God of Martial Arts.

The God of Martial Arts raised his hand and used his palm to catch Maple Leaf’s attack, then flipped his wrist, grasping Maple Leaf’s wrist, and with a turn and a swing, he flung Maple Leaf away.

Maple Leaf spun several times in mid-air before landing, her body half-bent, her feet sliding over ten meters on The Ground; while her body was still retreating, Maple Leaf started to run, still retreating a short distance as she ran, then the next second she seemed to be treading in place, and the next second, she moved forward, and the next second.

Maple Leaf’s speed surged, transforming into an afterimage as she rushed towards the God of Martial Arts.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Maple Leaf and the God of Martial Arts engaged in close combat.

The God of Martial Arts focused on defense.

Maple Leaf’s storm-like offensive was calmly received by the God of Martial Arts, like a small boat amidst raging waves, seemingly perilous but actually completely under control.

As Maple Leaf continued her attacks, her heart gradually sank as time passed.

She realized the gap between her and the God of Martial Arts; not to mention physical or other aspects, just in martial arts techniques, the difference was vast.

Moreover, the God of Martial Arts had not used divine power, nor had he used powerful techniques.

There were many outcomes for the Godly Challenges.

It was too difficult for humans to defeat deities, and deities alone, with their divine power, already possessed a huge inherent advantage, let alone divine authority.

There were only two outcomes for the Godly Challenges: victory and defeat.

Victory was divided into: killing and defeating.

Killing, needless to say, meant directly inheriting divine authority and becoming a new god.

Defeating also allowed one to seize divine authority, but the original god would not die, only have their divine authority and divine power taken away.

And there were several situations for defeat:

One was being defeated, but if you showed enough talent and ability, the deity would list you as an “heir” or “candidate.” Another was not showing it, in which case nothing happened, the challenge failed, and of course, death was also possible.

And another was being killed.

Whichever the case, killing or being killed was recognized during the Godly Challenges.

Maple Leaf’s continuous offense consumed a huge amount of stamina.

A slight carelessness led to a small mistake.

Seeing this, the God of Martial Arts directly punched Maple Leaf in the abdomen.

“Ugh wah~” Maple Leaf’s pupils constricted, and saliva mixed with blood sprayed from her mouth.

Maple Leaf gritted her teeth, a fierce look flashing across her face, blood surged, and there was a sound like thunder within her body.

She didn’t want to fail, and she wouldn’t fail! She wanted to become the God of Martial Arts! She wanted to avenge her mother, and she wanted to kill all invading Otherworldly Demon Gods!

She wanted to become the God of Martial Arts!

This punch was Maple Leaf’s strong will accompanied by the explosion of her vital energy and blood, a peak punch infused with her own will.

The God of Martial Arts saw Maple Leaf’s punch, and the look of appreciation in his eyes grew even stronger.

Similarly, the God of Martial Arts met Maple Leaf’s punch with his own.

Boom!!!

The The Ground, infused with divine power, instantly shattered.

Unfortunately, even the most tenacious blade of grass is still just a blade of grass.

With a crunch, the sound of Maple Leaf’s arm breaking was heard.

Maple Leaf spun and flew out, falling heavily to The Ground and rolling several times before finally stopping.

“You lost.” The God of Martial Arts looked at Maple Leaf, who was sprawled on The Ground, and said lightly, his eyes full of admiration.

Maple Leaf had already accomplished many things that many people had not, as a mortal.

Although the God of Martial Arts had held back with that last punch, otherwise, Maple Leaf’s arm breaking would not have been the only price.

“Cough~ cough~” Maple Leaf coughed a few times while lying on The Ground, and saliva mixed with blood flowed from the corner of her mouth to The Ground.

She lay there with disheveled hair, the impact of the will and the physical pain making her somewhat disoriented.

Moreover, her injuries were not just a broken arm; her internal organs had also suffered a severe impact.

If it weren’t for her body being tempered over the years, her internal organs would have burst, and she would have died long ago.

[Basic Update: 2 more

Total outstanding: 13

(December “Event”)

Current total gifts: 11554, one more update for every 500 gifts

Explosive update + 1 more

Completion 666 + 2 more

Great God Certification + 3 more]