My Ultimate Sign-in System Made Me Invincible Chapter 576 Sparring Against Rikilda

Clone 1 and Bethan soared into the vast expanse of the arena, following Rikilda's lead.

She proceeded without delay, executing a sharp turn into the arena's interior, expertly navigating the open space between active combat rings, much like she had traversed this area countless times before. Clone 1 mirrored her path, adjusting his own flight to match her movements, ensuring he maintained his position.

As they flew, he observed numerous heads turning in his direction, tracking his progress through the air. He maintained his focus forward, disregarding the multitude of faces.

He noted that, like Bethan and Rikilda, they possessed human-like features, unlike the colossal winged beings he had observed in the sky above. At least, this was true for the overwhelming majority.

However, the palpable pressure emanating from them was far from human. It resonated with the same intensity he sensed from Bethan and Rikilda.

He began to gauge the power of the dragons observing his flight.

His assessment revealed that most were significantly beyond his current capabilities—a considerable majority, by a wide margin. A smaller contingent fell within a range where he might hold his own if circumstances favored him. A very select few appeared to be his approximate match in strength.

He cataloged this information and continued his flight.

Rikilda alighted upon a ring located at the far end of the arena's middle tier. Landing precisely in the center, she turned to face his approach, already adopting a relaxed combat posture, her weight balanced evenly, her hands resting loosely at her sides.

Clone 1 descended towards the opposite end of the ring and landed gracefully.

Bethan then detached herself, heading towards the spectator stands. She found an elevated spot with an unobstructed view and settled in, appearing completely at ease.

Clone 1 took a moment to fully survey the ring.

It spanned at least 80 meters in diameter. The floor material felt dense yet slightly yielding, evidently designed to absorb impact rather than fracture. The barrier enclosing the ring was visible as a subtle shimmer at its perimeter, the same containment field he had witnessed preventing the exchanges in other rings from escalating.

He shifted his gaze to Rikilda.

She met his eyes, her expression a mixture of intense focus and impatience, as she simply waited for the spar to commence.

"Ready?" she inquired.

Clone 1 gave a slight nod. "Come at me."

A smirk played on her lips. "Don't regret saying that."

08:26

A smirk played on her lips. "Don't regret saying that."

In an instant, she covered nearly fifty meters, appearing directly before him. Her right fist shot upwards in a powerful uppercut aimed at his jaw, carrying the full force of her accelerated movement.

Clone 1 reacted without hesitation. He did not retreat. Instead, he brought his left forearm down across the inside of her wrist, diverting the punch's trajectory outward, past his left shoulder. He absorbed the redirected momentum through his stable stance. In a fluid, unbroken motion, without repositioning, he brought his right hand down in a swift chopping strike angled towards her neck, the attack already in motion before the deflection was fully complete.

Rikilda dropped low, bending sharply at the waist, her upper body angling below his descending strike. However, the chop adjusted its trajectory mid-swing, following her downward as if her target had been locked.

Anticipating this, she shifted her position instantaneously. Her left leg swept out in a wide arc, aimed at his ankles, intending to destabilize him while he was committed to his downward assault.

Clone 1 lifted his left leg clear of the sweeping arc and pushed off his right foot, propelling himself upwards and slightly forward. His left foot then drove upwards in a powerful kick towards her face from below, leveraging the altitude gained from his jump.

Rikilda was already in motion. Her legs moved in a rapid, consecutive sequence—two kicks delivered at head height in quick succession, the second following the first before it had fully extended. The maneuver was designed to intercept his incoming kick and re-establish her spatial advantage simultaneously.

Clone 1 retracted his foot slightly and rotated his body, allowing her dual kicks to pass through the space his head had occupied. The rush of air from the second kick brushed against his face as he cleared it. He landed, pivoted, and watched her descent.

She landed cleanly, both feet making contact with the ring floor at the same moment, and regarded him.

The smirk had transformed into a more focused expression. "You're fast," she stated.

"You're strong," he replied.

She rolled her shoulders and advanced again.

This subsequent exchange unfolded with even greater speed than the first. She initiated with a feint—a right hook that retracted before impact, drawing his guard. As his attention followed the deceptive movement, she drove her left knee upwards towards his midsection. Clone 1 caught the knee with his forearm, feeling the forceful impact travel up his arm and into his shoulder. He was forced back two steps.

She immediately pressed her advantage, narrowing the distance he had created. A rapid series of three strikes followed – right, left, then right again – each aimed at a different point and landing with increasing speed. Clone 1 managed to block the first strike, dodged the second, and braced himself as the third connected with his shoulder. Instead of resisting the impact, he absorbed it and used the force of the blow to pivot, creating space between them.

He halted his movement at the edge of the ring, taking a breath.

The third hit had landed squarely, and he could feel the sting in his shoulder. A quick glance at his shoulder was followed by him looking back at her.

Rikilda hadn't pursued him to the boundary. She remained in the center of the ring, observing him and allowing him a moment to recover.

Clone 1 advanced back towards the center, and the next engagement commenced without any formal signal. This time, he initiated the action, covering the distance and delivering a straightforward right punch, which was genuine and not a feint. She deflected it with an outward motion and retaliated with an elbow aimed at his face. He ducked beneath the strike and drove his shoulder into her torso, attempting to unbalance her.

She held her ground, absorbing the impact and entwining her arms around his shoulders. For a tense moment, they were locked in a close-quarters struggle, each probing the other's stability. Clone 1 distinctly felt her superior static strength, akin to pushing against a solid mountain. He disengaged and stepped back before she could capitalize on her hold.

She permitted him to retreat.

They stood facing each other, their breathing calm, as the surrounding ring began to draw attention.

Several dragons had gracefully descended from adjacent rings or the sky above, settling along the barrier's edge to observe. Clone 1 acknowledged their presence without direct eye contact, having sensed the shifting focus since their second exchange.

His gaze remained fixed on Rikilda.

She noted the gathering onlookers but seemed unconcerned, her full attention on Clone 1, a pleased expression on her face suggesting satisfaction with the unfolding confrontation.

"I believe it's time we treat this seriously. Stop holding back. You're free to use your full capabilities. Come at me," she declared.

Clone 1 met her gaze with a slight grin. "Are you quite certain? Don't go regretting those words," he responded.

"You'll have to try," Rikilda replied with a smile.

Extending her hand into the empty air, she conjured a sword. Adopting a combat stance, she then vanished from her position, leaving behind a trail of afterimages.