Chapter 205: "Dian Wei's Disadvantage"

Before Lü Bu's massive halberd could smash down, Dian Wei dodged to the side and swiftly hurled a throwing axe at Lü Bu.

"Hmph!" Lü Bu casually flicked his oversized halberd, effortlessly deflecting the axe. He didn't care where it flew or what it hit. Right now, he was focused on thoroughly crushing Dian Wei. No matter how strong or powerful Dian Wei was, without ranged attacks, Lü Bu was confident he could torment him to death.

Hovering in the air, Lü Bu swung his colossal halberd wildly, shattering the ground below. However, despite his relentless assault, Dian Wei's remarkable agility allowed him to evade every strike. Though he ended up covered in dirt, not a single blow landed on him.

The terrifying display of power left Cao Cao and his men on edge. They were already familiar with Lü Bu's ferocity, but this was the first time they realized just how monstrous Dian Wei was.

"Lü Bu, do you dare come down and fight me face to face!" Dian Wei seized an opportunity to leap out of the attack range, roaring up at Lü Bu.

"Ha!" Lü Bu sneered at Dian Wei. "If you can't fly, just admit it! Stop talking nonsense!"

Dian Wei was stunned for a moment before bursting into curses. Since when was flying considered normal? There were probably fewer than a handful of generals in the world who could do that!

As Dian Wei's vulgar insults rang out, Lü Bu's face grew darker. Finally, with a cold smile, he declared, "As you wish!"

With those words, Lü Bu dove from the sky, his halberd hurtling toward Dian Wei's head with unstoppable force.

"Come on!" Dian Wei didn't even think about dodging. Gripping his twin axes tightly, his muscles bulged as he swung upward to meet Lü Bu's strike head-on.

"Boom!" With a thunderous crash, the ground around Dian Wei shattered in a hundred-meter radius. A fierce wind swept through the battlefield, leaving Lü Bu as the only one standing. But within moments, Lü Bu shot backward as a massive hole burst open in the ground. Dian Wei emerged from it, using the force of his leap to slash at Lü Bu.

Lü Bu smirked as he dodged Dian Wei's attack and countered with a flurry of strikes from his halberd, forcing Dian Wei to guard his vital points against the deadly blows.

"Break!" Dian Wei, seeing no other option, combined his twin axes into one and swung with all his might, aiming to trade blows with Lü Bu. If Lü Bu didn't evade, he'd be seriously injured, if not killed outright.

"Hmph!" Lü Bu deftly distanced himself and resumed his strategy of keeping Dian Wei at bay with his long halberd. With the ability to extend his internal energy beyond his body, Lü Bu could easily negate the advantage of Dian Wei's short weapons.

After over a hundred exchanges, Lü Bu had thoroughly analyzed Dian Wei's fighting style. Yet, despite his understanding, he remained cautious of Dian Wei's immense strength. While Dian Wei's body was covered in cuts, Lü Bu knew that with Dian Wei's regenerative capabilities, those injuries would heal within minutes. Continuing the fight would eventually lead to Lü Bu's victory since Dian Wei lacked long-range attacks. However, killing him quickly seemed impossible, even for Lü Bu.

As two flaming dragons extended from Lü Bu's halberd, Dian Wei shattered them with a punch. But before he could close the distance, the halberd's smaller blade grazed his throat, forcing him back into a defensive stance.

"Erlai, fall back!" Cao Cao's voice boomed from the city walls as he ordered Dian Wei to retreat. The objective had been achieved; there was no need to prolong the fight. Dian Wei couldn't defeat Lü Bu, but neither could Lü Bu easily deal with Dian Wei. With morale already rising among his troops, Cao Cao saw no reason to continue the skirmish.

Reluctantly, Dian Wei glared at Lü Bu. He now understood Lü Bu's prowess. Against such a formidable opponent, unless he could pin him down from the start, victory was out of reach—especially if Lü Bu took to the skies. Yet, Lü Bu couldn't easily kill him either.

"Lü Bu, we'll meet again! Next time, I'll take your head!" Dian Wei growled as he retreated, determined not to lose face even if the battle was unresolved.

Lü Bu scoffed dismissively. Dian Wei was indeed formidable, but his limitations were too apparent. Without the ability to fly, extend his internal energy, or launch ranged attacks, Dian Wei could only excel in close combat. Any skilled opponent could keep him at a distance and wear him down.

Of course, anyone underestimating Dian Wei's lack of ranged abilities would be making a grave mistake. His sheer endurance and physical strength would give even Lü Bu a headache in a prolonged battle.

"Are you alright, Erlai?" Cao Cao asked as Dian Wei effortlessly leaped back onto the city walls.

Dian Wei scratched his head, examining his battered armor. "Lü Bu is insanely strong. I've never faced anyone like him before. If I'd known he was this powerful, I would've gone all out from the start. Too bad he can fly..."

Clearly, Dian Wei was frustrated that Lü Bu's ability to fly had tipped the scales. He could leap into the air, but his speed would eventually slow down, leaving him vulnerable.

The thought left Dian Wei in a foul mood. Not only could Lü Bu fly, but his speed also matched Dian Wei's—perhaps even surpassed it when he unleashed his internal energy. The realization that such a monstrous opponent existed left Dian Wei feeling even more disheartened. How could anyone reach such a level of power?

After experiencing the fight firsthand, Dian Wei couldn't help but feel amazed at Zhao Yun, who had fought Lü Bu to a standstill at Hulao Pass, and Huang Zhong, who had dueled Lü Bu for nearly a month. Were these men even human? He had always thought he was the strongest!

"Hahaha, don't let it bother you. That's Lü Bu we're talking about. Even with his ability to fly, he couldn't do much against you!" Cao Cao laughed heartily, patting Dian Wei on the back—since his shoulder was out of reach.

"Hmph! Next time, if I get the chance, I'll pin him to the ground and beat him senseless!" Dian Wei grumbled. The fight had boosted his confidence. If he could land a solid hit on Lü Bu, even the mighty warlord would be gravely injured.