Liam stared straight into Reynolds' eyes—the only part of the man visible behind the dark mask. Those eyes were calm, almost amused, as if this fight was nothing more than entertainment.
For a moment the forest around them was silent.
Then Reynolds moved.
The motion was so sudden Liam barely saw it happen. One second Reynolds stood twenty meters away, the next the air in front of Liam distorted.
A blur.
Liam's telekinetic shield formed instantly—an invisible wall of compressed force.
But Reynolds' fist crashed into it with terrifying power.
CRACK.
The shield shattered like glass.
Pain exploded through Liam's body as the punch connected with his chest, sending him flying backward. His body tore through branches before slamming violently into the forest floor.
The air rushed out of his lungs.
For several seconds Liam couldn't breathe.
Leaves fluttered down around him as he lay on the ground, chest burning, lungs heavy like they were filled with stone.
Reynolds casually lowered his fist.
"Well now," he said, smiling beneath the mask as he walked forward. "I thought I gave you enough inspiration last time."
Liam forced himself up onto one knee.
His vision swam.
But his mind…
His mind was in chaos.
A storm of anger, pain, and stubborn refusal burned inside him.
And only one sentence echoed through his head.
I will end him.
Liam wiped blood from his mouth.
"Activate… Dash."
Mana surged through his body instantly, flowing into his muscles like lightning through wires. His legs tensed as power wrapped around his fists.
Across the clearing Reynolds tilted his head slightly.
"I knew it," he chuckled. "You really are gifted."
His voice carried genuine admiration.
"Such potential… such talent."
He sighed dramatically.
"It's a shame I'll have to turn you into a pill."
Liam shot forward.
The ground exploded beneath his feet as he accelerated, his body blurring between the trees. His fist, wrapped in dense mana, swung straight toward Reynolds' chest.
Reynolds moved just as fast.
Their fists collided.
BOOM.
The impact shook the air.
Liam's arm trembled but he didn't stop. He followed with another punch, twisting his body to drive more power into the strike.
Reynolds blocked it easily.
A third strike.
Countered again.
Their fists flashed through the air in a rapid exchange of blows, shockwaves rippling through the clearing. Leaves spiraled upward as the pressure from their attacks stirred the forest.
Reynolds suddenly stepped back.
"This is getting boring."
His voice sounded disappointed.
"Maybe I should attack."
The air around his fists changed.
A dense, transparent energy wrapped around them. It looked almost invisible, yet the space around it distorted like heat rising from a flame.
The air rippled violently.
Liam's instincts screamed.
Fear shot through his chest.
He turned and ran.
Close combat was suicide.
He launched himself through the forest, leaping between trees, his enhanced speed carrying him over roots and fallen branches.
Behind him Reynolds slowly raised a hand.
Wind gathered in his palm.
Then he flicked his wrist.
SHHHHHHH—
A blade of compressed wind tore through the forest toward Liam.
Liam felt it.
The sensation was like a knife pointed at his back.
Without hesitation he jumped down from a tree branch.
The wind blade sliced through the space where his head had been a split second earlier.
A massive tree behind him split apart instantly, the trunk exploding as if struck by an invisible axe.
Liam landed and sprinted again.
Another presence approached rapidly from behind.
Reynolds.
He was closing the distance.
Too fast.
Liam leapt high into the air, twisting his body as mana surged through his arm. Fire element gathered in his palm, swirling violently as he compressed it.
Flames condensed.
Shaped.
Hardened.
A spear of blazing fire formed in his hand.
"Take this!"
Liam hurled it downward.
The spear screamed through the air.
Reynolds looked up calmly.
He swung his arm.
A wind blade shot upward and collided with the spear.
BOOM.
The spear detonated instantly, scattering flames across the sky like burning petals.
But Liam wasn't finished.
Midair, he clenched both hands together.
More fire condensed—far denser than before.
A blazing beam of compressed flame erupted from his palms.
Reynolds' eyes widened slightly.
Heat suddenly surged toward him.
He raised his hand quickly.
A barrier of spinning wind formed around his body.
The fire beam slammed into it.
For a moment the two forces struggled.
Then the wind barrier shattered.
The beam engulfed Reynolds.
BOOM!
A violent explosion erupted in the clearing.
Reynolds' body was thrown backward, crashing through two trees before skidding across the ground.
Blood spilled from his mouth as he struggled to stand.
Liam landed heavily, breathing hard.
For a brief moment hope flickered inside him.
But Reynolds slowly rose.
His clothes were burned and torn. Blood ran down his chin.
Yet the smile beneath the mask remained.
He looked up at Liam.
"Not bad."
His voice was quieter now.
But colder.
"Gale Art…"
Wind began swirling violently around his arm.
"Furious Wind."
He punched forward.
The air exploded.
A massive surge of compressed wind shot across the ground like a raging tidal wave.
The forest shook violently.
Trees bent as the wind tore through them.
Liam threw up a barrier of telekinetic force.
The moment the wind struck—
It shattered instantly.
The pressure slammed into him like a mountain.
Liam's body flew backward uncontrollably before smashing into a thick tree trunk.
CRACK.
The impact echoed through the forest.
Liam collapsed to the ground.
Blood poured from his mouth as he coughed violently.
Pain flooded his body.
His ribs…
Most of them were broken.
Even breathing felt like knives stabbing into his lungs.
He struggled to lift his head.
A glowing interface flickered in front of his eyes.
[ Quest: Defeat Enemy ]
[ Rewards: 15 Stat Points ]
[ 2 Level Ups ]
[ 1 Skill ]
Liam let out a tired breath.
This quest…
This was one of the main reasons he had taken this fight.
He slowly looked up.
Reynolds stood several meters away.
He looked pale now.
Injured.
But his killing intent was still overwhelming.
Reynolds studied Liam for a moment before shaking his head.
"This is the end for you."
Wind gathered around him once more.
Far stronger than before.
Leaves and dirt lifted from the ground as a violent gale formed around his body.
"Gale Art…"
The storm intensified.
"Hurricane."
Wind exploded outward.
Blades of compressed air filled the clearing, slicing through trees, branches, and rocks. The entire forest descended into chaos as the storm devoured everything around it.
Liam's surroundings blurred into a storm of destruction.
But he ignored it.
Instead he closed his eyes.
Mana gathered in his palms.
Fire.
Lightning.
Two violent elements.
Condensing them together was unstable.
Dangerous.
The energy resisted violently, sparks erupting as fire swirled around arcs of lightning.
His hands trembled.
The sphere nearly collapsed several times.
But Liam gritted his teeth and forced the elements together.
Slowly…
A ball formed.
A blazing sphere of fire, crackling with streaks of lightning dancing across its surface.
The energy inside it roared like a caged beast.
Reynolds' hurricane raced toward him.
Wind blades shredded the ground.
Trees snapped and flew through the air.
Liam opened his eyes.
"Let's see…"
He stood up despite the pain.
"…if you can survive this."
With the last of his strength—
He hurled the sphere.
The flaming lightning orb tore through the raging wind.
Straight toward Reynolds.
For the first time…
Reynolds' eyes widened.
And then—
BOOM.