There was a saying.
The more refined someone else's technique was, the more perfectly they used it-
The less suitable that technique might be for you.
Standardized techniques like the Marines' Six Powers (Rokushiki), which were structured superhuman skills with room for further development, were extremely rare.
Most techniques weren't like that.
More often, moves such as Pickle's Dragon Back or Dragon Form were the norm.
The Dragon Form itself was an exceptionally high-value technique.
It allowed the user to find a successful balance point between dinosaur form and human form, using the body to complete the transformation. Developing such a move wasn't something just anyone could do. Its very existence was close to a miracle.
Witnessing it was a blessing.
Like seeing a legend come to life.
However.
This move was more suitable for Pickle than for Jaden.
Pickle's fighting style relied primarily on instinctive hunting skills. After entering the Dragon Form, those hunting instincts integrated seamlessly with the dinosaur body, giving him an all-around enhancement.
But Jaden was different.
He understood hunting.
But he relied far more on human combat techniques.
For him, the dinosaur aspects of Dragon Form liberated his limbs and allowed his raw power to be exerted more freely. At the same time, those bodily changes restricted the execution of certain techniques.
Especially techniques that relied on bracing, leverage, and joint articulation.
In terms of pure technique usage, Dragon Form was actually unfavorable.
So-
After using Dragon Form once, Jaden developed a technique based on it.
A version that was far more compatible with him.
-Ogre Back: Eye Opening!
Jaden's body expanded by two full sizes.
His muscles were completely liberated.
The Tyrannosaurus bite marks reappeared across his body.
As his muscles swelled, his hands and feet subtly spread apart, gaining a more flexible mode of power exertion.
And as his body transformed-
The roaring Ogre Face on Jaden's back opened its mouth.
As it did, the position of its eyes stretched and widened.
It was as if the Ogre had awakened from slumber.
And opened its eyes.
The moment the Eye Opening completed, the King's Engine within Jaden's chest roared continuously.
His skin flushed red.
Scalding steam escaped from his mouth with each breath.
The expression on his face grew increasingly ferocious.
Just like the Ogre on his back.
With the Eye Opening complete, the pressure on Zeus spiked instantly.
Because Jaden's muscles were now distributed differently.
His body remained in a constant state of tension-like Iron Body (Tekkai)-even while moving normally.
And it didn't hinder his speed or power at all.
This version of Jaden made Zeus feel as if he were facing a man of iron.
An iron man whose strength had increased by an incalculable amount.
Zeus couldn't even fully clamp down on Jaden's right hand anymore.
Jaden forcibly pulled his fist back.
Pulled it farther.
At the same time, his left hand tightened around Ares's Spear-
Dragging Zeus slightly toward him.
Bang!
Jaden's liberated right fist smashed into Zeus's head.
After one punch, he instantly drew back for another.
He paid no attention to Zeus's now-freed arm.
It was as if he intended to fight until one of them died.
It had to be remembered-
Zeus was still wearing full-body armor.
And not just any armor.
Divine Artifacts.
Meanwhile, Jaden wore nothing.
No armor.
No protection.
Or rather-
Jaden's armor was his own body.
How could flesh and blood be sturdier than a Divine Artifact?
When Zeus first fought Jaden, he believed Jaden's greatest strength lay in reinforcing his body.
He even thought that without that ability, Jaden-being only flesh and blood-would be completely helpless against a fully armed god.
But...
The longer the battle dragged on, the harder it became to hold onto that belief.
Now, even as Zeus roared internally, his heart was violently shaken.
He felt that even if he chose to trade punches head-on-
Jaden could still punch through his armor.
Shatter his helmet.
And beat him to death.
Zeus wanted to exchange blows.
He wanted to fight directly.
But when the moment came-
He abandoned the idea.
Zeus's freed arm shot out and grabbed Ares's Spear.
He gripped it with both hands.
His bloodshot eyes narrowed.
They locked onto the gaps between Jaden's fingers.
All of his power focused on that opening.
And he pushed.
Swoosh-
Blood splattered.
Under the combined force of Zeus's hands, Ares's Spear didn't collide head-on.
Instead, it was dragged along the gaps between Jaden's fingers.
But Zeus didn't throw it away.
He half-pulled, half-slashed-
Driving the spear toward Jaden's throat.
Jaden's right fist, which had been pulled back, snapped forward instantly.
It struck the spearhead.
Splat!
The instant Zeus saw the blood spray, a delighted smile bloomed beneath Ouranos's Helmet.
He thought he had won.
Ares's Spear was renowned for its sturdiness and sharpness.
Those qualities were its very essence.
As for Jaden's strength-
The moment Zeus thrust upward, his foot-freed when he released Jaden's right hand-stomped heavily onto the ground.
His other foot slammed down from mid-air.
As if he were charging forward.
As that foot landed, Zeus lifted his first foot and leaned forward.
All of his weight.
All of his strength.
Pressed into Ares's Spear.
Lightning surged across his body, flowing from Ouranos's Helmet, Gaia's Armor, and his own flesh, converging into the spear.
With this strike-
Zeus believed Jaden would be gravely wounded.
If not outright killed.
Victory was assured.
But-
After the initial sensation of piercing flesh-
Zeus felt something else.
Something solid.
Unyielding.
Then-
Snap!
A crisp sound rang out.
A sound that should never have existed in that moment.
Zeus's eyes widened.
Because-
Ares's Spear had snapped.
The spear's break didn't halt either side's momentum.
Zeus leaned forward from the sudden loss of resistance.
Jaden's fist didn't stop.
It met Zeus's face head-on as it closed the distance.
Bang!
A thunderous impact echoed across the land fragment drifting in the void.
Zeus lost another Divine Artifact.
And because the break was completely unexpected-
He didn't even have time to detonate it.
The balance was broken.
The one who had been growing stronger without pause-
Had reclaimed the upper hand.
...