"Young man, your strength is truly astonishing," Kaioh Kaku's measured voice carried clearly even amid the brutal rhythm of punches striking air. "But the true essence of martial arts lies in mastering softness over rigidity."
Sol Mirek's excitement only grew. With every exchange, his innate power surged, his instincts sharpened, and the surge of his Hanma Blood intensified. A progress indicator within him flickered upward like wildfire.
Again, he called, "Let's continue!" With a blur of motion, Sol pushed his speed to its limit, his fists merging into a seamless onslaught.
He admitted to himself that Kaku was exceptionally skilled, but what if he were to unleash this assault without pause for ten uninterrupted minutes?
Kaioh Kaku's expression gradually tightened, subtle but undeniable. His breathing became brisk, beads of sweat collecting on his brow. Against Sol's unrelenting storm of attacks, even he lacked the chance to retaliate.
Ten minutes. Sol's barrage showed no signs of tiring.
Kaku was a master of Xiaoli, a method of relaxed absorption and redistribution of force that allowed him to withstand and redirect incoming strength. Normally it consumed little energy, yet Sol's relentless pressure forced even this venerable technique into exertion.
At last, something unexpected occurred within Sol's core, a surge so intense it felt like a new threshold awakening.
Ding, Sol's Hanma Bloodline activation progress reached 70%. A derived talent, Demon Back, unlocked.
Sol's body froze mid‑motion, a rush of power swelling from his spine as if something ancient, fierce, and untamed had stirred awake. Dark, twisted patterns resembling a demon's face rippled across his training suit, barely contained beneath it.
"What is this…" Sol murmured, sensing a violent torrent of power rising within him.
Kaioh Kaku watched with keen interest. Was this stamina finally drained? Kaku readied himself to take advantage of the moment and stepped back.
"You out of energy already?" he teased quietly.
Before Kaku finished, Sol's head snapped upward, a predatory grin stretching across his features. In an instant, the dark muscular transformation behind him erupted fully, tearing his uniform fabric as his newfound power took form.
"It's only beginning," Sol said, his voice deep and filled with menace.
For the first time in his long life, Kaku felt that sense of primal alarm, the kind that comes when one realizes their opponent is something else entirely.
What is this power…? Kaku wondered, a flicker of awe sparking in his eyes.
Sol moved again, faster than thought itself, appearing directly behind Kaku as if he had traveled across space undetected. His movement was too swift to leave an afterimage.
"Absolute force renders technique meaningless," Sol declared, his voice calm but charged with intent.
Kaku barely had time to react before a powerful strike drove him into the air. He instinctively used Xiaoli to soften part of the blow, yet the impact still flung him several meters away.
Sol flashed forward, positioning himself exactly where Kaku would land, and struck again.
Bang.
Kaku's body hadn't yet hit the ground before another punch sent him flying.
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!
Sol's form flickered across the terrain like a phantom, each appearance perfectly timed to intercept Kaku and unleash another strike. With calculated precision, Sol launched repeated blows, sending Kaku tumbling helplessly in every direction.
Kaku's eyes widened with disbelief.
In his hundred‑plus years of martial experience, he had never encountered such a ferocious style.
Sol's onslaught had no finesse, no traditional technique — it was raw, unfiltered power and extreme speed, overwhelming even Xiaoli.
Finally, Sol's final punch slammed Kaku hard into the earth. The ground shattered under the force, a network of fractures radiating outward. Dust and debris filled the air.
Kaku lay in a crater, chest rising and falling rapidly, blood at the corner of his mouth.
He had lost.
For the first time in 146 years, he had been defeated by sheer strength.
As Sol approached, the demonic patterns faded from his back and his stance relaxed. He knelt and extended his hand.
"Sorry," he said with genuine sincerity, "I didn't hold back."
Kaku blinked, then suddenly laughter erupted from deep within him — hearty and incredulous.
"Good! Good! Good!" he said, delight sparkling in his ancient eyes.
"How long has it been… I've not known defeat like this in ages!"
He patted Sol's shoulder with sincere admiration.
"Sol Mirek, your strength has surpassed even the boundaries of technique!"
Despite his age, Kaku's voice quivered with excitement. "I've lived many decades and never have I seen such power, raw yet terrifying."
"You are the most incredible martial artist I've encountered," he continued with reverence, "not reliant on traditional forms alone, but instinctive force perfected with intent."
"You will be a new force in the world!"
Kaku's words carried weight, not empty praise but heartfelt acknowledgment from someone whose mastery spanned generations.
"From this moment, I will share all that I've learned in my life," he declared.
"I will help you forge the perfect fusion of strength and skill!"
Nearby, Master Hiro stood frozen, his disbelief etched across his features. He had just witnessed one of the greatest masters ever be humbled, first by pure force and then by sheer resolve.
This was far more than a sparring match, Hiro thought in awe.
Kaku brushed dust from his robe, grin still broad with excitement.
"Hiro," he said in a warm tone, "you have brought me an extraordinary warrior!"
Sol scratched his head sheepishly.
"Old Guo, you flatter me. I still have so much to learn about technique."
Kaku laughed heartily once more.
"Modesty is admirable, but not when it hides your true worth," he said with a chuckle. "Come, let's go inside and talk!"