They collided again.
Each exchange carving dents into the ground beneath them.
Hyunjin stepped in, jab, cross, Geon slipped the first
But the second..
BOOM.
It landed.
Geon's head snapped sideways but he didn't fall.
Instead, he planted his foot.
And for the first time his aura violently flared at once.
The air tightened, Hyunjin's instinct screamed
Too late.
Geon twisted his body
Every muscle compressing
Then,
A straight punch.
It slammed into Hyunjin's chest.
THOOOOOM.
Hyunjin's body left the ground.
He flew Back and crashed into the cage.
The steel bars bent inward on impact.
The entire structure shook violently.
Silence.
Hyunjin dropped to one knee.
A crack ran through the floor beneath him.
The crowd held its breath.
Geon stood still, watching.
"That one landed." Hyunjin coughed thin line of blood slipping from his mouth.
His body trembled slightly.
Geon stepped forward slowly "You've grown." His voice was calm now "But you're still incomplete."
"You lack experience."
Hyunjin lowered his head.
Then he laughed "Yeah."
He stood up his breathing steadied
Adjusting his shoulders relaxed.
His stance shifted.
Geon noticed immediately "You.."
Hyunjin wiped the blood from his chin, He stepped forward again.
Geon's eyes narrowed "You're growing mid-fight.. that Trait of yours, tch."
Hyunjin cracked his neck.
He vanished again.
But this time he didn't go straight in.
He feint, Geon reacted
But Hyunjin shifted angles mid-step, punch slipped past Geon's guard.
THUD.
Ribs.
Geon's body tightened, then another
THUD.
Same spot, deeper this time.
A third but Geon blocked it.
but the impact still forced him back a step.
The crowd gasped.
Hyunjin didn't stop, his rhythm had changed.
He was more precise now.
Every hit he got, he has Adapted to it now.
A hook,
Geon raised his guard but Hyunjin twisted his wrist mid-swing turning it into a downward strike.
CRACK.
It clipped Geon's shoulder.
Geon stepped back.
Hyunjin grinned wider "Got you."
Geon exhaled his aura flared again.
The green color began to glow.
Hyunjin stepped in a straight punch aimed for Geon's face.
Geon didn't dodge.
He stood his ground.
Hyunjin's fist slammed into him
BOOOM.
The impact shook the cage but Geon didn't move.
Hyunjin's eyes narrowed.
Then Geon moved.
A counter.
A punch straight to Hyunjin's jaw.
CRACK.
Hyunjin's head snapped back His body staggered but he didn't fall.
Geon followed.
Two more strikes
Body and Shoulder
Each one heavy.
Hyunjin slid back feet dragging across the floor.
But he caught himself.
Blood dripping from his lip.
Geon lowered his fist, blood everywhere "If I had faced you in my prime."
His eyes locked onto Hyunjin "That would've been a top fight."
"If this version of you is this strong.." His gaze hardened "I can't even imagine your prime."
Hyunjin stood straight blood on his face "I don't have a prime."
He step forward "I'll evolve and adapt until I die."
'Geon is strong he might defeat normal first-generation guys, but low-level kings could defeat him, perhaps in his prime, he could defeat a low-level king.' Hyunjin thought.
"How old are you, Geon?" Hyunjin asked.
"24, why?" Geon replied.
Hyunjin nodded "Nothing, just asking, you know."
They moved again.
Hyunjin closed the distance, faster than before.
A straight punch, Geon blocked
but the impact bent his guard inward.
A second hit followed instantly, same angle.
Same spot.
THUD.
Geon's ribs absorbed it but his breath hitched.
That tiny opening Hyunjin saw it.
And took it.
A third strike, lower.
CRACK.
Geon's body stiffened.
Hyunjin didn't stop.
He couldn't stop now.
This was his rhythm.
A flurry of calculated brutality.
Every hit built on the last.
A hook to the ribs
A straight to the chest
A knee driven upward
THOOM.
Geon staggered back.
The crowd erupted "He's overwhelming him!"
Hyunjin's grin widened, his movements flowed now.
Every exchange was already learned by Hyunjin.
Already adapted earlier.
Geon swung, Hyunjin slipped it.
Countered
CRACK.
Jaw.
Geon's head snapped.
Another
THUD.
Body.
Then, Hyunjin grabbed his arm
Pulled him in and drove a brutal elbow down.
BOOM.
Geon dropped to one knee.
Silence spread.
Hyunjin stood over him.
Breathing heavy.
Geon tried to stand, his body resisted.
Ribs screaming his fingers twitched
One of them bent wrong.
Broken, blood dripped from his mouth falling onto the already stained floor.
"He's done." Someone whispered.
Hyunjin stepped forward.
He raised his fist, ready to end it.
Then stopped.
Then Geon laughed "So this is it."
Hyunjin frowned, something felt off.
Geon planted his foot.
Forced himself up.
Bones protesting every movement.
But he stood.
Barely, yet his eyes were still alive.
Hyunjin's grin "You're still standing."
Geon exhaled, blood slipping past his lips "Of course I am."
He straightened as much as his broken body allowed "You've done well."
"Better than I expected."
Hyunjin's eyes narrowed.
That tone
Geon rolled his shoulder slightly, Ignoring the pain "But there's something you didn't notice."
"What."
Geon looked at him directly "All this time," A faint smile formed "I haven't used my techniques."
Silence.
The words heavier than any punch.
Hyunjin's expression changed.
Then frowned "What?"
Geon's aura flickered again "Everything so far," He lifted his hand "Was just my base with Mastery."
The pressure in the cage changed.
Hyunjin's stance lowered.
Geon smiled faintly "Now.." His voice dropped "let's actually fight."
"You have pushed me to my limits, now I'll use everything to defeat a monster like you." Geon's eyes glinted.