The air crackled with energy, thick with tension as Dave and Lukan stood face to face, sizing each other up. Dave's mind raced, but he knew one thing for certain: this was no ordinary battle. Lukan was a force unlike any he'd ever encountered. The weight of the SSS-ranked superhuman's aura pressed down on him, making it hard to even breathe.
Without warning, Lukan moved.
In an instant, he was gone from where he had been standing. Dave barely had time to react before Lukan appeared directly in front of him, his hand raised. A wave of energy, sharp as a blade, shot toward Dave, faster than he could track. He threw himself to the side, narrowly avoiding the strike, but the sheer force of it sent shockwaves through the ground, leaving a deep gash in the earth where Dave had been standing.
'He's faster than anyone I've ever faced!'
Dave gritted his teeth, the weight of Lukan's power pressing harder on his mind. He knew this wasn't even Lukan's full strength. The man was testing him, toying with him. But even so, it was overwhelming. Dave needed to think fast.
His system hummed to life as he activated several abilities at once, his muscles surging with power. He teleported several feet away to gain some distance, and immediately launched a barrage of energy projectiles toward Lukan. The projectiles streaked through the air, glowing brightly as they flew toward their target.
But Lukan merely raised a hand, his eyes gleaming with a dangerous light. With a flick of his wrist, the energy projectiles disintegrated in mid-air, as though they had never existed.
"Is this all you've got?" Lukan asked, his tone mocking. "I expected more from someone who's been causing so much chaos."
Dave clenched his fists, feeling the frustration build inside him. He needed to stay calm, to find an opening. He couldn't afford to let his emotions get the better of him. 'Stay focused. Find a way to break through.'
In a flash, Dave charged forward, using his enhanced speed to try and catch Lukan off guard. He swung his fist toward Lukan's face, aiming to land a solid hit, but Lukan moved effortlessly, sidestepping the attack and countering with a swift kick to Dave's ribs.
Pain exploded in Dave's side as he was sent flying back, crashing into the rubble of a nearby building. The impact rattled his bones, but he forced himself to get back on his feet, ignoring the pain.
"You're not focusing, Dave," Lukan said, his voice calm and almost bored. "You're relying too much on raw strength. You need to understand the flow of battle, the rhythm of power."
Dave wiped the blood from his lip, his body aching from the relentless pressure. He had faced tough opponents before, but this was different. Every move Lukan made was calculated, precise. There was no wasted effort, no unnecessary force. Dave was fighting an opponent who had mastered his abilities in ways he couldn't yet comprehend.
'I need to push harder.'
With a roar, Dave activated his matter control ability, manipulating the debris around him. The rubble from the building he had crashed into floated into the air, forming sharp, jagged shards that he hurled toward Lukan with deadly precision. At the same time, he enhanced his speed and strength, aiming to close the distance and land a strike while Lukan was distracted.
But Lukan was far from distracted.
As the shards flew toward him, Lukan's body glowed with an eerie light. With a casual wave of his hand, the shards were deflected, flying in all directions without touching him. Dave was already in motion, closing the gap between them, but as he swung his fist toward Lukan's midsection, he found himself hitting nothing but air.
Lukan had vanished again.
Before Dave could react, he felt a sharp pain in his back as Lukan appeared behind him, landing a powerful blow that sent him skidding across the ground. Dave struggled to catch his breath, his vision blurring for a moment from the force of the hit.
"You're too slow," Lukan said, his tone calm but with an edge of disappointment. "I thought you'd be more of a challenge."
Dave coughed, blood trickling down the side of his mouth. His entire body screamed in agony, but he pushed the pain aside. He had come too far to lose now.
Lukan watched him with a calm expression, clearly not worried about the outcome of the fight. "I told you, Dave. I'm just testing you. If I were serious, you wouldn't be standing right now."
Dave's fists clenched at his sides. 'He's holding back. He's toying with me.'
It was infuriating. Lukan wasn't even trying. Dave was giving it everything he had, but it wasn't enough. He had never felt this outclassed before.
Lukan stepped closer, his eyes narrowing. "But enough of that. You've shown me what you can do. Now, let's see how you handle me... when I get serious."
A dark aura began to radiate from Lukan, pulsing with energy that made the air vibrate. Dave's heart raced as he felt the shift in power, his instincts screaming at him to prepare for the worst.
Lukan's smile faded, replaced by a look of grim determination. "Let's begin."
The weight of his words hung in the air like a death sentence.