The atmosphere in the vast, otherworldly dimension was suffocating, filled with an overwhelming tension that weighed heavily on every competitor. It was no ordinary battlefield. Dave found himself standing in an enormous arena, one that was nearly as large as Earth itself. The landscape stretched infinitely in all directions—mountains, forests, cities, and oceans—all encompassed within this strange, twisted version of reality. The sky above crackled with lightning, and the ground beneath his feet felt unstable, as though the world itself was holding its breath before the coming storm.
The trial had begun.
Suddenly, the once still air erupted with chaos. Explosions and shockwaves rippled across the horizon as competitors clashed with unimaginable force. From the first punch thrown, the scale of the battle was apparent. Fighters of immense power, many ranked SSS like Dave, unleashed devastating attacks that leveled entire landscapes. In the distance, he could see mountains crumbling under the weight of the battles, cities vaporizing from the mere shockwave of punches and kicks. The sight was both awe-inspiring and terrifying.
"Is this the power of SSS-ranked fighters?" Dave muttered under his breath. The destructive capability on display was unlike anything he had ever seen. Each collision between fighters sent out shockwaves that could easily destroy entire cities on Earth. The air was thick with the energy of their attacks—fireballs, lightning strikes, and energy blasts filled the sky, tearing through the battlefield.
Dave didn't have time to admire the chaos for long. In an instant, his instincts screamed at him, forcing him to move. Without warning, a figure appeared from the side, moving with such blinding speed that it almost seemed like a blur. The ground cracked beneath the figure's feet as they launched themselves directly at Dave, their fist pulled back in preparation for a strike.
Dave barely had time to react.
The attack came in fast, and the sheer speed and power of the punch sent him flying through the air. His body collided with the ground, skidding across the rocky terrain until he managed to dig his heels in and stop. Dust and debris swirled around him as he stood, shaking off the impact. His chest ached where the blow had landed, and he knew this wasn't going to be an easy fight.
"So, this is how it's going to be," Dave muttered to himself as he brushed the dust off his clothes. He glanced up, his eyes narrowing at the figure now floating in the air above him. The fighter hovered effortlessly, their eyes locked on Dave with a predatory glare. Their aura radiated a dark, violent energy—a clear indication they were more than eager for the kill.
The fighter descended slowly, landing a few meters away from Dave. He was tall and muscular, clad in armor that shimmered with a dull metallic sheen. His eyes glowed with a faint red hue, and a smirk curled on his lips. "You're lucky you survived that," he said, his voice cold and mocking. "Most would've been crushed."
Dave straightened up, stretching his neck from side to side, loosening his muscles. "I've been hit harder," he replied, his tone calm but filled with underlying tension.
The fighter's smirk widened, clearly taking pleasure in Dave's defiance. Without wasting another moment, he shot forward, his speed again nearly imperceptible. Dave barely had time to brace himself before another barrage of punches rained down on him. Each strike was faster than the last, and the sheer power behind each punch was enough to crack the ground beneath their feet.
Bam! Bam! Bam!
The force of the blows reverberated through Dave's body, but he managed to block most of the hits, deflecting them just enough to avoid serious damage. He could feel the immense power behind each attack, knowing that a single mistake could be fatal. The fighter was relentless, not giving Dave any room to breathe.
"This guy…he's insanely fast!" Dave thought, his mind racing as he dodged another strike. He countered with a punch of his own, but the fighter easily sidestepped, disappearing from view for a split second before reappearing behind him.
The fighter's fist slammed into Dave's back, sending him crashing into a nearby boulder. The impact shattered the rock, but Dave quickly regained his footing, standing tall despite the pain shooting through his body.
"That all you got?" Dave taunted, wiping a trickle of blood from the corner of his mouth. His opponent's eyes flickered with irritation, clearly annoyed that Dave hadn't gone down yet.
The fighter sneered. "You're persistent. But persistence won't save you here."
In the blink of an eye, the fighter rushed at Dave again, this time aiming for his head. The speed was overwhelming, but Dave's reflexes kicked in. He ducked, narrowly avoiding the lethal punch, then countered with an uppercut that connected with the fighter's jaw.
The impact was thunderous, sending a shockwave through the air. The fighter was knocked back, skidding across the ground, but quickly regained his balance. He wiped his mouth, looking at the blood on his hand with surprise. "You…" he growled, glaring at Dave with a newfound intensity. "You actually hit me."
Dave smirked. "Guess I'm not as weak as you thought."
The fighter's expression darkened. "That was a mistake."
Without warning, his aura flared, surrounding him in a dark, fiery glow. The ground beneath his feet cracked and split, and the air around them grew heavy with his power. Dave could feel the weight of it pressing down on him like a physical force. This was no ordinary fighter—he was unleashing his true power now.
The two squared off, both knowing that the real fight had only just begun.