The battlefield erupted with the sound of Dave's fists crashing into his enemies. The force of each punch was immense, sending shockwaves through the air as he pressed forward with ruthless precision. His opponents—both the armored man and the agile woman—were struggling to keep up with his relentless offensive.
Dave's every move was calculated now. He had been playing defensive long enough, testing his limits and learning his opponents' patterns, but now it was his turn to attack. The armored man barely managed to block Dave's punches, his broadsword trembling under the impact. Meanwhile, the woman darted in and out, looking for openings to strike, but Dave was too fast for her now.
"System," Dave thought between his movements, "after all this time, I've been fighting hand-to-hand. Am I supposed to keep going like this, or should I start mastering a weapon?"
He had been thinking about it for a while now. Every time he fought, his mind wandered to the possibilities of wielding something more than just his fists. In a battle of this scale, where fighters could shatter cities with mere punches, a weapon might provide that extra edge.
The system answered almost immediately. "To be honest, Dave, any weapon could fit your fighting style. You've adapted to everything thrown at you so far, and mastering a weapon would be no different. But, for now, I'd recommend dual daggers. They would complement your speed and give you more versatility in close combat."
Dual daggers, huh? Dave liked the sound of that. He could already picture himself slicing through opponents with quick, precise strikes. But now wasn't the time to think too deeply about it. He was in the middle of a fight for his life.
"Arrange to buy some daggers after this fight, System. For now, I need to focus."
The system complied silently, while Dave redirected his attention back to the task at hand.
The armored man came at him with a heavy swing of his broadsword, the blade cutting through the air with a sharp hiss. But Dave was quicker, sidestepping the attack and landing a powerful kick to the man's ribs. The force of the kick sent the man flying several feet back, crashing into the ground with a thunderous impact.
Before the woman could capitalize on the moment, Dave was already moving toward her. She lashed out with her daggers, but he caught her wrists mid-strike, twisting her hands until the weapons fell from her grip. He immediately followed up with a knee to her stomach, knocking the wind out of her and sending her stumbling back.
Dave turned his attention back to the armored man, who was already getting back to his feet. There was a moment of hesitation in the man's eyes—a brief flicker of fear as he realized that he was outmatched. Dave didn't give him a chance to recover.
With a burst of speed, Dave closed the distance between them, his fists flying with precision and force. The armored man raised his sword to block, but Dave's punches were too strong, shattering the blade in his hands. A single powerful punch to the chest followed, and the man collapsed to the ground, blood spraying from his mouth as his chest caved in under the impact.
Dave stood over him for a moment, making sure he was dead. The man's lifeless body lay in a growing pool of blood, his armor cracked and broken from the force of Dave's blows. It was over.
But as Dave turned his gaze back to the woman, he saw something he didn't expect. She was kneeling on the ground, her face twisted in rage as she let out an ear-piercing scream.
"You... you killed him!" she shrieked, her voice filled with fury and anguish.
Dave barely had time to react before she reached into her cloak and pulled out a small black pot. Without hesitation, she shoved it into her mouth, swallowing the contents in one swift motion.
"What the hell—?" Dave muttered, his eyes widening as the transformation began.
The woman's body began to change immediately. Her muscles swelled, her veins bulging under her skin as her eyes turned a deep, glowing red. She let out a guttural roar, her once agile form now replaced by a hulking, monstrous figure. Her body grew larger, her strength radiating off her in waves.
It wasn't just the physical transformation that shocked Dave. It was the raw, animalistic power she now exuded. She had become something else entirely—a brute, driven by rage and power, with no sign of reason or humanity left.
This is bad... Dave thought, his body tensing as he prepared for the next wave of attacks.
The woman—no, the monster—charged at him with terrifying speed, her fists crashing into the ground where Dave had stood moments earlier. The force of the blow sent a shockwave rippling through the ground, creating a massive crater beneath her feet.
Dave leapt back, his mind racing. The woman was faster, stronger, and far more dangerous than before. He would need to fight smart to take her down now. Her raw strength was nothing like he had faced before, and her transformation had turned her into a nearly mindless beast.
The battle had just escalated to a whole new level.