Nolan's confidence faltered as he watched his men crumble before Luke's onslaught. The disbelief etched on his face grew more apparent with every passing second. This wasn't the same Luke he knew—the weakling who couldn't hold his own against even a common thug.
"B-Boss! Something's wrong with him!" one of Nolan's men stammered, his voice trembling as he witnessed Luke dispatch his comrades with ease.
Nolan's fists clenched, his anger barely masking his unease. How could a man who had once been nothing more than a punching bag suddenly become this powerful?
Unbeknownst to Nolan, Luke had already reached the Early 1-Star Warrior stage. Unlike the cultivation stories, where low-leveled cultivators could discern an opponent's strength using their soul or spiritual sense, a Star Warrior doesn't have a spiritual sense—not even at the late stages of the 9-Star Warrior Stage.
The only way to tell a warrior's rank is by the color of their cosmic energy. The more concentrated it was, the stronger they were.
A 1-Star Warrior's cosmic energy was white, and a 2-Star Warrior's was red. Luke hadn't used his cosmic energy yet. If he had, Nolan would have realized right away that Luke wasn't ordinary anymore.
Another way was by exchanging fists with another warrior. The impact of the exchange would reveal the strength and power of each warrior, allowing them to gauge their opponent's rank.
Warriors like Nolan lacked such abilities.
"Enough of this!" Nolan barked, stepping forward. "I'll deal with you myself!"
[PAAA~~~!!]
He charged at Luke without hesitation, his fist aiming straight for Luke's face. Despite not using any cosmic energy, Nolan's physical prowess was formidable. For ordinary men, one punch would have been enough to crush bones. But Luke was no ordinary man anymore.
With a calm that belied the tension of the moment, Luke sidestepped the punch, his movements precise and effortless. Nolan stumbled, thrown off balance by Luke's sudden evasion.
"What the hell?" Nolan muttered, turning back toward Luke. His confusion quickly gave way to frustration as he met Luke's steady gaze.
"You've underestimated me, Nolan," Luke said evenly, his voice carrying an unshakable confidence. "That was your first mistake."
Nolan's jaw tightened. "Don't get cocky. I don't know what you've been up to, but it ends here."
With a roar, Nolan unleashed his cosmic energy, the faint white aura enveloping his body. He charged at Luke, his fists a blur as he unleashed a barrage of punches. Each strike carried his full strength.
"He~!"
[PAA~!!!"]
Luke met Nolan's assault head-on, his own cosmic energy igniting in response. Their fists collided, shockwaves rippling through the air. To Nolan's growing disbelief, Luke matched his strength, their blows resonating with equal force.
"Impossible!" Nolan spat, sweat trickling down his temple as he stepped back. "You're also a Star Warrior?"
The faint white glow around Luke confirmed Nolan's suspicion. For a moment, Nolan could only stare in stunned silence.
Luke's expression remained calm. He didn't answer, focusing instead on the rhythm of the fight. Each clash of fists heightened his awareness of his newfound power.
"So what?!" Nolan growled, his disbelief morphing into rage. "Even if you've reached the 1-Star Warrior stage, it's not enough to beat me!"
With another guttural shout, Nolan's fists began to glow brighter, his movements quickening. Luke struggled to follow his attacks this time, the speed and force catching him off guard.
"Damn it," Luke muttered under his breath as Nolan's fist connected with his chest, sending him crashing into the nearby wall. The impact left him momentarily dazed, pain radiating through his body.
"Agh~!!"
"Brother!" Leila's panicked cry echoed through the street. Before the fight started, she had already stepped back instinctively to make some distance from her brother, so she was in a safe spot, tears brimming in her eyes as she watched her brother struggle to stand.
Luke clenched his fists, forcing himself to his feet despite the pain. He could feel the sharp ache of Nolan's strike lingering in his ribs.
"What's wrong?" Nolan sneered, his confidence returning. "Did you really think you could win?"
Luke's eyes narrowed, his mind racing. As the two exchanged blows earlier, something had stood out—a faint energy surrounding Nolan's fists.
"What is that?" Luke muttered, his gaze locking onto the faint white energy flowing around Nolan's hands.
Nolan's grin widened. "Surprised? This is the 'Meteor Fists' technique. It allows me to channel my cosmic energy into my strikes, amplifying their power. Not something someone like you could ever hope to get."
Luke's fists tightened at his sides. He was already at a disadvantage, and Nolan's technique widened the gap between them.
Unlike Nolan, Luke doesn't have much experience in fighting. The most he's done is fight a few guys who tried to bother Elara before.
Even this body he's in has no experience, while Nolan likely has more. The only advantage Luke has is that his stats seem higher than Nolan's.
"You think fancy techniques make you unbeatable?" Luke said through gritted teeth, his voice steady despite the pain coursing through him. "Skill alone doesn't win fights."
Nolan laughed, a hollow sound that echoed off the brick walls. "And what can you do without one? Power without technique is meaningless. I'll show you why you're still nothing more than a worm."
He lunged at Luke, each punch faster and more precise than the last. Luke narrowly evaded the first blow, but the second grazed his shoulder, sending him reeling.
'I need to think of something…' Luke thought, his breath coming in ragged gasps. Despite his strength, he lacked the experience and techniques to turn the tide of the battle.
[Wiiiishhh~~~]
As Nolan prepared for another strike, a sudden flash of light streaked across the street, too quick for anyone to notice.
Before Luke could react, a surge of knowledge flooded his mind. A set of movements, etched into his consciousness as though he had known them all along.
"This…!" Luke's eyes widened, realization dawning upon him as he readied himself for Nolan's next move.
Nolan charged again, but this time Luke's movements were different—calculated, precise. He sidestepped Nolan's fist with ease and countered with a sharp strike to the ribs.
The force sent Nolan staggering back, his expression shifting from confidence to alarm.
"What… what just happened?" Nolan hissed, clutching his side. He could feel the residual force of Luke's punch reverberating through his body.
Luke didn't respond. He focused on the movements now etched in his mind. It was as if the knowledge of a powerful technique had been implanted in him.