They stood on opposite sides, the scattered bodies of Jack's goons strewn across the floor, creating a dramatic and cinematic tableau.
"You must have taken some kind of amplifier," Jack said, his voice laced with a mix of surprise and irritation.
"There's no way you could have grown this strong in such a short time. But it doesn't matter. I'll beat you with that new power of yours. By the way, I wasn't even using my full power yesterday," he added with a smirk, eyes narrowing as he prepared for the next round.
Suddenly, a brilliant yellow aura erupted around Jack's arm, radiating with a fierce intensity. The energy solidified, and earthy material began to coalesce, forming a rocky sleeve that extended up his arm. As the transformation progressed, the stones advanced rapidly, tearing through his shirt with a series of loud rips.
The rock continued to spread, enveloping his chest and back in a rugged, natural armor. Within moments, the earth had covered most of his body, encasing him in a formidable, stone-like suit that seemed both impenetrable and menacing.
" You like my power? There's no punch you can throw that will hurt me. So try all you want. When you're tired, I'll deal the final bl—" Jack was abruptly cut off as he noticed Travis vanish from his sight.
In an instant, Travis reappeared directly in front of him, his hand pressing firmly against Jack's chest.
" You know," Travis began with a smirk, "winning against you will only take a single blow. But since I'm a good guy, I want us to fight like men."
Travis sent a powerful surge of energy through Jack's stone armor. The intense energy ripped through the armor, shattering it into pieces and leaving Jack exposed, clad only in his underwear.
" Now let's fight. No tricks. No dumb armor. Just mano e mano," Travis said, stepping back and keeping his eyes locked on Jack, who now stood vulnerable and seething with rage.
Jack stared at the remnants of his shattered armor in shock. His confidence in his defenses had been absolute, but seeing Travis dismantle them effortlessly rattled him deeply. Slowly, he raised his head to meet Travis's gaze from a few meters away.
'He could have beaten me right there. But he chose not to,' Jack thought, his mind racing.
Trembling in fear, sweat trickled down his forehead. The only people who had ever instilled such terror in him were his father and his boss. Now, Travis had claimed the top spot on that list.
"Come on now. You don't want me to come at you, do you?" Travis taunted, assuming a fighting stance and waiting for Jack to prepare himself.
Jack snapped back to reality, shaking his head and wiping the sweat from his brow. 'What am I thinking? He's just a loser. Yeah, I'll fucking crush him!' he thought, steeling himself.
He coated his hands with a bright, yellow aura, which materialized into solid stone, forming gauntlets that covered his fists.
" Let's fight then," Jack declared, his voice steady as he prepared for the battle ahead.
Travis's smile widened, his excitement palpable. The fight ahead stirred memories of his past, when he was feared as the God of Battle.
The wind gently blew through the wide-open windows and doorway, while the setting sun cast a warm, golden glow across the room. As the light shifted, Travis's smile gradually faded into a focused, steely expression.
The next moment, Jack channeled his internal energy into his feet, propelling himself toward Travis at blinding speeds. Within seconds, he was right in front of Travis, delivering a sharp right hook with precision.
Travis, with a practiced ease, deflected the punch with a gentle tap of his hand. Using his energy, he yanked Jack towards him and seized his arm in a swift motion. With a powerful swing, he hurled Jack across the room.
Jack flew through the air, his body twisting as he braced for impact. Just before crashing into the wall, he managed to position his back to absorb the shock, mitigating the force of the collision.
*Boom* The impact reverberated through the room, shaking the surroundings as dust and debris exploded into the air.
Jack crashed into the wall with a thunderous impact, the structure crumbling around him and burying him in debris. Despite the chaos, he quickly emerged from the rubble, brushing off the dust and preparing for his next move.
He blitzed toward Travis with incredible speed, each step causing the ground to crack under his force. With a fierce determination, he launched a punch aimed straight at Travis's face. The sheer power behind the punch was capable of demolishing an entire house if it connected.
Travis remained motionless, a subtle smirk playing on his lips as Jack's fist rocketed towards him.
"Hahah, got you, fucker!" Jack's laughter echoed through the room as his punch landed squarely on Travis's face.
*Bang*
The collision produced a deafening echo that reverberated through the empty space, sending a cloud of dust swirling around the scene. The entire area seemed to freeze in the aftermath, the dust cloaking the room in a thick haze.
A moment later, a piercing scream cut through the dust, reverberating through the building.
"Ahhhhhh!!!" Jack's anguished cry filled the air as he collapsed to the ground. He clutched his right arm, which was now grotesquely twisted and broken. Staring in horror at the injury, Jack's face was a mask of pain and disbelief.
Travis watched as Jack staggered, clutching his side, his face contorted in pain. A faint smirk tugged at the corner of Travis's lips as he assessed the situation. He could feel the lingering hum of his own energy, a thin but powerful layer coursing just beneath his skin—a protective aura he'd learned to control after countless hours of practice and honing his inner strength.
"Good thing I know how to control my Internal Energy," he thought, feeling a sense of satisfaction as he saw the surprise in Jack's eyes. His aura functioned like a flexible, invisible armor, dispersing the impact of Jack's blows. Yet despite his confidence, there was a hint of frustration. It wasn't that long ago that his skin had been practically impenetrable without the need for energy-based defenses. A punch that might've felt like a breeze back then now demanded conscious effort to block.
Travis then leaned down and grabbed Jack by the neck, lifting him effortlessly off the ground. Jack's legs kicked in vain as Travis held him aloft, his grip unyielding and his expression calm. The sight of Jack's helplessness was a clear demonstration of Travis's dominance in their fight.
"Stand still," Travis commanded, his voice unwavering. Jack stared at him, bewildered.
"What do you mean?" Jack asked.
"I said stand still. Don't move." Travis's tone brooked no argument. Despite his confusion, Jack complied.
They stood motionless for a few seconds.
*Whap*
Without warning, Travis delivered a powerful punch straight to Jack's face. The impact was explosive, denting Jack's features and sending him hurtling through the air.
*Boom*
Jack crashed into a pile of supplies, the force of the impact scattering them in all directions. The debris toppled down, burying him under a chaotic heap of material.
Travis wasn't finished. He grabbed Jack and hurled him into the debris once more, then picked him up and slammed him down again and again. Each brutal impact shattered more of Jack's bones, leaving him a crumpled, bloodied mess on the floor.
Jack lay there, his body covered in bruises and lacerations, struggling to move. Travis stood over him, his imposing figure casting a long, menacing shadow. His gaze was icy, devoid of any sympathy.
"Don't ever face me again." His voice was cold and final, leaving no room for doubt or defiance.
TO BE CONTINUED