"Believe me... I could damage her seriously if I attacked with full power," Zuxe exclaimed, cold sweat cascading down his face.
He and both the siblings, Raven and Shreya, now stood in a battle arena beyond the gaming hub.
It was used by people who wanted to spar or try new techniques or moves.
It came under the authority of the gaming hub.
Although they had to pay a hefty sum for it because they rented the entire arena for themselves.
It was nothing fancy, just a plain ground made up of soul essence stones that seemed to cover a hundred square meters of land,
and ten meters of long boundaries made up of tinted black glass, creating a dome-like shape over the arena.
"Don't worry about that. She is quite strong... I bet she won't disappoint you."
Raven assured Zuxe, hitting him on the back with his hand.
Only if he knew who Zuxe was.
Every excuse Zuxe had tried to make until now was countered by Raven swiftly.
He had been trying to convince him for the past fifteen minutes, but Raven was determined to make them fight.
Sigh
Zuxe sighed internally as he recalled his memories from the game, while waving his hand in surrender, signaling he was ready to spar.
"Let's see... Shreya, hmm..."
He pondered while stretching his legs and arms to warm up before the spar.
"I think by now she should have reached Grade 7 in strength and would break through to Grade 6 in a few months."
Zuxe came to a conclusion as a faint chill ran down his spine,
upon the thought that there was at least one or semi two grade differences in their strength, not to mention other stats.
One grade difference was too large...
For example, when Zuxe was grade 9, he was able to sprint a hundred meters in about 18 or 17 seconds, but after his mutation, it decreased down to 13 or 14 seconds.
Despite what it seemed, a three or four second gap in an instant was too large.
And the same went for his other stats as well.
He couldn't recall any other stats of Shreya other than strength, nor could he assume because, unlike him, who had almost the same grades in every aspect, theirs could differ widely.
If he had to make an estimate, considering the difference of one grade of strength and given his endurance, Shreya would probably knock him out within five strikes.
"But I still have an advan—"
Something interesting popped up in his mind, but unfortunately, it was interrupted by Raven, who declared the rules.
"The use of any soul essence techniques or martial arts techniques is strictly prohibited; it will be hand-to-hand combat.
Although you may use soul essence to reinforce your limbs."
"And about unique soul essence techniques... you shouldn't have any, but if you are a so-called 'once in a century talent,' refrain from using it."
"Now I am good as dead," he whispered under his breath, ready to get a dozen of his bones broken.
He knew that his technique was superior to anyone else in the clan, but of course, there were some exceptions.
Why was he so damn sure?
"I fucking scared the hell out of Elysia for a moment by destroying her attack with mine."
He planned to show his dominance by using his technique against Shreya, breaking her will to fight due to him having a unique soul essence technique that young.
Although he didn't plan to kill her by 'mistake.'
But the use of soul essence techniques was also prohibited now.
He could only do one thing now.
Pray to himself.
After a while, when Raven was done explaining some basic rules, Zuxe stood across one end of the arena, and Shreya at the other.
His legs shook uncontrollably as he braced himself for the pain that was about to come.
Concentrating every ounce of his soul essence in his legs, in order to gain even a bit of an advantage in speed, he looked at the floor.
The soul essence stones embedded on the ground slowly began to illuminate with energy one by one.
As the last stone illuminated, the translucent barrier separating them vanished into thin air, marking the beginning of the fight.
The movement signal ran out; he pushed off the ground, his body blurring as he vanished from his spot.
His fist cut through the air instinctively, but another fist appeared out of nowhere, crashing into his.
The impact hit Zuxe like a hammer; his arm went numb instantly, a shockwave of pain shooting through his bones.
It was like punching a wall of immovable solid.
He gritted his teeth, recoiling but pushed through the numbness, spinning on his heel to deliver a quick low kick aimed at her knee.
She dodged with ease, barely shifting her weight.
A sweeping fist came at him; he narrowly avoided it with a backflip, landing on his feet just in time to see her closing the distance again.
He dropped into a low crouch instinctively, sweeping a leg at her ankles, but she leaped over him effortlessly.
Springing up, he aimed a sharp elbow strike at her side, but her hand was already there; he leapt back, flipping through the air to create distance.
Dashing forward once more, every muscle in his body protesting, he launched a rapid combo of punches.
But each strike was batted away with ease, her movements calm.
'She isn't going all out yet.'
Desperation gripped him as he vaulted into the air, twisting to deliver an axe kick.
But then he saw it—she wasn't even phased.
Her hand shot up, stopping his foot mid-air before he could react; she flung him to the ground.
'Is this really all he could do!?'
Zuxe tried to scramble back, only for her to be right there again.
Her fist rocketed toward his face with overwhelming force.
He braced himself for the impact, heart pounding in his chest, panic gripping him.
But then, she stopped.
Her fist hovered just inches from his face, the wind from the strike still brushing his skin.
Zuxe froze, breath caught in his throat, as a sudden vibration buzzed from his pocket.
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Thanks for reading.