But his accomplishment triggered an unexpected response. The giant released his kanabo with his injured hand, instantly clenching his fist. In the blink of an eye, Jack's fist came like a projectile toward Neizan's face. With no time to dodge, Neizan crossed his sword in front of his face, gripping it with both hands to block the punch.
The impact was brutal. The force of Jack's punch traveled through the sword, launching Neizan backward at a speed that sent him skidding over the sand. As he slid across the ground, the pressure and pain in his arms intensified, but he managed to drive his sword into the sand, stopping his slide.
Regaining his balance, Neizan was breathing heavily. He had managed to make the giant bleed, but the cost had been high. In front of him, Jack examined the wound on his wrist and, far from showing any pain, flashed a smile that sent a chill down Neizan's spine.
『Neizan: «How can a single blow have that much power? And what in the world is that resilience, and how can he move so quickly?» 』
Questions flooded Neizan's mind as he watched the giant pick up his massive club once more. Jack's gaze lingered briefly on the cut on his wrist before he turned his attention back to Neizan, striding toward him with a determined expression.
『Neizan: «Now I understand. Not only does this guy have skin as tough as steel, but he uses his powerful reiki to shield his most vulnerable areas.» 』
As Jack came to a stop in front of him, he raised his enormous arm, lifting the kanabo high with a single hand, clearly preparing for another downward strike—an attack Neizan had already anticipated. The moment Jack swung, Neizan dodged to the side, moving with the same agility as before. But just as he thought he'd evaded it, he felt a sudden jolt; Jack had caught the blade of Neizan's sword in his free hand, his grip like iron. Neizan yanked at his weapon, but it didn't budge. Meanwhile, Jack was already winding up his kanabo, aiming it directly at Neizan.
In a split second, just as the kanabo began to swing, Neizan released his hold on his sword, jumping back to avoid the devastating blow.
『Jack: I see that without your sword, you're even quicker. 』
『Neizan: And I can see your strength far surpasses mine. 』
Jack chuckled, a low and menacing sound.
『Jack: That's to be expected, kid. An old dog like me might not catch you running, but I could crush you with a single hand. 』
With Neizan's sword now in his possession, Jack set his kanabo down for a moment and gripped the weapon with both hands, one on the hilt and the other near the tip of the blade. Neizan's eyes widened as he realized what Jack was about to do.
『Neizan: «What's he planning? Don't tell me he's…» 』
The sword began to tremble in Jack's grip, emitting a harsh, grinding noise. Jack applied pressure from both ends until the blade warped, bending until it cracked and shattered, reduced to a crushed ball of twisted metal in his hands. When he finished, he tossed the kanabo back over his shoulder and held the ball of steel up toward Neizan.
『Jack: Dodge this, if you can. 』
With a swift flick, Jack tossed the metal ball into the air and swung his kanabo with full force. The impact was explosive, and the ball shattered into thousands of fragments, each shard propelled toward Neizan like shrapnel from a grenade explosion.
『Neizan: Oh! Damn it! 』
He barely had time to react. Although he was quick enough to dodge the horrible attack, the scattered projectiles in the air were so many that some inevitably hit him. He felt the burning sting of small pieces of metal embedding themselves in his skin, tearing into his left arm and abdomen. His breathing quickened, and with a gesture of pain and determination, he tore out the fragments embedded in his flesh, feeling the warmth of blood flowing under his fingers. But there was no time to stop and assess the damage.
In front of him, his opponent charged forward at full speed, a giant ready to crush him in a single blow with his heavy kanabo. The sound of the weapon slicing through the air gave him barely a second's warning before it was launched at him. With cunning and reflexes, Neizan planted his foot in the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust and sand that went straight into the giant's eyes, temporarily blinding him. Seizing the moment, Neizan dodged the next attack and ran toward the center of the arena, where dozens of swords were lined up, specially arranged to replace the fighters who broke their weapons.
Without hesitation, he grabbed one of them, his fingers clutching the handle with determination. The familiar weight of the weapon infused him with a renewed sense of confidence. He positioned himself behind the giant, who was still trying to clear his eyes, rubbing them with one of his enormous hands while growling in frustration. Neizan attacked, delivering a series of quick cuts to different parts of his opponent's body. The steel gleamed as his sword sank into the giant's skin, leaving marks that, although mostly superficial, began to accumulate small damage.
The giant, irritated and frustrated, was trying to defend himself, swinging his kanabo in wide circles to keep Neizan at bay while using his free arm to cover his face. Despite his size and strength, he seemed to be struggling to locate his opponent, still blinded by the remnants of dust and sand. However, the young warrior dodged his blows with agility, calculating each step and movement to avoid the brutal reach of the enormous weapon. Not all of his cuts managed to wound the giant, but some, although superficial, began to leave traces of blood and visible marks on the giant's hardened skin.
The fight continued like this for a few seconds that felt eternal, until the giant finally managed to clear the dust from his eyes. A spark of fury shone in his gaze as he clearly located Neizan. With renewed precision, he began to direct the blows of his kanabo toward him, and Neizan felt the risk increase. He was forced to quickly retreat, taking a cautious distance to avoid the devastating impact that would occur if he were to be grazed.