You know Ezra, there's always a higher mountain before a mountain."
Bane said coldly.
"Hahaha. Aren't those words always said by people who are weak?"
Ezra laughed, his voice thick, reaching a massive hint of mockery.
"I will make you unable to forget this day, Ezra."
Slowly, he stepped forwards, the ground thumped at his every foot step.
"What's with all this wishy-washy words? If you want to attack, do so! Stop acting like a timid little girl and hesitating. Don't worry too much, I won't break your bones to too many pieces, i promise."
Banes' eyes yellowish eyes froze and then immediately blazed with an intense fury.
"Speed Dash!"
"BANG!"
A sudden force blasted an entire ten meter radius away like a grenade.
The ground exploded into smithereens, blasting fragments of stones, hardened cements and sand in all directions like a fragmented grenade.
In the blink of an eye, he vanished from his previous as he turned into a streak of brownish light and appeared before Ezra like a ghost.
The air trembled and collapsed as a single massive paw with sharp claws slapped forward with the force of an artillery shell.
"Whoosh!" "Boom!"
The air imploded as the massive claws crossed through the air with intense speed.
Ezra's expression changed drastically and he immediately crossed his hands at the unexpected attack.
"BOOM!"
Shockwaves blasted out in a circular pattern as everything within half a meter radius was basted into smithereens.
"Bang!" "Bang!" "Bang!" "Bang!" "Bang!" "Bang!" "Bang!"
Ezra staggered backward, his heels digging into the earth as he tried to absorb the force. Each step felt like a hammer blow, and he stomped down heavily, leaving deep impressions in the ground with every backward step. It took him ten solid paces to finally halt, dissipating the lingering force that still pulsed through his body.
Bane was actually stronger than him. It was no surprise, a level-4 was obviously stronger than a level-3 beast.
However, Ezra wasn't the least bit discouraged.
Instead,he smiled as he licked his lips. "Interesting."
This was the perfect time to test his strength and skills.
Bane's body flickered like a shadow, reappearing just inches from Ezra's face. His massive jaws parted, rows of sharp teeth gleamed with sunlight . A loud growl escaping his mouth as he chomped down forcefully at Ezra's neck.
Ezra's pupils constricted and he immediately leaned backwards, the force pushing his body as he instantly performed a no hand backflip, barely dodging neck bite.
Just as his body twisted upside down and his legs were about to touch the ground, his body suddenly twisted. As Ezra flipped, his legs stretched as he spun his body mid-flip, his large, muscular tail whipping around with a powerful sweep. The thick tail cut through the air, making a faint "whoosh" as it closed in on Bane's legs.
"Thwack!"
The tail struck hard against Bane's legs, sweeping them out from under him with a force that echoed through the ground.
Caught off-guard, Bane's legs were lifted off the ground as he was literally swept off his feet.
Ezra landed with a powerful thud, his muscles coiled and tensed like springs. Without wasting a moment, he leapt and stomped his muscular legs at James steely chest like an hammer.
Bane hurriedly reacted as the four retractable claws behind him crossed before him in an x shape cross shield.
"BOOM!"
The force cracked through the air, and the impact echoed like a thunderclap.
James's massive, steel-reinforced body shot backward, his bulk figure hurtling through the air like a cannon. His form smashed into the ground, skidding and bouncing like a giant, heavy football. Dust and debris sprayed in all directions, leaving deep grooves in the earth as he tumbled, each bounce leaving a crater in the ground.
Ezra wasn't one to waste opportunities.
Dropping in all fours, he dashed forwards with insane speed, leaping across distances in a fast blur, closing in on Bane like a specter.
Bane's retractable claws dug deep into the ground, carving long, jagged lines as he fought to stabilize himself. His thick claws scraped and dragged along the dirt, his powerful arms straining against the momentum as he stabilized himself.
But before he could fully regain his stance, Ezra was already before him, moving like a blur. Ezra's arm swung forward, his sharp claws slicing through the air with a fierce momentum.
"Mountain Slash!"
The air screeched loudly as the claws drew an arc in the void.
Caught off-guard, Bane wasn't able to react physically in time. Gritting his teeth, he activated his second skill.
"Steel Hide!"
In an instant, his flesh transformed, the brown fur darkening as his skin hardened like iron.
Bane was keeping this skill for the competition. He didn't think he would be forced to use it against someone like Ezra.
"DING!"
The impact rang out like two metal wrecking balls striking against each other, echoing across the field as Ezra's claws connected with Bane's armored chest.
"Uff!"
Bane felt the shock reverberate through his entire body, the air knocked out of his lungs as his ribs groaned under the pressure.
Inside, he could feel three ribs cracking from the tremendous force that Ezra's strike had delivered.
However, Ezra's claws weren't able to penetrate through his skin as his Steel-hide prevented it from doing so.
Sparks erupted from the point of contact, riding along the powerful shockwaves that blasted outward in a circular arc. The air around them seemed to ripple like the surface of a lake struck by a falling stone, bending and twisting from the collision.
Bane's body was tossed backwards once more as he rolled to the ground.
However, he was quick to recover this time.
Just as he recovered, he saw Ezra was only half a meter from him.
"You fucking low-life!"
Bane's voice boomed with raw fury as he cursed, his eyes blazing with rage.
Extremely furious, he didn't care anymore for the competition and he immediately dived forwards.
Ezra's eyes widened in surprise, realizing Bane's intentions. Quickly, he slammed his foot into the ground with a fierce stomp.