"CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!"
The impact was deafening.
The pipe jerked violently in Chayil's hands, metal screeching as it clashed. It slammed into the rock, wedging itself just enough to keep from being swept away by the whirlwind. Chayil gripped the top of the pipe, holding it firm to stop its wild, erratic movement.
The pipe didn't bend or break even with the strong force. "I knew it!" Chayil exclaimed, trusting his pipe.
Chayil held fast, pressing the top of the pipe down, resisting with every ounce of strength he had. But to Naisha, it looked impossible, almost desperate.
But then—something strange happened. Something Naisha hadn't expected.
The whirlwind stuttered.
Naisha's eyes widened as realization dawned. "It's working…"
The angle of the pipe was disrupting the chain's deadly flow.
"He's… slowing it down…" Naisha whispered, shock giving way to understanding.
'But it won't be enough to stop the whirlwind. Chayil's strength will give out long before the whirlwind stops.' she muttered as he calculated the fight.
Chayil gritted his teeth, holding on as the pipe vibrated so violently in his hands that he thought his bones might shatter.
The chains kept spinning, slamming into the pipe, but each strike chipped away at their speed. The heat was searing and burned Chayil's hands as he fought to keep his grip.
"ZZZZZZZTTT!"
Chayil's body shook and his feet dug into the ground as he maintained the position of the pipe.
'He's brilliant…' Naisha murmured in awe, watching Chayil endure the intense pressure.
She could see the whirlwind beginning to slow even more now.
The chains collided with the pipe once more, but this time, instead of stopping, the whirlwind wobbled.
"Aaarrrghh!" Chayil roared.
With one last burst of strength, Chayil shifted his grip and slammed the chains upward, creating an opening.
Naisha's heart raced as she saw a path open up straight to Gorvex.
Without wasting a second, Chayil charged through the gap.
The Mad Clan leader stood there, dazed and disoriented, still trying to comprehend the collapse of his ability.
'This cannot be! A verdant stopped me?'
Chayil reached Gorvex in an instant.
Gorvex's eyes widened in shock, but that quickly turned to a vicious glare. As his hands lifted, the chains wrapped around him, slithering from his arms down, forming a deadly armor over his body.
"C'mon Verdant!" Gorvex shouted challenging Chayil.
Chayil's lips curled into a wide grin as he drew closer to Gorvex. "Be proud! You're the first to experience my real attack!"
Then, Chayil tightened his grip and slammed the glowing-hot pipe into Gorvex, driving him straight into the ground.
"CRACK!"
The pipe crashed into Gorvex's chain armor and his chest. The armor buckled like soft fabric under the blow, and the force was so overwhelming that Gorvex's entire body slammed into the ground, leaving a deep crater as if the earth itself had become a grave for him.
Pain exploded across Gorvex's body and he vomited blood as he hit the ground. Even though he poured every bit of his strength into his defense, he couldn't stop the sheer force of Chayil's strength.
His entire body trembled and his bones were about to give way.
"Argh!" Gorvex let out a strangled gasp. His eyes went wide with shock and agony. "Who is this Verdant?!"
He tried to lift his arms, but his strength was failing him. The whirlwind chains, now completely disordered, fell limp around him.
Chayil stood over him, gripping the pipe, which still glowed faintly from the heat and friction. His own chest heaved as he caught his breath, but his eyes never wavered from Gorvex.
"No more trump cards?" he asked, a grin tugging at the corner of his mouth.
Gorvex managed a weak, bitter laugh. "Don't fool yourself, boy. A verdant stay verdant. You'll always be prey… till the day you die."
His words faded to a murmur as his head lolled to the side.
"Interesting," Chayil commented as he shifted his gaze to the sky.
Everyone was stunned. The leader of the Mad Clan had just been taken down—by a mere Verdant, of all people!
The Mad Clan members were paralyzed, eyes wide with terror as if they had seen something far worse than defeat. They didn't know what to do.
For a moment, they stood there, frozen. Then, slowly, they began to back away.
"Run!" someone from the clan finally yelled, breaking the silence.
Like a dam bursting, they scattered, vanishing into the trees.
A wave of cheers exploded from the villagers. They had won.
"He really took down Gorvex!" one villager shouted in disbelief.
"Sister Naisha!" Ken's voice rang out as he and Auntie rushed toward her.
Naisha sprinted forward and pulled Ken into a tight embrace. "Are you okay? Did you get hurt anywhere?"
Ken shook his head, his eyes wide, but he was fine.
Relieved, Naisha stood up and made her way to Chayil. "Thank you for saving me and the villagers," she said softly.
Chayil didn't respond. His gaze was fixed on the sky, lost in thought, his breathing ragged.
His clothes were torn, scorched from the battle. The cloth he had wrapped around his hand was blackened and frayed, revealing his pale skin beneath. Even his palms looked burned.
He seemed far away like his mind was already elsewhere.
***
Chayil's Teenage Years
In a pentagon-shaped ring, Chayil faced his opponent.
As the bell rang, both fighters charged at each other. They met in the middle, and Chayil immediately threw a right hook.
It broke through his opponent's defense, landing squarely on his face, and the man dropped instantly.
"I knew it! Another boring fight with Chayil."
"What a waste of a ticket," the audience muttered among themselves.
After the fight, Chayil returned to the office where his couch waited.
"I told you to take a few hits, to act like you're struggling! Why didn't you listen?" his manager scolded him.
"I already did," Chayil replied flatly.
"Well, now no one wants to watch your matches anymore. We can't even find anyone willing to fight you!" his couch complained.
From that point on, Chayil began holding back in his fights, intentionally taking hits and restraining himself.
---
Present Time
A huge grin spread across Chayil's face as he continued staring up at the sky.
"This is life!"
"This is what I've dreamed of!"
"This is where I belong!"
"This is a complete package," he said, shifting his thoughts to Naisha.
He spun around to face Naisha, his grin wide and grabbed her shoulder. "I love you! Let me stay by your side."