Mikasa never underestimated Ryo. She had seen firsthand how strong he was when he fought the Titans. But even so, at that moment, she slightly underestimated his ability to control the situation.
When Ryo took the initiative to attack despite being surrounded, it surprised Mikasa a little.
"Haha, this is not a good time to be distracted!"
Just when Mikasa's focus wavered for a moment, Ryo closed the distance between them at incredible speed. The gap between them was almost nonexistent, and in the blink of an eye, they were about to exchange punches!
Ryo had already put himself in a position where he didn't care if Mikasa hit him—he was going to deliver a more brutal attack, no matter what. If Mikasa was intimidated by his momentum and tried to retreat, Ryo would press forward and keep attacking.
This was the first time Mikasa had seen someone use such an aggressive fighting style. Compared to the disciplined techniques and strategies she was taught in training, Ryo's approach was raw, chaotic, and unsystematic. It felt almost like the fighting style of a primitive, unrefined fighter—but somehow, it made Mikasa feel uneasy.
In this close range, neither of them could dodge. The two sides were in each other's face, and Mikasa had no choice but to fight back head-on, just as Ryo had hoped.
Annie was only a second behind Mikasa. If she didn't act fast, Ryo would have less than a second to resolve the fight.
But that second was more than enough for Ryo.
He unleashed a series of rapid punches, creating a solid, impenetrable wall of fists in front of Mikasa.
Mikasa gritted her teeth and braced herself, trying to block Ryo's attacks, but his onslaught was too fast. Even with all her determination, Mikasa couldn't block all of Ryo's strikes. It was only a second, but for Mikasa, it felt like an eternity.
"Retreat!" Ryo shouted, delivering a final, powerful punch. Mikasa felt the blow and staggered backward, losing her footing.
By the time Annie arrived to help, Mikasa was already too far away to assist effectively. Ryo had bought himself enough time to face Annie alone.
"I defeated Mikasa using the strength she excels at, now I'll defeat you using the same tactics," Ryo declared confidently, with no hesitation or doubts in his eyes.
Annie immediately adjusted her stance, ready to defend herself, but Ryo was already moving toward her. He quickly closed the gap between them, replicating the tactic he had used on Mikasa. However, there was a crucial difference: this time, Ryo used a technique he'd learned—using a smaller force to redirect Annie's much larger power, the art of Tai Chi.
By closing the distance, Ryo could now control Annie's movements. If he could neutralize her strength and control her joints, he could turn her power against her and take her down with her own force.
Annie tried to fight back, just as Mikasa had done, but Ryo was too fast. He anticipated her move before she even executed it.
Using the same technique the captain had used on Annie in the forest, Ryo moved quickly and smoothly, taking advantage of the slightest opening to disable her. He grabbed her extended arm and, with a slight jump, kicked her off balance, sending her crashing to the ground.
However, Ryo was already under her, and in a split second, Annie tried to press her weight down on him, turning the situation around.
But Ryo wasn't fooled. He twisted his body mid-air with remarkable agility and ended up on top of Annie, securing a dominant position. The impact from the fall forced her down hard, knocking the wind out of her and rendering her momentarily incapacitated.
Ryo struck swiftly, hitting her back and damaging her spinal nerves, causing her to lose control over her limbs for a few crucial moments. She was effectively out of the fight.
Mikasa, now back on her feet, rushed to intervene, but Ryo wasn't finished. He released his hold on Annie and shifted his focus entirely to Mikasa.
The fight had begun drawing attention from the other students. What had started as a simple sparring session was now a thrilling spectacle. Curious students gathered, staring in amazement at the intense fight unfolding on the training grounds. They were mesmerized, their mouths open in awe as they witnessed the power and skill Ryo displayed.