The setting sun cast a golden hue over the village, and the warm glow filled the air as the inn began to quiet down. The chatter had faded as the moment of reckoning drew near. Fenrir's voice had been calm but firm, instructing everyone to step outside for the match. The evening air was cool, a stark contrast to the heat rising in the room from the intensity of the situation.
Rui stepped out first, his gaze scanning the area. Fenrir led the way, his posture unshaken, while the young man followed, his eyes burning with determination. The village square, wide and spacious, was just big enough for the upcoming confrontation. The dirt ground was firm beneath their feet, and a few lanterns lit the edges, providing some visibility in the dimming light.
The young man, clearly itching for a fight, cracked his knuckles as he faced Rui. His expression was one of youthful defiance, a slight smirk pulling at the corners of his lips. "This is the Central Continent. Don't hold back."
Rui regarded him calmly, noting the confident posture, the taut muscles beneath his clothing, the subtle tension in the young man's legs. He was well-trained, without a doubt, but there was no fear in Rui's heart. Not even the slightest. He had faced far worse than this before, but he knew he had to hold back. This was just a test, a way to gauge the difference in their strength. Rui had no intention of destroying the village or attracting too much attention.
"You don't know what you're asking for," Rui replied, his silver eyes narrowing. "But I'll do my best to keep it controlled."
The young man's eyes flickered with something like surprise, but the challenge was still there, unwavering. With a nod, he assumed a ready stance, the light in his eyes eager. "Let's see what you've got, then."
Rui took a step back, adjusting his stance. His feet were planted firmly on the earth, his body centered, every muscle tuned and alert. His eyes briefly flickered toward the ground, assessing the area. The square was large, but it was no arena, no fighting pit designed for such tests. The last thing he needed was to destroy half the village with a careless strike.
The young man charged first. He moved with a burst of speed, faster than Rui had anticipated. His right fist shot forward, a clean and powerful punch aimed straight at Rui's midsection. But Rui wasn't worried. He had already assessed the young man's attack. With a slight shift of his weight, Rui sidestepped effortlessly, feeling the air rush past him as the punch narrowly missed. He hadn't used any of his aura or mana yet; he simply relied on his natural agility and speed. The young man, seemingly surprised by the ease of Rui's dodge, quickly adjusted, delivering a spinning kick aimed at Rui's side.
This time, Rui didn't dodge. He blocked. His left hand came up just in time, meeting the young man's fist with a solid thud. The impact sent a brief tremor through Rui's glowing arm, but he absorbed it with ease, his stance solid and unwavering. The young man's fist vibrated from the force of the collision, and he quickly recoiled, surprised by how effortlessly Rui had countered.
"Not bad, you're fast," Rui said, his voice calm, almost clinical. "But speed is only one part of the equation."
The young man gritted his teeth, growled in frustration, clearly not pleased with being toyed with. "And strength is the other part," he muttered, stepping back. He moved again, launching himself at Rui with renewed vigor. His movements now more aggressive, determined to land a hit. This time, he mixed in a series of rapid punches and kicks, his movements a blur. Each blow was aimed with precision, targeted to Rui's chest, ribs, and head. The air around them began to thrum with the force of his strikes.
Rui dodged with ease, his body flowing like water, slipping between the young man's attacks. Every punch that came his way was met with a slight sidestep or a duck of the head, moving just enough to avoid the incoming strikes. The young man's attacks were fast, but they lacked the raw power that would force Rui to truly defend. For a moment, Rui considered ending it quickly, but he knew that would be unfair. He had to let the young man put up some semblance of a fight.
But as the young man's attacks continued, Rui's expression grew slightly more serious. The young man wasn't slowing down. He was relentless, his focus sharpened by pride. There was power in his strikes—raw, unpolished, but powerful. It wasn't enough to break through Rui's defenses, but Rui felt the pressure of the young man's speed.
Rui took a step back, feeling the tension rise within him. The young man came forward with a wide, sweeping kick aimed at Rui's head, the force of it making the wind whistle in the space between them. Rui dodged again, stepping to the side—but this time, the kick grazed his cheek. A stinging pain shot through him, and he was momentarily surprised by the force of the blow. It wasn't a major injury, but it was a reminder that the young man was no mere amateur. He was good, better than Rui had expected.
The young man, sensing an opening, charged forward once more. His breath came in sharp bursts as he moved, his body pushed to the limits of its endurance. But Rui could see the openings now, the momentary hesitation before each strike. He could see the pattern, the way the young man's energy was beginning to wane. Rui could have stopped him at any moment, but something about the young man's determination made him hesitate. He admired the spirit in his opponent.
Rui closed his eyes briefly, drawing in a deep breath. The time for holding back was over, time to lock in. He could feel the mana inside him, the aura that had always been there but never fully tapped into. He could already feel it—raw, controlled, dangerous. Rui focused, drawing on his aura, fusing it with his mana, just like he has done before. This time, however, he only needed a fraction of the power. A controlled burst.
The young man lunged again, but this time Rui moved with purpose. In the split second before the punch connected, Rui extended his right arm and spun. The shockwave that erupted from the force of his movement radiated outwards in a ripple, shaking the area around him, pushing the young man's attack aside effortlessly. Rui's hand, glowing faintly with a mix of aura and mana, struck the young man's chest with the precision of a master, making a boom sound on impact, slightly cracking the ground beneath them.
The young man's body jerked backward, his feet leaving the ground as the force of Rui's attack hit him full-force. His breath whooshed out of him, and for a moment, he was weightless. The young man slammed back into the ground with a loud thud, the air knocked out of him. He lay there, gasping for breath, unable to move, the fight drained from him in an instant.
The young man lay on the ground, gasping for breath, his chest heaving as he slowly recovered from the shock of Rui's last strike. Rui stood over him, his expression calm as he watched the young man regain his bearings. The air around them was still, the crowd of onlookers remaining silent, unsure of what to make of the result. Rui's silver eyes flickered, a touch of respect now visible in his gaze.
The young man struggled to sit up, clutching his chest, and after a few moments of effort, he looked up at Rui. His eyes were a mix of frustration and admiration, the fierce determination from before replaced by a more subdued expression.
"You're incredible," the young man said hoarsely, his words catching in his throat as he pushed himself to his feet. "I've never been beaten like that before."
Rui offered him a small nod. He didn't relish in the victory; it had been a simple test, a small exchange of strength. It wasn't a battle to be remembered, but it had proven something to him—the importance of knowing when to hold back. "You've got spirit," Rui said softly. "You'll get stronger, but you need to know when to push and when to step back."
The young man straightened up, clearly trying to regain his composure, his pride still intact despite the clear defeat. After a beat, Rui spoke again, his voice neutral, yet filled with a hint of curiosity. "What's your name?"
The young man blinked, surprised by the question. He hadn't expected Rui to ask. After a pause, he straightened his posture, clearly forcing a calm demeanor back into place. "Arden...., Arden Sumei," he said simply.