The sparring ground had transformed into a battlefield, the tension crackling in the air like a thunderstorm about to break. Elder Morvyn dusted himself off, his dark robes still billowing from the aftermath of their previous exchange. He grinned at Shin, hiding the discomfort of his cracked ribs behind a confident façade.
"Not bad, Shin," Morvyn said, his voice calm but tinged with competitive spirit. "But let's see what you can do when it's just fists, feet, and pure skill."
Shin smirked, rolling his shoulders. "No tricks, no weapons? Sounds perfect. Ready or not…"
Before he could finish, a wave of dark energy gathered in his palm. He flung it towards Morvyn, but the elder saw through the move instantly.
---
The First Strike
"That's clever," Morvyn remarked, sidestepping the attack. The beam streaked past him, exploding into the mountain behind with a thunderous roar, sending rocks and debris flying in all directions.
Morvyn turned to face Shin with a satisfied smirk. "Nice try, but you'll need more than that to catch me off—"
Before he could finish, Shin teleported directly beside him mid-air, moving so fast it was as if time itself had slowed. Morvyn's eyes widened as he turned his head in slow motion to see Shin already in position, his body twisted, leg pulled back for a devastating strike.
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The Shockwave
With a blur of motion, Shin's kick connected with Morvyn's side. The impact sent a shockwave rippling through the air, the sheer force creating a gust of wind that flattened the grass and sent dust flying.
"Guh—!" Morvyn's eyes bulged as the blow knocked the wind out of him. His mouth opened in shock, spittle flying as his ribs audibly cracked. The elder was hurled sideways, spinning uncontrollably through the air like a ragdoll. He crashed into the ground, skidding across the dirt before slamming into a boulder with enough force to split it in half.
---
Rising Again
Morvyn groaned, wiping blood from his mouth as he stood up, albeit with some difficulty. Despite the pain radiating from his side, he straightened his posture, his grin returning.
"That all you've got?" he asked, his tone taunting, even as he coughed.
Shin landed lightly on his feet, his expression cool and unbothered. "I'm just warming up. What about you, Elder? Are you done?"
Morvyn chuckled. "Far from it."
---
The Real Fight Begins
With no warning, Morvyn surged forward, his speed matching Shin's as they clashed in the center of the battlefield. Their fists collided, creating shockwaves that rippled outward, tearing up the ground beneath them.
Morvyn launched a flurry of punches, his movements a blur as he aimed for Shin's face, chest, and sides. Shin ducked, weaved, and countered with swift jabs and kicks, their movements too fast for the eye to follow.
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The Mid-Air Barrage
As their battle escalated, both fighters took to the air. Morvyn delivered a spinning roundhouse kick aimed at Shin's head, but Shin leaned back just enough to avoid it, countering with an upward strike that grazed Morvyn's jaw.
The elder retaliated with a knee aimed at Shin's stomach, but Shin caught it mid-air, twisting Morvyn's leg and sending him spinning. Before Morvyn could recover, Shin teleported above him, slamming his elbow into Morvyn's back and sending him hurtling toward the ground.
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A Mountainous Impact
Morvyn crashed into the ground, the impact creating a crater. Dust and debris filled the air as the elder emerged, his dark energy flaring around him like a storm.
"You're good," Morvyn admitted, cracking his neck. "But I'm not done yet."
Shin smirked, his aura flickering with excitement. "Neither am I."
The two blurred toward each other, fists and feet clashing at impossible speeds. The ground trembled beneath them, and the sky above seemed to darken from the intensity of their battle. Each punch and kick sent out shockwaves that flattened the nearby trees and cracked the earth.
Morvyn attempted a sweeping kick to knock Shin off balance, but Shin jumped, flipping over him and landing a spinning back kick to Morvyn's chest. The elder staggered but quickly recovered, delivering an uppercut that sent Shin flying skyward.
Not one to be outdone, Shin twisted mid-air, flipping backward and landing gracefully. As Morvyn lunged toward him, Shin ducked low, delivering a powerful kick to Morvyn's shin, followed by an upward strike that sent the elder flying backward.
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The Final Exchange
Both fighters paused momentarily, breathing heavily. Their clothes were torn, and bruises marked their bodies, but neither showed any sign of backing down.
"You've got skill," Morvyn said, his voice filled with genuine respect.
Shin smirked, raising his fists. "You're not so bad yourself, Elder. But this ends now."
Morvyn dashed forward, throwing a punch with all his strength, but Shin was faster. He sidestepped and delivered a spinning kick to Morvyn's side, sending him skidding across the ground.
As Morvyn struggled to stand, Shin appeared before him in a flash, raising his fist. The punch stopped just short of Morvyn's face, the sheer force of it creating a gust of wind that blew back the elder's hair.
"I win," Shin said, lowering his fist with a grin.
---
A Battle Well-Fought
Morvyn laughed breathlessly, collapsing to his knees. "Alright, you've proven your point. You're stronger than I expected."
Shin extended a hand, helping the elder to his feet. "You're not so bad yourself. That was a good workout."
Morvyn smiled, shaking his head. "You're more than just strong, Shin. You've got potential… and something else. Keep honing your skills. You'll need them for what's to come."
The two shook hands, their mutual respect solidified by the battle.