The crowd roared as Rajiv stepped onto the battlefield, his heart pounding with anticipation. Across from him, Liang Bai stood still, wearing a white shirt and jeans, his arms crossed. His eyes were sharp, analyzing Rajiv's stance.
The announcer's voice echoed through the arena.
"Second Round… Rajiv vs. Liang Bai… Begin!"
Rajiv gripped his sword, ready for anything. But before he could move, Liang Bai vanished.
A sharp gust of wind whipped past Rajiv's face, followed by a sudden force slamming into his ribs. He barely managed to block, but the impact sent him skidding backward.
Liang Bai reappeared a few meters away, smirking.
"Windflow Step." His voice was calm, almost amused. "I can move faster than your eyes can track."
Rajiv steadied his stance, his grip tightening. Fast. Too fast.
Liang Bai vanished again—this time, Rajiv tried to predict his movement. He swung his sword to the right, but he hit nothing but air.
A fist slammed into his stomach from behind.
Rajiv staggered forward, coughing. Before he could recover, another strike came from his left—then his right.
The crowd gasped as Liang Bai attacked from every direction, his movements invisible to most spectators.
Rajiv was being overwhelmed.
The Battle Escalates
Rajiv exhaled sharply, trying to focus. I need to slow him down… or speed myself up.
Liang Bai circled him like a phantom. "You're tough, but toughness won't save you from speed."
He dashed forward again, aiming a kick at Rajiv's chest—but Rajiv anticipated it.
He raised his sword just in time, blocking the attack.
CLANG! Sparks flew as Liang Bai's foot clashed against Rajiv's blade.
Rajiv pushed back, creating distance. His instincts were adapting, but it wasn't enough.
Liang Bai smirked. "You're learning. But…"
Suddenly, chains of wind wrapped around Rajiv's arms and legs.
His eyes widened. A trap!
Liang Bai clenched his fists, tightening the chains. "Windflow Chains—your movement is mine now."
Rajiv struggled, but the bindings were unbreakable. The more he resisted, the tighter they became.
This wasn't just speed—this was complete control.
Rajiv's Awakening
Pain burned through Rajiv's body as the chains compressed his limbs. He gritted his teeth. No… I won't lose like this.
Something inside him snapped.
A golden aura flickered around his body, faint at first—then erupted.
The chains vibrated violently. Liang Bai's expression shifted from confidence to shock.
"What—?!"
Rajiv let out a roar, his golden energy shattering the Windflow Chains.
BOOM! A shockwave burst from his body, pushing Liang Bai back.
Rajiv stood tall, his golden energy radiating in waves. His sword hummed with newfound power.
Liang Bai narrowed his eyes. "So that's your real strength."
He wiped sweat from his forehead. "Then I'll stop holding back."
Liang Bai's True Power
Liang Bai's aura shifted. The air around him distorted, becoming sharper, faster—deadlier.
He took a deep breath, then vanished completely.
Rajiv barely had time to react before a storm of attacks rained down on him.
Fists, kicks, slashes—they came from all directions.
Rajiv parried as best as he could, but even with his golden energy, Liang Bai's speed was overwhelming.
The fight escalated—each strike faster than the last.
Rajiv was being pushed back again. His energy flickered, his body struggling to keep up.
Think. Adapt.
Then he saw it—Liang Bai's pattern.
Every movement, every strike—it wasn't random. There was a rhythm.
Rajiv closed his eyes for a brief second, focusing on the flow of energy.
The moment Liang Bai attacked again, Rajiv moved—perfectly.
Their fists clashed.
Their eyes met.
Liang Bai's smirk faded.
Rajiv had caught up.
The Final Strike
Liang Bai exhaled. "Fine. One last attack."
He took a stance—his fastest yet.
Rajiv steadied his blade. "Come at me."
Everything went silent.
Then—they moved.
A golden flash. A silver streak.
CLASH!
A burst of energy exploded as their attacks collided. For a moment, nothing moved.
Then—Liang Bai staggered backward, his shirt torn, his breath unsteady.
He smirked. "You win."
Rajiv stood tall, his sword lowered, his golden energy fading.
The crowd erupted in cheers.
The announcer's voice echoed:
"Winner—Rajiv!"
Rajiv exhaled, exhaustion finally hitting him. It was over.
But in his mind, one thought remained:
This was just the beginning.