The wind between us died. The King Ape's yellow eyes stayed locked on mine, glinting beneath the heavy slant of his brow.
My muscles tensed.
His shoulder twitched.
I stepped forward.
He lunged.
Our fists collided midair, the impact sharp and thunderous. A shockwave rippled out, kicking up dust and cracking the stone beneath our feet. My arms trembled from the force, but I held my ground. So did he.
A beat of silence passed. Then we launched forward again.
He swung a wide hook—fast, almost too fast. I ducked under it, felt the wind slice past my head, and drove a sharp jab into his ribs. It was like punching a moving boulder. He grunted, stumbled back a step, then snapped his head forward in a brutal headbutt.
I leaned away just in time. His skull grazed the bridge of my nose.
