The moment froze between them, framed by the crumbling cityscape and the heat of distant fires. Broken glass glinted in the moonlight, and the air reeked of scorched asphalt and blood. Muscular's grin widened as he cracked his knuckles, the cords of sinew bulging unnaturally across his forearms. "Let's see if you've grown any stronger, brat."
Reiji didn't flinch. He steadied his breath, adjusting his stance as shadows and fire curled around him. A memory of struggling to stand against even low-tier villains flickered across his mind, a sharp contrast to now. Deep inside, a pulse of excitement stirred—not fear, not anxiety, but curiosity. Let's see what this power can really do.
Muscular charged like a battering ram. The pavement cracked beneath his feet, his roar echoing through the street like a wild beast. Reiji didn't dodge.
Instead, he caught the incoming punch.
A thunderous shockwave erupted as Reiji stood his ground, flames licking along his arms. Muscular's eyes widened in disbelief. "What the—?"
With practiced motion, Reiji spun, twisting Muscular's arm at an unnatural angle and flipping him over his shoulder with monstrous strength. The villain crashed into a parked truck, denting the frame with a metallic crunch that sent debris flying.
Muscular sprang up, growling and flexing his muscles. "Don't mess with me!"
Reiji didn't answer. He vanished into shadow—then reappeared behind Muscular and struck with a flaming tonfa to the ribs. The force sent Muscular flying again, skidding along the pavement like a ragdoll, the asphalt scorched in his wake.
"You're faster than before," Muscular snarled, coughing up spit and blood. "But you ain't stronger!"
Reiji tilted his head, genuinely intrigued. "Let's test that."
He summoned a shadow clone to bait Muscular, then teleported above him with precise timing, chain spear already flying. The weapon pierced through Muscular's shoulder and pinned him momentarily to the street. Sparks flared as the metal embedded deep. Reiji landed softly like a predator, eyes glowing faintly with energy, and walked toward him.
The villain roared and ripped the chain free, blood spurting across the cracked pavement. "I'm not done yet!"
"Good," Reiji muttered. "Neither am I."
They clashed again in a storm of fists and flame. But this time, Reiji was in full control—parrying, countering, redirecting every blow with effortless grace. He blinked through walls using Noob Saibot's teleportation—vanishing in a flash of swirling black smoke and reappearing from a shadow on the far side, a whisper of darkness trailing his form like a fading echo., appearing behind Muscular at will, combining Scorpion's hellfire and his own brutal melee style in a seamless dance of violence.
Each attack chipped away at the villain's strength—first a searing cut across the back, then a knee to the gut, then a spinning strike that sent him crashing through a fence. I can read you now, Reiji thought, his focus sharpening with every exchange. Reiji's movement was fluid, precise. The shadows responded to his intent like extensions of his will.
Muscular's regeneration was quick—but not quick enough. The wounds began to stack. His swings grew sloppier, more desperate.
"You're not fighting to finish me," Muscular growled, breath ragged. "You're toying with me."
"I'm learning," Reiji replied calmly. "This is the first time I've used all of it. Why rush?"
Muscular screamed and charged with all his remaining strength. He swung wide, aiming to crush Reiji beneath a mountain of mutated muscle.
Reiji side-stepped effortlessly, shadows parting like mist, and struck him in the back with a downward arc of fire. The explosion of heat cracked the nearby sidewalk, and Muscular crumpled to one knee, coughing violently.
As Reiji raised his spear for the final blow, his focus narrowed. His heart didn't race; it beat steadily, his mind sharp. This wasn't just power—it was control.
Then a high-pitched screech cut through the air like nails on steel.
From the smoke and broken buildings slithered Moonfish, once infamous for his brutal attacks during the Forest Training Camp incident. His body was low and limbs stretched unnaturally, metallic blades jutting from his mouth like jagged teeth. His eyes gleamed with madness, his lips curling in a grotesque grin., his body low and limbs stretched unnaturally. Metallic blades jutted from his mouth like jagged teeth, glinting in the moonlight. His eyes gleamed with madness, his lips curling in a grotesque grin.
Reiji froze, senses flaring with the instinctive awareness of danger. "Of course it wouldn't be that simple."
Behind him, Muscular chuckled despite the bruises and burns. "Looks like you've got company."
Reiji exhaled slowly, the breath escaping like steam. He took a step back, adjusting his stance. Flames shimmered across his shoulders while shadows curled tightly around his arms, both waiting to be unleashed.
He scanned both threats. Muscular was battered but not beaten. Moonfish's twitching limbs and unpredictable ferocity made him the more erratic danger. This would require speed, precision, and brutal efficiency.
"Two of you?" he said, voice quiet but firm, the corners of his mouth lifting ever so slightly. He tightened his grip on the tonfas. "That's fine. I've still got more to test."
His tonfas glowed in his grip, and his eyes narrowed. He lowered his center of gravity, prepared to strike in any direction. He could feel the pressure rising—but instead of fear, there was anticipation.
To be continued...
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