“I’ll let you in on something—my fist doesn’t rely on any special ability. It’s just a fist. A fist that sweeps away thousands, tens of thousands of soldiers with a single swing. One strike can kill even a god. That’s why they call me ‘Hagun’!”

Razul’s words ring in my ears.

A fist that sweeps away thousands, tens of thousands.

A single swing that can kill a god… huh.

I replay his words in my mind, recalling the sheer power of that punch.

Even Xenon, a martial artist Tianwu, was overwhelmed by it. No contest.

My left arm, numbed from the blow, barely moves. If I’m not careful, it might be broken.

“Guh…!”

Blood and bile spill from my mouth, dripping onto Razul’s hand gripping my throat.

Seeing my state, Razul opens his mouth.

“What’s this? Done already? Talk about a letdown.”

Done already…?

A letdown…?

At those words, I raise my right hand toward Razul’s face—

“Agni!”

I unleash Agni at point-blank range!

A massive red light engulfs Razul!

Unable to dodge, Razul is blasted back, and I’m freed from his grip.

Repairing my damaged armor, I shout into the smoke surrounding Razul.

“Don’t underestimate me. You think I’d go down this easily?”

I’ve taken some serious damage, but I’m not out of the fight.

My fists still clench.

My body still moves.

If I fell to this, I wouldn’t deserve the title of Red Dragon Emperor.

Laughter echoes from the smoke.

“Gahahaha! That’s more like it! No way you’d go down from something like this!”

Razul emerges, dispersing the smoke.

His clothes and skin are slightly singed… but the damage is less than I’d hoped.

Not just his attack power—his defense is extraordinary too.

This guy… he’s a real monster.

I glare at Razul, taking my stance.

“Insane destructive power and gravity manipulation, huh? Your abilities are a pain.”

“Well, yeah. But compared to our Bell, they’re kinda cute, right?”

Razul jerks his thumb toward the distance.

There, Bell leads a horde of giant magical beasts, while Miu unleashes a full burst of magic.

Miu doesn’t seem injured yet, but she’s clearly tiring. Bell, on the other hand, shows no signs of exhaustion.

To create such massive beasts and still have stamina left… terrifying.

She could probably spark another beast riot single-handedly.

I feel the danger of Bell’s power anew as I face Razul.

I want to help, but first, I’ve got to deal with the enemy in front of me.

I close the distance slowly, staying ready.

“…Here I go!”

BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBoost!!

Aura erupts from my boosters, and I charge head-on!

All my amplified power fuels my propulsion!

I’m already in the Zone!

If I take Razul’s attack head-on, even my defenses will shatter!

So—

“Just don’t get hit, right?! Ooooooooh!”

“Whoa! Fast! Crazy fast! But I’m fast too!”

Razul moves at high speed!

Despite his size, his speed is unreal! He’s keeping up with me!

I weave through his massive fists, landing my own attacks!

Each swing of his stirs a gale, shattering my armor with mere grazes!

I can’t take another direct hit!

“Come on, what’s wrong? Your hits aren’t doing much!”

“Shut up! I’ll crush you! Promotion: Chariot!”

Promoting to Chariot boosts my attack and defense!

This is my new trump card!

Enhancing the power of a martial Tianwu even further!

“Here we go! Promotion Enhancement!”

F-Drive!!

Promotion Enhancement.

The perfect synchronization of devil pieces and sacred gear I’ve been seeking.

Promotion maximizes the gear’s power efficiently.

I rarely used promotion before because the sync wasn’t right.

But just the other day, Ddraig’s adjustments made it possible.

“Promoting to Chariot elevates Tianwu’s power to a higher dimension!”

Red aura bursts from my body, red lightning crackling from my gems!

My boosters grow, output soaring to new heights!

I dodge Razul’s massive arm and slip into his guard!

“Payback time, you bastard!”

My aura-charged fist catches Razul’s jaw, hammering his vital points in a flurry!

A storm of ultra-fast punches!

Each one precise, digging deep!

“Guh!? It’s not just the power… your speed’s up too!?”

“Exactly! For a tough guy like you with lethal strikes, I’ll overwhelm you with numbers!”

“I see! But you’re forgetting my ability!”

Suddenly, an invisible force pushes me away.

It’s not a punch.

This wall-like sensation…!

“I told you! I control gravity and repulsion! Repulsion makes for a great defense! And—”

Razul crouches, pressing his palm to the ground.

Then—

I’m pulled to the ground, unable to stand, forced to my knees.

My body feels heavy, like I’m carrying a massive weight…!

“Guh…!? You…!”

Realizing the cause, I gasp.

Razul grins.

“That’s right! I can imbue objects with gravity or repulsion! Add gravity to the ground, and it becomes heavy!”

Imbuing objects with gravity and repulsion!?

This guy’s ability is downright unfair!

Damn… the ground’s pulling me, I can’t move…!

Razul approaches as I’m pinned by gravity.

“Can’t move, huh? What now, hero?”

He closes in slowly.

If I stay stuck, I’m done for!

I have to avoid that at all costs!

In that case—

“Sorry, townsfolk! This field might be useless after this!”

With a heartfelt apology, I aim my palm at the ground—and unleash a massive Agni!

The ground beneath me vanishes, leaving a deep, valley-like hole.

With the gravity-imbued ground gone, the crushing weight lifts, and my body feels light again.

I leap back, putting distance between me and Razul.

Razul grins, clearly enjoying himself.

“Not bad! Thinking that fast in a pinch—battle-hardened, huh? Though this hole probably ruins the field. Weren’t they building a school here? Kids might fall in and die. What’s the plan?”

“I’ll fill it in after the fight! …That aside, I’m surprised.”

“Surprised? By what?”

“You just worried about the kids, didn’t you? Didn’t expect that.”

Considering he’s a minion of someone like Rizevim.

I half-expected him to say he’d destroy the school.

Of course, I’d stop him if he tried.

Razul scratches his head, laughing loudly.

“Gahahaha! I get it! No worries there. Crushing kids? What’s fun about that? I’d rather wait for them to grow strong, then crush them!”

He points to the Aurus Academy in the distance.

“That’s the Rating Game school, right? Sounds good to me! My thrill is fighting strong guys like you one-on-one. If that school produces strong fighters, I’m all for it!”

“…You’re a battle maniac through and through.”

“Hell yeah! And it’s not just me—Vika and Valus are the same. Bell’s a bit different, though. She doesn’t think much… Anyway! Fighting strong guys like you is enough for me! Weaklings don’t interest me! Let the kids train! Maybe one day they’ll be worth fighting! Gahahaha!”

Razul laughs heartily.

I let out a sigh.

What a guy to get targeted by.

He’s an enemy. One of the worst.

Yet, he seems to understand the value of that school… or so it feels.

For now, it seems none of Asem’s four minions will attack the school.

Unless Asem orders it, that is.

I take a deep breath, crack my neck, and ready myself.

“I’ll trust your word. Don’t touch the kids, got it?”

“Gahahaha! I just said it! I’m only interested in strong guys! I won’t touch that school. Can’t speak for Rizevim or the other evil dragons, though.”

“Got it. Then I’ll take you down quick and deal with those dragons.”

We exchange grins—and clash.

[Miu Side]

“Here’s this!”

I deploy a magic circle at my hand, surrounding myself with countless others.

All attack magic!

Full burst, all elements!

A rain of magical attacks pours onto Bell and her massive magical beasts!

The beasts hit directly by my magic go down.

So far, the beasts from the Underworld’s riot—Gojuuki and Chojuuki—were tougher.

But… there are so many.

No matter how many I defeat, Bell keeps creating more.

To win, I have to take her down directly…

——————————-

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