Jayden materialized behind Hercules like a shadow slipping through reality, claws already extended, slicing through the air toward the brute's exposed back.
For a split second, it looked over. Until…
CLANK!
A crimson rune detonated into existence across Hercules' back, stopping Jayden's claws mid-strike as though he had slamd them against iron, sparks spraying like shattered embers.
A jolt shivered up Jayden's arm. His eyes narrowed, pupils dilating.. not in panic, but in rapid recalibration.
Hercules grinned savagely. Muscles twisted under bronze skin as he pivoted, hamr cutting a brutal arc through the air. The motion carried with murderous force, a swing ant to crater Jayden's skull.
Jayden moved a hair's breadth before impact.
WHOOOOSH!
He vanished backward in a whip-fast leap, the hamr missing his head by inches before smashing down with an echoing THOOOM, cracking the ground beneath it.
A ripple of wind exploded outward.
Hercules laughed, voice booming with smug delight. "Did you really think I'd walk in here without a shield? As if I'd leave myself open like so amateur."
Jayden didn't answer. His breathing stayed calm. His gaze flicked across Hercules' body, analyzing micro-glints on joints, rune flicker timings, the stability of the energy ring now subtly humming under Hercules' skin. And it didn't take him long to figure it out.
The shield barrier was an artifact… an internalized one, anchored to Hercules' body. It was like an invisible armor. Which ant it couldn't be broken through conventional ans like a standard defense.
But there was a catch… shields like that always had an Achilles heel, which ant one part of Hercules body wouldn't be protected by the rune barrier. And through dragon eye, Jayden could already see which part was vulnerable.
It was the most obvious one.
Jayden dismissed his claws with a smooth shift in motion, like putting away tools he no longer needed for this situation.
Hercules barked a laugh. "Aw, giving up already? Took you that long to realize I'm untouchab—" He didn't finish.
Because Jayden disappeared mid-sentence and reappeared directly in front of Hercules… gone from stillness to proximity in microseconds, knee already rocketing upward faster than the brute could blink.
Hercules' eyes blew wide, he tried to dodge, but he was too late.
BAM!!!
Jayden's knee drove into his face like a sledgehamr. Hercules' head whipped back as if struck by a charging beast. His balance shattered, boots scraping stone as he staggered backward, dazed, vision splintering.
Jayden landed lightly, lips curling with a razor grin. He had now confird it. The vulnerable part of Hercules' body… was his Head.
Hercules was stunned, but before he could recover, Jayden dropped low and swept his leg with fluid precision, knocking him off balance entirely.
The brute fell, montarily stunned as his feet were ripped from under him.
THUD!
He crashed hard onto his back, the shield flaring, absorbing much of the impact.. but not all.
Jayden didn't waste ti. He launched upward mid-motion, fist prid for a skull-shattering blow.
The fist fell, but Hercules rolled away in ti, barely evading the blow. Jayden's punch smashed into the ground instead.
KRRRA-KOOOM!
Stone fractured instantly, spiderweb cracks bursting out beneath his knuckles like an earthquake pulse. Reverb tremored outward in visible waves.
Hercules reacted instantly, jerking up quickly while hauling his hamr upward. Then he brought it down with an enraged roar.
Jayden blurred away at the last second, leaving only traces of dust where his body was. The hamr slamd into the earth, shaking the arena.
As Hercules tried to wrench the hamr up again, Jayden appeared at his side and unleashed a crushing kick to the brute's temple.
THWACK!
Hercules staggered with a growl, his skull rattled. And in that dazed mont, Jayden seized his forearm with intense force, and squeezed.
CRACK-CRACK!
Bone fissures scread under the grip. Hercules howled, reflexively releasing his hamr. The weapon thudded onto the ground uselessly.
Jayden used the opening to deliver a tight uppercut to his jaw, moving upward like a rising cot.
WHAM!
Hercules was launched off his feet, body lifting, then slamming down several feet away with a grunt. The shield dimd, clearly strained from head-centric impacts.
Jayden remained on the spot, allowing Hercules the dignity of standing.
Hercules coughed, reaching up to his mouth and spitting out a tooth, and saliva mixed with blood. His expression twisted.. not in sha, but in burning fury.
"So… you figured out my head's not protected." he growled.
Jayden tilted his head casually. "Maybe get better protection next ti." he scoffed. Then he slid into a stance, unhurried and deceptively relaxed. Ready to blitz again.
Hercules rolled his shoulders, cracking his neck with a grin that was more manic than before. "I underestimated you at first, Orion. But… I won't make that mistake again."
"…Good." Jayden replied and stepped forward… and in that single step, he was already in front of Hercules, fist lancing toward his chest.
Hercules crossed his forearms in ti, blocking the blow with a cocky grin.
"Aren't you going to use your hamr?" Jayden snickered.
"I don't need it to beat you," Hercules declared proudly. Then he forcefully drove forward, ramming his massive body into Jayden like a bull.
BAM!!!
Jayden was shoved back several steps, feet skidding across cracked stone.
Hercules followed with an heavy fist, aiming for his face. Jayden ducked sharply, sliding low beneath the swing, torso twisting up into a coiled uppercut that connected with Hercules' jaw.
But Hercules didn't flinch this ti. Instead, he clasped his fists together and slamd them on Jayden's ribs.
THA-WHOOM!!!
Jayden gritted his teeth as pain flared across his side. He stumbled to the ground… but rolled swiftly as Hercules' boot ca crashing down where his head had been.
He launched himself back up, using the force of Hercules' missed stomp as a springboard to leap and swing a kick toward his face. But Hercules caught it on his forearm and swiped out, trying to grab him.
Jayden vanished instantly, reappearing behind Hercules… but Hercules twisted preemptively, fist whipping in an arc.
BOOM.
Jayden blocked, and their fists collided in a blistering clash. Then he leapt back, and Hercules followed with another punch heading for his head.
They exchanged blow after blow in rapid succession. Hits landed. Dodges barely cleared. Their movents were savage yet refined, each slipping between offense and defense with instinctive skill.
They were nearly equal in pace, both combatants carving shockwaves into the arena floor simply by trading blows.
Until finally, Hercules broke the tempo, panting slightly as he stepped back to catch breath.
Jayden's lips curved. "Little low on endurance for soone your size?"
Hercules flared with anger. "Don't act tough, kid. You must be exhausted too."
Jayden tilted his head, a dark laugh drifting out. "Oh, I must have given you the wrong impression. See… I'm not even using ten percent of my power to fight you," he declared.
Then his voice dropped to a chilling calm. "If I use any higher than that, this match would be over rather quickly."
Spectators in the chat went wild with this statent… so stunned, so thrilled, others screaming in disbelief.
Hercules barked a laugh. "You're even more arrogant and delusional than I thought! Why don't you drop the act and just give up!"
Jayden rely smirked, clenching his fist as he slowly lifted his gaze toward Hercules. And in the next instant—
WHOOSH!
He was already there. Right in front of him.
Hercules' eyes dilated. He hadn't seen Jayden move. And before he could even react…
WHACK!!!
A punch detonated across his face like an explosion, rocking him hard. His vision went white. His equilibrium shattered.
He stumbled back, utterly disoriented, shock carving itself across his features as he ca to a terrifying realization.
The force of the punch… it was stronger. Way stronger than before.
"Had he really been holding back all along?" Hercules thought. Then a flicker of doubt flared in his eyes.
Jayden's lips curled into a slow, knowing smirk… sharp, predatory, almost taunting. And then...
He vanished. No warning. No blur. One instant he was there, the next, he wasn't.
Hercules's gut twisted. But before he could even tighten his stance…
FWIP!
Jayden materialized above him like a phantom, body coiled, fist cocked back and descending like a falling teor straight for Hercules' skull.
Hercules' instincts scread. He snapped his arms upward in an X-guard just in ti.
BOOOOOM!!!
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