Chapter 105: Overpowered
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Chapter 105: Overpowered
Jack smashed his fist into Rufuss paw, then flickered to the side and ducked under a backhand swipe. The leonine stood in place, tall and proud, unleashing hits like an avalanche. He was a force of nature.
Jack met him hit for hit, but he was slowly pushed back. He was losing.
And he still had to get out of this fucking arena. But he didnt want to run. That would be like retreating. And what kind of fist would retreat from a frontal, winnable fight?
Maybe he should go all-in, instead. Crush Rufus with an iron fist.
No, he stopped himself. This was the Dao talking, but he was in control. I must get out of here. I must protect Edgar.
When their fists clashed again and Jack was pushed back, he turned a set of angry eyes at Rufus. Fine! he said. Have it your way. Fist Radiance!
He crossed his arms while jumping backward, landing on the arena lip. Rufus snorted with amusement and prepared himself. Are we finally going all-out? he shouted. Perfect! I will block your ultimate attack with my Hmm?
Jack had jumped backward on the arena lip as if about to unleash a long-range attack, but he just kept jumping. Before Rufus had finished his words, Jack had reached the top of the stands. He then turned around and leaped atop the arena. The tall white tower framed his retreating back.
Rufuss eyes widened with anger. Get back here! he ordered. Jack flipped him off, then jumped outside the arena.
He fell through the air. Suddenly, free-falling seemed slow, but there wasnt much he could do about it now. Stone statues three times his height passed by him, each intricately carved and carrying a wide array of weapons. Some held spears, others hammers, sickles, knives, glaives, bows, whips Practically everything could be found on these statues.
They were all kinds of species, too. Some were animal-shaped warriors, like the scions of the Animal Kingdom, but many were humans, and there were also a bunch he hadnt seen before. There were also many empty grooves, where statues had yet to be added.
These were the previous winners of the Animal Kingdoms Integration Tournaments. Now, Jack would get his statue as wellunless the arena crumbled, of course. Or unless they simply didnt make him one. It was a tribute of honor, and he was an enemy.
He landed on the street, ignored the panicking crowd, and jumped on a rooftop. He landed an inch before a dog guardian. He froze; he had forgotten that they hid on rooftops. The guardian looked straight into his eyes, red dots flaring behind its sunglasses, but it didnt move.
Jack got over his surprise and moved on. He was now stronger than one of these guardians, anyway. He jumped from rooftop to rooftop, heading deeper into the town.
He wasnt just trying to draw Rufus away from Edgar. He had to escape through the teleporter as quickly as he could, or there was no telling what weapons the Animal Kingdom would unleash. He had to take care of Rufus first, of course, or he would turn back and massacre everyone.
He caught sight of the plaza he was heading for. It was large and empty, usually saved for a bazaar that was now getting packed up as fast as the E-Grade merchants could manage. Jack caught himself on the television screens that lined the streets. His fight was still being broadcasted, and the invisible cameras followed him even here, outside the arena.
For most people, it was their first time seeing the Integration City.
He landed in the plaza. It was lined with tiles of white marble, and it was square with a length of at least a hundred feet in every direction. At the back of the plaza stood a building shaped like a chimney-topped furnace, with a closed wooden door blocking its entrance and no windows.
It was the teleporter leading out of here. To the galaxy. Having it operate was part of the Star Pact, so even the planetary overseer couldnt deactivate it without reason.
The last of the merchants were packing up and running away, none sparing Jack a glance. The dog guardians, however, did. They arranged themselves around the plaza, not stepping in, but ready to intervene if anyone overstepped a line. They were allowed to fight each other, but not to attack the merchants or damage the buildings beyond a reasonable degree.
The moment Jack landed, he turned to look backward. He didnt see Rufus. Even when he looked at the arenas top, he still failed to spot anyone.
The arena was a third of a mile away. No matter how fast Jack was, Rufus should have at least scaled the arena by now. Where was he?
Suddenly, Jack felt like an idiot. He had assumed that Rufus would follow because of his pride, his need to act in the most supreme waybut what if he didnt? What if he wasnt as prideful as Jack had imagined, or if his pride worked in a different way, and he chose to slaughter everyone in the arena instead?
Jack looked at the screens around the plaza, seeing himself alone and lost, surrounded by dog guardians in the distance. Suddenly, the screens cut to Rufus, who thankfully didnt seem to be in the arena. The camera looked at him from below, with the blue sky as a backdrop. He had his hands in the air, his legs bent, his face hardened, and he seemed to be fall
Jack Ghost Stepped away right as Rufus landed on his previous location. The marble under their feet was much harder than the arenas stone, but even it cracked under the impact. Rufus looked unhurt.
He unraveled himself, standing straight. Jack frowned. Something was different.
The leonines golden mane was raised like he had been electrocuted. He carried an air of power around him. Most importantly, he was surrounded by a faint blue and yellow aura.
Jack gaped. He had seen something similar before, but it couldnt possibly be
Disgraceful, Rufus spat out. You cannot escape, Jack Rust. You have insulted a king, and you will pay for it. However, in recognition of your strength, and to honor the people of Integration City, I will fight you at my strongest.
Jack roared as he tore into the fight. His bitterness fueled him. The world had set him up with an impossible fight. He had surpassed all expectations, and he still couldnt win. It was unfair.
But he resolved to give Rufus at least one good hit. Maybe then, he could escape.
This time, there was no Edgar to distract him. He embraced his Dao and gave everything to the fight. He got sharper. His Dao Root of Indomitable Will squeezed his brain dry, pouring everything into this moment. This was Jack at his absolute best.
Rufus punched out with a paw, and Jack dodged out of the way.
Now, he could barely match Rufus. Winning remained impossible, but at least, he could stand his ground for a bit. Rufus wasnt even fighting seriously. He was smiling, treating Jack like an exhibition target.
Which was exactly what he was. This was a battle to demonstrate the Animal Kingdoms and Rufuss superiority, and Jack was just a prop.
He refused to go down like that. His bare chest stuck out. He struck at Rufus with everything he had. His brain worked at maximum capacity, analyzing Rufuss patterns and desperately trying to adjust.
Rufus was a frontal fighter, just like Jack, but stronger. He fought at a speed and strength that was just above what Jack could manage. Jack was forced to pull out everything he had. He couldnt make his body faster, but he could make his moves sharper, his transitions more refined, his dodges smoother.
He mixed in feints, using his perfect control over his body granted by Parkour to make them realistic. He dodged by a hairs breadth, sometimes taking glancing blows, but slowly improving. He calculated his Drills precisely, making them explode just before or behind Rufuss guard to spread at least some of the shockwave on his body.
Jack forgot himself. The world faded away. He was simply fighting with everything he had, pouring out the entirety of himself. His skills were sharpened. They mixed better. Slowly, he was getting better at fighting.
Rufus hadnt hit him in a while. The leonine noticed at the same time Jack did, and he struck out a real blow, faster than before. Jack didnt see the move coming. His body dodged on pure instinct, surprising even him, then struck out with a vicious counter.
His fist met Rufuss regal face, making him take a step back.
It all happened so fast, so instinctively, that Jack felt like there was someone else fighting in his body. Someone with the power to match even Rufus. Someone invincible and unstoppable. Someone terrifying; a fiend with iron fists.
And finally, everything clicked.
Congratulations! Skills Fistfighting III, Parkour III, and Drill III combined into Dao Skill Iron Fist Style I.
Iron Fist Style I: You have mastered the mortal forms of combat, but that is only the beginning. Your body is infused with the Dao of the Fist, and you can use that to reach realms previously unfathomable. Reality bends before the Dao.
Jack blinked in disbelief, then grinned.
Fuck you, Rufus Emberheart, he whispered. Rufus roared and charged. His blue and yellow aura flared. He could sense that something was different. He was no longer going easy.
But Jack could meet him. They clashed strike for strike again, like back in the arena. Jack channeled every scrap of power he had. His fists came down hard and true. His moves were unpredictable and infused with the Dao.
A mortal body fought with mortal martial arts. A Dao-infused body had its own weapons, even if the Skill description itself was vague and cryptic.
Jacks Dao was an active participant in the battle. It enhanced his movements. Whether he sought to strike or dodge, he was unstoppable, like a fist. When he defended, he was immovable, like a fist.
Magic dove into his muscles. His will gave them strength, pulling and pushing his body in unnatural ways. He missed on purpose sometimes, knowing that his Dao would help him hit anyway. He redirected strikes he shouldnt because his Dao wouldnt allow him to be defied.
Causality itself bended to let his fist strike Rufuss face.
It was a kind of battle he had never experienced before. It looked simple from the outside, but from the inside, it was anything but.
Now that Jack had a Dao Skill fighting style, he could tell that Rufuss King Form was something similar. That was why he had gotten so much stronger. His stats hadnt gone up; he simply channeled supremacy with every movement, making them inviolable.
Now that Jacks own Dao had joined the mix, he could match the leonine. The Daos were of similar strength and canceled each other out. The fight had returned to a brawl, and in a brawl, the fist was king.
Jack roared as he took a punch to the gut, making him keel over, but his Dao enhanced his body to prevent further damage. His fist struck out at once as if pulled by an invisible cord, meeting Rufuss face, which stayed still and refused to jump by the recoil.
Rufus snarled. Jack growled.
They tore into each other at the apex of their power. Rufus was no longer a king. He was a man locked in heated combat, fighting for every scrap of victory he could get. Jack matched him in power and ferocity. Suddenly, the battle wasnt so doomed after all.
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Chapter 105: Overpowered
Jack smashed his fist into Rufuss paw, then flickered to the side and ducked under a backhand swipe. The leonine stood in place, tall and proud, unleashing hits like an avalanche. He was a force of nature.
Jack met him hit for hit, but he was slowly pushed back. He was losing.
And he still had to get out of this fucking arena. But he didnt want to run. That would be like retreating. And what kind of fist would retreat from a frontal, winnable fight?
Maybe he should go all-in, instead. Crush Rufus with an iron fist.
No, he stopped himself. This was the Dao talking, but he was in control. I must get out of here. I must protect Edgar.
When their fists clashed again and Jack was pushed back, he turned a set of angry eyes at Rufus. Fine! he said. Have it your way. Fist Radiance!
He crossed his arms while jumping backward, landing on the arena lip. Rufus snorted with amusement and prepared himself. Are we finally going all-out? he shouted. Perfect! I will block your ultimate attack with my Hmm?
Jack had jumped backward on the arena lip as if about to unleash a long-range attack, but he just kept jumping. Before Rufus had finished his words, Jack had reached the top of the stands. He then turned around and leaped atop the arena. The tall white tower framed his retreating back.
Rufuss eyes widened with anger. Get back here! he ordered. Jack flipped him off, then jumped outside the arena.
He fell through the air. Suddenly, free-falling seemed slow, but there wasnt much he could do about it now. Stone statues three times his height passed by him, each intricately carved and carrying a wide array of weapons. Some held spears, others hammers, sickles, knives, glaives, bows, whips Practically everything could be found on these statues.
They were all kinds of species, too. Some were animal-shaped warriors, like the scions of the Animal Kingdom, but many were humans, and there were also a bunch he hadnt seen before. There were also many empty grooves, where statues had yet to be added.
These were the previous winners of the Animal Kingdoms Integration Tournaments. Now, Jack would get his statue as wellunless the arena crumbled, of course. Or unless they simply didnt make him one. It was a tribute of honor, and he was an enemy.
He landed on the street, ignored the panicking crowd, and jumped on a rooftop. He landed an inch before a dog guardian. He froze; he had forgotten that they hid on rooftops. The guardian looked straight into his eyes, red dots flaring behind its sunglasses, but it didnt move.
Jack got over his surprise and moved on. He was now stronger than one of these guardians, anyway. He jumped from rooftop to rooftop, heading deeper into the town.
He wasnt just trying to draw Rufus away from Edgar. He had to escape through the teleporter as quickly as he could, or there was no telling what weapons the Animal Kingdom would unleash. He had to take care of Rufus first, of course, or he would turn back and massacre everyone.
He caught sight of the plaza he was heading for. It was large and empty, usually saved for a bazaar that was now getting packed up as fast as the E-Grade merchants could manage. Jack caught himself on the television screens that lined the streets. His fight was still being broadcasted, and the invisible cameras followed him even here, outside the arena.
For most people, it was their first time seeing the Integration City.
He landed in the plaza. It was lined with tiles of white marble, and it was square with a length of at least a hundred feet in every direction. At the back of the plaza stood a building shaped like a chimney-topped furnace, with a closed wooden door blocking its entrance and no windows.
It was the teleporter leading out of here. To the galaxy. Having it operate was part of the Star Pact, so even the planetary overseer couldnt deactivate it without reason.
The last of the merchants were packing up and running away, none sparing Jack a glance. The dog guardians, however, did. They arranged themselves around the plaza, not stepping in, but ready to intervene if anyone overstepped a line. They were allowed to fight each other, but not to attack the merchants or damage the buildings beyond a reasonable degree.
The moment Jack landed, he turned to look backward. He didnt see Rufus. Even when he looked at the arenas top, he still failed to spot anyone.
The arena was a third of a mile away. No matter how fast Jack was, Rufus should have at least scaled the arena by now. Where was he?
Suddenly, Jack felt like an idiot. He had assumed that Rufus would follow because of his pride, his need to act in the most supreme waybut what if he didnt? What if he wasnt as prideful as Jack had imagined, or if his pride worked in a different way, and he chose to slaughter everyone in the arena instead?
Jack looked at the screens around the plaza, seeing himself alone and lost, surrounded by dog guardians in the distance. Suddenly, the screens cut to Rufus, who thankfully didnt seem to be in the arena. The camera looked at him from below, with the blue sky as a backdrop. He had his hands in the air, his legs bent, his face hardened, and he seemed to be fall
Jack Ghost Stepped away right as Rufus landed on his previous location. The marble under their feet was much harder than the arenas stone, but even it cracked under the impact. Rufus looked unhurt.
He unraveled himself, standing straight. Jack frowned. Something was different.
The leonines golden mane was raised like he had been electrocuted. He carried an air of power around him. Most importantly, he was surrounded by a faint blue and yellow aura.
Jack gaped. He had seen something similar before, but it couldnt possibly be
Disgraceful, Rufus spat out. You cannot escape, Jack Rust. You have insulted a king, and you will pay for it. However, in recognition of your strength, and to honor the people of Integration City, I will fight you at my strongest.
Jack roared as he tore into the fight. His bitterness fueled him. The world had set him up with an impossible fight. He had surpassed all expectations, and he still couldnt win. It was unfair.
But he resolved to give Rufus at least one good hit. Maybe then, he could escape.
This time, there was no Edgar to distract him. He embraced his Dao and gave everything to the fight. He got sharper. His Dao Root of Indomitable Will squeezed his brain dry, pouring everything into this moment. This was Jack at his absolute best.
Rufus punched out with a paw, and Jack dodged out of the way.
Now, he could barely match Rufus. Winning remained impossible, but at least, he could stand his ground for a bit. Rufus wasnt even fighting seriously. He was smiling, treating Jack like an exhibition target.
Which was exactly what he was. This was a battle to demonstrate the Animal Kingdoms and Rufuss superiority, and Jack was just a prop.
He refused to go down like that. His bare chest stuck out. He struck at Rufus with everything he had. His brain worked at maximum capacity, analyzing Rufuss patterns and desperately trying to adjust.
Rufus was a frontal fighter, just like Jack, but stronger. He fought at a speed and strength that was just above what Jack could manage. Jack was forced to pull out everything he had. He couldnt make his body faster, but he could make his moves sharper, his transitions more refined, his dodges smoother.
He mixed in feints, using his perfect control over his body granted by Parkour to make them realistic. He dodged by a hairs breadth, sometimes taking glancing blows, but slowly improving. He calculated his Drills precisely, making them explode just before or behind Rufuss guard to spread at least some of the shockwave on his body.
Jack forgot himself. The world faded away. He was simply fighting with everything he had, pouring out the entirety of himself. His skills were sharpened. They mixed better. Slowly, he was getting better at fighting.
Rufus hadnt hit him in a while. The leonine noticed at the same time Jack did, and he struck out a real blow, faster than before. Jack didnt see the move coming. His body dodged on pure instinct, surprising even him, then struck out with a vicious counter.
His fist met Rufuss regal face, making him take a step back.
It all happened so fast, so instinctively, that Jack felt like there was someone else fighting in his body. Someone with the power to match even Rufus. Someone invincible and unstoppable. Someone terrifying; a fiend with iron fists.
And finally, everything clicked.
Congratulations! Skills Fistfighting III, Parkour III, and Drill III combined into Dao Skill Iron Fist Style I.
Iron Fist Style I: You have mastered the mortal forms of combat, but that is only the beginning. Your body is infused with the Dao of the Fist, and you can use that to reach realms previously unfathomable. Reality bends before the Dao.
Jack blinked in disbelief, then grinned.
Fuck you, Rufus Emberheart, he whispered. Rufus roared and charged. His blue and yellow aura flared. He could sense that something was different. He was no longer going easy.
But Jack could meet him. They clashed strike for strike again, like back in the arena. Jack channeled every scrap of power he had. His fists came down hard and true. His moves were unpredictable and infused with the Dao.
A mortal body fought with mortal martial arts. A Dao-infused body had its own weapons, even if the Skill description itself was vague and cryptic.
Jacks Dao was an active participant in the battle. It enhanced his movements. Whether he sought to strike or dodge, he was unstoppable, like a fist. When he defended, he was immovable, like a fist.
Magic dove into his muscles. His will gave them strength, pulling and pushing his body in unnatural ways. He missed on purpose sometimes, knowing that his Dao would help him hit anyway. He redirected strikes he shouldnt because his Dao wouldnt allow him to be defied.
Causality itself bended to let his fist strike Rufuss face.
It was a kind of battle he had never experienced before. It looked simple from the outside, but from the inside, it was anything but.
Now that Jack had a Dao Skill fighting style, he could tell that Rufuss King Form was something similar. That was why he had gotten so much stronger. His stats hadnt gone up; he simply channeled supremacy with every movement, making them inviolable.
Now that Jacks own Dao had joined the mix, he could match the leonine. The Daos were of similar strength and canceled each other out. The fight had returned to a brawl, and in a brawl, the fist was king.
Jack roared as he took a punch to the gut, making him keel over, but his Dao enhanced his body to prevent further damage. His fist struck out at once as if pulled by an invisible cord, meeting Rufuss face, which stayed still and refused to jump by the recoil.
Rufus snarled. Jack growled.
They tore into each other at the apex of their power. Rufus was no longer a king. He was a man locked in heated combat, fighting for every scrap of victory he could get. Jack matched him in power and ferocity. Suddenly, the battle wasnt so doomed after all.
Chapter 105: OverpoweredJack smashed his fist into Rufuss paw, then flickered to the side and ducked under a backhand swipe. The leonine stood in place, tall and proud, unleashing hits like an avalanche. He was a force of nature.Jack met him hit for hit, but he was slowly pushed back. He was losing.And he still had to get out of this fucking arena. But he didnt want to run. That would be like retreating. And what kind of fist would retreat from a frontal, winnable fight?Maybe he should go all-in, instead. Crush Rufus with an iron fist.No, he stopped himself. This was the Dao talking, but he was in control. I must get out of here. I must protect Edgar.When their fists clashed again and Jack was pushed back, he turned a set of angry eyes at Rufus. Fine! he said. Have it your way. Fist Radiance!He crossed his arms while jumping backward, landing on the arena lip. Rufus snorted with amusement and prepared himself. Are we finally going all-out? he shouted. Perfect! I will block your ultimate attack with my Hmm?Jack had jumped backward on the arena lip as if about to unleash a long-range attack, but he just kept jumping. Before Rufus had finished his words, Jack had reached the top of the stands. He then turned around and leaped atop the arena. The tall white tower framed his retreating back.Rufuss eyes widened with anger. Get back here! he ordered. Jack flipped him off, then jumped outside the arena.He fell through the air. Suddenly, free-falling seemed slow, but there wasnt much he could do about it now. Stone statues three times his height passed by him, each intricately carved and carrying a wide array of weapons. Some held spears, others hammers, sickles, knives, glaives, bows, whips Practically everything could be found on these statues.They were all kinds of species, too. Some were animal-shaped warriors, like the scions of the Animal Kingdom, but many were humans, and there were also a bunch he hadnt seen before. There were also many empty grooves, where statues had yet to be added.These were the previous winners of the Animal Kingdoms Integration Tournaments. Now, Jack would get his statue as wellunless the arena crumbled, of course. Or unless they simply didnt make him one. It was a tribute of honor, and he was an enemy.He landed on the street, ignored the panicking crowd, and jumped on a rooftop. He landed an inch before a dog guardian. He froze; he had forgotten that they hid on rooftops. The guardian looked straight into his eyes, red dots flaring behind its sunglasses, but it didnt move.Jack got over his surprise and moved on. He was now stronger than one of these guardians, anyway. He jumped from rooftop to rooftop, heading deeper into the town.He wasnt just trying to draw Rufus away from Edgar. He had to escape through the teleporter as quickly as he could, or there was no telling what weapons the Animal Kingdom would unleash. He had to take care of Rufus first, of course, or he would turn back and massacre everyone.He caught sight of the plaza he was heading for. It was large and empty, usually saved for a bazaar that was now getting packed up as fast as the E-Grade merchants could manage. Jack caught himself on the television screens that lined the streets. His fight was still being broadcasted, and the invisible cameras followed him even here, outside the arena.For most people, it was their first time seeing the Integration City.He landed in the plaza. It was lined with tiles of white marble, and it was square with a length of at least a hundred feet in every direction. At the back of the plaza stood a building shaped like a chimney-topped furnace, with a closed wooden door blocking its entrance and no windows.It was the teleporter leading out of here. To the galaxy. Having it operate was part of the Star Pact, so even the planetary overseer couldnt deactivate it without reason.The last of the merchants were packing up and running away, none sparing Jack a glance. The dog guardians, however, did. They arranged themselves around the plaza, not stepping in, but ready to intervene if anyone overstepped a line. They were allowed to fight each other, but not to attack the merchants or damage the buildings beyond a reasonable degree.The moment Jack landed, he turned to look backward. He didnt see Rufus. Even when he looked at the arenas top, he still failed to spot anyone.The arena was a third of a mile away. No matter how fast Jack was, Rufus should have at least scaled the arena by now. Where was he?Suddenly, Jack felt like an idiot. He had assumed that Rufus would follow because of his pride, his need to act in the most supreme waybut what if he didnt? What if he wasnt as prideful as Jack had imagined, or if his pride worked in a different way, and he chose to slaughter everyone in the arena instead?Jack looked at the screens around the plaza, seeing himself alone and lost, surrounded by dog guardians in the distance. Suddenly, the screens cut to Rufus, who thankfully didnt seem to be in the arena. The camera looked at him from below, with the blue sky as a backdrop. He had his hands in the air, his legs bent, his face hardened, and he seemed to be fallJack Ghost Stepped away right as Rufus landed on his previous location. The marble under their feet was much harder than the arenas stone, but even it cracked under the impact. Rufus looked unhurt.He unraveled himself, standing straight. Jack frowned. Something was different.The leonines golden mane was raised like he had been electrocuted. He carried an air of power around him. Most importantly, he was surrounded by a faint blue and yellow aura.Jack gaped. He had seen something similar before, but it couldnt possibly beDisgraceful, Rufus spat out. You cannot escape, Jack Rust. You have insulted a king, and you will pay for it. However, in recognition of your strength, and to honor the people of Integration City, I will fight you at my strongest.Jack roared as he tore into the fight. His bitterness fueled him. The world had set him up with an impossible fight. He had surpassed all expectations, and he still couldnt win. It was unfair.But he resolved to give Rufus at least one good hit. Maybe then, he could escape.This time, there was no Edgar to distract him. He embraced his Dao and gave everything to the fight. He got sharper. His Dao Root of Indomitable Will squeezed his brain dry, pouring everything into this moment. This was Jack at his absolute best.Rufus punched out with a paw, and Jack dodged out of the way.Now, he could barely match Rufus. Winning remained impossible, but at least, he could stand his ground for a bit. Rufus wasnt even fighting seriously. He was smiling, treating Jack like an exhibition target.Which was exactly what he was. This was a battle to demonstrate the Animal Kingdoms and Rufuss superiority, and Jack was just a prop.He refused to go down like that. His bare chest stuck out. He struck at Rufus with everything he had. His brain worked at maximum capacity, analyzing Rufuss patterns and desperately trying to adjust.Rufus was a frontal fighter, just like Jack, but stronger. He fought at a speed and strength that was just above what Jack could manage. Jack was forced to pull out everything he had. He couldnt make his body faster, but he could make his moves sharper, his transitions more refined, his dodges smoother.He mixed in feints, using his perfect control over his body granted by Parkour to make them realistic. He dodged by a hairs breadth, sometimes taking glancing blows, but slowly improving. He calculated his Drills precisely, making them explode just before or behind Rufuss guard to spread at least some of the shockwave on his body.Jack forgot himself. The world faded away. He was simply fighting with everything he had, pouring out the entirety of himself. His skills were sharpened. They mixed better. Slowly, he was getting better at fighting.Rufus hadnt hit him in a while. The leonine noticed at the same time Jack did, and he struck out a real blow, faster than before. Jack didnt see the move coming. His body dodged on pure instinct, surprising even him, then struck out with a vicious counter.His fist met Rufuss regal face, making him take a step back.It all happened so fast, so instinctively, that Jack felt like there was someone else fighting in his body. Someone with the power to match even Rufus. Someone invincible and unstoppable. Someone terrifying; a fiend with iron fists.And finally, everything clicked.Congratulations! Skills Fistfighting III, Parkour III, and Drill III combined into Dao Skill Iron Fist Style I.Iron Fist Style I: You have mastered the mortal forms of combat, but that is only the beginning. Your body is infused with the Dao of the Fist, and you can use that to reach realms previously unfathomable. Reality bends before the Dao.Jack blinked in disbelief, then grinned.Fuck you, Rufus Emberheart, he whispered. Rufus roared and charged. His blue and yellow aura flared. He could sense that something was different. He was no longer going easy.But Jack could meet him. They clashed strike for strike again, like back in the arena. Jack channeled every scrap of power he had. His fists came down hard and true. His moves were unpredictable and infused with the Dao.A mortal body fought with mortal martial arts. A Dao-infused body had its own weapons, even if the Skill description itself was vague and cryptic.Jacks Dao was an active participant in the battle. It enhanced his movements. Whether he sought to strike or dodge, he was unstoppable, like a fist. When he defended, he was immovable, like a fist.Magic dove into his muscles. His will gave them strength, pulling and pushing his body in unnatural ways. He missed on purpose sometimes, knowing that his Dao would help him hit anyway. He redirected strikes he shouldnt because his Dao wouldnt allow him to be defied.Causality itself bended to let his fist strike Rufuss face.It was a kind of battle he had never experienced before. It looked simple from the outside, but from the inside, it was anything but.Now that Jack had a Dao Skill fighting style, he could tell that Rufuss King Form was something similar. That was why he had gotten so much stronger. His stats hadnt gone up; he simply channeled supremacy with every movement, making them inviolable.Now that Jacks own Dao had joined the mix, he could match the leonine. The Daos were of similar strength and canceled each other out. The fight had returned to a brawl, and in a brawl, the fist was king.Jack roared as he took a punch to the gut, making him keel over, but his Dao enhanced his body to prevent further damage. His fist struck out at once as if pulled by an invisible cord, meeting Rufuss face, which stayed still and refused to jump by the recoil.Rufus snarled. Jack growled.They tore into each other at the apex of their power. Rufus was no longer a king. He was a man locked in heated combat, fighting for every scrap of victory he could get. Jack matched him in power and ferocity. Suddenly, the battle wasnt so doomed after all.
