The evening wind howled through the valley, and the sound of propellers in the sky grew louder and louder.
Ryan was completely immersed in his state of focus. The outside world seemed distant, and he was eager to engage in the coming fight.
For the past while, there hadn't been many threats to him, and Kalpas was one of the few who could challenge him. In this world, only three individuals had the power to face a Herrscher alone before becoming a Mantis: Elysia, Kalpas, and himself.
"I've considered everything when choosing this location. As long as no one survives, I can go all out. Even if I can't win, I can always blame the Cocoon."
He ignored the approaching aircraft, his thoughts not even considering the risk Sakura had taken. If she died from such a small risk, what kind of hero would she be? His entire focus was on the figure approaching them.
Boom.
The figure leaped from the hundred-meter-high rock face, leaving deep cracks in the ground as he landed, then stood up in silence and strode toward them, fists clenched.
He wasn't tall, nor did he have any notable muscles, but there was a controlled madness in him that defined a ruthless fighter.
"Kalpas?"
The man paused, tilting his head. "You… know me?"
His voice was strange, as if he was a child just learning to speak, and his words came out with difficulty.
Ryan relaxed slightly. Kalpas wasn't a madman. With his strength, there was no way he could be captured and bound by these natives. Everything had been voluntary.
Though, that "voluntary" behavior was undeniably strange.
"Yes, I know you, which is why I came here to find you."
"Find… me? What do you want me to do?"
Ryan floated above the ground, hands in his pockets, his mind working at full speed—faster than when he had been fooling Sakura. He cast a quick glance at the fallen Honkai beasts.
"I came to you so that we can avenge the monster that destroyed your home. Let your anger be directed toward the right target."
"The world is under threat by the collapse. If we don't eliminate them, no matter where you find your next home, it will fall just as easily. These enemies must be eradicated—every last one of them."
Clever.
Sakura, who was watching silently, secretly applauded Ryan's quick thinking. Despite the obvious flaws in his words, it was clear he knew Kalpas and had immediately found a way to appeal to him.
Kalpas was silent for a long moment. He lowered his head as if lost in thought before slowly raising his hand and pointing at the rotorcraft in the sky.
"What about... them?"
"The enemies aren't just the Honkai beasts. Their accomplices must be dealt with as well. Even if they aren't technically allies, the reasons behind their alliance are complex. If you wish, I can deal with them, and then we can discuss things in more detail." Ryan said with a grin. He was gaining a lot from meeting two heroes on this journey.
If Kalpas was willing to cooperate, they could turn and destroy the Fire-Chasing Council without issue.
Kalpas stood there, still silent. He didn't seem particularly intelligent, struggling to understand Ryan's words. Then, he raised his hand.
"If I want someone to stay away from me, what's the quickest and simplest way to say it?"
This was a bit puzzling, but Ryan responded, "The simplest way would be, 'Get out.'"
"Okay." Kalpas spread his legs and raised his fist. "Then, get out!!"
Violent fighting spirit and murderous intent surged from him. Ryan was taken aback by the sudden shift in Kalpas' demeanor, faster than he could react. He thought, "Get lost"? Shouldn't you just say that? Why are you attacking me?
"Hey, wait—"
Bang!!
Before Sakura could react, a deafening explosion rocked the area beside her ear. The figure that had been more than ten meters away vanished in an instant, and the rocks near her exploded, causing her entire body to ache.
So fast!
She didn't even see the enemy clearly. She only turned her head quickly and saw the traces of movement on the ground extending into the distance. The rotorcraft above them noticed the change and dove down.
The battle started in a flash. Ryan barely saw what happened, but he quickly retreated. The punch stopped just in front of him, colliding with his electromagnetic field and pushing him backward.
I shouldn't have explained things to him so thoroughly. Ryan thought regretfully. This guy must have felt I was avoiding the main point, so he attacked directly.
Ryan barely had time to compose himself before facing the pair of brown-green eyes before him. Doubt, anger, and an undeniable desire to fight reflected in them.
Okay, you want to fight? Then let's fight!
Ryan wasn't a weakling who could only talk. Before the position beneath him could crumble, he swiftly moved to the side, dodging the vicious punch.
Boom!!
The wind from Kalpas' fist caused the rock wall behind him to cave in. Ryan had already leaped toward it, raising his knee.
Rise!
Boom!
A streak of light shot from the canyon, flying directly in front of the helicopter, leaving the pilot stunned.
Who is fighting here? And who is this white-haired young man?
The pilot, who had just received the report that Kalpas had shed his inertia, stared in disbelief at Ryan's power.
Ryan then grabbed the tail of the helicopter that was flying overhead, lifting the entire machine with ease. The steel of the helicopter groaned, creaking and tearing under his grip.
"Monster! There's a monster with white hair..."
Amid the blaring alarms, that was the last transmission from the pilot, as the helicopter was swung aside. In the pilot's blurred vision, they finally saw a brilliant flash of lightning.
Swish.
Ryan used his body as a blade, cleaving the helicopter in two. At the same time, Kalpas raised his hammer with both hands, preparing for another strike.
"You..."
Boom!!
Another shockwave erupted in the air. Before it dissipated, the ground below exploded in a puff of black smoke.
Ryan slammed a hole into the earth, his arms crossed over his chest. His head buzzed, but he remained conscious.
Is this the real Kalpas?
With unmatched strength and combat instincts, it was no wonder he had taken down the Ice Herrscher alone. Fortunately, before becoming a Mantis, Kalpas didn't possess fire-based abilities—so there was still a limit to his power.
I'm not a Herrscher who fights on pure instinct.
Despite the fierce winds and the afterimages of Kalpas' rapid movements, Ryan maintained his straightforward style of fighting. He stood tall, leaned back, and threw a right fist, ready for impact.
Cùn jìn. Ground-to-sky cannon!
With his legs rooted like pillars, Ryan's fist thundered forward, clashing with Kalpas' hammer. For a brief moment, time seemed to freeze.
Boom!
Ryan's feet sank into the ground. The stones that were splashed into the air were annihilated by the residual electricity. The ground trembled and roared—before the entire area began to sink.
The bones groaned. Ryan nearly got crushed under the force, but at the same time, Kalpas was sent flying.
He skidded a hundred meters along the ground like a hockey puck, using his legs to anchor himself against a hill. With a powerful slam, a meteor crater formed.
"You're good," Kalpas said, glancing at his charred fist. The punch from earlier had pierced through with the force of lightning. If it had been stronger, it might have torn him apart.
Ryan climbed out of the crater silently, feeling the ache in his cracked hand bones and the tremor in his legs. A headache formed as he looked at Kalpas, who seemed utterly exhilarated.
As expected, he was a monster—a beast capable of killing the Ice Herrscher alone. But Ryan couldn't afford to underestimate him.
Kalpas fought purely on instincts—instincts that had made him a formidable opponent. The energy cost of fighting like this was draining, and Ryan knew he had to be strategic.
The moves I've been using aren't powerful enough. My endurance won't hold up for long. If I hit him with everything I've got a few more times, I'll be exhausted. Ryan narrowed his eyes. While his energy levels were lower than that of the Herrscher, he had rich combat experience to draw on.
Here it came.
Once again, Kalpas sprinted toward him, the wind howling as he closed the distance without making a sound. Ryan threw a handful of alloy screws into the air and followed it with a fist crackling with lightning.
Cùn jìn. Thunder cannon scatter!
The electromagnetic cannon that had downed the helicopter was precise like a sniper shot, but now Ryan used a broader approach, bombarding Kalpas' head with dozens of scattered streams of light.
Boom!
The screws accelerated, covering the area in bursts of light. Dust clouds erupted from the impact.
Where had Kalpas gone?
Ryan didn't expect that this blow would kill Kalpas. After a brief pause, his pupils contracted, and his whole body moved into the air as though pulled from dry soil.
Click.
Kalpas' bloody hands shot up from the ground, and before Ryan could react, Kalpas leaped from below, nearly grabbing Ryan's ankles.
What a mad dog.
Ryan gritted his teeth. Kalpas didn't rely on any skills—he just used his raw fighting instincts. Wasn't this exhausting?
Kalpas' speed was too fast for Ryan's magnetic levitation to keep up. He had to rely on his intuition to dodge.
Sudden stops, quick accelerations, diving, and side jumps. Ryan used more than just his authority—he blended his body movements with his power, narrowly avoiding each strike.
Bang!
The sound of gravel splashing as his feet hit the ground.
Boom!
A pale air ring formed as Kalpas turned in midair.
From the hills to the plains, and then into the canyon, the fist strikes echoed, and with each "boom," the canyon continued to collapse. Ryan could feel the battle slipping in Kalpas' favor.
The energy was depleting rapidly, but no fatal injuries had been dealt. Kalpas, despite his monstrous strength, never seemed to tire. Ryan, on the other hand, could feel his body growing heavier.
If he were struck by another powerful blow, his fate would be similar to that of the Ice Herrscher. Constantly dodging only drained him further.
Only one way left!
Ryan, who had been retreating, suddenly stopped. Kalpas charged directly at him, throwing a simple straight punch aimed at his face. This time, Ryan withdrew his defensive energy.
Um?
Kalpas' fist collided with Ryan's face, and for a split second, Ryan felt no resistance.
Then, in that brief moment of clarity, he felt a sharp pain on his cheek, followed by a booming sound. He saw Kalpas' raised whip-kick in his peripheral vision, but with swift precision, Ryan slid forward and slammed his shoulder into Kalpas' chest.
Cùn jìn. Strong as a rock.
Boom!
Kalpas, standing on one leg, was forced back, his chest tightening. Before he could regain his balance, Ryan charged at him like a mountain tiger, relentless.
"You're good," Kalpas admitted, staring at Ryan with newfound respect.
Ryan smirked.
"This is a fight I won't forget."