The sound of the gong echoed through the underground arena, making the floor vibrate beneath Niran's feet. In front of him, Varun stretched his arms with an unsettling calm, his well-defined muscles rippling beneath his skin. He wasn't just any opponent. The Ascendants didn't send just anyone into the ring, and Varun's presence made it clear: this fight was no mere coincidence.
The announcer at the center of the ring stepped forward, raising the microphone: "Ladies and gentlemen, get ready! On one side, we have the man who defeated two members of the Bloodsuckers, the man who shattered Raksa's reign and made the Iron Beast tremble, the lone fighter… Niran!"
A roar erupted from the crowd as Niran kept his gaze fixed on Varun.
"And on the other side… A prominent member of the Ascendants! A master of pain, an expert at breaking through an opponent's guard with his steel fists… The Brass Demon, Varun!"
Varun raised his hands, letting the crowd cheer for him. Only then did Niran notice the burnished metal knuckle dusters adorning his fists. This wasn't just strength, it was pure destruction.
"Fight!" the referee shouted.
Varun didn't wait. He lunged forward, his first punch whistling through the air with impressive speed. Niran barely deflected it, feeling the air cut past his face. Then came a second punch, then a third. Each strike had the precision of a blade, aimed at the critical points of his body.
Niran retreated, studying his opponent's rhythm. Varun was methodical but not predictable. His punches changed angles with unsettling fluidity. Not only that, every time Niran attempted a counterattack, Varun rotated his wrist in a way that deflected the force, turning each strike into an opening for his next attack.
An uppercut shot up, targeting Niran's liver. He bent forward, absorbing part of the impact, but the metal-enhanced fist amplified the damage. Pain flared through his side, but he couldn't afford to slow down.
He decided to respond with Phantom Limb. His arm stretched like a shadow, aiming to catch Varun off guard. But the Ascendant stepped back, dodging the attack with surgical precision. He had anticipated the move.
Niran gritted his teeth. Varun was fast, too fast. His fighting style wasn't just about power; he was a master at reading his opponent.
"Then I have to change the pace," Niran thought.
He took a deep breath, focusing on his training. He had refined both Phantom Limb and Drilling Fang, but he had never used them in quick succession. Now, he had no other choice.
A flash of determination crossed his eyes. He lunged forward, using Phantom Limb for a long-range strike. Varun dodged again, but this time, Niran was ready. With a sudden burst, he erased the distance with Ephemeral Step, the new technique he had developed based on the best dash he had managed during his last two weeks of training. Another confirmation that his training had paid off. His body coiled forward like a spring, and in the blink of an eye, he was upon Varun.
Varun tried to react, but Niran's elbow struck his chest with Drilling Fang. The impact was dull, like a hammer hitting flesh. For the first time, Varun staggered.
Niran didn't stop. He followed up with another Ephemeral Step, appearing at Varun's side to drive another Drilling Fang into his ribs. Varun doubled over, spitting saliva, but still managed to retaliate with a devastating punch.
Niran saw it coming and shifted to minimize the damage, but the knuckleduster still struck his shoulder. A wave of pain surged through him, but the fight was still his.
He clenched his jaw and counterattacked. Another Ephemeral Step. Another Drilling Fang. Then another. And another.
The crowd held its breath as Niran became a whirlwind of lethal movements, his techniques intertwining into an endless assault. His speed increased, his control sharpened.
Finally, with one last burst of strength, he raised his elbow and brought it crashing down with a final Drilling Fang to Varun's jaw. The impact echoed through the arena.
Varun collapsed onto the mat. The crowd erupted in disbelief.
The referee raised his hands. "Niran wins!"
Niran's breath was ragged, his mind still immersed in the battle, still hungry for answers.
Then, amidst the crowd, he sensed a presence. A familiar shadow watched him in silence.
For a moment, his blood ran cold.
Whoever they were, they weren't there just to watch