The water beneath Hirou's feet slides, his center of gravity shifting, and he misses Jiaolong's chin. His body almost touches the ground. He uses his right foot to balance, stopping the fall.

  Jiaolong seizes the opportunity to send a left kick at the now lowered body of Hirou.

  Splat!

  Hirou's knees touch the floor and Jiaolong's kick misses. Behind him, Melissa charges with another kick. Hirou grabs it with his right hand.

  The kick sent by Jiaolong forces him to turn around as he sends a punch at Hirou's face. Hirou releases Melissa's leg as he's pushed backward, sliding on the wet floor.

  "This is bad." Jiaolong breathes heavily. "Is this the best you can do, Melissa?"

  Melissa gets back on her feet, in guard. "Can't you thank me? After all, I just saved your life."

  Their breaths are heavy, sweat dripping and tumbling onto the wet surface. Hirou stands up.

  "That punch was weak. Are you sure you tried your best?"

  "Not really. I can hit harder than that. It was just too fast." The aura around Jiaolong keeps increasing. "I think I'm almost there, Melissa." He marches toward Hirou.

  He sends a right, which is blocked by Hirou's palm. A left kick meets the elbow. He stumbles down, running around him, looking for an opening. Hirou turns at the same pace Jiaolong is running.

  Jiaolong jumps with a right kick. Hirou ducks to the side. The water around them splatters, parting away from them as they move. Kick missing, Jiaolong rolls on the ground, jumping back with his left fist. Hirou grabs it, pulling him to the right downside before a kick is given to Jiaolong's guts.

  He's sent flying, struggling to break the motion on the wet ground. As he stops, he stumbles on his knees, then on his hands, vomiting hard.

  "You managed to protect yourself at the final moment." Hirou crosses his arms. "Tell me, are you getting faster?"

  Jiaolong is still getting back his breath, eyes focusing on the imposing figure threatening his life. He gets back up with difficulty.

  "Two people stayed conscious after taking an attack from me today." He looks at Everest on the ground, then at Jiaolong. "You might actually have the level of a soldier. No, maybe even stronger than that." He then looks at Melissa. "Are they the only surprises though?"

  "Hey, stop complimenting us when you're just toying with us." Jiaolong's face turns ashen. "If you're going to grade us, at least show us more than that." He grins, his aura still getting bigger.

  "Hahaha…" His laugh is uncontrolled. He pauses. "Can't you see all my moves are meant to kill you?" His voice turns calm. "What's so entertaining about fighting? There's no amusement, just kill or be killed."

  "Wait…" Melissa interrupts him. "Can't we find an agreement? I'm sure we can reach a mutual ground."

  The level of the water on the ground increases. Hirou and Melissa realize it. Their bodies stiffen. Somehow the water level is high only around them.

  "To me, it doesn't look like you're trying to find mutual ground." He stops, looking at the water that is soaking his copper shoes. "You're trying to get me to the authorities as guarantee you would be considered innocent."

  "What do you mean by that?" Melissa questions.

  "Funny question. I know you're no actual soldiers, but recruits."

  "How did you-"

  A hand is raised. Melissa stops Jiaolong from going further. "What made you think we aren't?"

  "It's simple. You're too weak. Only the three of you are interesting, and even that guy on the ground is struggling to get back up. It seems like he has already given up."

  "Don't underestimate him. He's just having a bad day." Melissa shoots a glance at Everest through her back before looking at Hirou again.

  "With that said, you're not soldiers. From the moment that was clear, there was no room for negotiation."

  Splat!

  The water parts ways at Hirou's movement. Melissa and Jiaolong's eyes widen.

  "Melissa!" Jiaolong's left hand struggles up as Hirou is already in front of Melissa, fist charged.

  A slash of water, the sharp edge formed between them. Hirou weaves around it before it touches him. The slash continues, slashing down the building on the side. It goes down to ruins, leaving smoke behind. Enough for Hirou to hide inside.

  Jiaolong grits his teeth, running to the ruins. The water bed that has been formed follows him.

  Melissa hesitates to go, looking shocked at the instant, and looks back at Everest. "I'm outclassed. I thought I was the one who made that. Turns out it was him."

  Shadows appear above Melissa. They all get down. Marcuse, Roger, Orga, and Pirine.

  "Oh, it's you." Melissa turns, relieved.

  "Tell us what happened. This place is a mess." Roger requests, looking at the disaster and the bodies on the ground.

  "We don't have much time, so I'll tell you fast."

  She proceeds to tell them what is going on.

  "So that's what happened?" Pirine asks with a low voice.

  Their faces look unsure about what to do next.

  "If you want to give up here, then you can go now. People died and some barely survived." Melissa sounds hesitant.

  Bram!

  Other houses fall down, causing minor quakes.

  "You're telling us Jiaolong has been holding off that monster for the time we've been here thinking?" Orga says jokingly. "Haha, to think a child will show more signs of courage than us adults. I'm concerned. What are we even doing here?"

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  Marcuse frowns. "It'll be suicidal to attack such a person. We'd better think of another way."

  "I agree." Pirine raises her right hand. "The stakes are too high to take it lightly. We might all die. This had me thinking, wasn't it better for us to be taken in by the army? I mean, we'll eventually get out, right?"

  "And what of it?" Orga stares back at them. "High risk, high rewards, but I guess your life is more precious than the act of chivalry accompanied with what it is to be a soldier." He looks at Melissa.

  "Why are you looking at me that way?"

  "Look at how you are now. You're the one who instigated all this, but all I see in your eyes right now is fear. I had a bigger esteem of you, but I guess disappointment never ends." He turns his back, looking in the direction of the confrontation. Houses still fall to the ground, followed by a trail of water that keeps getting bigger. "The act of protecting something, dying for your comrades, honor… those it means nothing to you? But that's the first thing someone aspiring to be a knight should know. Would that reward taste better alone or with other people to share?" After finishing the speech, he jumps in the direction of the fight.

  Everyone else hesitates to follow. Then together, they grit their teeth.

  Humiliation.

  "What do you think? We all got here to prove we can become someone respectable," they all say together, except Melissa, who's silent.

  "I'll be joining you then," Melissa says.

  "Huh?" They all look perplexed.

  "The injured are still savable. I can heal them. It'll be bad to have fewer people sitting at the group feast." She turns, smirking.

  "Then take good care of them." Marcuse requests before they jump to join Orga.

  Alone, Melissa expresses herself. "If being respectable means dying, then count me out."

  On top of a building, Orga crosses his arms, observing the fight below as Hirou slams Jiaolong through walls.

  "That guy, he's too fast. I can see him moving, but that's it. I'm incapable of doing more than seeing." He frowns. "Damn kid, he should've run away."

  Hirou takes hold of Jiaolong by the neck before slamming him on the ground. A crater is formed. Jiaolong spits out blood, air struggling to reach his lungs. A purple aura in the forms of two needles appears. Jiaolong's eyes widen as the needles approach.

  They slam into the ground, centimeters from his ears. He made his head move by forcing water under the ground. Jiaolong grits his teeth, blood dripping from his mouth, his skin turning paler.

  Smack!

  A grey aura accompanied by a kick is given to Hirou. It scratches his face like a blade, the fabric covering his face tearing apart as he rolls on the ground.

  Orga falls back on his feet, his right leg trembling after the kick.

  "He's tougher than I thought. It felt like I was kicking a mountain."

  Jiaolong coughs and gasps for air.

  "Are you alright, kid?" Orga expresses without moving his eyes from Hirou, who's back up.

  Hirou stretches his neck. His face is now visible in the nightlight. Solemn and hard. Blood drips from his lips, but he wipes it with the back of his left hand.

  "It did nothing. I put all what I've got in that kick." Orga's voice is shaky.

  Jiaolong gets back on his feet with difficulty, his breath still heavy. "Are you sure this is the best you can do?" he says.

  Orga smiles. "It's not like you did much either. He is in the same situation. None of us used a complete manifestation." He sends a side eye at Jiaolong. "Why don't you utilize yours?"

  "It takes time to manifest it fully. I have to put all I've got in one hit, but it's not like he's going to let me do so. What about you?"

  "Mine is too big. I'll collapse after using it one time." He chuckles. "So this is how being in front of death feels like."

  "Are you finished talking? I'm wondering if this is all what your desperate attempts to survive can do."

  Jiaolong looks at Orga. "Try to follow me." Then he jumps toward Hirou.

  Orga sends his hand to hold him, but he's too slow. Hirou does the same, jumping toward Jiaolong. He covers a higher distance, his aura turning orange as he elbows Jiaolong's neck. Jiaolong is pushed backward, violently projected, flying past Orga standing in the same position. Jiaolong slams into a house.

  In the next moment, he passes through a wall, running at high speed at the side of Hirou, who's about to strike Orga. A punch flies. Orga elevates his knee instinctively, blocking the attack as he is sent flying after Hirou fully extends the punch.

  Jiaolong sends a punch at Hirou's back. He dodges without looking, taking Jiaolong's left hand and slamming him on the ground like he's using a whip. Jiaolong bounces, spitting a lot of blood.

  An orange aura. It is Marcuse who gives a punch to Hirou's face. Hirou's right hand goes up to his face to barricade, but he's hit three times before he can. Three flash strikes can be seen after the punches are sent.

  Hirou is pushed back, bleeding through his nostrils. Traces of the punch strikes can be seen on the ground like someone carved them.

  Orange transparent fists like massive clubs, each the size of a man's torso and coiled. Armor covers its entire body. It's taller than the man. It sends a warning alert. Its tail is like that of a sea beast, and it has many legs. A giant mantis shrimp, the orange spirit hovering above Marcuse.

  "He survived that?" Marcuse sweats, swallowing hard.

  "No, they touched him. He simply charged his energy to cover his face faster than your punches." Orga gets out of the rubble. "I can barely feel my legs now."

  "Don't worry. In sheer combat speed, I believe I'm faster than him."

  "I trust you on that. The kid is in bad shape. He took more than he could."

  Cough! Cough!

  Jiaolong gets back his senses, his breath heavier than before. "Don't count me out so fast. I'm almost there. I'm close to a complete manifestation."

  "What are you talking about?" Marcuse asks.

  Hirou doesn't let them time to breathe. As he runs toward them, a rain of yellow needles is thrown at him, pushing him back even more.

  Jiaolong explains his idea to Marcuse.

  "That sounds alright." Roger joins the group. "It's better than nothing. He's also starting to show some breaks."

  Everyone is startled by his appearance, but they all turn back to their original stances.

  The three of them run toward Hirou. Orga to the left, Roger at the right, and Marcuse with his Shrimp at the center of the attack.

  Orga and Roger send both punches and kicks, blocked and dodged by him. They evade as Marcuse charges his punches. Eleven consecutive strike flashes are formed around Hirou's head, each tearing the air and the ground beneath. He dodges them all.

  "How did you?" Marcuse's voice cracks.

  "I was just surprised the first time. Your punches are nothing impressive."

  Another punch is sent by Marcuse. Hirou grabs his left fist, the purple needles appearing as Hirou's free right hand approaches Marcuse's face.

  Marcuse sends another punch to free himself. The needle breaks through the armor, touching his hand.

  Black and white energy merges. The grey aura takes the form of an Orca, jumping upon Hirou, destroying three houses in a row. A figure jumps from one of the houses about to fall. Pirine lands close to Roger.

  "Was it enough?" she asks.

  "At least we helped a bit. It's less shameful."

  The weather turns cold. A torrent emerges. Jiaolong is done charging.

  "Here goes nothing."

  Hirou gets out of the debris after the Orca disappears. In front of him, Jiaolong charges, sprinting at high speed as water follows him. He becomes a blur, then vanishes.

  He's at Hirou's left side now. Hirou prepares a punch, striking, but it misses. Jiaolong is now at his back. Hirou turns with an elbow, but it meets nothing. His knees meet the ground after Jiaolong kicks the back of his leg.

  "His speed increased again."

  Water surrounds them like a pillar, a cyclone through which Jiaolong is running around. Hirou tries to follow, but the water blurs Jiaolong's movements.

  Without warning, Jiaolong jumps with a right kick through Hirou's guts. A crack can be heard upon contact.

  "Take this!" Jiaolong screams.

  The cyclone takes the shape of a dragon. The water crystallizes into form around Jiaolong's body. The azure beast manifests with serpentine features. The dragon's body coils in spirals around the cyclone's axis. Its head materializes above Jiaolong. Elongated skull. The jaw hangs open, revealing rows of teeth made from pressurized water. Whiskers extend from the sides of its head, trailing behind like rivers suspended in air. The claws extend forward, merging with Jiaolong's kick, amplifying the force.

  Hirou's body compresses at the impact point. His torso caves inward. Then the force releases. He's launched horizontally through the air at devastating velocity. The water dragon follows, coiled around the trajectory. Hirou crashes through the first building. Stone and wood explode outward. He continues through the interior. He exits through the opposite wall without losing speed. The second building. The third. The dragon's roar accompanies each impact, a sound like a thousand waterfalls crashing simultaneously. The fourth. The fifth. Hirou's body slams into the ground, creating a crater.

  The water dragon dissipates. Segments collapse back into liquid, falling like rain. The head remains the longest before breaking apart into mist as his kick carries away Hirou's body.

  The fury of the water dragon. Its roar is loud as the district turns into ruins.

  Hirou is now on the ground.