I slammed him down hard onto the concrete.

  The impact detonated through the plaza, stone spider-webbing outward from where his body struck. Dust burst upward in a violent plume, fragments skittering and bouncing as if the ground itself had recoiled. That old man’s history should’ve ended there—compressed into rubble and breath knocked clean out of him.

  To my surprise, when the dust cleared, he had a grip on my wrist.

  Not weak. Not slipping. Solid.

  I flicked my wrist down sharply, breaking his hold with a snap of torque that would’ve torn ligaments on anyone else. I raised my heel high, shadow falling over his face as I prepared to stomp him back into the earth. “Your body’s too weak to fight anymore, old man.”

  He rolled left just as my heel crashed down, concrete exploding where his head had been a fraction of a second earlier. Before I could reset my stance, he was already moving—feet scraping, shoulders twisting—forming two spear hands again with the same mastery.

  He pierced the air.

  The thrust didn’t aim for flesh. The pressure wave ripped outward, a compressed blade of wind screaming toward me. I swerved my upper body right, letting it shear past my chest, the force tugging at my clothes and skin as it missed by inches.

  I grinned, loose and cocky. “The only reason you’re alive is because I’m not that strong.”

  Even as I spoke, he closed the distance.

  Too fast. Too clean.

  His hand sliced near my neck, the edge of his technique humming. I snapped my neck sideways at the last possible instant. Bone cracked. The force dispersed instead of cutting deep.

  I planted my palm on his face and shoved.

  He slid back several meters, heels carving shallow trenches into the ground before he caught himself.

  I waved my hands loosely, almost sloppily, shoulders swaying like I was drunk. “You can’t hurt me. Even Toda couldn’t, without using Reinforced Fist. Does that signify you how screwed you are?”

  I blitzed forward.

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  The world compressed. Distance evaporated.

  My open palm backhand smashed into his face, and Zero was launched bodily into the wall. Wood shattered on impact, planks snapping inward as his sandals gouged twin lines before he stopped.

  I raised my knee and both arms, settling into a crane stance—balanced, poised, dominant. “I can toy with you all I want.”

  Zero spat blood to the side, pushing himself upright amid the debris. “You, young man, have no idea what mastery is.”

  He dashed side to side blurring, trying to fracture my perception. Feints layered over feints. But his intent betrayed him.

  I knew where he would end up.

  Right there.

  I jabbed. My fist cut through empty air.

  He wasn’t there. He was behind me.

  Pain exploded through my spine as his spear hand drove in. I arched backward violently, distributing the force through my frame—but not enough. I felt bone give. A sharp, internal crack.

  I reached back instantly, caught his wrist, and twisted.

  The break was clean. Effortless.

  Zero didn’t scream.

  Instead, he formed his spear hand again and drove it straight into my shoulder. “You can’t break Piercing Hand.”

  I heard it snap anyway. It hurt him.

  I slid, rotating my body as he pressed his offense. I didn’t understand the trick he’d used. Some sleight of timing... but now I saw him clearly. I struck his shoulder’s vital point, driving energy straight through it.

  He slammed onto his back.

  While he was dazed, I seized him by the neck and lifted him effortlessly. I placed my palm against his forehead. “Can you see the stars?”

  He answered with motion.

  A sudden slice tore toward my stomach. I yanked my legs out from under me mid-movement, dragging us both downward. As gravity took us, I hurled him headfirst into the ground.

  I backflipped twice, creating distance. By the time I landed, he was already forcing himself up. Bleeding.

  He reached into his mouth and pulled free a chunk of rubble.

  Damn it. I thought I got him.

  I clapped once, sharp and loud. “Surprised you lasted this long. You won’t catch me off guard like that again.”

  Zero didn’t form spear hands this time.

  I tilted my head. “Did you lose the will to fight?”

  He exhaled slowly. “I’m really saddened I have to use this against you. Age is unbeatable, truly...”

  I frowned. Use what?

  He tore off one sandal. Then he leapt very high. Hundreds of feet, vanishing into the sky. For a split second I almost laughed.

  Running away?

  Zero kicked off the air itself.

  He plummeted toward me, right leg extended, body aligned like a divine weapon. A kick from the heavens.

  Fine, you old hoot.

  I formed the Void—open palm, force-nullifying stance. I’d redirect everything. Slam him down. Break his neck.

  He reached me in an instant. His toes pierced straight through my hand.

  Straight through. The force didn’t spread. It focused.

  Pain vanished—replaced by absence. His foot drove into my eye.

  The ground detonated beneath us as I crashed backward, concrete shattering. I couldn’t breathe. Liquid flooded my skull. My body wouldn’t respond.

  Piercing Hand, but with his foot.

  Zero lifted me by the neck, holding me the way I’d held so many others. “Do you see the Sun?”

  He twisted. My neck snapped.

  Darkness swallowed everything below my eyes as my body went dead.

  He released me and turned away, walking toward Hematite. “Age didn’t weaken me completely.” he said quietly.

  “It redirected me.”