Josh stepped forward to confront Steel Titan, the air thick with tension.

  "I didn't expect my attacks to be reflected that way," Steel Titan admitted, his voice a low rumble that resonated deep within the ruined arena. A flicker of genuine surprise, quickly replaced by a dismissive sneer, crossed his face. "A neat trick, I'll grant you. But don't expect it to work on me a second time. You caught me off guard, that's all."

  His gaze bored into Josh, a predatory gleam in his eyes. "Though you do wield a strange energy, human. I can feel its… otherworldly presence. It's not metagene-based, is it? Something… other." He paused, as if savoring the word. "But whatever it is, it won't be enough."

  Josh remained impassive, settling into a fighting stance. "Tricks?" he replied, his voice calm and steady, a stark contrast to the barely contained power radiating from Steel Titan. "I wouldn't call it a trick, but more of a fundamental principle. But you're right about one thing… I don't intend to use the same move twice."

  Josh spread his stance slightly, his eyes narrowing, focusing all his energy. He could feel the power thrumming within him, the same energy that made up the life force of all living beings, and which he learned to manipulate from his master.

  Steel Titan laughed, a harsh, grating sound that echoed through the devastated landscape. It was a sound devoid of humor, filled only with arrogance and a chilling confidence.

  "You speak with a strange confidence for a human facing a true A-Rank," he said, his voice a low growl. "I have crushed armies, leveled cities. What makes you think you can stand against me? For this… Ki of yours is adequate, I'll give you that.” He then glared viciously at Josh as he talked right towards him. “It is but a mere flicker… when compared to the might of a god!”

  Steel Titan took another step forward, his massive frame radiating power. He wanted to intimidate Miller, to break his spirit before the first blow was even thrown.

  Josh met his gaze, unflinching. He could feel the oppressive power emanating from the villain, the sheer physical force that threatened to overwhelm him. But he had faced down creatures of nightmare in other dimensions, beings of pure energy and primal fury. He would not be intimidated.

  “Maybe… but can you back it up?" Josh asked, his voice deceptively casual. It was a simple question, but it hung in the air, a challenge thrown down in the face of overwhelming power.

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  The Steel Titan then raised an eyebrow in intrigue, and then an amused smile curled up his lips. “A better question should be… can you even handle it?”

  Then, with a rush of speed, the Steel Titan rapidly attacked with his fists, each moving at the speed of lightning. Yet Josh managed to evade all of them with focused effort, as if engaging at such speeds were commonplace to him, barely wasting any movement at all.

  …but this merely made the villain let out a small laugh, as if he were playing with a new toy.

  "You're quite good for a mere human," he said, a cruel grin spreading across his face. "But surely you realize that I am toying with you, right?"

  Josh shrugged, his expression calm. "Figured. Since I'm pretty much doing the same thing."

  Steel Titan chuckled once more, the sound devoid of humor. "Is that so? Well, let's end this game then!"

  Without warning, the villain's speed increased exponentially. Moving at a speed even Josh couldn't fully track, blurring into a near-invisible force. The first blow caught him on the head, a concussive impact that sent pain lancing through his skull. He grunted, his vision momentarily swimming. It was followed by another punch, delivered in rapid succession, each strike carrying the force of a battering ram.

  “You should have run while you had the chance, boy!" Steel Titan said, his voice a low growl. "Otherwise, you might have lived." He moved to deliver a final, crushing blow to Josh's stomach, intending to end the fight.

  And when the punch landed, Josh was sent hurtling through the sky before smashing into the side of a nearby mountain, causing the rock to groan under the strain. Steel Titan watched for a moment, then spat in the direction of the wreckage and began to walk away, satisfied with his victory.

  Only for Josh to chuckle.

  The sound stopped Steel Titan in his tracks. He turned to see Josh emerging from the rubble. He was battered, yes, with a few scratches and blood trickling from his mouth, but the blond-haired teen was largely unharmed.

  "Man…" Josh said, rubbing the back of his head with a wince. "It's been a long time since I got my ass handed to me like that… sort of brings back memories." He then paused, a faint smile playing on his lips as a memory surfaced. He could almost hear Kunshu's booming voice, warning him about the dangers of letting his guard down. "Heh, talk about nostalgia."

  Steel Titan growled, his patience wearing thin. "Perhaps you will be less talkative when I rip your body to pieces this time!"

  But Josh merely laughed at the threat, a genuine, confident laugh that echoed through the ruined landscape. "Yeah, well, as much as I'd like to finally let loose, if just a little bit," he said, his tone light but firm, "I have a promise to keep."

  Suddenly, Steel Titan was struck from the side, the force of the blow sending him staggering. Blue Lock, now fully healed and shirtless, stood before him, his muscular chest, defined pecs, wide shoulders, toned arms, and six-pack abs fully exposed. He was radiating an aura of raw power, his eyes blazing with renewed determination.

  "Ready for round two, bitch!?" Blue Lock snarled, his voice a challenge