Izuna charged toward the boat, his boots thumping against the damp ground. Only one guard stood watch outside, a man in a sharp black suit who looked completely out of place in the muddy valley. Meanwhile, Kale remained pressed against the rough bark of a nearby tree, his eyes narrowed, waiting for the perfect moment to sneak aboard.

  The guard’s eyes widened as he saw a blur of red hair sprinting directly at him. "Hey, you brat! Stop right there!" he yelled, reaching for the holster at his hip.

  Izuna’s only response was a fierce, confident grin. "You’re the one who needs to get out of my way!"

  While still in full stride, Izuna clenched his right hand into a massive fist. "FIRE FIST!" he roared. In an instant, roaring orange flames ignited around his knuckles, illuminating the dark treeline. The guard managed to draw his gun and point it, but he was far too slow. Izuna was already upon him. The flaming punch connected squarely with the man’s stomach, the force of the impact sending him spiraling backward through the air. He crashed hard into the side of the motionless boat with a heavy thud, sliding down to the deck, unconscious.

  "Now come out, you bastards, and face me like men!" Izuna shouted, his voice echoing across the water, the fire on his fist slowly flickering out.

  Inside the boat’s cabin, the snake-tattooed man and his crew were lounging around a table, surrounded by half-empty drinks. The sudden crash and Izuna’s scream made the glasses rattle. The leader scowled, setting his drink down. "Damn those brats... they’re tougher than I thought."

  One of his crewmen stood up with a confident laugh, cracking his knuckles. "Don't worry, Boss. I’ll handle him. I’ve been looking for a reason to break someone's bones today."

  The tattooed man leaned back, picking his drink up again with a bored expression. "Fine. Just be quick and finish those two. And don't fire any shots—we don’t need the Royal Guards finding this location because of your noise."

  "You got it, Boss," the man smirked, heading for the door.

  Suddenly, six more men appeared on the upper deck of the boat, leaping down to the ground. "So, you’re the one making all this noise out here," one of them growled as he stepped forward. He was tall, fat, and incredibly muscular, looming over the others with a mocking sneer. "So much noise for someone so small."

  Izuna didn't back down. "Whatever!" he responded, a fierce grin on his face. "I'm gonna smash you all now!"

  "Tough talk, kid, for someone as small as you," the man mocked.

  "FIRE FIST!" Izuna roared, charging toward him.

  The man roared back, "Come and get me, you brat!"

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  Suddenly, the man's hands turned as hard as solid rock. He raised them just in time to block Izuna’s Fire Fist. The man smiled as the flames hit his stone-like skin. Before Izuna could react, the giant launched his other fist at Izuna, hitting him with massive force and sending him flying several meters away.

  Izuna skidded across the dirt, gasping for air. "Damn..." he muttered, wiping his mouth. "This guy is stronger than I thought."

  Kale watched from behind the tree, his heart racing. He was still new to this side of the world—the world of magic, mantras, and superhuman abilities—but he was a quick study. He could tell that the man Izuna was fighting possessed a rare, defensive power, much like the snake-tattooed leader. This isn't good, Kale thought, his eyes tracking the heavy movements of the rock-skinned giant. It seems that guy also possesses a rare power, just like the tattoo man.

  In the clearing, Izuna slowly pushed himself up. He coughed, spitting a small spray of blood onto the grass, but he didn't look worried. In fact, he looked even more energetic than before. He closed his eyes for a heartbeat, centered his breathing, and then dropped into a low stance. He slammed his right hand into the ground while his left hand gripped his knee, anchoring himself like a coiled spring.

  With a sudden burst, he launched himself forward with explosive speed. This time, he was a blur of motion, his speed nearly double what it had been before. Not only was his hand covered in fire, but the flames began to spin rapidly around his arm. The big man’s eyes widened. He tried to block, but Izuna was too fast.

  BAM!

  The fist landed squarely in the man’s stomach. The air in the area vibrated from the force of the impact, but the man didn't move an inch. "You're faster this time," the giant rumbled, "and your attack was a bit stronger than before. But it is still not enough to harm me, boy!"

  "Then I'll just hit you harder!" Izuna shouted.

  The two of them exploded into a brutal fight, trading heavy blows. The sound of fists hitting rock and flesh echoed through the valley as neither side backed down. The air was filled with the deafening sound of their battle. "AAAAHHHH!" both roared as their fists collided repeatedly. BOOM! BAM! BAM! For more than two minutes, the exchange of blows didn't stop.

  Izuna’s face, hands, and uniform were already soaked in his own blood. Every time his fist hit the man's stony exterior, it was like hitting a mountain. However, his effort wasn't for nothing—Riban's rock-hard skin was finally beginning to shatter and crack under the heat, though the man still wasn't bleeding.

  This kid has insane willpower, Riban thought to himself, gritting his teeth behind his stone mask. He has to know he can't win this, yet he isn't backing down an inch.

  From his hiding spot, Kale clutched his hands into white-knuckled fists. "That idiot!" he hissed to himself, his heart sinking. "He’s going to get himself killed. I told him to just distract them, but that moron is going all out!"

  Kale could hardly bear to watch. Every time Izuna swung, more blood splattered onto the dirt. The two fighters were pouring every ounce of their might into their strikes until one final, massive collision sent them both reeling backward, creating a gap of several meters between them.

  Izuna was breathing heavily, his chest heaving as he struggled to pull air into his lungs. He was totally exhausted, his body a map of bruises and cuts. Blood ran down his face, stinging his eyes.

  "You're a tough kid," the man spoke, his voice gravelly. He wiped dust from his cracked, stony arm. "My name is Riban. I’d like to know your name before you die."

  Izuna’s legs gave out, and he dropped to the ground, catching himself on one knee. He spat a mouthful of blood to the side and looked up, a defiant, shaky grin crossing his face. "I'm... Izuna," he panted, his voice raspy but steady. "And it’s not that easy to bring me down. I can still fight... all day if I have to."