The Martial Unity

BAM BAM BAM!

Rui somersaulted away as he evaded wind blast attacks from Squire Dylon. The speed at which they were launched and propelled as well as their power all exceeded the conventional limit of the Apprentice Realm. Yet Rui had been able to predict and react to all of them with the help of the combination of the secondary brain, the VOID algorithm, and Primordial Instinct allowing him to cleanly evade a majority of Squire Dylon's attacks.

CLASP

Dylon grabbed his arms holding them in place, yet instead of grappling, he simply took in a deep breath.

Rui's eyes widened as he ducked sharply while executing Flux Flow to destabilize Dylon. Dylon staggered a bit as he spat out a blazing fireball that just narrowly missed Rui thanks to the sabotage.

WHOOSH

The flames dispelled harmlessly as Rui broke out of his grip and leaped backward, wiping off sweat from his forehead, as he glanced up at Squire Dylon warily. His offense was genuinely diverse and versatile. Despite the fact that it was easier to adapt to specialized Martial Artists, Dylon couldn't be considered a specialist with how many various offensive options he had.

WHOOSH

Rui cleanly evaded a powerful haymaker swing, as he carefully maintained his distance. Even though Dylon was operating with a speed and power that was at a quasi-Squire level. He was unable to gain a sustained advantage against Rui!

He knew Rui was special, but this was genuinely surprising to him. He couldn't believe how powerful he had become. His reactions were almost closer to what one might expect from a Squire than what one would expect from a mere Martial Apprentice. There were moments where it felt as though he had seen right through completely, these were times when Rui began moving before Dylon to counter moves that came after.

It was thoroughly bewildering.

BAM BAM BAM!

He guarded as Rui pummeled over and over with body blows empowered with the various offensive techniques he had mastered over the years. The power of his offense was staggering. The combined power of Vital Pressure, Outer Convergence, Flame Breathing, Adamant Reforging, and Reverberating Lance boosted the impact of every single one of his strikes. Squire Dylon had a flash of nostalgia as recalled having trained Rui with every single one of these techniques, as the head of the offensive techniques training facility.

('He's come far.') He noted. ('But it's right about time to begin ending this.')

BAM!!

Dylon managed to land a swift and powerful haymaker, as he held back by one less degree.

Squire Dylon lashed out as he began launching an avalanche of attacks against Rui. The sheer speed gap between them was not small. Rui pushed the secondary brain as it furiously aided him with the VOID algorithm and the Primordial Instinct heightening his reaction speed to the absolute limit that was possible.

Yet, even it had limits.

Squire Dylon was operating at a tier of power that would have killed any other Martial Apprentice within three seconds, and all of the Martial Apprentices that were spectating were extremely aware of this fact. They even spectated from a distance out of fear.

The ring that was bolstered with esoteric technology meant to withstand battle even at the peak of the Apprentice level had begun to be quite damaged by the battle.

Rui grimaced as he did his best to mitigate the speed gap between them. Yet, the odds were truly stacked against him. The damage he had suffered throughout the battle had begun to adversely affect his combat parameters. Every attack of Dylon that landed on Rui left lasting damage. But, in turn, Rui's attacks didn't inflict nearly as much damage against Dylon's hyper-evolved body and constitution. Even with Reverberating Lance permeating the impact through Squire Dylon's body, the effect was minimal.

Still, Rui wasn't done yet.

('I still haven't used my trump card yet!') Rui gritted his teeth as he struggled to maximize the number of blows that he successfully evaded while preparing the Stinger. If he could pull off a Stinger as he did against Squire Freelia Caela, he might be able to at least inflict some damage on Squire Dylon.

The biggest problem was that Squire Dylon was operating at a level even above what she had when he and his friends had fought her in the Commonwealth Duchy of Vinfrana.

He had only one chance, he needed to use it wisely.

He evaded and endured Squire Dylon's onslaught.

Blow after blow.

Technique after technique.

('Now!') Rui's eyes sharpened as the moment arrived.

He swiveled to the right of Squire Dylon, launching a powerful blow. Dylon promptly responded by riddling him with attacks.

WHOOSH

Rui's image disappeared.

Dylon's eyes widened in surprise.

It was a feint.

His awareness spread as his sharp senses immediately located Rui behind him. Yet, a shiver ran down his spine as he felt immense danger.

A Squire-level aura.

In the briefest of moments, as he turned, a heavy Squire-level aura descended onto the facility as every Martial Apprentice, froze at their spot, shivering in fear.

Squire Dylon's long-buried instincts awakened as the reflexes of a veteran who had killed many a Squire lashed out in a heightened sense of danger. For a moment, he forgot he was fighting a mere Martial Apprentice.

The sensation of ceding his back to a Martial Squire generated a fear that bypassed all reason, instinctively taking over his body. It was this instinctive fear that had saved his life in the Martial World. Rui had reawakened one of the most powerful Martial Squires of his generation.

His speed and power surged as he broke all restraints on them. The might of a Martial Squire had bared its fangs against Rui.

The very land beneath them shook as the air boiled. The sheer power of a Martial Squire warped the world around them.

And yet;

PEW!!

The Stinger soared through the air, unperturbed, striking Squire Dylon's eye.

In exchange?

The unshackled might of a Martial Squire crashed into Rui.

BOOM!!!