MIGHT AS WELL BE OP Chapter 915: Punching Bag

The chasm vanished in a heartbeat as the abyss itself began to cave in, unable to endure the frenzied violence they had unleashed with their physical forms and strikes. Reality grew brittle, and space shivered with instability. A moment later, they materialized on the surface, their feet touching the familiar desert grains which scattered as if panicked by their sudden reappearance.

Neither combatant granted the other even a millisecond to recover or strategize upon resurfacing. There was no hesitation, only pure, lethal motion. They transformed into streaks of golden and blue light, blurring as they tore across the dunes at speeds beyond comprehension. Wherever they stepped, the sand erupted, and massive dunes collapsed like wet paper under the weight of invisible pressure.

Deep ravines carved themselves into the desert floor as the earth seemed to scream in a silent agony. High above, the sun radiated a merciless heat, yet it appeared to falter, as if wondering if these two warriors would ever even notice its existence.

Aura Nova’s fingers lunged forward with the precision of a spear, aiming directly for Kingsley’s golden eyes to blind him. With a casual sidestep to the right, Kingsley evaded the strike as if it were child's play. He didn't just dodge; he counterattacked. Moving with fluid aggression, his golden eyes tracked Aura Nova’s elbow while his palm surged upward from below, intending to shatter her arm at the joint.

Aura Nova, however, had already anticipated his maneuver. She realized his intent the moment the strike began. Her arm bent at a sharp, practical angle, snapping her elbow outward to block Kingsley’s palm before it could generate the momentum needed to break bone. The impact reverberated through the air like a muffled clap of thunder. Kingsley instantly transitioned, his other hand already blurring into a fist that aimed for her lungs from the flank.

Aura Nova’s blue eyes locked onto the incoming blow. She broke away immediately, her footwork as seamless as water as her blue hair trailed behind her. The wind from his fist grazed her as she narrowly avoided the close-quarters strike. In the same motion of her evasion, her leg whipped upward toward Kingsley’s neck. Her heel moved with murderous intent, positioned perfectly to end the fight by snapping his spine.

Kingsley didn't bother retreating. He simply tilted his head with an insulting lack of effort, letting Aura Nova’s foot miss by a fraction of an inch. She did not relent, however, flowing into her next move without a pause. As soon as her foot touched the sand, her other leg launched a knee strike toward Kingsley’s midsection with bone-crushing power.

In a flash of speed, Kingsley’s palm intercepted her knee. A shockwave of compressed air spiraled out from the point of contact, washing over both of them, yet it lacked the force to make either warrior flinch. Without missing a beat, Kingsley’s hand clamped onto Aura Nova’s leg. With savage precision, he spun his body and slammed her down into the desert floor.

For a split second, Aura Nova lost her equilibrium. Her blue eyes watched the ground rush up to meet her at a terrifying velocity. Yet, she remained calm. Her hand shot out, striking the sand with a thunderous boom. The desert exploded at the point of impact, creating a counter-force that halted her fall and saved her from a direct collision.

The moment she stabilized, Aura Nova twisted her body. Her free leg arched toward Kingsley’s ribs in a ruthless strike. Kingsley lifted his hand to intercept, but before they touched, Aura Nova altered the trajectory of her foot mid-air. The first move had been a feint; her true target was now Kingsley’s waist.

To defend himself, Kingsley was forced to let go of the leg he held. But just as their limbs were set to clash, Aura Nova pulled back her foot and transitioned into a graceful backflip, putting distance between them in one fluid motion.

A heavy silence fell between the two. No words were exchanged, as neither saw the point in talking during a life-or-death struggle. For the first time, a faint, hidden smile touched Kingsley’s lips. He slowly raised his hand and gestured for Aura Nova to come at him, an open invitation to continue.

Aura Nova’s own smile remained fixed. She couldn't recall the last time she had felt such pure exhilaration. Having rarely ventured away from the Dusk Planet, she was finding this battle incredibly entertaining. With a spark of joy in her gaze, she took the bait. Her knees bent slightly before she launched herself forward like a falling star, her feet barely touching the sand as she accelerated.

Her fist lunged toward Kingsley’s chest. His small smile didn't waver as he dodged with the ease of a master sparring with a novice. Before Aura Nova could react, she felt a touch against her stomach. An instant later, a titanic impact exploded through her.

She suppressed the rising pain, refusing to let her momentum die as she moved into her next strike. But Kingsley evaded her once more. This time, his elbow came crashing down from above, slamming into her shoulder with ruthless accuracy. It felt to Aura Nova as if a star had collapsed onto her. Before she could recover, Kingsley unleashed a relentless combo. A fist swung in from the left; Aura Nova tried to block, but it was useless. Kingsley shifted his strike mid-way, and the blow landed with the devastating force of a comet.

Aura Nova struggled to form a defense, but she was being treated like a mere punching bag. Kingsley showed no mercy due to her gender, his limbs landing blow after blow while he effortlessly danced around her every counter.

Kingsley was a supreme master of martial arts. In this specific discipline, perhaps only Anthony could claim to be his equal. For Aura Nova, trying to best him in a direct physical brawl was nothing short of a suicidal endeavor.

She had been cautioned about his legendary martial prowess, but Aura Nova was not the type to trust rumors. She had to witness it herself, and now she had.

A lightning-fast kick from Kingsley connected with her jaw, whipping her head to the side. The sheer momentum dragged her body along, sending her hurtling through the air at high speeds. She crashed into a sand dune, causing a massive explosion of dust that hid everything from view.

Then, the sound of footsteps rose.

Aura Nova walked calmly out of the thick cloud of dust. Her face was completely unblemished, without a single mark. The sand on her clothes fell away as if it feared to touch her. Her smile remained as she looked at Kingsley; she wouldn't be discouraged just because he landed a few hits. If he couldn't do at least that much, he wouldn't be a worthy opponent.

With a flicker of thought, her pair of short swords appeared in her grip. She was never truly a bare-handed fighter; these blades were the instruments of her true power.

As she dropped into a fighting stance, her aura shifted. The air grew sharp and lethal, as if a great predator had finally bared its teeth. Sensing the heightened danger, Kingsley immediately took his own martial stance in response.

Then, as if moved by a single command from destiny, they charged, colliding once more like a thunderbolt ripping through the dark.