Toda threw an intimidating right straight at my face, the air splitting with a deafening whoosh as his fist shot forward like a piston. I was barely able to swerve to the right, feeling the heat of his knuckles graze past my cheek as I narrowly dodged it.

  Toda said, "That's decent speed."

  I planted my palms against the ground behind me to stop my backward momentum, my fingers digging into the hard dead dirt for balance. I launched a front kick toward his chin, my heel slicing upward like a blade. He blocked it effortlessly with his right forearm, the impact reverberating through my leg. My momentum stopped dead in an instant, and my knee almost buckled from the recoil. His forearm felt like darksteel.

  I twisted hard to my right, ignoring the ache in my ankle, and swung a roundhouse kick at his temple. The air hummed with the force behind it. Again, he raised that same forearm and absorbed the blow without flinching. Sparks of pain shot up my shin from the sheer hardness of his block. He can see every single one of my attacks coming from a mile away. We're that far apart in speed.

  Toda brought his arm down like a hammer, veins bulging from his clenched fist as it came crashing toward me with earth-shaking weight. I kicked off his thigh at the last second and weaved to the side, feeling the crushing wind of his strike graze past my ribs. I slid back a few steps across the dirt, my shoes dragging shallow grooves into the ground. That would've killed me if it landed.

  I said, "Hey. That's Reinforced Fist."

  He blew on his knuckles, smirking faintly. "From the Demon Buddha himself."

  What does he mean by that?

  I formed a spear hand, focusing my breathing as I funneled every ounce of power into my fingers. If I can't reach him without using Piercing Hand, I might as well try and make up for the power difference with it.

  To my surprise, Toda mirrored my stance, copying my spear hand almost perfectly.

  I took a quick glance at his hand. The technique is nearly as good as mine. Does he have some relationship with Zero I don't know about? Or is it...

  I darted forward, slicing diagonally with a precise strike aimed at his torso. He copied me in perfect symmetry, cutting the air in the opposite direction. Our hands clashed in a thunderous impact, the shockwave whipping through my hair and nearly knocking me off balance. His strike overpowered mine instantly. The wind gust from the clash stung my face as my arm quivered under the pressure. Mine struggled against his until I finally let go of the force, allowing his momentum to pull him slightly forward.

  I capitalized, leaping into a tight full spin. My arms became a blur as I unleashed a barrage of slices in the air. Mingling Cuts worked perfectly, shredding through his cape and leaving shallow lines across his skin. Even if you copy Piercing Hand, I'm a master compared to you.

  A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

  As Toda stumbled from the trip, I struck with three precise pierce attempts to his head, each thrust snapping forward. He leaned back with eerie calmness, dodging all of them by a hair’s breadth. Before I could reset my stance, Toda snatched my heel mid-kick and hurled me forward like I weighed nothing. I spun through the air uncontrollably, the world blurring around me in circles. He's going to follow up.

  I outstretched my arms and leaned into the spin, sharpening it into a cutting cyclone. Toda halted his advance, his narrowed eyes reflecting the faint arcs of my slashes. He couldn’t get close. He would get cut if he did. My spinning began to slow, my feet scraping against the ground as I fought to steady myself. I stuck the landing with both heels planted firm.

  I stared Toda's way.

  He clapped slowly, an almost mocking smile tugging at his lips. "You're overcoming the vast difference in physicality through strategy."

  I still don’t know why I’m so much weaker than Toda and Leo. Even Caleb pales in comparison to them.

  I asked, "What is with you and Leo? Throughout all the people in the world, nobody has speed and strength like you two. The only ones who come close are people like Finn, who specialize in something. Even then, they're immensely talented and transcendent. There shouldn’t be this much of a difference."

  Toda waved his finger like a teacher chiding a child. "Nuh-uh. I’m not telling you how."

  So there is a secret. If it was just a difference of talent or bodies, there wouldn’t be a ‘how’.

  I straightened my back, my chest heaving as sweat dripped into my eyes. I’m fighting the best I ever have, and it barely resulted in skin-deep cuts. I placed my spear hand over my heart, taking one deep, steadying breath. Then, with precision, I pierced inside, puncturing the pericardium. A sharp pain flared in my chest as a small hole appeared. My heart was being touched by outside air.

  I sliced a small chunk of thigh tissue, my hand steady despite the burning in my heart, and pressed it over the hole. I flexed the muscle into place like a patch, sealing it. Pain and blood began rushing to the rest of my body like wildfire, every nerve screaming awake.

  Toda asked, "What are you doing?"

  I didn't answer him. He didn't need to know about Perforated Heart. Not like it would help him. All he needs to know is...

  I said, "With this, I can surpass you."

  It’s true. With this, my speeds will increase up to fivefold. Sadly, with the schedule I’m on now, I won’t be able to use it against Leo. I stretched my legs as the blood rushed quicker, veins pulsating with fiery energy. I cracked my knuckles, sparks of tension snapping from my joints. "You can use your other styles now. You’ll need them."

  Toda snickered darkly. "That hint was too much, huh?"

  My heart began beating hundreds of times a minute, the thunderous rhythm pounding in my ears like war drums. I delayed him for long enough. I’ve reached maximum output.

  I released my killing intent like a tidal wave aimed at his very soul. He released his as well, his presence crashing against mine like two storms colliding. We matched evenly, though I held the slightest edge.

  I blitzed in front of him, moving so fast the ground beneath me cracked. For a second, I stood there silently.

  Suddenly, Toda’s eyes widened in realization.

  He launched a rapid series of jabs my way, each strike cutting the air with bone-snapping speed. They were quick—on par with Finn’s speed when he interrupted that sparring session. In a blur, I moved. The world stretched and warped as I accelerated, my body vanishing from Toda’s sight.

  I appeared behind him. "No more delays. Try and keep up."