"Kijie..."
Bols looked down at his panicked wife, just about to comfort her.
But Kijie broke free from his embrace and said anxiously,
"Dear, go help them. I'll be fine."
Her body was still trembling uncontrollably, yet she forced herself to stand.
Kurome walked over while carrying Logue. Freeing one hand, she supported Kijie.
"Mr. Bols, leave her to me. You and Wave should go."
Bols was visibly moved.
"Everyone, thank you so much."
Wave laughed heartily and said firmly,
"We're comrades. There's no way we'd just stand by and do nothing."
Training Grounds.
Bols, Wave, and Budo sat in the spectator stands nearby.
A certain distance separated Budo and Wave.
"You may only watch. Anyone who interferes will face the consequences."
Budo crossed his arms, his tone carrying a clear warning.
"So this is General Budo, one of the Empire's strongest. His presence really is extraordinary."
Wave thought to himself, though his face showed no fear.
He shot Bols a glance.
If things became critical and someone had to intervene, he would hold Budo off.
He knew Uesugi Ryu was powerful, but Syura did not look weak either.
They needed to be ready to step in at any moment.
Bols gave a slight nod, indicating that he understood.
After their silent exchange, both turned their attention to the open field below.
In the vast training ground, Uesugi Ryu and Syura stood facing each other.
Syura rolled his ankles and warmed up.
"My first fight since returning to the Imperial Capital. I'll start by crushing you, country bumpkin."
Uesugi Ryu ignored the provocation and simply rolled up his shirt sleeves.
He had already thought of an idea that would hurt Syura far more than killing him ever could.
Seeing that his taunt had no effect, Syura stopped talking.
He carefully observed Uesugi Ryu.
"This guy is full of openings, so why do I have such a bad feeling?"
Syura frowned, instantly realizing something.
"He's too calm. No emotional fluctuation at all."
Still, he did not think too much of it, assuming Uesugi Ryu was simply overconfident.
Syura leaned forward slightly and launched the first attack.
A straight punch shot toward Uesugi Ryu's face.
Syura was fast, much faster than Sheele.
But to Uesugi Ryu, that was all it amounted to.
After all, Speed was his highest stat.
Uesugi Ryu sidestepped, the howling fist barely grazing his cheek.
Syura seemed to have expected that. A slight smile appeared on his lips.
Taking advantage of the opening, he dropped low and swept at Uesugi Ryu's legs.
Uesugi Ryu stepped back, then suddenly drove his foot into Syura's shin.
A dull crack of bone striking bone echoed out.
Syura lost his balance slightly and slid backward across the ground.
"What?"
Surprise appeared on his face.
He had expected Uesugi Ryu to jump back instead.
A sharp pain spread through his lower leg. Uesugi Ryu's strength was clearly far greater than before.
Syura had no time to think.
In the next instant, Uesugi Ryu stomped off the ground, leaping high into the air as he threw a straight punch.
The compressed air screamed.
The fist rapidly enlarged in Syura's vision. His thigh muscles tensed as he twisted aside.
The next moment, an explosive boom erupted.
A mushroom-shaped cloud rose from the center of the training grounds as bricks and dirt blasted skyward.
Spiderweb-like cracks spread outward from the point where Uesugi Ryu's left fist struck.
Syura barely rolled clear of the collapsing area.
Flying debris sliced across his cheek, drawing thin lines of blood.
Staring at the terrifying radial cracks, Syura shouted in disbelief,
"You've got to be kidding me, bastard!"
That earlier kick had obviously been a deliberate feint, baiting him in.
The wind scattered the dust and rubble, revealing Uesugi Ryu once more.
He slowly pulled his left arm out of the fractured earth.
Chunks of stone slid down the contours of his muscles.
The midday sun blazed overhead.
A bright smile spread across his face.
His white teeth flashed coldly in the sunlight.
Uesugi Ryu shook his hand, sending dust exploding from his wrist.
A series of crackling pops rang out from his bones.
He strolled through the rubble, looking at the stunned Syura.
"Warm-up's over. Now the real show begins."
He raised his right hand and crooked a finger at Syura.
Syura swallowed.
At this point, there was no turning back.
Even if he wanted to retreat, Budo would probably be the first to object.
"He definitely won't dare kill me. Damn it, I took the bait."
Cursing inwardly, Syura charged again.
Physical strength was not everything.
He was not the sort of man who gave up easily.
Syura slammed his foot into the ground and launched himself forward, bringing his leg down like an axe toward Uesugi Ryu's head.
Uesugi Ryu dodged.
Syura's kick missed and smashed into the ground.
Taking advantage of the opening, Uesugi Ryu closed the distance in two quick steps and drove a kick forward.
The air screamed.
Syura's white hair whipped violently in the wind.
He immediately rolled away, one hand plunging into the ground.
Dirt and shattered stone burst upward, forming a thick gray curtain.
Syura lunged through it with a savage grin, both palms striking forward.
Uesugi Ryu could not help feeling a little speechless.
Really? Pocket sand?
That trick was completely useless against him.
He crossed his arms in front of himself.
A heavy thud rang out.
Uesugi Ryu did not move an inch.
A fan-shaped shockwave spread out behind him, blasting loose stones into the air.
"Oh?"
Uesugi Ryu raised an eyebrow.
That had some force behind it. His arms were actually tingling a little.
He swung both arms upward, knocking Syura's palms aside and exposing his chest wide open.
Shock filled Syura's face.
He had not expected Uesugi Ryu to take that hit without any damage at all.
He kicked off the ground, retreating rapidly while raising his arms to defend.
Uesugi Ryu was faster.
A heavy punch slammed into Syura's chest.
A sickening crunch rang out as his breastbone shattered instantly.
Syura groaned in agony, stumbling back six or seven steps.
Before he could even catch his breath, a blur flashed before him.
Uesugi Ryu had already closed the distance.
Grabbing Syura by the shoulder, he drove his knee viciously into Syura's abdomen.
Syura vomited a large mouthful of blood, his body folding like a cooked shrimp.
Uesugi Ryu shoved him upward into the air.
Then he seized Syura's left arm, twisted his body, and hurled him away.
The blood had not even finished splattering to the ground.
Syura's body traced a straight line through the air before crashing thunderously into the wall.