The two figures collided against the midnight sky.
BOOM!
The initial impact sent a shockwave rippling across the rooftops, sending ancient tiles flying into the air like a rain of ceramic shards. Van Thien skidded across the roof, his boots sliding smoothly over the weathered tiles.
Duan Thiet reacted instantly, his massive metallic hammer swinging in a wide, lethal arc.
WHOOSH!
The air itself seemed to tear apart. Van Thien ducked low to evade the strike; the wind blade generated by the hammer's momentum sliced through the roofing behind him.
CRASH!
An entire section of the roof disintegrated. Duan Thiet let out a booming laugh. "Hahaha! Not bad at all!"
He leaped high into the air, hoisting the hammer above his head. Red energy pulsed along his mechanical arm, flowing into the hammer's head like veins of glowing magma.
"Try this on for size!"
The hammer came crashing down.
THOOM!
The entire rooftop shuddered. The brick walls below vibrated violently, and on the street, several car alarms began to wail in unison. Van Thien had already vanished from his spot, reappearing an instant later to Duan Thiet's left.
THUD!
A lightning-fast sidekick slammed into the armored ribs. Duan Thiet skidded several meters across the tiles but immediately slammed his hammer down to anchor himself.
CLANG!
His momentum halted. Duan Thiet turned his head to look at Van Thien, his eyes glowing a fierce crimson. "Decent power... but still too weak."
He clenched his fist, the mechanical arm emitting a series of sharp clicks as the armor plates on the hammer shifted and opened.
"Combat Mode: Iron Breaker."
The hammer began to vibrate, releasing a circular pulse of red energy that made the surrounding air feel heavy and oppressive. Van Thien furrowed his brow, sensing the sudden spike in atmospheric pressure.
Then, Duan Thiet vanished.
SWISH!
An instant later, he appeared directly above Van Thien, the gargantuan hammer descending like a falling star.
BOOM!
Part of the roof collapsed entirely, sending a thick cloud of dust and debris tumbling into the alley below. Within the swirling haze, a silhouette stood motionless.
Van Thien was there, holding the massive hammer back with a single hand. Duan Thiet's eyes widened in disbelief. "What...?"
Cyan circuits of energy pulsed through Van Thien's hand. The cross necklace on his neck glowed with an intense brilliance. Despite blocking the blow, his forearm trembled slightly. Thien's voice was low and calm:
"…5%."
Then—KABOOM!
An explosion of force erupted from his body. Duan Thiet was sent hurtling into the air. He flipped mid-flight, landing heavily on the opposite roof.
CRACK!
The tiles crumbled beneath his feet. Duan Thiet laughed, but this time, the laughter was filled with genuine excitement.
"Ha... Hahaha! HAHAHAHA!"
He rested the hammer on his shoulder. "Finally, I've met someone interesting."
Van Thien stood on the facing roof, the night wind tousling his hair. His eyes remained eerily serene. Duan Thiet tilted his head.
"You know? In the 4th Fleet of the Fire Forrest... I am the one tasked with hunting the strongest beings." He pointed the hammer directly at Van Thien.
"And you... you are the first I've actually respected on this tiny little planet."
Van Thien was silent for a few seconds. Then—FLASH!
He vanished. A split second later, he was right in front of Duan Thiet's face.
BAM!
A straight punch buried itself into the commander's chest. The air was compressed so violently it made a high-pitched metallic screeching sound. Duan Thiet was sent flying through two consecutive rooftops.
CRASH!
Wood and tiles erupted everywhere. As Duan Thiet lay among the ruins, Van Thien whispered:
"Sorry... I don't have time for your nonsense." He raised his hand toward his opponent, gesturing dismissively. "Let's end this quickly."
Duan Thiet rose from the wreckage. A deep dent marred his chest plate. He touched the metal, staring back at Thien with a lethal grin.
"It seems... you truly wish for death." He chuckled darkly. "Then I shall grant it."
Down on the street corner, an old man heard the sound of tiles clattering above. He opened his window, peering up. "Stray cats on the roof again..." He shook his head and closed the window.
Back on the rooftops, Duan Thiet spun his hammer. The red energy began to condense into a blindingly bright core.
"Alright... I'll get a bit serious now."
On the other side, Van Thien exhaled. The light from his necklace flickered rapidly. He clenched his fists as Duan Thiet raised the hammer high, the red energy gathering into a massive sphere of light at its head.
"Let's see if you can survive... THIS!"
The night wind roared. Two warriors stood on ancient roofs, separated by the dark void of the Hanoi night. A second of absolute silence.
Then—they both charged.