The Path Of A True King.-Chapter 22: Taking Over (2)

Chapter 62

Jack rolled his shoulders, the weight of the battle settling in.

His opponent, the massive brute with iron gauntlets, grinned menacingly as he cracked his knuckles.

The air between them grew thick with tension, the sounds of distant gunfire and clashing steel fading into the background.

This was it—a real fight, a battle between warriors, not just thugs swinging weapons in the dark.

Jack’s muscles tensed as the brute took a step forward, his presence alone exuding dominance.

He focused inward, drawing upon the Ki flowing through his body.

His veins pulsed with raw power, muscles tightening as the life force within him surged.

A faint aura shimmered around him, his strength increasing exponentially.

"You’ve got guts, kid," the brute said, his voice like gravel. "But guts alone won’t save you."

Jack smirked. "Good thing I’ve got more than just guts."

The brute lunged, his massive fist rocketing toward Jack’s face. Jack barely had time to react.

He shifted his weight, twisting his body as the iron-clad punch grazed his cheek, the sheer force of it sending a gust of wind past his ear.

Without hesitation, Jack retaliated, stepping forward with a counterpunch aimed at the brute’s jaw.

His fist connected, and this time, with his Ki-enhanced strength, the impact sent a shockwave rippling through the air.

The brute barely flinched, but his grin faltered.

Instead, he gritted his teeth and sent a knee into Jack’s gut, sending him stumbling backward.

Jack coughed, shaking off the pain. "Alright, that was solid."

The brute cracked his knuckles again. "You’re still standing? Good. That means I can take my time breaking you."

Jack wasn’t about to let that happen. He steadied his breathing, his stance tightening.

This wasn’t just a fight—it was a war of endurance. And Jack had no intention of losing.

With a burst of speed, enhanced by Ki reinforcing his muscles, he charged forward.

The brute lifted his arms, ready to block, but Jack feinted at the last second.

Instead of a direct punch, he dropped low, sweeping at the brute’s legs.

His opponent jumped, avoiding the strike, but Jack was already moving.

Using the momentum from his sweep, he twisted his body, launching a powerful rising uppercut infused with Ki straight into the brute’s exposed ribs.

The impact was devastating.

The brute’s body lurched backward, his feet skidding against the floor as he exhaled sharply.

Jack pressed the advantage, unleashing a flurry of rapid punches, each strike carrying an aftershock of energy.

The brute, however, absorbed most of the blows, his gauntlets deflecting what they could.

Then, he roared and slammed both fists downward.

Jack barely dodged, rolling to the side as the sheer force of the impact cracked the floor beneath them.

The brute didn’t stop.

He charged like a bull, fists swinging with terrifying speed and power.

Jack dodged left, then right, but the relentless barrage forced him back.

A single mistake and he’d be crushed.

One strike grazed his shoulder, sending shockwaves of pain down his arm.

Another punch followed immediately after, this one hitting Jack’s side and launching him into a pile of crates.

He groaned, coughing as he pulled himself up.

"Had enough?" the brute taunted.

Jack wiped blood from his lips, grinning. "Not even close."

Before he could re-engage, a group of gangsters rushed toward them, weapons drawn. Jack cursed.

The last thing he needed was distractions.

Then, a familiar figure stepped into the fray.

Tony.

With his steel bat resting on his shoulder, Tony cracked his neck. "Looks like you’re busy, Jack. Mind if I clean up the trash while you play with the big guy?"

Jack chuckled. "Be my guest."

Tony wasted no time.

As the gangsters charged, he swung his bat with brutal efficiency.

The first thug barely had time to react before the bat connected with his jaw, sending him spiraling into the wall.

Another lunged with a knife, but Tony sidestepped, bringing the bat down onto the man’s wrist, shattering it.

The knife clattered to the ground, and before the thug could scream, Tony’s bat slammed into his ribs, silencing him.

Jack turned his attention back to the brute, who was watching Tony’s rampage with mild amusement. "Your friend’s got some fight in him."

Jack rolled his shoulders. "Yeah, but he’s not your problem."

The brute chuckled. "Right."

Then he moved.

It was fast—too fast for someone of his size.

Jack barely had time to react before an iron-clad fist crashed into his stomach.

His vision blurred as the force lifted him off his feet and sent him flying into a nearby wall.

He gasped, the wind knocked out of him, but he forced himself to stay upright.

The brute wasn’t giving him a second to breathe.

He closed the distance in a flash, swinging another devastating punch. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝔀𝓮𝒃𝙣𝓸𝒗𝒆𝒍.𝙘𝒐𝒎

Jack twisted his body, avoiding a direct hit, but the shockwave still sent him skidding backward.

He had to change tactics.

He couldn’t match the brute’s strength—not yet.

Jack took a deep breath, closing his eyes for a fraction of a second.

Then, something inside him ignited.

His Ki surged, spreading through every inch of his body.

His muscles hardened, his bones reinforced, his skin became like iron.

His very presence seemed heavier, more imposing.

The brute hesitated. "What the hell...?"

Jack opened his eyes, his aura burning red with raw Ki.

He clenched his fists, feeling the sheer power coursing through him.

His defense was near unbreakable now.

His attacks?

They would shatter mountains.

The brute swung, aiming straight for Jack’s head.

Jack didn’t dodge this time.

Instead, he raised his forearm and blocked it.

A deafening shockwave echoed as their limbs collided—but Jack didn’t move an inch.

The brute’s eyes widened in disbelief.

Jack smirked. "My turn."

He unleashed a single punch, enhanced by his overflowing Ki.

It struck the brute’s chest like a sledgehammer, sending him flying across the warehouse, crashing through steel beams and crates.

The entire building trembled from the force.

The brute groaned, coughing up blood as he tried to rise.

But Jack was already there.

He grabbed the brute by the collar, lifting him effortlessly.

"This fight’s over," Jack said, his voice calm yet absolute.

With one final strike, he drove his fist into the brute’s gut, the impact so devastating it cratered the ground beneath them.

The brute’s body went limp.

Jack exhaled, his Ki slowly dimming.

He glanced over at Tony, who had just finished off the last of the gangsters.

Tony smirked. "Took you long enough."

Jack laughed, breathing heavily. "Yeah... but it was fun."

With their enemies defeated, they turned toward the next battle.

The war was far from over.