The Path Of A True King.-Chapter 24: Taking Over (4)
Chapter 64
The battle raged on as Kai faced off against his opponent.
Blood dripped from fresh wounds, sweat clung to his skin, and his breath came in slow, controlled exhales.
Every muscle in his body burned, but his dagger was steady, his stance unwavering.
His opponent, the Intermediate Knight Stage warrior, was relentless, his twin short swords dancing through the air with lethal precision.
But Kai wasn’t outmatched.
He had already found the rhythm of his opponent’s movements, adapting to the flow of battle with every clash of steel.
Dean, in the background, worked with cold efficiency.
His pistols barked as he thinned out the remaining small-time gangsters, ensuring Kai had a fair fight.
The weaker foes never had a chance.
With each precise shot, another body dropped, leaving only Kai and his true opponent standing amidst the carnage.
With one final pull of the trigger, Dean took out the last lingering thug before stepping back, watching Kai’s fight unfold.
Kai ducked as a blade whistled past his ear, the wind from the slash brushing against his skin.
His opponent didn’t hesitate, pressing forward, forcing Kai to step back.
Sparks flew as Kai barely blocked a downward slash, his dagger’s edge grinding against the sword.
He twisted, using the momentum to pivot to the side, slashing toward his opponent’s ribs.
The knight twisted his body just enough for the attack to miss, countering with a brutal kick to Kai’s midsection.
Kai flew back, flipping midair to regain control before landing in a crouch.
Pain radiated through his torso, but he pushed it aside.
He had fought tougher battles before.
He surged forward, his speed blurring as he channeled Ki into his legs, giving him an extra burst of agility.
His opponent was fast, but Kai was faster.
A dagger strike aimed for the knight’s throat was deflected at the last second, but Kai anticipated it, adjusting his wrist to angle the second dagger toward his enemy’s stomach.
The knight twisted away, but not before Kai’s blade carved a shallow wound along his side.
A small victory, but a victory nonetheless.
"I see," the knight said, his voice calm. "You’re skilled. But this isn’t enough."
The knight’s Ki flared, a powerful aura radiating from his body.
The ground beneath him cracked as he surged forward, moving faster than before.
Kai barely had time to react as the first sword strike came down.
He raised both daggers in a cross-block, but the sheer force sent him skidding backward.
Before he could recover, a second blade arced toward him.
Kai twisted, but the blade grazed his arm, leaving a deep cut.
He gritted his teeth.
His opponent wasn’t holding back anymore.
He had to end this quickly.
Channeling more Ki, he enhanced his body beyond its limits. His muscles tensed, his movements sharpened.
He felt his heart pound in his chest as he moved with blinding speed.
With a flick of his wrist, Kai feinted an overhead slash, forcing his opponent to raise his sword.
In that split second, he twisted, driving his second dagger toward the knight’s unguarded ribs.
The attack landed, piercing through flesh.
His opponent gasped, stepping back, blood dripping from his side.
But he wasn’t finished.
With one last push, Kai spun, his dagger slicing through the air in a deadly arc.
The knight tried to react, but he was too slow.
The blade cut deep into his shoulder, forcing him to drop one of his swords.
Seizing the opening, Kai delivered a final, brutal strike to his opponent’s neck.
The knight’s eyes widened as he staggered back, his strength fading.
Then, with a thud, he collapsed.
Kai exhaled sharply, wiping his blade clean as he turned toward Dean, who gave a small nod.
"Let’s go," Dean said. "Elijah’s fight isn’t over."
Elijah stood in the dimly lit room, his crimson eyes locked onto the man before him.
The gang boss was a massive figure, broad-shouldered and draped in a tailored suit, yet there was nothing refined about him.
His knuckles were scarred, his stance exuding the confidence of a seasoned fighter.
He was at the Peak of the Intermediate Knight Stage—far stronger than Elijah, who had only just stepped into this realm.
The boss smirked. "You’ve got guts, kid. But guts alone won’t save you."
Elijah activated [The Monarch].
Instantly, the chaotic storm of emotions settled into cold calculation.
Fear, hesitation, anger—they all faded into the background.
What remained was pure, unshakable focus.
The boss moved first.
He exploded forward with terrifying speed, his fist shooting toward Elijah’s head like a cannonball. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎
Elijah barely managed to dodge, using [Flash Step] to shift to the side.
The boss’s fist crashed into the wall behind him, shattering the concrete as debris flew everywhere.
Elijah countered immediately, driving a knee into the boss’s ribs.
The attack connected, but it felt like striking solid steel.
The boss barely flinched before swinging his massive arm, catching Elijah across the face and sending him flying.
Elijah flipped midair, landing in a crouch, wiping the blood from his lip.
The difference in raw strength was massive, but he wasn’t done yet.
The two clashed again, trading blows at speeds no ordinary human could follow.
Elijah’s fists moved like lightning, striking with calculated precision.
He struck at pressure points, aiming for weaknesses, but the boss absorbed the hits, his durability absurd.
A counter punch struck Elijah’s shoulder, the force rattling his bones.
The pain was distant, acknowledged but dismissed under [The Monarch].
He needed more power.
Activating [Iron Body], Elijah braced himself.
The boss swung a devastating hook at his ribs, but this time, Elijah didn’t move.
The attack connected, but instead of crumpling under the force, Elijah stood firm.
The increase in durability let him absorb the blow, and for the first time, the boss’s smirk faltered.
Elijah grabbed the boss’s arm and twisted, throwing him over his shoulder.
The floor cracked under the impact.
Elijah followed up with a downward strike, his fist colliding with the boss’s chest.
The shockwave from the impact sent dust and debris flying, shaking the room.
The boss coughed, but his grin returned. "Not bad, kid. But let’s see how long you last."
The boss unleashed a surge of Ki, his aura flaring like a wild inferno.
Elijah barely had time to react before the boss was on him again, his attacks faster, stronger, more brutal.
Elijah’s defenses were starting to crack.
Even with [Iron Body], each hit sent shockwaves through his bones.
He was reaching his limit.
He had one last option.
Elijah activated [Zenith].
His entire body surged with power.
His speed, strength, reflexes—all doubled in an instant.
The exhaustion that would come later didn’t matter.
Right now, he was stronger than ever.
He moved faster than the boss could react, his fist crashing into the man’s jaw with bone-shattering force.
The boss stumbled, but Elijah didn’t stop.
He struck again and again, each attack landing with inhuman power.
The boss tried to counter, but Elijah was too fast, too precise.
For the first time, the boss was on the defensive.
But even this wasn’t enough.
The boss roared, his own Ki surging to the limit.
He caught Elijah’s punch mid-strike and retaliated with an earth-shaking kick that sent Elijah crashing through the far wall.
Elijah groaned, struggling to rise.
The effects of [Zenith] were already catching up to him.
The fight wasn’t over yet.
To be continued...
