The shock that enveloped each and every one of the spectators increased manifold, many with their eyes wide open as they witnessed the speed and intensity at which a pair of teenagers were battling.
It had been truly shocking before when they saw both of them exhibit the strength of an Expert+ rank at the beginning of the battle, with the duo reaching Master- rank as they fought.
However, after the punch, everything had changed.
Two streaks replaced Atticus and Ae'ark on the large platform, each streak blitzing through the air with blinding speed before suddenly colliding in a cacophony of cataclysmic force.
The tone of the fight had shifted, their power magnified tenfold, each clash sending shockwaves that made the air itself tremble.
The sheer intensity of their collisions shattered the hardened ground beneath them, jagged cracks spiderwebbing outward with each impact.
Hardness met hardness, techniques met techniques, and yet, neither one of them gave an inch.
Their relentless assaults reverberated like crackling thunder, each collision causing the heart rate of many watching to quicken.
Atticus was currently enveloped in a red glow, his Aerokinesis working in full force. Coats of mana surrounded both his arms and legs, his gaze shifting with speed, mind working like a supercomputer, rapidly changing the signature of the mana around his arm.
His arms moved like a rain of rockets, launching forward with speed, each impact causing a cacophony of explosions that rocked the space.
However, Ae'ark was far from being left behind. His figure radiated an intense shade of yellow, his hair whipping behind him like formless waves. A palpable yellow aura enveloped his form, his speed effortlessly matching Atticus's.
Both his arms seemed to become bulky and heavy, their speed becoming even faster.
The hard platform was littered with snake-like cracks, many parts already having been shattered into chunks of concrete with many areas following as the seconds ticked by.
Fist met fist in the air, the air fracturing as the world seemed to slow.
Ae'ark was another life weapon user and possibly another reincarnated individual.
To Atticus, if this assumption were true, it would be truly life-
changing for him.
This wasn't the only thing he was thinking about. Ae'ark's initial color had been blue—this had been the original. Then he abruptly changed to green, and his movement and power exploded, after which he changed to yellow.
Atticus had no idea what each color did to Ae'ark's body exactly, nor did he know how many more colors Ae'ark planned to change to.
He had never fought so intensely with another individual his age before. This was the first time he had exchanged blows with such intensity.
Despite only two minutes having passed, Atticus could feel fatigue setting in. The intense clashes shook his insides, and the water element could only do so much as the damage kept on accumulating.
Ae'ark's condition appeared completely different. There was no shred of fatigue on his figure. In fact, as time passed, he only seemed to become faster and faster, his attacks becoming heavier.
Atticus could see the result should he continue this path. Despite the fatigue, Atticus had a small smile on his face. He was quite enjoying this battle.
He had no idea he had been missing out on so much. If he had known he could feel such a thrill battling another person with similar strength, why the hell would he waste time playing with robots and kids?
His katana vibrated with intensity, and despite the devastating clashes, it appeared happy. As though its owner was finally using it for its original purpose.
However, these clashes couldn't continue forever; a change was needed.
A palpable blue aura abruptly spread across the blade of Atticus's katana, its light blinding.
Ae'ark's gaze sharpened, his yellow aura spreading and enveloping his spear.
Space-cleaving slash met world-piercing thrust, the collision unleashing a cataclysmic force that seemed to rock the very fabric of reality.