Chapter 847 Serious

847 Serious

Khan wasn't only fast. Achieving complete mastery of the Lightning-Demon style had made his attacks untraceable. No one could notice when he began sprinting, meaning that Tlexicpalli had seen him coming.

The level difference could explain that outcome, but Khan's body had several advantages. Moreover, he had steadily trained in the recent period, increasing his attunement with mana. He should have more than compensated for his lower standing, but Tlexicpalli had reacted to his sprint anyway.

The urge to smile tried to take control of Khan's face, but his expression remained cold. Truth be told, he enjoyed those friendly fights, especially against an opponent who could provide a challenge. The opportunities to test his power without needing to kill anyone were also rare, so he felt glad Tlexicpalli could push him to his limits.

On the other hand, Tlexicpalli couldn't contain her surprise. She had heard about Khan's strength, and he had even sprinted without giving warnings. Yet, that speed was unnatural. Tlexicpalli had to rely on a reckless jump to dodge him.

To make things worse, Khan didn't actually attack. He performed no kick or technique. He had simply sprinted forward as if testing Tlexicpalli's reactions. His genuine offensive was bound to be more dangerous.

Many soldiers would be terrified by Khan's speed, but Tlexicpalli belonged to a warrior race. Her green blood boiled at the idea of facing such a formidable opponent. In her mind, the trip was already worth the hassle.

"I'm pleased, Prince Khan," Tlexicpalli announced, resuming her fighting stance. "You are the warrior you have promised to be."

The light radiated by Khan's eyes slightly intensified. The symphony shone in his vision revealing the countless methods he could employ. Tlexicpalli's sharp but intense aura interfered with the surrounding mana, but Khan had been in the arena for hours. The world had already submitted to him.

Nevertheless, raining fire upon Tlexicpalli would only test the mana barrier's limits. It would also turn the battle into a chaotic scuffle that risked resulting in death.

'Let's see how far I can go,' Khan thought, his body disappearing.

Tlexicpalli was ready now. Khan didn't need to move his legs to sprint ahead, but the Ef'i still saw a faint dot approaching her. As she focused, details appeared in her vision, allowing her to perform a far better dodge.

Tlexicpalli leaned to her left, dodging the straight kick aimed at her right shoulder. Khan materialized next to her, almost horizontally floating in the air. The two exchanged a glance before something claimed Khan's attention.

The Ef'i's tail also reacted to Khan's attack, rising and pointing its sharp tip at him. Tlexicpalli sent it forward, planning to pierce Khan's abdomen, but the blow didn't connect. Khan sprinted again, reappearing on the threatening limb and calmly standing on it.

Tlexicpalli hurriedly lifted her right arm, blocking the sudden kick aimed at her head. Meanwhile, she swung her left hand on the other side, her claws descending right where Khan had reappeared.

Tlexicpalli lifted her arms, showing her claws as if challenging Khan to come at her again. Still, he didn't move. His mind reviewed the previous exchange, uncovering invisible details.

Getting past Khan's senses was simply impossible now. The technology and techniques to achieve that had yet to be invented. Yet, he couldn't see Tlexicpalli's martial art, or rather, he couldn't study it during the exchange. His brain had recorded it, but everything had happened too quickly for him to develop a countermeasure on the spot.

Yet, that short break allowed Khan to sort out the recent information. He actually jumped into an exchange he knew he would lose to uncover those secrets.

"[Your technique accelerates your cells]," Khan said, "[Temporarily removing their limits. Incredible]."

Khan's praise was genuine. Tlexicpalli's technique was difficult to pull off and even harsher to control. Temporarily removing the limbs' limits allowed her to perform attacks above her current level, and her mastery over that hinted at years of training.

Moreover, Khan knew the strain caused by powerful techniques. Tlexicpalli's body was incredible, but her inborn gifts couldn't compensate for her martial art's power. She had to have a limit, which her expression didn't show.

Needless to say, Tlexicpalli was shocked once again. Khan had studied and understood her martial art after two exchanges. Theoretically, he shouldn't have been able to see her moves, so his on-point explanation came as an even bigger surprise.

"[Prince Khan]," Tlexicpalli called, switching to her language, "[Why are you holding back]?"

The question had more than rumors backing it up. Tlexicpalli could see the cursed knife's handle sticking past Khan's pelts. He had far more in store but wasn't showing it to the alien.

Khan knew the Ef'i's mindset. He was testing himself, but the Ef'i could see his behavior as disrespectful. They didn't care about their pride but wanted their battles to be engaging.

'So,' Khan thought, moving his bright eyes to the stages, 'This is my limit.'

Khan was fond of the Lightning-Demon style. It had been his first martial art, something that had made him freer than everyone else. Its techniques had made him survive, fly, and more, but his talent had highlighted its limits.

"[Focus]," Khan ordered, bringing his gaze back to the Ef'i. "[I'm about to attack]."

Tlexicpalli felt slightly insulted by the warning, but her excitement overcame that feeling. Her mind focused solely on her battle, and her senses sharpened to their utmost limits. She was ready for the imminent attack, but a thudding noise ended up surprising her.

The noise came from behind Tlexicpalli, making her turn. To her surprise, Khan had appeared behind her, and half of his right leg had stabbed into the ground. Cracks had also spread from the hole, destabilizing the surrounding terrain.