"Enough talking," he said, his tone firm and final. "More fighting."
The master's body tensed as Adams' command echoed through the arena, leaving no room for hesitation. With a sudden burst of speed, he lunged at Alan, his movements swift and lethal. His fist, still glowing with that ominous orange light, cut through the air with the force of a hammer aimed directly at Alan's head.
Alan's eyes widened in shock—he had barely a moment to react. Instinctively, he threw himself to the side, narrowly avoiding the crushing blow that would have likely ended the fight then and there. The ground where he had stood shattered, leaving a small crater in its wake, a testament to the power his master still wielded.
"Is this really happening?" Alan thought, his heart racing. He had known his master for years, respected him, even feared him at times—but this was different. This was a man fighting with everything he had, with no restraint, no mercy. The realization struck him hard: his master wasn't holding back anymore.
The onlookers, the disciples of the Primordial Sect, watched with keen interest, their eyes gleaming with anticipation. The tension was palpable, thick enough to cut with a knife.
"That old man moves fast for his age," one of the disciples remarked, leaning forward in his seat.
"Of course, he does," another responded, her voice tinged with amusement. "But look at the man. He might be younger than the old man, but he's no pushover. He dodged that like a pro."
Alan quickly regained his footing, his mind racing as he evaluated his next move. He knew his master was powerful, but to see him unleash such force was a stark reminder of the difference in their experience. But Alan wasn't about to back down. If his master wanted to treat this like a real fight, then so be it.
"Is that all you've got, Master?" Alan taunted, trying to mask his fear with bravado. "I expected more."
The master's eyes narrowed, his expression a mix of anger and sorrow. "Don't make me do this, Alan," he muttered under his breath, his fists clenching tighter. But there was no going back now. With a deep breath, he summoned more of his power, and the orange light surrounding his fists intensified, flickering like flames.
He charged again, this time faster and more unpredictable. His body blurred as he moved, closing the distance between them in the blink of an eye. He unleashed a flurry of punches, each one aimed with deadly precision.
Alan's mind raced, his body reacting on pure instinct. He barely managed to block the first two strikes, feeling the bone-shaking force behind them. The third punch, however, slipped past his defenses, landing squarely on his chest. The impact sent him skidding across the arena floor, his breath knocked out of him.
"Is that all you've got?" the master taunted, his voice echoing through the arena. "You'll need more than that to defeat me!"
Alan gritted his teeth, his arms trembling from the force of the blow he had just blocked. "I'm not done yet," he growled, summoning every ounce of strength he had left. With a burst of speed, he dashed around his master, striking from multiple angles in quick succession. Each hit landed with precision, but the master's flames seemed to absorb the impact, barely slowing him down.
The master unleashed a barrage of flaming punches, each one faster and stronger than the last. Alan dodged and weaved, his movements a blur of blue light as he desperately tried to avoid the onslaught. But he couldn't dodge them all—one of the punches connected with his side, sending him flying across the arena.
Alan hit the ground hard, skidding to a stop at the edge of the arena. Pain shot through his body, and for a moment, he struggled to catch his breath. But he couldn't give up. Not now.
"Get up, Alan," the master called out, his voice cold and unforgiving. "This is your last chance."
Alan pushed himself to his feet, his body aching with every movement. He wiped the blood from his mouth and glared at his master, his eyes burning with determination. "I'm not going down that easily," he spat, the blue light around him flaring up once more.
The two charged at each other again, their powers colliding in a final, explosive clash. The force of their impact sent shockwaves rippling through the arena, the ground beneath them shattering like glass. The disciples watching could barely keep up, their eyes wide with disbelief at the sheer intensity of the battle.
But as the dust settled, it became clear that one of them had the upper hand. The master stood tall, his flames still burning brightly, while Alan was on his knees, breathing heavily, his blue light flickering like a dying flame.
"You fought well," the master said, his voice filled with a mix of pride and sorrow. "But it's over."
Alan looked up at his master, his eyes filled with defiance even as his strength faded. "I... won't... give up," he whispered, but his body betrayed him, collapsing to the ground in exhaustion.
The master let out a long sigh, his flames slowly dying down as he looked at his fallen apprentice. "You were always stubborn, Alan," he said softly. "But sometimes, even the strongest have to admit defeat."
Adams, watching from his seat, let out a low chuckle. "Not bad," he mused, his voice carrying across the arena. "But I expected more."