For the first phase of the fight, Jayden stuck to pure physical combat. He wanted to test the baseline metrics of a Level 63 Pioneer. It was immediately apparent that Duke was a juggernaut. Every swing of his massive stone fists was like a wrecking ball; wherever he missed and struck the alley walls, bricks shattered and dumpsters crumpled like tin foil.
And his armor was exactly as impenetrable as the EVA file had suggested. Jayden's knuckle claws skated off it without purchase. A direct strike to the ribs produced a sound like hitting masonry and a return vibration up his forearm that was not pleasant.
Jayden didn't even try using his abilities. Fire would have done nothing against the stone. And telekinesis would have been pinning an anchor.
But none of that mattered.
