Firefly stared blankly at the figure who had suddenly appeared. Dude, who the hell are you?
Still, the fact that he knew SAM's name suggested he wasn't a native of this world, but someone from the real world. And judging by how swiftly he moved, he was clearly strong. That meant he was likely one of the high-ranking representatives from the White Eagle, Sakura Nation, or Dragon Nation delegations attending the conference.
Since he was speaking English, he was most likely one of the White Eagle Eight.
While Firefly pondered this, Mad Lion continued, "I've watched your fight with that British general countless times. You clearly weren't satisfied. That's when I realized we're kindred spirits—both of us crave battle and revel in the clash!"
"That British trash wasn't a worthy opponent. As Mad Lion of the White Eagle Eight, do I have your permission to challenge you?"
Firefly: "???"
How are we kindred spirits? What gave you that idea? Did you see it through the cracks in SAM's helmet?
Inside SAM's helmet, Firefly's lips twitched. She desperately wanted to retort, but SAM's cold, ruthless persona forced her to suppress the urge. Meanwhile, outside the Dimensional Rift, Robin skillfully navigated the internet, searching for information on Mad Lion.
After a moment's thought, Firefly realized she had no reason to refuse the challenge. As a member of the White Eagle Eight, Mad Lion's strength should be considerable. A victory here would likely significantly increase her progress toward completing the iron cavalry objective.
With that in mind, SAM's mechanical voice echoed, "Then prove to me that your courage matches your strength."
Mad Lion grinned savagely. "Exactly! I knew I chose the right opponent!"
BOOM—!!!
With a deafening roar, Mad Lion slammed his left foot into the ground. Using the massive recoil, he propelled himself forward with explosive speed, transforming into a human cannonball. His steel-clad right fist shot straight for Firefly's face without hesitation.
Though the attack was lightning-fast, Firefly's enhanced dynamic vision, combined with SAM's detection systems, allowed her to track every movement with crystal clarity. The solution was simple: evade the strike and counterattack!
Firefly shifted slightly, clenched her right fist, and swung it at Mad Lion's cheek.
Bang!
To her own surprise, the punch landed. Or rather, how could it have landed so easily?
In truth, Mad Lion hadn't even attempted to dodge. The brutal blow to his cheek drove his right foot into the ground like an iron stake, preventing him from budging an inch. The sheer force of Firefly's punch, however, forced him to slide backward half a meter, his leg carving a deep furrow into the earth.
As her right hand missed its mark and she braced for the counterattack, Mad Lion's left fist slammed into the chest armor of SAM.
Thud!
Just like Mad Lion, Firefly didn't retreat, but the overwhelming force of the impact still forced her to slide back half a meter.
"Hahaha! That's exhilarating! Come on, let's keep going!" Mad Lion roared with laughter, his punches wild and undisciplined, completely ignoring Firefly's counterattacks. He fought with pure, primal ferocity: lock onto the enemy, pour every ounce of strength into each blow, and punch, punch, punch again.
He was like a primal beast, a maddened lion driven solely by pure instinct, heedless of pain as he savaged his prey.
In truth, his fighting style bore a striking resemblance to Firefly's. Relying on SAM's absurdly high defense, she neither dodged nor blocked Mad Lion's onslaught, simply enduring every blow. Firefly, untrained in formal martial arts, fought with equally straightforward, unadorned ferocity.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Thud! Thud! Thud!
A chaotic ballet of fists filled the air, the metallic clang of blows against steel armor mingling with the sickening thud of flesh absorbing brutal impacts.
In less than thirty seconds, neither fighter could count the blows exchanged. Yet when they briefly separated, neither bore any significant injuries.
SAM's pristine armor spoke for itself. But Mad Lion's resilience defied belief. Aside from his tattered shirt and a few superficial scratches across his face, chest, and arms, he stood bolt upright, utterly unfazed.
"What's wrong? Where's your fire? Don't hold back—show me everything you've got!" Mad Lion roared with laughter. "Giving your all in battle is the ultimate respect you can show your opponent, isn't it?"
If those words had come from anyone else, they might have sounded condescending or insulting. But Mad Lion meant them sincerely; he was simply issuing a challenge.
"Is that so..." Firefly murmured softly. In the next instant, a torrent of crimson flames erupted from SAM, converging at her chest to form a blazing X. The surrounding temperature soared rapidly.
DHGDR-Sub-Combustion!
Meanwhile, outside the Dimensional Rift, Robin had retrieved intelligence on Mad Lion. In essence, his Ability was "extreme physical and mental enhancement."
At first glance, it might seem like he had superpowers, but that wasn't the case. Mad Lion was a true Evolver. His Ability had initially granted him minimal enhancements; he had gradually honed it to its current formidable state through countless battles.
With each battle, every attack he launched, every blow he endured, and even, to exaggerate only slightly, every brush with death, Mad Lion's abilities grew stronger.
This was just the physical enhancement. On the mental front, Mad Lion's willpower could temporarily transform into raw physical strength.
In other words, the stronger his determination to defeat an enemy, the more fiercely he clung to life, the greater his power became. This was a true "protagonist's ability," allowing him to awaken in near-death situations and turn the tables on his foes.
Firefly couldn't help but grumble inwardly, "Isn't this just Super Saiyan? No wonder he suddenly challenged me like a maniac. So, I'm just his personal leveling tool?"
Of course, Mad Lion wasn't purely calculating. He genuinely loved combat and relished the thrill of battle. This ability simply complemented his nature perfectly, making him a force to be reckoned with.