Without another word, Rowan vanished from sight once more, moving at a speed more than twice as fast as before. In the next instant, he appeared behind Rognar, slashing a handblade toward the back of his neck.
Sensing the danger, Rognar spun around to block. This time, when his arm met Rowan's strike, a streak of blood appeared across his skin. The handblade was truly as sharp as the finest sword, cutting through Rognar's nearly impervious flesh.
"Interesting!" Rognar exclaimed, far from panicked. Excitement blazed in his eyes. "So someone can finally draw blood from me! It's been ages since I've felt this! How nostalgic!"
Rowan ignored the taunt and pressed the attack. His movements flickered across the arena like a phantom, each appearance leaving a wound on Rognar. Though these injuries were minor for a giant like him, their cumulative effect would matter in time.
"You pestilent little insect," Rognar growled, irritation creeping into his voice. "Always dodging, never facing me head-on?"
Rowan's voice echoed from all directions. "Tactics, brute. Exploit your strengths, strike at the opponent's weakness. That is the foundation of combat."
Rognar laughed in fury. "Well said! Let's see if your precious advantage can withstand my full power strike!"
With a sudden roar, his muscles swelled explosively, his skin turning a strange shade of crimson. Around him, a visible field of energy began to expand his domain was unfolding.
"Savage Clan Battle Technique: Rampage Domain!"
A powerful wave of energy erupted from Rognar, forming a crimson field that quickly engulfed the entire arena. Within this domain, the air thickened, as if an invisible pressure weighed down every inch of space.
Rowan immediately felt the difference his speed had been severely reduced. Movements that once rivaled lightning now felt sluggish, as if he were wading through water.
"What is this?" Rowan exclaimed, alarm flickering in his eyes as his body grew unusually heavy.
Rognar grinned menacingly. "This is my Rampage Domain. Within it, all speed is drastically reduced, while strength is amplified. Now, let's see what you can do without your speed advantage."
With that, he leapt like a moving mountain, charging toward Rowan. The Rampage Domain augmented his already immense strength, and each step made the arena tremble beneath him.
Rowan attempted to evade, but even he struggled under the domain's oppressive influence. He barely avoided Rognar's frontal assault, yet the wind from the punch brushed his shoulder, sending him flying several meters.
"Feeling it now, Shadow Clan boy?" Rognar bellowed, eyes alight with battle frenzy. "Speed is meaningless against absolute strength!"
Rowan gritted his teeth, standing once more despite the cracks spreading across his silver-gray skin from the blows. "Is that so? Then let's see if your so-called 'absolute strength' can withstand this!"
Suddenly, his body radiated a blinding silver light, as if a flowing galaxy had taken human form. The space around him warped, forming a special field to counter Rognar's Rampage Domain.
"Shadow Clan Secret Technique: Shadow Hyper-Speed!"
With his words, Rowan vanished, moving so fast that even the air could not fill the space he left, creating a small vacuum.
In the next moment, he reappeared before Rognar, his silver-gray hand poised like a razor-sharp blade aimed at the giant's throat. The speed of the strike was breathtaking even under the influence of the Rampage Domain, it was nearly impossible for a normal person to track.
Yet Rognar's reflexes were equally extraordinary. At the last possible moment, his torso arched back with unbelievable flexibility, evading the lethal strike while his right fist rocketed forward like a cannonball toward Rowan's chest.
Rowan twisted just in time, narrowly avoiding the full force, but Rognar's punch still grazed his shoulder, sending him hurtling dozens of meters into the energy barrier at the edge of the arena.
"Hahaha!" Rognar roared, his battle fervor growing. "Not bad, boy! Your Shadow Hyper-Speed can pierce my Rampage Domain to a degree. But it is far from enough!"
Sliding off the barrier, Rowan forced himself to stand, his metallic sheen fractured, especially on the shoulder struck by Rognar, leaving his arm semi-transparent and scarred.
"Your Shadow Hyper-Speed is powerful, but it consumes tremendous energy," Rognar observed, eyes gleaming with insight. "You can no longer maintain your full metallic form, can you?"
Rowan smiled faintly, not denying it. "That's true. But I have enough left for one final strike. Let's see who laughs last."
His body erupted in silver light once more, this time concentrating entirely on his right arm. It became more metallic than ever, radiating a chilling sharpness.
"Shadow Clan Forbidden Technique: Shadow's End!"
Rowan vanished again, moving faster than ever, nearly at sub-light speed. The air ignited along his trajectory, leaving a visible streak of silver light.
Rognar sensed imminent danger. He fully activated his Rampage Domain and shrouded his right fist in a layer of ominous red energy.
"Savage Clan Ultimate: World-Ending Fist!"
In an instant, Rowan reappeared before Rognar, his metallic arm striking like a blade aimed for the heart, colliding with Rognar's world-ending punch with unstoppable force.
Boom!
The arena shook with a deafening explosion. The shockwave rippled outward, slightly destabilizing even the energy barriers protecting the spectators.
When the dust settled, everyone gasped. Rognar stood firm, a deep, bone-searing wound gaping in his chest, blood flowing freely. Rowan had been hurled hundreds of meters, unconscious, his metallic right arm reverted to semi-transparency, scarred from the force of Rognar's World-Ending Fist.
"Match over! The Savage Clan's Rognar wins!" the referee announced, voice barely hiding their astonishment.
The audience erupted, their cheers echoing like thunder. The clash of raw strength and lightning speed had left an indelible impression.
Rognar approached Rowan, kneeling to check his condition. Confirming that Rowan was merely unconscious and not in mortal danger, he nodded in satisfaction and instructed the medics: "Take care of him. He is a worthy opponent."
With that, he left the arena, leaving a trail of blood marking a vivid red line behind him.
"Unbelievable," Rowan's comrade, Lorian, murmured. "Rognar's strength is unimaginable. Rowan's Shadow's End, one of the most powerful attacks imaginable, only left a wound in his chest."
Thor nodded gravely. "This is the terror of the Savage Clan. Their bodies are beyond normal comprehension, and with Rognar's training and talent, he is nearly invincible."
Hong remained calm. "Everyone has weaknesses. Rognar is strong, but not unbeatable. He excels against speed-based opponents, but against those who rely on strength or unique abilities, the outcome could be different."
Rowan's mentor, Ronan, pondered. "If I were to face him, what would be the strategy?"
Hong looked at him seriously. "Your fighting style is versatile. You can move and strike at high speed using your innate domain, or use the Metal-Space Fusion for specialized attacks. Against Rognar, the key is not to let his Rampage Domain completely control the fight. Maintain your rhythm."
Ronan nodded, committing the advice to memory. As one of Earth's finest, he yearned to prove himself in the cosmic arena.
"Speaking of your match," Thor said suddenly, "your turn is coming soon, isn't it?"
Ronan confirmed. "Yes. Tomorrow, I face a warrior from the Mechanical Empire: Machinist Unit 8."
Lorian's curiosity was piqued. "The Mechanical Empire? What kind of force is that?"
Hong explained, "They are a civilization that fuses consciousness with machinery, creating a new form of life. They have both biological intelligence and mechanical precision, surpassing normal beings in many areas."
Thor added, "Machinist Unit 8 is their latest combat unit, with extraordinary adaptability and fighting skill."
Ronan's eyes gleamed. "Sounds challenging. I look forward to testing myself."
They continued watching the day's matches, none as thrilling as Rognar versus Rowan. After the arena emptied, they returned to their suite to prepare for tomorrow's battle.
"According to the intel, Machinist Unit 8 fights with incredible flexibility," Rowan said, analyzing as he spoke. "It can adapt tactics and equipment quickly depending on the opponent a unique advantage of the Mechanical Empire."
Hong nodded. "Correct. Their greatest strength is adaptability. Prepare multiple strategies, not just one."
Lorian asked, "Which method will you use, innate domain or Metal-Space Fusion?"
Ronan smiled. "Both. I'll probe with my domain first, then decide whether to use Fusion."
Thor clapped him on the shoulder. "Good plan. But be aware Unit 8 has a device that can absorb energy attacks. Misuse Fusion, and it could turn against you."
"I'll be careful," Rowan replied. "Thanks for the warning."
After late-night strategy discussions, they finally rested, ready for tomorrow.
Early the next morning, they arrived at the arena, the crowd already filling in. Rowan, renowned among Earth's finest, had almost legendary status in the cosmos, particularly among those familiar with Earth's history.
"The next match is Round Two, Match Seven," the announcer's voice rang out. "Earth's Rowan versus the Mechanical Empire's Machinist Unit 8! A duel of biological intellect and mechanical precision! Let us witness this clash!"
The holographic displays showed the fighters:
Rowan: Earthling, master of innate domain and Metal-Space Fusion, regarded as one of the most gifted warriors in Earth's history.
Machinist Unit 8: The Mechanical Empire's latest combat unit, extremely adaptable, equipped with advanced weaponry.
The crowd roared as both fighters entered from separate corridors, igniting a new wave of excitement.
Rowan cut a striking figure: tall, muscular yet agile, his expression resolute, eyes radiating determination. His dark blue battle suit, custom-made by the Black Dragon Empire, shimmered with star-like accents. He carried no obvious weapons, for his body and command of the laws were his greatest arms.