"Only time will tell," the masked man replied cryptically, his voice tinged with an air of enigmatic confidence. His hands remained clasped behind his back, a subtle display of readiness and anticipation as he awaited the commencement of their duel.
Victor, seething with anger, lunged at Danial with a powerful punch, his fist aimed at the masked man's head. However, Danial, displaying uncanny agility, skillfully ducked and dodged the formidable strike.
Seizing the opportunity, Danial retaliated swiftly with a lightning-quick kick directed at Victor's abdomen. Yet, Victor, leaped skillfully, avoiding the oncoming kick and landing back on his feet with a smirk on his face.
"Not bad. You have some skills. I thought I would end the fight quickly and move on, but now I'm excited to fight you, brat," Victor remarked, his tone a mixture of begrudging respect and lingering arrogance.
Danial, wearing a sarcastic smile, responded, "Yeah, the punch was too slow, and your movement was not coordinated at all. I thought you were better at this, Victor." The masked man's taunts struck a nerve, and Victor's face darkened with a mixture of anger and pride.
"You talk too much, brat. If I show you my true strength, you will run with a tail between your legs and kneel in front of me," Victor declared.
Danial, undeterred by Victor's taunts, countered with a smirk of his own. "Strength? Do you have any strength other than bragging and talking?" The masked man's retort further fueled Victor's anger, pushing him to reveal the depths of his capabilities.
In response to Danial's challenge, Victor's anger transforms into determination. "Brat, you have successfully angered me. Let's see how you survive."
Victor's movements became a blur as he leaped, throwing a downward heel kick with explosive force aimed at Danial. The rooftop quivered beneath the impact, and Danial, recognizing the gravity of the situation, adopted a more serious demeanor. With swift precision, he dodged to the right as Victor's heel crashed into the ground.
The force behind Victor's kick was so intense that the ground beneath his feet trembled and cracked, a testament to the sheer strength he possessed.
As Victor regained his footing, a smug grin crept across his face. "Are you scared now, masked man?" he taunted, his voice laced with a hint of satisfaction. Yet, Danial remained stoic, his expression unreadable.
Without a word, Danial lunged forward, his movements fluid and calculated as he closed the distance between them. With lightning speed, he raised his hand and delivered a powerful punch aimed squarely at Victor's face. However, Victor, anticipating the attack, swiftly raised his forearms to block the oncoming blow.
The impact reverberated through Victor's arms, sending shockwaves of numbness coursing through his limbs. Though he successfully defended against the attack, the masked man's strength caught him off guard, leaving him momentarily stunned. As he gritted his teeth, Victor realized that Danial was not to be underestimated.
Victor knew that he could not afford to hold back any longer. With a surge of energy, he tapped into his full potential as a third-stage advanced Mortal-level Cultivator. The air around him crackled with intensity, and the wind stirred with newfound ferocity.
Danial, sensing the escalating danger, weighed his options carefully. Though he possessed greater strength than Victor by a minor realm, he recognized the potential for collateral damage in their rooftop battle. With the safety of the Special Ops team and innocent bystanders in mind, Danial realized that he needed to devise a plan to defeat Victor without causing any harm.
Before Danial could come up with a plan, Victor appeared in front of him and delivered a punch. Danial raised his arms and deflected the punch. His arms went numb due to the punch. Due to the force of Victor's powerful punch, Danial staggered backward, taking two steps to regain his footing.
As he steadied himself, Danial knew he had to bring an end to the confrontation swiftly.
In a decisive move, Danial activated the "Iron Fist" Technique. The transformation was immediate – his arms began to glow with a distinct shade of bronze, signifying the martial skill's activation. Victor, observing the sudden change, couldn't help but wonder about the origins of Danial's acquired prowess.
"A martial skill. How does he have a martial skill? Who is this guy?" Victor pondered, his mind racing with questions
Lieutenant Andrews, witnessing Danial's use of a martial skill, was equally astounded. The surprise in his eyes reflected a realization that Danial, despite his youth, not only possessed a martial skill but had also mastered its usage. The curiosity lingered in Andrews's mind as he wondered about Agent Thompson's source for recruiting such an extraordinary individual.
Meanwhile, Victor decided to unleash a skill of his own. With a focused thought, he activated his martial skill, causing his aura to shift into a vivid shade of red. The intensity of the red aura intensified around his hand, accompanied by eerie echoes of wails and ghostly sounds.
As Danial observed the manifestation of Victor's skill, he couldn't help but feel a sense of familiarity. The technique, the red aura, and the haunting echoes struck, it resembled a skill he had encountered during his time at the academy. A shiver ran down his spine as he contemplated the possible connection between the two skills and the individuals who wielded them.
With a fierce lunge, he swung his hand towards Danial, aiming to catch him off guard, with a swift sidestep, Danial evaded Victor's swinging hand.
In a quick counter, Danial retaliated with a powerful punch aimed squarely at Victor's face. However, Victor, anticipating the attack, raised his forearms in defense, successfully blocking the punch. Not one to back down, Victor seized the opportunity and pushed Danial back, creating distance between them. With a swift motion, he leaped forward, launching a front kick toward Danial.
However, Danial, ever nimble, responded with a graceful backflip, landing on the rooftop with a defensive stance.
As the two opponents faced each other once again, Danial glanced at his hands, noticing a faint sign of decay. However, the effect was temporary and quickly healed. Danial knew that prolonged contact would only hasten the spread of decay, adding urgency to his need to end the fight swiftly.
Thinking swiftly, Danial invoked the "Water Flowing" Technique harnessing its fluidity to enhance his movements. With a surge of speed, he appeared behind Victor in the blink of an eye, launching a powerful kick aimed at his opponent's back.
Alert to the threat, Victor swiftly turned around, raising his knee to block Danial's attack. The impact reverberated through his body, sending waves of pain shooting through his knees. Victor remained steadfast, gritting his teeth against the discomfort, refusing to yield to his opponent's relentless assault.
The rooftop battleground crackled with tension as Victor, growing dissatisfied with the prolonged battle, felt a gnawing frustration. He had initially believed that taking down the masked man would be a simple task, but Danial's resilience and skill had proven to be formidable obstacles. Determined to bring the fight to an end, Victor decided to unleash his final move.
Danial, on the other hand, was grappling with fatigue. Although a skilled martial artist, he had never undergone the rigorous training needed to reach the peak of mortal-level cultivation. The "Primordial System" had fused with him, propelling him to this realm without the conventional training. The ongoing battle took a toll on him, and weariness crept through his limbs.
Victor, holding his hands in front of him, began charging an ominous energy blast. Danial, sensing the impending danger, felt a shiver down his spine. He realized that if Victor unleashed that energy blast, the consequences could be catastrophic. Innocent lives on the rooftop were at risk, and Danial knew he had to bring the confrontation to a swift conclusion.
Simultaneously, Andrews, witnessing Victor's intent, shouted anxiously, "Dan ... - Masked man, that's an energy blast! If it hits you, you will die!"
In response to Victor's energy charging, Danial decided to muster his strength. Channeling the power of "The Earth Spirit Palm," his hands transformed from a shade of bronze to a bright white and blue. Glowing with intense energy, Danial charged his energy blast in preparation for the decisive clash.
Victor, observing Danial's actions, couldn't help but boast, "You also have a trick up your sleeve, but don't fret. This skill was created by my Master, a Master Level Cultivator. Your skill is nothing in front of this."
Danial chuckled in response, a spark of determination in his eyes. "Let's see whose skill is better – your Master Level Skill or mine."
In a synchronized movement, both Victor and Danial unleashed their energy blasts at maximum output. The blasts surged toward each other, creating a dazzling display of contrasting colors – Victor's ominous energy clashed with Danial's radiant white and blue energy.
As the blasts collided in mid-air, the rooftop was engulfed in a blinding explosion of light and energy. The shockwave radiated outward, causing everyone to stagger but miraculously keeping them from falling off the edge. The collision of the energy palms created a spectacle that seemed to defy the laws of nature.
Danial's energy blast took the form of a magnificent white palm, radiant and powerful as if it had descended from the heavens themselves. In stark contrast, Victor's blast resembled an ominous red palm, emanating an eerie aura as though it were forged from the tortured spirits of the dead, their agonized howls echoing through the air.
The clash of these two opposing forces created an otherworldly scene, with the energy palms locked in a fierce struggle, each vying for dominance. The sound of their collision reverberated through the air like thunder, shaking the very foundation of the rooftop.
Despite Danial's valiant effort, Victor's sinister energy began to overpower him. With a determined shout, Victor increased the intensity of his energy, causing his palm to swell in size, towering over Danial's dwindling white palm.
Danial gritted his teeth, feeling the strain of maintaining his energy against Victor's relentless assault. The decay on his palm began to spread, creeping up his arm like a malevolent force intent on consuming him. His muscles burned with exertion as he struggled to hold back the overwhelming tide of Victor's power.
The Special Ops team watched in tense anticipation, their breath caught in their throats as they witnessed Danial's valiant struggle. Lieutenant Andrews clenched his fists, his gaze unwavering as he silently urged Danial to prevail against the odds.
Danial, feeling the strain of the increased energy, struggled to hold his ground. His white palm began to decay and fade under the relentless assault, a visible manifestation of the toll the battle was taking on him. The rooftop onlookers, including the Special Ops team, held their breaths in anticipation, witnessing the masked man's valiant effort.
Anxiety gripped the team as they saw Danial, unyielding in his determination, come down to one knee. The decay on his palm spread, and it seemed like the battle was slipping from his grasp. Victor, sensing the advantage, wore a triumphant smile as his energy palm loomed over Danial, poised for the final strike.
However, in the face of adversity, Danial decided to unleash everything he had. Channeling the last reserves of his strength, he tapped into the formidable "Dragon's Roar" technique. A primal roar echoed across the rooftop as Danial unleashed the full force of his power, creating shockwaves that reverberated through.
The Dragon's Roar, a technique Danial had acquired from the System during his time with Dorothy, was a force to be reckoned with. In the past, he had used it against gangs and criminals to devastating effect, but never had he unleashed its full power until now. With every fiber of his being, Danial channeled the energy of the roar, pouring one hundred percent of its might into the explosive attack.
The roar tore through the air like a speeding truck, its energy pulsating with raw, primal force. As it collided with Victor's energy palm, the impact was instantaneous. The ominous red palm disintegrated before the unstoppable might of the Dragon's Roar shattered into fragments that scattered across the rooftop like ashes in the wind.
Victor, caught in the path of the devastating attack, was hurled backward with bone-crushing force. He tumbled across the rooftop, his body battered and bruised, until he reached the very edge where he teetered on the brink of oblivion. With sheer desperation, he managed to grab hold of the rooftop's edge, clinging to it for dear life as he dangled precariously above the abyss below.
Meanwhile, Danial fell to his knees, his chest heaving as he struggled to catch his breath. The last remnants of his strength had been expended in that final, desperate attack, leaving him drained and weary. Sweat dripped from his brow as he surveyed the aftermath of the battle.
The lackeys, witnessing the overwhelming power of the Dragon's Roar, dropped their weapons and fell to their knees, their resolve shattered by the sheer magnitude of Danial's strength. The Special Ops team, stunned by the display of power, quickly regained their composure and sprang into action, seizing the incapacitated lackeys without hesitation.
Lieutenant Andrews, his eyes gleaming with satisfaction, approached Victor, who lay defeated and wounded on the rooftop. Despite his injuries, Victor managed a weary smile, a defiant glimmer in his eyes as he coughed up blood.
"He surprised me, I didn't think he would have a technique that surpasses my Master's skill nevertheless you won't be able to get anything from me, haha," Victor rasped, his voice strained with pain.
Andrews, undeterred by Victor's bravado, squatted beside him, his expression firm yet contemplative. "We'll see about that," he replied, his tone carrying a note of determination. "You may have underestimated us, Victor, but justice will be served."
As Danial stood up with silent resolve, a member of the Special Ops team approached him, admiration evident in their eyes. "Hey, are you okay?" they asked.
Danial nodded silently, his gaze focused on the aftermath of the battle. Despite the weariness that weighed heavily on his shoulders, he stood tall, his determination unwavering. Without needing a helping hand, he steadied himself and took a step forward, prompting a sense of awe from the Special Ops member who watched in silent admiration.
Turning his attention to Lieutenant Andrews, Danial inquired about Victor's condition. "Lieutenant Andrews, how's Victor?" he asked.
Andrews met Danial's gaze, his expression serious yet composed. "He's heavily injured, but he will live," he replied.
However, another pressing matter lingered in Danial's mind – the bombs.
Before he could voice his concerns, Andrews addressed the issue, preempting Danial's inquiry. "The bombs are being dealt with as we speak. You have nothing to worry about," Andrews reassured him, his voice firm.
The realization that innocent lives were no longer in peril brought a sense of gratitude. He glanced over to Lily, who stood behind a Special Ops member, her gaze fixed on Danial with a mix of concern and curiosity. Danial nodded in acknowledgment, and a warm smile crossed his face.
Lily, captivated by the sincerity in Danial's smile, blushed and shyly returned the nod.
Turning back to Andrews, Danial took charge of the situation. "Lieutenant Andrews, you have to disperse the crowd below and handle the situation. You will have to speak with the police and let them aid you," he instructed, recognizing that the rooftop showdown was just one piece of the puzzle.
Andrews, with a nod of agreement, acknowledged Danial's leadership. "We will do as you say."
Danial than asked " Do you need any help?"
Lieutenant Andrews replied "No Danial you have done enough. Go home and rest. Agent Thompson will contact you tomorrow."
Danial nodded and said, "I'll leave via the back door to avoid suspicion."
Andrews nodded with acknowledgment as Danial exited the Hotel.