Zareck had known, in theory, what Tiger Claw Fingers demanded of him.
Knowing and doing were very different things.
The moment he committed to it in real combat, the technique showed its teeth.
Spiritual energy gathered in his right hand, then his left, not in a smooth flow but in uneven pulses as his breathing shifted. The technique demanded a slight excess of energy, more than comfort, more than what the body naturally wanted to hold in such a small area. His fingers tingled first, then burned faintly, as if they had been pressed too close to a flame.
At the same time, he forced his fingers into the strange positions described in the manual. They were not natural grips. Each joint had to be held at a precise angle, neither clenched nor relaxed. Any deviation disrupted the energy.
Zareck barely managed the form before movement tore his focus away.
Sui came in from the left, fast and sharp, her footwork light. The spiky haired boy pressed from the right, his steps heavier but steady, cutting off retreat without overcommitting.
They were nothing like his cry baby first opponent.
No wild swings. No panic.
Zareck twisted aside as Sui's palm strike skimmed past his ribs. He tried to counter, fingers slashing forward, but the instant he shifted his attention to her, the boy's fist came in low. Zareck had to pull back, aborting the strike halfway.
The gathered spiritual energy wavered.
Pain flared in his fingers as the technique destabilized, forcing him to disperse it before it rebounded on him.
"Tch."
They were good.
Not perfect. But good enough to exploit every moment he split his attention.
Sui smiled when she saw him retreat a half step. "Is that all a level two can do?"
Zareck ignored her. Words were a distraction he could not afford.
He exhaled slowly and gathered energy again, this time only in his right hand. Focusing on both hands had been a mistake. The manual allowed for either, though it favored symmetry. Right now, symmetry was a luxury.
The boy noticed immediately.
He lunged, not aiming to hit but to force Zareck to move. Zareck stepped back, then to the side, his eyes flicking between the two. His fingers formed the claw again, joints screaming as energy pressed outward against flesh and bone.
He struck.
Sui retreated just in time, the tips of his fingers slicing empty air where her shoulder had been. The boy countered instantly, his elbow driving toward Zareck's chest.
Zareck raised his left forearm to block.
Impact rattled through him. Not painful, but heavy. The boy had solid strength behind that strike.
They separated again.
Zareck's breathing had already quickened.
That surprised him.
His body was stronger than most here. His endurance should have been better too. Yet the constant gathering and dispersal of spiritual energy was draining him faster than expected. Worse, the mental strain was building. Every second he had to track two threats, judge distance, timing, intent. There was no rhythm, no chance to settle.
Sui darted in again, this time lower, her fingers aimed at his waist. Zareck pivoted and swept his leg, forcing her to hop back. He followed, trying to press the advantage, but the boy stepped in, placing himself between them without hesitation.
Zareck felt a bead of sweat slide down his temple.
If this continued, he would lose.
He backed away another step, buying space.
Think.
Tiger Claw Fingers was meant to be decisive. A tearing strike. A sudden breach. It clearly wasn't designed for prolonged exchanges. He was trying to force it into a role it was never meant to fill.
His gaze flicked across the arena without fully looking.
Chaos everywhere. Fights breaking and reforming. Instructors watching closely. No one interfering.
Will was somewhere to his right, dealing with three opponents at once. Zareck trusted him to handle that. He could not spare attention for it.
Sui shifted her weight.
The boy mirrored her.
They were waiting.
Zareck steadied his breath and let the technique go completely. The energy dispersed, leaving his fingers aching dully. He raised his hands normally, stance loosening.
Sui frowned. "Giving up already?"
"No," Zareck said. "Resetting."
They did not wait.
The boy charged, faster this time, testing whether Zareck was bluffing. Zareck met him halfway, stepping inside the punch instead of retreating. Their shoulders collided, and Zareck twisted, using his hip to unbalance him slightly.
Sui moved to capitalize.
Zareck felt her before he saw her. He ducked, her strike passing over his head, and rolled away, coming up several paces back.
His lungs burned now.
This was bad.
He had one idea left, and it was a stupid one.
The thought he had earlier, back when he first read the combat technique. The one he had pushed aside as reckless.
Excess beyond the limit.
The technique already demanded more energy than comfort. What if he went further? What if he treated Tiger Claw Fingers the same way Thy Image of Zenith treated spiritual intake?
Not a small excess.
A deliberate overload.
His fingers throbbed just thinking about it.
Zareck flexed his hand slowly. Pain was manageable. Loss of control was not.
He drew in a breath and began gathering energy again, but this time he did not stop where the technique said he should. He pushed past it, forcing more into his fingers, compressing it tighter.
The sensation changed immediately.
Sharp pain lanced through his hand, joints protesting violently. His vision blurred for half a second as his body reacted instinctively, trying to reject the buildup.
Zareck clenched his jaw and held it.
Sui noticed the change. Her expression sharpened. "Careful," she warned her partner. "He's doing something."
Too late.
Zareck moved.
He did not target both of them. He chose one.
The boy.
He rushed forward, faster than before, using the sudden aggression to force a response. The boy braced, raising his guard.
Zareck struck.
Tiger Claw Fingers ripped forward, not elegant, not precise, but brutal. The compressed energy exploded outward the instant his fingers met resistance.
The boy screamed.
He flew backward, tumbling across the floor, clutching his arm as spiritual energy tore through the muscles beneath his sleeve. An instructor was already there, but Zareck barely registered it.
The backlash hit him next.
His fingers went numb, then white hot pain surged up his arm. He staggered, nearly dropping to one knee as the excess energy rebounded through his hand.
Sui froze, shock flashing across her face.
Zareck forced himself upright, his right hand trembling uncontrollably.
One opponent down.
One left.
He looked at her, breathing hard.
Sui hesitated.
For the first time since the fight began, uncertainty crept into her stance.
Zareck did not wait for her to decide.