Garou's second attack came faster and even fiercer.
His fists rained down on Po like a storm, each strike precisely targeting a vital point—temples, ribs, knees.
The wind of his punches whistled, and the sheet metal of the shipping containers hummed from the shockwaves.
Po's paws blurred into afterimages, the arcs of his Tai Chi Cloud Hands constantly spinning before him.
Ten moves.
Twenty moves.
Fifty moves.
Garou's breathing began to quicken, and fine beads of sweat seeped onto his forehead.
It wasn't due to physical exhaustion, but rather frustration.
Every one of his strikes was powerful enough to punch through steel plating, but in front of this panda, it felt like hitting empty air.
"Enough!"
Garou suddenly retreated, putting distance between them as the concrete ground shattered and kicked up a cloud of dust.
He crossed his arms over his chest, his golden pupils locked onto Po.
"You've been defending the whole time—are you looking down on me?"
Garou let out a low growl and suddenly changed his stance.
His offensive accelerated once more.
Fists, palms, elbows, knees, feet—every usable part of his body became a weapon.
His moves began to change, no longer just pure Water Stream Rock Smashing Fist, but incorporating all the techniques he had learned during his Hero Hunting—Watchdog Man's beastly intuition, the explosive power of his master Bang, and the momentum of Metal Bat.
The moment his right fist was about to be deflected, he pulled it back sharply and whipped his left leg out horizontally.
The angle of this kick was tricky, completely exceeding the defensive range of the Tai Chi Cloud Hands.
Po didn't have time to change his stance and could only take it head-on.
"Bang!"
A dull thud rang out as Garou's lower leg landed solidly against Po's ribs.
The force sent Po sliding sideways for half a meter, plowing two deep furrows into the concrete floor beneath his feet.
"Hiss—"
Po gasped, a burning pain radiating from his ribs.
But he didn't retreat.
The moment Garou retracted his leg, Po lunged forward, his massive frame erupting with a speed that completely contradicted his appearance.
He rounded his paws, his entire body becoming like a giant cannonball, crashing straight toward Garou.
"Panda Belly Bump!"
Garou's pupils constricted; he hadn't expected this seemingly clumsy panda to possess such explosive power.
He crossed his arms to protect his chest, attempting to take the blow head-on.
The next second, he regretted it.
Po's round belly slammed into his arms; that force wasn't just brute strength, but a terrifyingly heavy impact.
It was like being hit head-on by a small mountain.
Garou flew backward, tumbling twice in the air before slamming hard into a shipping container a dozen meters away.
"Boom!"
The shipping container dented inward, the rusty sheet metal groaning under the strain.
As the dust settled, Garou crawled out of the deformed metal, a trace of blood spilling from the corner of his mouth.
He raised a hand to wipe away the blood, his golden pupils shining even brighter.
"Hahaha! Exhilarating! Not bad, mascot."
He flexed his numbed arms and grinned.
"That hit almost broke my bones."
Po rubbed his belly, which had also taken a heavy hit just now.
He looked at the rising Garou, secretly astonished.
What is this guy's body made of? He got sent flying by a full-power tackle and only spat out a bit of blood?
"You're not bad yourself," Po panted. "Back in the Valley of Peace, this move of mine can knock down city walls."
"Then let's continue!"
Garou stomped his foot and charged over again.
This time he didn't use any fancy moves, just the purest, most violent close-quarters combat.
Fists, elbow strikes, knee strikes, whip kicks—every blow carried the sound of tearing air.
Po no longer just defended without attacking.
He swung his bear paws, colliding head-on with Garou's fists.
"Bang! Bang! Bang!"
The dull sounds of impact echoed incessantly across the pier, like the beating of drums.
Every collision of their fists and feet stirred up a visible shockwave.
The ground cracked beneath their feet, and the shipping containers shook precariously from the aftershocks.
Garou landed a straight punch on Po's shoulder; Po grunted and backhanded a palm strike onto Garou's chest.
Garou was knocked back three steps, and just as he steadied himself, his knee was struck by Po's low sweep.
He dropped to one knee, braced his hands on the ground, and suddenly flipped over, his right leg hacking down like a battle axe toward Po's head.
Po tilted his head; the leg grazed his ear and landed, smashing a deep crater into the concrete.
"That was close!"
Po seized this opening, pressed his paws onto Garou's shoulders, and threw his entire weight onto him.
His massive weight instantly pinned Garou to the ground.
"I'm going to crush you!"
With his face pressed against the ground, feeling the mountain-like weight on his back, veins bulged on Garou's forehead.
He braced his arms on the ground, muscles bulging, and forced Po up.
"Get—off—me!"
He exerted a burst of strength and actually managed to flip Po over.
Taking advantage of the moment Po lost his balance, Garou smashed an uppercut hard into his chin.
Po's head snapped back, stars dancing before his eyes.
But he didn't fall.
As he fell backward, he kicked off hard, flipped in the air, and landed steadily.
Both retreated, distancing themselves, and stared at each other while panting heavily.
Po's face had a few bloody scratches, and the fur on his belly was matted and messy.
Blood was still flowing from the corner of Garou's mouth, his left eye was swollen, and his tight-fitting suit was torn in several places.
But both of their eyes were brighter than before.
"This Tai Chi of yours, it's not just a defensive style, is it?"
Garou wiped the blood from his mouth, a glimmer of realization flashing in his eyes.
"Those few counterattacks just now used the same type of force."
Po rubbed his aching chin, having also figured out the trick.
"Your fist style isn't simple either. Every punch is clearly direct, yet you always manage to change moves at the last second. Is this... Water Stream?"
The two were silent for a second.
Then, almost simultaneously, they charged at each other again.
This engagement was completely different from before.
Shadows of Tai Chi began to appear in Garou's fist path.
His attacks were no longer just straight-line movements, but carried a hint of circular rhythm.
When Po used Cloud Hands to neutralize his straight punch, he followed the momentum, turning it to use Po's own deflection force against him.
Po was countered by his own technique and stumbled backward.
"You're learning my moves!"
"We're even," Garou sneered.
Po was indeed learning as well.
Garou's technique of exerting maximum power with the shortest distance and minimal movement was being absorbed by him.
When he swung his bear paws, they were no longer just wide-open movements, but possessed a bit more precision and sharpness.
He struck a palm toward Garou's ribs, the angle as tricky as a snake.
Garou dodged to the side, only to realize this palm strike was just a feint.
Po's other paw was already pressed onto his shoulder, and the Tai Chi deflection force exploded instantly.
Garou was thrown flying, tumbling in the air, and when he landed, his feet plowed two long furrows into the ground.
"Not bad, Panda." Garou steadied himself, his smile becoming even wilder.
"To think you learned my Water Stream Rock Smashing Fist in such a short time—this is the opponent I want to defeat! This is the battle I wanted!"
Po panted, his round belly rising and falling with his breath.
"You too. Master said that those who can grow during battle are the true martial artists. I am very glad to be able to fight you."
The two locked eyes for a moment, then laughed simultaneously.
It wasn't a laugh of hostility, but one of mutual appreciation.
The sea breeze whistled, kicking up the dust on the ground.
Two martial arts geniuses from different Worlds, on this abandoned pier, were acknowledging each other in the most primitive and pure way.
"Come again!"
"I wouldn't have it any other way!"
The two figures collided once again, the sound of their fists and feet clashing echoing in the night.