Feeling the impact of Yohan's kick, the man removed his glasses and tossed them aside. A thin scar ran across one of his eyebrows.

"Woah, that's a strong kick…" he said casually.

Yohan gritted his teeth, anxiety rising.

'I didn't even put my full strength into that, but it was a clean hit. I might've cracked his ribs… yet he's still standing like nothing happened'

Yohan wasn't just strong—he was far stronger than the average person. Even someone well-trained shouldn't have been able to take that kick so casually.

"You might've even broken a bone in my rib cage." The man tapped his side, not in pain, but in amusement.

The grin on his face twisted into something unsettling. Who smiled like that while talking about broken ribs?

'Maybe he's just hiding the pain' Yohan told himself.

'That has to be it. He's definitely hurt… If so, this is the perfect chance to finish him—'

But before he could move, the man was already right in front of him.

A circular blade glinted in his hand.

Yohan reacted instantly, grabbing his wrist—but the man simply shifted his weight and spun into a kick.

Yohan couldn't dodge in time, his grip on the man's arm trapping him in place.

He hit the floor hard, but there was no time to recover—the blade was already coming down on him.

Yohan rolled away just before it could make contact. In that instant, the reality hit him:

His life was genuinely on the line.

One wrong move and this man would kill him without hesitation.

"When I came out today, I didn't expect to run into someone with such raw potential like you… hnnn—" The man suddenly clutched the spot where Yohan had kicked him earlier.

"Excuse me for one second."

He reached under his jacket, pulled out a small flat packet, unwrapped it from white paper, and bit off a piece before tucking the rest away.

Yohan only caught a glimpse, but it looked like a scone—or some kind of cookie.

"Now… where were we?"

His attacks became more reckless and aggressive. Sometimes he even let Yohan land a hit, just so he could counter and slice him in return.

Yohan was fast, but the tactic worked. Cuts of different sizes began appearing across his skin, while his opponent kept advancing, seemingly unfazed.

'It's like he doesn't feel any pain…' Yohan thought as he narrowly dodged another lethal swing.

'That thing he ate… it reminds me a lot of the buff cake'

'Could it actually be…?'

That had to be it. Whatever he ate was some kind of enhancement—but the only way to be sure was to get his hands on it himself.

A sudden wave of dizziness washed over him, almost dropping him to his knees.

'The blood loss is starting to get to me', he reasoned as he forced himself upright.

His body was slick with blood from all the accumulated cuts. The only reason he was still standing was his unnatural endurance, though the burning pain all over him also kept him conscious.

'If this keeps up… I really might die'

He gritted his teeth, fighting off panic.

His opponent took any blow Yohan managed to land and used it to cut him in return. That alone made Yohan hesitate to strike again.

The two separated briefly, giving both a moment to breathe.

Yohan could barely stay on his feet.

The man stood a short distance away, breathing heavily but still composed.

"What do you think… fun, right?" he asked with a grin. "I haven't enjoyed myself like this in a long time. To think people like you actually exist…"

"But that's enough fun. It's time to end this."

Yohan steadied his wavering vision and forced a smile.

"Yes, I agree."

A wide grin split the man's face. Seeing Yohan smile in his condition only excited him further.

There was practically nothing Yohan could do—yet he was still trying.

"I can't wait to watch that burning fire in your eyes go out. People like you are what make me love my job," the man said, practically glowing with excitement as he charged at Yohan.

He had no idea Yohan already had a plan—one that put everything on the line.

'I have to calm down… track his movements' Yohan told himself as he focused on the blade slicing toward his throat.

At the last possible moment, he stepped in instead of back, catching the man's wrist and locking it under his arm.

The man tried to use his other hand, but Yohan seized that too.

'This is it. My final attack. I have to put everything into it… I can't give him the chance to get back up'

Yohan leaned his head back—then snapped it forward with all the strength left in his body.

His forehead crashed directly into the man's nose.

A loud, sickening crunch echoed through the hall, signaling the destruction of practically every bone in his opponent's nose.

It was the first time his speed and strength were not enough to take his opponent out so he had to get creative.

The blade clattered to the floor first. The man followed a moment later, crumpling like a marionette with severed strings.

Blood trickled down Yohan's forehead, though none of it was his own—just spray from his opponent's shattered nose.

"Let's see you take that one," Yohan muttered, exhaling a shaky breath.

Then his legs gave out. He collapsed flat on the ground. This was the closest he'd ever come to dying, and somehow he'd clawed his way through. The relief was so overwhelming it threatened to drag him under into unconsciousness.

But he couldn't. Not yet.

He forced his eyes open, dragging his battered body across the floor toward the fallen man. His hands shook as he rifled through the pockets, searching for the thing his opponent had eaten mid-fight—the item that had kept him standing through blows that should have ended him instantly.

Yohan's fingers closed around something flat, like a cookie. He pulled it free, already working at the wrapping.

Then a voice spoke from directly behind him.

"And what do you think you're doing?"

Yohan's blood turned to ice. He looked back.

The man was standing again.

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