This... this is the kind of combat technique I should be using!
This is the kind of technique that truly suits my body!
His previous techniques had been like using the strength meant to swing a warhammer... just to wield an embroidery needle.
But in this battle against the dragonâ
Every single use of a technique brought refinement.
At this moment, although each form of the Firmament Style still carried its original name, the way force was generated, the underlying mechanics, the key principlesâ
Had all fundamentally changed.
If one had to describe itâ
They were no longer even the same techniques.
A complete rebirth.
Nothing less.
This dragon... was a perfect teacher.
If its body hadnât been so overwhelmingly powerful, Kanzaki Rei would never have been able to comprehend so much.
BANG!
Its regenerative ability wasnât weak, either.
The shattered scales on its head burst with bloodâ
Yet within mere seconds, those broken scales began to regrow, to mend.
At this rate, it would fully recover in less than half a minute.
A golden dragon.
Not just immense physical strengthâ
But terrifying regeneration as well?
Haaâ
Kanzaki Rei exhaled deeply.
In the next instant, his body flickered like a streak of light, darting across spaceâ
And explosions of deep, resonant impacts erupted across the dragonâs entire body!
Scales shattered!
The dragonâs shock grew heavier and heavier.
At first, this human couldnât even injure itâ
And now, he had reached this level?
He was clearly fighting with pure physical strength.
Could it be... that I am inferior to him in raw physical power?
Kanzaki Reiâs speed continued to riseâfaster than before.
Now, his instantaneous movements were so fast that the dragon couldnât even react!
ăFirmament Style â Eighth Form: Step · Instant Dragon Killă
Movement techniques had always existed to serve combat!
Movement techniques were meant to fightâwho would ever use them just to run away?
Attacks were woven into movementâ
And attacks themselves propelled him faster and farther!
Using every burst of force to accelerate himself even more!
The instant Kanzaki Rei came to a halt from extreme speedâ
A surge of danger exploded in his senses!
A golden fist rapidly expanded in his vision, aimed straight at his forehead!
The strike came suddenlyâ
And carried an overwhelming killing intent!
ăDragon Combat Technique â Wrathful Dragon Shatteră
A punch filled with emotion.
A punch carrying absolute killing intent.
Its power far surpassed any previous attack!
BOOM!
Kanzaki Rei didnât dodge.
He met it head-on!
His arms drew backâ
Then exploded forward!
BANG!
A hemispherical depression caved into the ocean, centered on the two of them!
Every scale on the dragonâs arm shattered in succession, revealing golden flesh beneath!
Kanzaki Rei, too, felt a faint pain in his bones.
After 9 minutes of battleâ
He had only taken one-billionth of the damage.
And yet...
This strike could still make him feel pain?
If that punch had landed at the beginning... it would have reduced me to nothing.
Butâ
The dragonâs arm was breaking apart layer by layer!
Clearly, that attack wasnât without costâit was practically self-destructive!
Kanzaki Rei had taken it head-on.
And at lastâ
The dragonâs shock and confusion erupted completely!
"You... you can actually withstand that attack?!"
"A mere human!"
"You are worthy of my full power! No... I will defeat you with everything I have!"
BOOM!
An overwhelming aura erupted from the golden dragon!
The entire sea trembledâ
All things churned violently!
Whoosh!
In the next instant, it appeared before Kanzaki Rei againâ
Its speed had surged once more!
ăBerserk Dragon Combat Technique â Wrathful Dragon Continuous Shatteră
The sky filled with golden fists and claws, raining destruction!
Every strike carried deadly furyâ
Every strike bore the resolve to challenge a true opponent!
Each punch was as devastating as the one before!
"Good!"
Kanzaki Reiâs emotions surgedâhe burst into wild laughter!
"You really are the strongest physical being Iâve ever faced!"
ăCombat Apex â Madness: Sacrifice rationality to enhance regeneration, speed, strength, and instinct.ă
Kanzaki Reiâs eyes gradually turned feral.
This was the combat apex born from Awakened Insightâ
A state where he could temporarily trade intellect for overwhelming power!
BOOM!
Their fists collided again and again!
Golden scales scattered through the sky!
The dragonâs flesh tore open, spraying golden blood in every directionâ
Even the cracking of heavy bones could be heard!
Lose rationalityâ
Gain total physical enhancement.
Of course, Kanzaki Rei didnât allow himself to become a complete idiotâ
But he still experienced that fleeting sensation of dulled thought.
Their clashâ
Drove the oceanâs hemispherical depression deeper and deeper!
The shockwaves alone forced the sea downward, while massive tsunamis rose in the distance!
"Come! Come on! Thatâs still not your limit!" Kanzaki Rei roared!
Normallyâ
He would never shout like this.
But right nowâ
Pure exhilaration flooded his veins!
All he wanted was a fair, all-out battle with this dragon!
The dragonâs fists were already flowing with blood.
Its eyesâ
No longer showed pupils.
Only pure gold remainedâ
Burning with madness.
"Human!"
Its own body was growing more and more damagedâ
Yet the human before it only grew stronger with every exchange, completely unscathed!
ăBerserk Dragon Combat Technique â Hundred-Tail Slaughteră
WHOOSH!
Its massive tail lashed out, carrying immense pressure!
Kanzaki Rei met it with a horizontal kick!
BANG!
Scales exploded!
The enormous tail whipped wildly like a berserk lashâ
And Kanzaki Rei answered with a relentless barrage of kicks!
His leg techniques sliced like bladesâ
Each strike carving out dragon-slaying arcs of force!
With every collisionâ
The massive tail was torn apart!
Flesh shreddedâ
Blood sprayed wildlyâ
Deep wounds carved down to the bone!
ăBerserk Dragon Combat Technique â Dragon Wing Severă
Steel-like wings spun violently, slicing toward Kanzaki Rei!
He caught them with both handsâ
Driving a knee upward!
BANG!
Countless golden scales exploded!
The dragonâs scales shattered again and againâ
Kanzaki Rei received every attack flawlessly.
Even with its full strengthâ
The dragon couldnât inflict any real damage.
Insteadâ
Kanzaki Rei grew stronger with every passing moment.
More refined.
More perfect.
More invincible.
And in that instantâ
A single doubt flickered through the dragonâs mind...
...Which one of us... is the dragon?