Lithoovert furrows his brow as he feels the overwhelming pressure emanating from Leon. Instantly—
STCKHWAAAAAHMHN!
—he drives both feet into the ground, launches himself forward, and charges at him at full speed.
Leon continues walking calmly, completely unfazed by the rapid assault before him.
Jiza freezes entirely. He cannot believe Leon's presence, yet upon seeing Leon's pupil-less eyes—the same eyes Lithoovert possesses—
"I see," he mutters.
Both of them are dead.
CPTKHAMM—CPTKUHMH—KCTSWKHAMNN—SPKCTKWLHAAMMN!
Without interrupting his slow steps, Leon unleashes a relentless barrage of strikes that land squarely on Lithoovert's body.
"EHMPH?!" Jiza's breath catches sharply.
He grits his teeth as he witnesses the same devastating air explosions he once saw—and personally experienced.
The resulting blasts and shockwaves hurl Lithoovert into the air.
BRUK—BRAK—KHAMHH—SLSHHSH!
Lithoovert lands once more, his feet digging into the ground as he slides to a stop.
KRRKK!
He clenches both fists tightly. His breathing becomes ragged again. Gritting his teeth, his fury and savagery—
SCKHWAAAAAAAMHH!
—spiral completely out of control as he drives off the ground once more and charges again.
Leon continues his uninterrupted slow walk.
Before him, Lithoovert throws another punch—
KCHAMHHN—CKTKHUUMN—PKTCHAAAAM—KCPTHUUUUHMNHH!
—but Leon once again bombards him with a series of strikes, detonating the air directly in front of his vital points, while the resulting shockwaves blast him away—
KRAKTKAAAAHMMN!
Jiza observes the battle carefully, paying even closer attention to Lithoovert's growing ferocity.
Lithoovert grits his teeth and glares at Leon through the thick dust.
"EHMPH?!" Jiza's breath catches briefly.
This time, with both forearms raised before his chest, Lithoovert is no longer thrown back as far as before.
Jiza furrows his brows.
"He's adapting?!"
This time, Leon's attacks do not fully land on him.
"That quickly?!"
Several of the final strikes are intercepted as Lithoovert reacts in time, blocking them with his elbows and suppressing the air explosions detonating directly against his body.
BRUK—BRAK—CHAMH!
Lithoovert plants both feet firmly on the ground—
CKTKHAAHMNHH!
—and settles into a fighting stance, lowering his body halfway as his breathing grows completely ragged.
"How is that possible?!" Jiza exclaims.
Leon finally stops walking.
His brows furrow as he fixes Lithoovert with a sharp stare.
He now recognizes him as a genuine threat.
SCKHTLWHAAAAMHH!
Like a wild beast beyond restraint, Lithoovert continues forcing himself forward and charges again and again.
Within moments—
WLUSH—WLASH!
—Leon assumes a stance and exhales softly.
SWUUUSHHH!
Lithoovert thrusts his fist forward—
SWAAAASHHHH!
—and Leon thrusts forward with all his fingers extended.
SWHAAMH—SCHAMNHH!
The air between them screams violently.
Lithoovert and Leon enter striking range, both attacks launched directly toward one another—
SCTKWLHAAAAMH—KSTCLHAAAAAMNNN—TSCKPHUUUUUMHHN—KRKTWHAAAAAHHHM!
—creating a relentless chain of air explosions between them.
SCKHWAAAHMN!
Dust surges outward, forming a dense cloud.
CPTKHAAAMNH—CKTPHUUUHHMM—KRKTHAAAAHMM—STPKWHAAAMHH!
The successive shockwaves erupt and fling both of them out of the dust cloud that immediately obscures all vision.
SLASH—SWASHHH!
Leon drags both feet across the ground before coming to a stop.
CKHAM—CTHAM—BRAK—KHAAAHM—
Lithoovert tumbles uncontrollably, his body scraping across the earth until—
KTHAAAAAAAHHNM!
—he crashes into the sacred tree.
His consciousness fades.
He collapses instantly.
SWUUUHHHS—SWAASHHHH!
A strong wind blows through the area.
The oppressive atmosphere gradually fades away.
DAK!
Leon resumes walking, passing the fallen threat that no longer stands before him.
Only Jiza remains.
DUK!
"You know, I've been waiting for your arrival—for the true battle between us, haven't I?" Jiza says.
DAK!
With every step Leon takes, the immense pressure of his invisible aura grows stronger.
KRRRK!
Jiza clenches both fists tightly.
"But not like this. You must die, and the person I once knew must return," Jiza continues.
DUK!
Jiza falls silent for a moment.
He lowers his head and calms himself.
"Huft..."
A long, heavy breath escapes him.
His mind echoes with Leon's words from their last battle.
"I hate people who refuse to be themselves."
Those words, accompanied by Leon's disdainful gaze, remain etched into his memory.
DAK!
Leon continues walking slowly.
His expression becomes increasingly complicated as he senses the aura surging from Jiza.
DUK!
Jiza is filled with enthusiasm and confidence.
He has finally become himself.
DAK!
Leon furrows his brows yet continues approaching.
DUK!
Jiza begins walking forward as well, steadily closing the distance.
DAK!
"But it can't be helped. You are a different person under the name Johan..." he says.
DUK!
Now, after thorough preparation, Jiza has created techniques of his own—techniques that will continue evolving throughout his journey.
DAK!
"Isn't that right?"
After so long, their battle is about to happen once again.
They continue drawing closer.
Only a few dozen steps remain between them.
BRAK!
Jiza stops.
He straightens all his fingers, raises one hand before his chest, and turns it until the palm faces upward.
"LEON!"
WRAK!
Leon stops as well.
HLASH—WUSH—SWASHHHHH!
A gentle wind blows through the pressure-filled space separating them.
Jiza stares sharply at him.
"Are you ready, my brother?!"
KRRKK!
Leon clenches his fists and returns the stare with equal intensity.
The surroundings fall silent.
Even the wind ceases.
The immense pressure between them becomes palpable.
"EMPH!!!"
Jiza grits his teeth as a crushing force suddenly shakes his body.
WLAK!
He suppresses his fear.
A broad grin filled with anticipation spreads beneath the bandages covering his face.
"THIS—IS IT!" he shouts.