Tyler launched a punch directly at Dante's face, aiming to hit him head-on. Dante tried to dodge and defend, but failed. Tyler had limited his level to match Dante's, allowing Dante to block the blow and respond with a kick to his ribs, sending the old master flying.
"Pathetic. At the same level, you're almost invincible. Vast experience has limited effect against you, yet I can still pierce your skin. I can injure you, throw you, even with simple moves. You've gained strength, but lost combat power; your foundation is unstable. Your muscles are atrophied, your mind slow, your senses… utterly useless. Your eyes can no longer keep up."
Dante, still on the ground, heard the words and realized their truth. Since the battle against the crocodile, he had known his ability to fight higher-level opponents had been reduced. From a monster in his own tier, he had become a mere human against superior levels.
Tyler advanced again. In seconds, his fist reached Dante, who used his elbow to defend while countering with a spinning kick.
"Still don't understand?" asked old Tyler, effortlessly catching the kick. "At this moment, you are nothing but a fragile shell."
With lightning speed, Tyler struck Dante with an elbow to the stomach, sending him flying once more. Dante fell, but for a brief moment, felt a fleeting sense of peace.
"I do not judge you. You've endured great trials these months. But instead of strengthening your base, the pillar that was already faltering, you tried to build something on top of it. The element is useful, yes, but it should not be your priority. You should be able to control it without difficulty. Delving into it now… was a tragic choice."
Tyler advanced once more, delivering a heavy punch to Dante's chest, forcing the air from his lungs. But the old man would not stop; he was not satisfied with this version of his disciple. He began an unrelenting assault: punches, kicks, strikes — everything his fists could do. Dante's golden blood stained the training field.
"Did you see me rely on anything beyond my fists to crush you?" Tyler asked, immediately answering: "No. I am destroying you with these fists alone, just as you did before. Now rise, you damn brat!"
"Tsk, damn old man," Dante muttered, rising like a predatory beast. He surged forward, fists striking Tyler, who blocked but did not expect the low kick aimed at his chin.
Despite being lean, Dante's body moved with consistency. Fists and kicks collided, tearing holes in the ground, yet neither relented; only mana reinforced their bodies. The old exhilaration of fighting head-on ignited a hurricane within Dante, awakening the thrill of raw power.
His fist collided with Tyler's mid-air. The old man attempted a kick to Dante's ribs, but Dante dodged and countered, striking Tyler's shoulder.
— Bam!
Tyler retaliated with a punch to Dante's chest, who stumbled and missed his kick, then braced himself on his leg and surged forward like thunder. Dante's body heated unconsciously; lava coated his fist as it surged toward Tyler, while the old man's fist was shrouded in wind. The collision forced them both to retreat, yet neither had realized they were using elements — they were moving by instinct alone.
The ecstasy of a true fight surpassed everything. Dante let his body flow with lava, reinforcing his next attack: a left leg kick imbued with molten force. Tyler easily blocked with his hand, reinforced by a gust of wind. Unconsciously, Dante was using his lava at a lower mastery level to strengthen and perfect his physical attacks.
Tyler, a level 2 master, would not be outdone. A wind armor enveloped him as he advanced, turning the fight back into pure physical combat. Dante's fists rained down, but Tyler blocked or dodged, his thin armor allowing full mobility.
He attempted a low kick at Dante's leg, but the young man did not yield; his body had returned to a high-intensity rhythm. He leapt and delivered an axe-like kick from above toward Tyler, who blocked with his forearm and countered with a kick to Dante's chest, sending him flying. Tyler advanced again.
His fist struck Dante's face repeatedly, preventing dodges but not counterattacks. Dante landed a punch on Tyler's kidney, forcing him back a few steps.
Before Tyler could rain down heavy blows again, Dante dodged, covering his arm in lava. He surged forward, but the old man would not accept the attack. His fists, reinforced with wind, collided head-on with Dante's, the clash echoing across the field like thunder — a true test of strength between master and disciple.