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 dragon—
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 principles—
Had all fundamentally changed.
If one had to describe it—
They were no longer even the same techniques.
A complete rebirth.
Nothing less.
This dragon… was a perfect teacher.
If its body hadn't been so overwhelmingly powerful, Kanzaki Rei would never have been able to comprehend so much.
BANG!
Its regenerative ability wasn't weak, either.
The shattered scales on its head burst with blood—
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 strength—
But terrifying regeneration as well?
Haa—
Kanzaki Rei exhaled deeply.
In the next instant, his body flickered like a streak of light, darting across space—
And explosions of deep, resonant impacts erupted across the dragon's entire body!
Scales shattered!
The dragon's shock grew heavier and heavier.
At first, this human couldn't even injure it—
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 Rei's speed continued to rise—faster than before.
Now, his instantaneous movements were so fast that the dragon couldn't even react!
「Firmament Style — Eighth Form: Step · Instant Dragon Kill」
Movement techniques had always existed to serve combat!
Movement techniques were meant to fight—who would ever use them just to run away?
Attacks were woven into movement—
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 speed—
A surge of danger exploded in his senses!
A golden fist rapidly expanded in his vision, aimed straight at his forehead!
The strike came suddenly—
And carried an overwhelming killing intent!
「Dragon Combat Technique — Wrathful Dragon Shatter」
A punch filled with emotion.
A punch carrying absolute killing intent.
Its power far surpassed any previous attack!
BOOM!
Kanzaki Rei didn't dodge.
He met it head-on!
His arms drew back—
Then exploded forward!
BANG!
A hemispherical depression caved into the ocean, centered on the two of them!
Every scale on the dragon's arm shattered in succession, revealing golden flesh beneath!
Kanzaki Rei, too, felt a faint pain in his bones.
After 9 minutes of battle—
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.
But—
The dragon's arm was breaking apart layer by layer!
Clearly, that attack wasn't without cost—it was practically self-destructive!
Kanzaki Rei had taken it head-on.
And at last—
The dragon's 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 trembled—
All things churned violently!
Whoosh!
In the next instant, it appeared before Kanzaki Rei again—
Its speed had surged once more!
「Berserk Dragon Combat Technique — Wrathful Dragon Continuous Shatter」
The sky filled with golden fists and claws, raining destruction!
Every strike carried deadly fury—
Every strike bore the resolve to challenge a true opponent!
Each punch was as devastating as the one before!
"Good!"
Kanzaki Rei's emotions surged—he burst into wild laughter!
"You really are the strongest physical being I've ever faced!"
「Combat Apex — Madness: Sacrifice rationality to enhance regeneration, speed, strength, and instinct.」
Kanzaki Rei's eyes gradually turned feral.
This was the combat apex born from Awakened Insight—
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 dragon's flesh tore open, spraying golden blood in every direction—
Even the cracking of heavy bones could be heard!
Lose rationality—
Gain total physical enhancement.
Of course, Kanzaki Rei didn't allow himself to become a complete idiot—
But he still experienced that fleeting sensation of dulled thought.
Their clash—
Drove the ocean's hemispherical depression deeper and deeper!
The shockwaves alone forced the sea downward, while massive tsunamis rose in the distance!
"Come! Come on! That's still not your limit!" Kanzaki Rei roared!
Normally—
He would never shout like this.
But right now—
Pure exhilaration flooded his veins!
All he wanted was a fair, all-out battle with this dragon!
The dragon's fists were already flowing with blood.
Its eyes—
No longer showed pupils.
Only pure gold remained—
Burning with madness.
"Human!"
Its own body was growing more and more damaged—
Yet the human before it only grew stronger with every exchange, completely unscathed!
「Berserk Dragon Combat Technique — Hundred-Tail Slaughter」
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 lash—
And Kanzaki Rei answered with a relentless barrage of kicks!
His leg techniques sliced like blades—
Each strike carving out dragon-slaying arcs of force!
With every collision—
The massive tail was torn apart!
Flesh shredded—
Blood sprayed wildly—
Deep wounds carved down to the bone!
「Berserk Dragon Combat Technique — Dragon Wing Sever」
Steel-like wings spun violently, slicing toward Kanzaki Rei!
He caught them with both hands—
Driving a knee upward!
BANG!
Countless golden scales exploded!
The dragon's scales shattered again and again—
Kanzaki Rei received every attack flawlessly.
Even with its full strength—
The dragon couldn't inflict any real damage.
Instead—
Kanzaki Rei grew stronger with every passing moment.
More refined.
More perfect.
More invincible.
And in that instant—
A single doubt flickered through the dragon's mind…
…Which one of us… is the dragon?