"Really?"
"For you to give such high praise, this person must be something special. I'm looking forward to this!" Bomb sighed, but the bald old man showed no sign of fear.
Long before arriving at Bang's dojo, Bomb had already been prepared for a fight. Since it wasn't a life-or-death struggle but simply a sparring match, there was no reason for hesitation. And hearing from Bang that this opponent was strong and could even enhance his martial arts, Bomb had no doubts at all.
As a martial arts master, it had been a long time since he'd encountered a worthy adversary. Martial artists grow by testing themselves against others, and Bomb wasn't about to let this opportunity pass by.
"So, who was it that defeated you, brother?" Bomb asked as he scanned the people around him.
It didn't take long for his gaze to settle on Yami. Although the two had never met before, something within Bomb whispered that this young man in front of him was powerful.
"Big brother, this is Brother Yami. He's the one who defeated me," Bang introduced softly, following Bomb's gaze.
Yami, with a slight smile, nodded toward Bomb, though the fire in his eyes betrayed his intense fighting spirit. For a brief moment, Bomb's own fighting spirit flared up in response.
"To think it was someone so young!"
"I'm really surprised you managed to defeat Bang."
"Since you wish to challenge me, let's see what you're made of!"
"Be ready!"
As soon as Bomb spoke, his figure vanished, leaving only deep footprints on the ground as proof that he had been there. The sound of wind breaking followed closely behind his movements, but even that seemed slower than Bomb's speed.
Yami, standing still, raised his hand to shield Goddess Artemis behind him, while the other hand swung horizontally, cloaked in a dark, ominous energy.
Boom!
A deep, resonating impact followed, sending a shockwave so powerful that nearby workers stopped what they were doing, their clothes flapping violently from the force.
"You're a bit too impatient, don't you think? Bang's dojo was just destroyed, and there hasn't been time to rebuild it yet." Yami's words immediately calmed Bomb.
The old man's gaze became more focused, even tinged with surprise. Despite the short exchange, he could already tell from this brief clash that Yami was a truly formidable opponent—just as Bang had said. His age clearly didn't matter.
"Then let's take this fight somewhere else where no one will be affected!" Bomb said, withdrawing his attack. He turned to head toward the foot of the mountain, intending to continue the battle there, but Yami's words stopped him in his tracks.
"No need to go anywhere. Leave that to me."
All eyes turned to Yami as he smiled faintly and snapped his fingers. In an instant, a mysterious power spread across the entire mountain, covering it in a transparent, mirror-like film that expanded outward.
"Now, you can fight without holding back. As long as your power doesn't exceed the limits of this space, it won't affect the outside world. So, you're free to give it your all."
"I hope you don't disappoint me," Yami said with a confident smile, turning to meet the gaze of Goddess Artemis. The goddess of the moon, seeing the meaning in Yami's eyes, smiled and nodded, stepping aside to clear the battlefield.
"Charanko, Sitch, everyone, step back a little!"
"You don't want to get caught in the aftermath of this fight," Bang warned as he motioned for the others to move back.
Seeing this, Yami waved his hand, and a large stone from another mountain lifted, carrying the onlookers safely out of the battle's reach. They were now far enough away to avoid any danger.
"Now that there's nothing left to worry about, can we officially start?" Bang said, walking calmly toward Bomb, his hands behind his back.
However, Bomb shook his head.
"Hold on, Bang."
"Let me test him first before we get started."
"Since you've asked, Big Brother, of course, I won't refuse. But be careful," Bang didn't protest. He knew that only by experiencing Yami's power firsthand would Bomb take the fight seriously.
"Let's begin!" Bomb declared.
"Whirlwind Iron Cutting Fist!"
This wasn't just a test anymore. It was the real deal.
Unlike Bang's Water Stream Rock Smashing Fist, Bomb's Whirlwind Iron Cutting Fist was sharp, powerful, and equally flexible. The wind generated by his fists cut through the air from every direction, and soon, his entire body was engulfed by an invisible whirlwind.
"Impressive!" Yami's eyes gleamed with excitement as he advanced instead of retreating.
This time, he didn't rely on the Navy Six Styles technique. Instead, he extended his hands softly, and in the next moment, torrents of water surged forward, colliding with the swirling winds.
"What?!" Bang, who was watching from nearby, gasped in shock.
The technique Yami was using—it was the Water Stream Rock Smashing Fist!
"Did he fully master my technique after just one fight with me?"
"What terrifying talent!"