Yenne forcefully dragged Ken’s feet, throwing and smashing him on the ground.

Ken was, however covering his head, enduring the torment of Yenne. Ken forcefully turned the tide and got a hold of the ground and jumped. His right hook arched and swung right into her face. ​​

Yenne was stunned. She let him go and moved back.

“You got some spunk.” Yenne responded.

She has the face of a thirsty warrior.

Ken was certain of it. The combatant in front of him is also a martial artist. Ken crunched his fingers and joints as though preparing for his fight.

“Are you a martial artist as well? Yenne queried. “I’m pretty sure you are.”

“What do you think?”

Yenne smirked. “This oughtta to be fun.”

There was a silence. Their eyes sizing each other. And when the leaf touched the ground, they sprung to action.

Their fists met and shook the surroundings. The shockwave had the leaves fall from their respective branches of trees and rustled along the wind. The pulse of shockwave melted and the silence came back.

Thereafter, they exchange overwhelming attacks. Her fist to his face, his knees to her stomach. Another fist flew in her left. She winced and felt Ken’s attack through her ribs.

Yenne moved back and turned to deliver a round house kick. Even Ken’s responded quickly by blocking her attack, his small body has its limit. He felt the heaviness of her attack as his elbow endured to blocked her kick.

Ken felt the sensation crept as her legs withdrew. His breath barely caught up as another sets of swing fist came to him. Ken moved back evading and blocking her attack, but each time used his arms to blocked her attacks, the pulsating pain are becoming more unbearable to the point that her attacks swish passed his cheeks.

Ken casted his eyes and observed the pattern of her attacks.

His breathing paused. He heard her whizzing on his right. Ken smoothly caught it.

Ken’s foot whispered on his left. His fist swung and lashed blindly, felt his fist made contact on her jaw with her muscle and he heard a crack.

“Not half-bad. I felt that one.” Yenne said.

Yenne wiped off a small portion of blood that run on her lips.

“Tell me—”

Ken wasn’t considerable. His body twisted and his fist swung. His right hook went through and successfully laid to her face.

Ken’s attack was powerful enough for Yenne to crashed on a tree. Yenne quickly got up. Her face went to poker face.

“Hey, hey. If someone is talking, you should listen.”

Ken wiped off a dirt on his face. “We are on the opposition. What else should we talk about?”

Yenne’s eyes widened in anger. Her smile is twisted like a killer thirsty for blood.

“I’m going to wipe that smug face of yours!”

Yenne sprang forward. Her right leg swung and followed by another fist swung on Ken’s right, in which he successfully blocked it.

Even now, the tingling pain hasn’t left his arms. His fingers too are hurting due to his bronze brass knuckles. His hurt but he keeps doing it.

Ken returned the favor. His fist reached her face and another pushed through her stomach.

Yenne endured the pain and headbutted him before pulling back. She threw a disgusting glance as she noticed he’s wearing brass knuckles.

“Tell me. Where did you came from?”

Ken remained persistent not to tell. “That’s only for me to know.”

Yenne smirked. “Your attacks… it feels familiar. Did an Alfahon monks thought you?”

Ken did not reply, but it his eyes are enough for her to boldly assume.

“So, you were trained by Alfahon monks from Alfahon mountain.”

Ken’s eyes averted. “So what?”

“That makes us both came from the same kind.”

Ken’s eyes widened in surprise. He’s unsure if she’s telling the truth, but he felt that she’s not lying. Even still, she’s an enemy.

“Really?”

“Yes, but I left early before the Hayan Empire destroyed that place. You?”

He paused. “I was there.”

“You what?”

“I was there when they were slaughtered. I’m the only one who survived that day.”

Instead of having the feeling of sympathy, Yenne was rather more interested.

“I see. That must be the reason why you are so well. Your instincts have been sharpened when you were younger and your techniques are not half-bad, though, it could use some upgrade. Hey kid, considering that we came from the same kind, is there any other we can solve this without harming each other?”

“No. You guys wanted to use her for your own gains. You must be stopped at any cost.”

Ken’s decision is firmed. There is no doubt. The woman in front of her is indeed a threat.

“It’s quite surprising that a belligerent woman like you would want to negotiate.”

“I maybe not look like it, but I can be considerate sometimes.”

From calm, Yenne’s bloodlust came back and this time its different. She’s filled with malevolent intention.

“My name is Yenne. You?”

“Ken.”

It was appropriate for both warriors to reveal their name. It’s a sign of respect before they all go out.

“Well, Ken… as a warrior, do you think using brass knuckles is appropriate?”

Ken understood very well. He’s discontented as well. He is only using it to suppress his newly found ability.

“I know that you’re hiding something… powerful.”

Ken responded. “Speak for yourself. You have a body of a mammoth.”

“Oh yeah?”

“But I understand you. It’s really hard to fight with these things on.”

Ken set loose his brass knuckles. There’s a clang as it fell.

Both warriors marched forward. They stopped. They’re three feet away from each other. Ken and Yenne stood quietly.

Ken’s eyes quietly watched her. He’s feeling the ringing pain of her fingers from being freed from the constriction of the brass knuckles. He’s bearing it.

Yenne’s body is massive compared to him. The scars on her body became clearer as the sun were out of the trees and set on the horizon.

Yenne is an experienced woman. She devoted her life on fighting and defining her life through blood and deaths. She wasn’t feeling herself lately. Her entire time with the group she joined is boring. She didn’t face enemies that could thrill her, make her feel excited. It was until now that a fellow warrior from the same kind as she is she found excitement.

Seizing the peaked of their sizing each other, the two let out a roar.

There’s a thundering strike that completely shaken the road and the forest.

It’s their fist that produced that seemingly blast of a cannon. Each struggling to fend off one another.

At the end, they chose to moved back and formulate a plan to strike.