As the fight intensified, the fighters’ strengths gradually became clearer.

Uchoyo threw a powerful straight punch which Mwana received with the top part of his elbow deflecting it above his head. Mwana then aimed a blow at his opponent’s solar plexus as he closed in. ‘In-fighting!’ Uchoyo silently exclaimed but he still could not react fast enough. His size which was usually an advantage became a disadvantage once Mwana closed in, Uchoyo found his defensive techniques restrained for a time. However, he was still a skilled warrior with much more combat experience than Mwana. Instead of backing away from Mwana’s blow, he chose to move forward in order to reduce the distance Mwana’s punch could cover hence reducing its impact.

At the same time, Uchoyo’s huge body collided with Mwana literally ‘bodying’ him. Mwana was just as fast in his reaction as he moved back at the last second before stumbling with a midair flip. Unfortunately, Uchoyo had already zipped behind him! A punch so heavy like getting hit by a train landed on Mwana’s back. Everyone who saw that scene flinched for Mwana’s sake.

However, a golden luster could be seen shimmering on Mwana’s skin as he activated the [Golden Statue technique]. As he was shining with a golden color, it made his dark skin appear bronze gold. However Mwana knew this wasn’t enough to counter the might of that blow. This all happened in the instant the blow landed on his back, Mwana activated the [Golden Statue technique] and subsequently, the [Millennium Wood technique], another basic technique. This technique might have been basic but it had an extensive history.

It was said that an expert created the wood technique by observing a thousand year old tree for decades. An even crazier theory said that it was created by an expert who meditated in a forest filled with millennium trees for a thousand years. Both techniques, the [Golden Statue] and [Millennium Wood technique], required the body to be rigid.

The strength of Uchoyo’s blow would push Mwana at least 10 or 20 meters mid-air and he instinctually knew Uchoyo would be at the end waiting to knock him again. Uchoyo’s movement speed was faster and just as he had been able to get behind him, he would zip back again in front of him and Mwana would be defenseless and end up getting knocked around like a ping pong.

Although everything was happening in the fraction of a second, Mwana’s brain worked at overdrive to predict where he would land. It was complex calculation accounting for the force he was launched at, the distance he would cover and most importantly, comparing it to Uchoyo’s rushing speed.

At almost the last moment, Mwana used a fist technique, the [Concave Fist], to slow his momentum making Uchoyo miss his strike by just a sliver. This technique was taught to Mwana by Jua Waya, who he had drawn a celebration portrait of. It functioned by forming a concave barrier with ones energy around their fist which would collect the air in front of the fist allowing one’s punches to carry air pressure shockwaves.

These shockwaves were what allowed Mwana to slow his momentum even as he had been sent flying by Uchoyo. This opportunity gave him a chance to land a blow at Uchoyo’s chest as the later had missed his strike. Uchoyo was punched almost 5 meters away sliding on the ground and creating two feet deep skid marks on the field. However, it was Mwana’s fist that was hurting with the skin on his knuckles shaved while Uchoyo’s injuries only resulted in some mild pain. Seeing Mwana wincing, Uchoyo couldn’t help but laugh.

“Hahaha, this is the difference between bone forging and skin hardening. Regret it yet?”

“Nonsense!” Mwana’s responded while waving away the pain. What was a little pain in comparison to his dignity?