Mwana and the spectators were shocked by the revelation on Maji 1’s strength. From this new knowledge, Mwana knew he was physically outmatched but he still remained confident since he had his speed to rely on. The moment he landed on the ground, he started zooming around his opponent.

“You think I did not think of your speed before the match? Do you really think I am that naïve?”

“Summoning Magic: Silver Hawk Demon!”

With a raise of his right arm, the bracelet on Majimaji’s wrist lit up as dense magical energy rotated around it. This bracelet was clearly a magic treasure used by [Summoners] to summon and store spiritual beats and magical beast partners. Usually, only well off families could afford such a luxury.

A moment later, a violent bird cry could be heard from the sphere of magical power around Majimaji’s arm. A massive bird that was almost half the size of an adult man was summoned into the world using the magic vortex as a gateway. This bird had a shocking look that left everyone gasping. It looked like a cross between a biological creature and a technological monstrosity with silver metallic parts. This was a modified demonic beast that had undergone an extremely cruel process known as Demon Beast Modification.

Unlike spirit beasts, demonic beasts were not protected under the [Spirit Beast Protection Laws]. Demonic creatures were known to hunt, kill, and even eat humans. However, human beings also hunted demonic creatures in order to: harness their power, sell their body parts, create weapons, or even use them as experimental test subjects when testing new medicines, potions, or techniques.

After the bird circled around Majimaji, it perched itself on his back before melding itself onto him. The metallic parts seemed to move over Majimaji’s body like moving steel plates. The Hawk’s head rested over Majimaji’s head transforming into a bird-shaped silver helmet with glass-like purple eyes. The legs and claws of the bird melded into his arms granting him an armor of silver feathers over his arms and talons that looked as sharp as a sword.

However, the most noticeable thing was the large silver wings attached to Majimaji’s back that gave him the look of a silver-winged angel. This fusion process granted him the abilities of the Silver Hawk Demon.

Through the purple glass-like eyes on his helmet, Majimaji gained the perception ability [Hawkeye] which greatly improved his vision to capture Mwana’s movement. ‘Ha ha, I can see him clearly now. His speed is nothing to me in this form.’

The talons on Majimaji’s body granted him an attacking ability: [Sharp Talon Edge]. However, the most important part of the fusion was obviously the silver wings which granted Majimaji the ability to fly at extremely fast speeds through a technique called the [Wind Wings]. Maji did not hesitate to use his Wind Wings as he executed a high speed charge towards Mwana.

The two opponents clashed at extremely high speeds. Some of their age mates and children younger than them could not even capture Mwana and Majimaji’s figures with their own eyes. While Majimaji was using the Silver Hawk’s Wind Wings to move faster, Mwana was utilizing a total of 3 high speed movement techniques.

The [Linear Wind Spell], [100 Steps in an Instant], and [Withered Wood Dance] were all utilized at the same time which increased Mwana’s speed to a ridiculous level. The speed of sound that always seemed so far away from Mwana now seemed only a step away.

As the two boys engaged in close quarters combat, Majimaji used two different martial arts forms that greatly utilized his latent flexibility. These were [Club Fist] and the [Funga or Rope Acrobatics] martial forms.

On the other hand, Mwana mainly used [Dambe] to defend himself against his opponent’s blows. One of Mwana’s arms was wrapped in hardened white cloth increasing his striking power. His other arm was held in an outstretched position with the palm facing forward in order to: keep his opponent at bay, make parrying easier, and simultaneously reduce the opponent’s angle of attacks. This posture was Dambe’s basic stance.

On the fighting stage, the two boys showed a shocking mastery over the agility and stability of their own bodies as they exchanged dozens of blows every time they clashed. From his mastery over the [1000 leaves in one's palm] boxing technique, Mwana’s blows were so fast that heat radiated from his fists due to the friction.

However, Maji seemed to have a greater range than Mwana as his Club Fist clubbed Mwana over the head even from a distance away. A moment later, Mwana was disoriented and dropped to the ground. He quickly sprung back up again before his opponent could follow through with his attacks. Mwana immediately retaliated by unleashing a flurry of kicks from different angles kicking Maji away.

As Maji 1 was already at the initial stage of bone forging, he took less damage from Mwana’s attacks. As for Mwana, he could only withstand Maji’s blows as the latter had softer bones than other people in the same stage due to the bloodline of the aquatic octopus. This was a bloodline that prioritized flexibility over hardness.

“Majini, is that all you’ve got?”

“You might as well give up if that is the limit of your strength.”

“Are you really at bone forging realm or were you just boasting?”

Even while experiencing pain from his opponent’s blows, Mwana did not forget to continuously taunt Maji.

However, as the fight continued, it was clear that Maji would end up in the advantageous position if this ended up a protracted fight. Not only did he reach Bone Forging thus making his skeleton sturdier, his arms and more importantly his head were protected by the Silver Hawk armor.

“Bird Cry!”

“Screeeeeeeeeeeeetch!”

A powerful sonic attack spread from the stage almost deafening everyone’s ears. This technique knocked into Mwana almost making him pass out on the fighting stage. He was pushed back by the attack all the way to the edge of the stage. This was a sound attack launched through the power of Majimaji’s Silver Hawk Demon summoning.

One of the spectators who supported Maji 1 in the fight started commenting on seeing the turn of events.

“Mwana will lose.”

“What? Why? How can you be sure?”

At this point the fight seemed to be nearing the climax which fueled the spectators’ discussions once again.

“In the Funga Acrobatic martial arts, stepping into bone forging can grant more flexibility as the practitioners can even dislocate their joints with minimal pain. This allows them to use more difficult maneuvers. This state of achieving maximum flexibility through body manipulation is called [Flowing Body like Water]. This state is why Maji 1’s Club Fist is so lethal.”

“Despite Mwana and Maji 1 being the same height, Maji 1 has more reach with his Club Fist as he can dislocate his joints to strike further.”

“Dislocate bones?! Isn’t that too horrific?”

“Yes, but apparently it is not too painful for those who have achieved that state.”

“So in a battle of head on punches, Mwana loses?”

“Indeed. He has received several blows to the head while his opponent has a helmet on.”

“Man that sounds a bit unfair.”

“Some would argue money is also a form of strength. Unless someone is extremely honorable, they will use all the resources they have.”

Hearing these discussions, Mwana’s friends who were among the spectators could not help but worry for him. The battle on the fighting stage was intense as Maji 1 relentlessly attacked Mwana seeming as if he would never tire. Despite being on the attacking side the entire time and using numerous energy consuming attacks, Majimaji was still going strong as if he had infinite stamina.

“Fish Breathing Art! No wonder.”

This time it was Cheza who had exclaimed in shock. While observing the fight, he had noticed the subtle movement on Maji 1’s neck as if there were invisible gills on his neck. This was a Breath Control technique that originated from the Vua clan of fishermen called the [Fish Breathing Art]. While Maji 1’s breath control was not as powerful or exaggerated as what Waya had demonstrated to Mwana 3 days before, it was enough to boost his stamina to a great degree.

On the stage, Maji moved extremely nimbly showcasing his exceptional and inhuman flexibility. Mwana was able to evade him but at the end of the day, everyone has a limit. Maji finally got Mwana in a hold using the Funga martial arts. After all, the essence of this martial art was tying things up or binding opponents like a rope.

“Bind!”

The move was almost enough to choke Mwana to unconsciousness. Maji 1 clung tightly to Mwana’s neck as the two boys fell to the ground. Mwana could feel the blood run to his forehead as he was slowly suffocated. At this rate, his breath would be stifled causing him to pass out thus losing the match.

‘I cannot go down here. What is the point of challenging him if I go down? Things will be just as Mother said, it will not feel good to lose and this snake will only get more emboldened if he beats me. How can I stand up to him if I lose here?’

However, thinking was different from doing. While Mwana was desperately trying to escape, he still could not manage to get free of Majimaji’s grip. Mwana clawed, elbowed, and back-punched his opponent but Majimaji did not let go.

Majimaji was exhausted too and he knew that he would not get another clear chance at victory as good as this so he could only hold on amidst the assault, ‘Just a moment longer. I just have to hold on a moment longer and he will go to sleep. Victory will be mine!’

“Mwana don’t lose! “

“Don’t lose consciousness or it will all be over!”

“Mwana, Mwana, Mwa…”

As Mwana sunk into unconsciousness, he could hear his friends’ encouraging cries. ‘I don’t want to lose!’ His eyes scanned everywhere one last time hoping to see a lifeline. Finally, he had an idea! With his last burst of strength, Mwana stood up while Majimaji still held him in a lock. Mwana utilized all his high speed techniques accelerating to the maximum as a sonic boom erupted across the stage! In that moment of desperation, the speed of sound had been surpassed!

Usually, as Mwana had already reached 20 steps in an instant in his [100 steps in an instant] technique, he could already move at two thirds the speed of sound. By boosting the [linear wind spell] with most of his remaining magic power and adding on the [Withered Wood Dance], the speed of sound was finally surpassed.

While moving at extremely fast speeds, Mwana turned his back and smashed into a boulder sized piece of a detached part of the fighting stage, ‘you’ve reached bone forging, right? Your body can take it’. This piece of the fighting stage had broken off as the two boys fought with their flashy attacks earlier in the fight.

As Mwana had turned his back at the last moment, Maji 1’s back collided with the boulder-like rock at the speed of sound as he was smashed through it entirely. The pain was enough to make him wince and loosen his grip. If he had not stepped into bone forging, such an attack could have cracked his spine and broken many bones. Mwana did not lose the opportunity and proceeded to smash Maji 1’s face with the back of his fist.

“Weak.”

Mwana did not forget to add a scathing comment in an extremely arrogant tone as soon as he got free from his opponent’s grip despite the fact that he was just on the ropes earlier. It was always good to attack your opponent’s morale during a fight.

Maji did not have time to snap back at his opponent as he retreated on all fours like a panther to avoid Mwana’s somersault kick. The kick was followed by a downward leg swipe which Maji nimbly dodged by somersaulting in the air. Maji then retaliated by unleashing a moon spear with his moon bracelet which Mwana faced head on and countered with his [solar scorching fist]. The two attacks canceled each other out but Mwana’s fist still reached Maji.

As Mwana’s fist approached Maji’s face, he firmly grabbed it stopping it with his hand. From such a short distance, Mwana threw dozens of kicks at once which Maji blocked by raising his arms to guard. However, he still got launched into the air by the strong force. Mwana leaped to follow his opponent before turning his body upside down and threw a [Flying Spear Kick] which Maji countered from midair with his own [Falling Eagle Kick]. For a moment, their feet connected at the soles in mid-air as time seemed to have frozen. Both fighters were sweating heavily as the rivers of sweat fell from their bodies at what seemed like slow motion.

This was a moment worthy of a painting.