The sound of our shing energies echoed through Earth Fiend Valley like thunder, sending birds scattering from distant trees. Rocks tumbled from the cave ceiling as Adrian and I exchanged devastating blows.


    "By the gods," Marvin Howard whispered from the cave entrance. "I''ve never seen power like this."


    Conrad Thornton stood beside him, face grim. "They''re going to bring the whole mountain down at this rate."


    I barely registered their voices. My focus remained entirely on Adrian Bauer, who now inhabited the ancient holy body. His stolen form radiated terrifying power as we circled each other in the debris-strewn cavern.


    Blood dripped from a gash above my eye, blurring my vision. My ribs screamed in agony with every breath. But I wouldn''t back down.


    "You''re persistent," Adrian sneered, rolling his massive shoulders. "Most men would have fled by now."


    I spat blood onto the cave floor. "I''m not most men."


    "No," he agreed, his eyes glowing with unnatural light. "But you will be a dead one soon enough."


    Adrian lunged forward with impossible speed. His fist connected with my chest before I could fully raise my guard. The impact sent me flying backward, crashing through a stone column.


    Pain exploded through my body as I hit the ground hard. I struggled to my feet, wobbling as my vision swam.


    "Liam!" Conrad called out in rm.


    I raised my hand, signaling him to stay back. This was my fight.


    Adrian approached slowly, savoring my suffering. "This body is magnificent," he said, examining his hands with obvious pleasure. "Centuries of cultivation preserved in perfect condition. And now it''s mine."


    I steadied myself, ignoring the stabbing pain in my side. "Stolen power neversts."


    "We''ll see about that," Adrian replied.


    He moved again, faster than before. This time I was ready, activating my Secondyer Saintly Body Skill. Golden light erupted from my skin as my speed and strength instantly doubled.


    Our fists collided in midair, the shockwave cracking the ground beneath us. Adrian''s eyes widened in surprise as I matched his strength.


    "So you still had some tricks," he growled.


    I pressed my advantage,unching a flurry of strikes. My fists became golden blurs as I hammered at his defenses. For the first time, Adrian was forced to retreat.


    "The Saintly Body Skill," Marvin gasped from his observation point. "I thought it was just a legend."


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    Adrian blocked most of my attacks, but several connected solidly with his chest and face. Each impact resonated with a boom that shook the cavern. Yet his expression showed more annoyance than pain.


    "Enough!" he roared.


    Adrian nted his feet and began drawing energy from the environment. The temperature plummeted as he absorbed ambient power, his body glowing with umted force.


    "Holy Fist!" he bellowed,unching forward with a devastating punch.


    I crossed my arms to block, channeling all my defensive energy. The collision was catastrophic.


    Something in my left arm snapped like a twig. Blinding pain shot through me as Adrian''s attack overwhelmed my defenses. The golden glow of my Secondyer Saintly Body Skill flickered and died.


    I crashed into the far wall, my broken arm hanging useless at my side. Blood poured from fresh wounds as rock fragments embedded in my skin.


    "Liam!" Conrad shouted, starting forward.


    "Stay back!" Imanded through gritted teeth.


    Adrianughed, his voice echoing throughout the chamber. "Your pitiful skill can''t match this body''s power. I''ve barely started using its true capabilities."


    I pushed myself up with my good arm, swaying on my feet. My left arm dangled uselessly, obviously broken in multiple ces. Each breath felt like inhaling fire.


    "You should be on your knees by now," Adrian observed, tilting his head. "Begging for mercy."


    I spat more blood. "Not my style."


    "Then die standing," he snarled, gathering energy for another attack.


    The air around him distorted as he prepared another Holy Fist. This one would certainly kill me if it connected.


    I closed my eyes, diving deep into my core. There had to be more power, something beyond the Secondyer that I hadn''t yet essed. My life depended on it.


    "Die!" Adrian roared,unching forward.


    Time seemed to slow as I searched within myself. Past the familiar golden energy of my Saintly Body Skill, I sensed something more—a zing furnace of power, sealed behind a final barrier.


    The Third Layer.


    With a primal scream, I shattered the barrier.


    Adrian''s fist was inches from my face when my eyes snapped open. Blinding white-gold light erupted from my body, so intense that Adrian recoiled, shielding his eyes.


    "What is this?!" he shouted.


    My broken arm knitted itself together with audible cracks. My wounds closed. Energy surged through my veins like liquid fire, transforming pain into raw power.


    "Impossible!" Marvin gasped from the entrance. "The Third Layer of the Saintly Body Skill? No one has achieved that in centuries!"


    Adrian recovered from his surprise and attacked again. This time, I saw his movements as if he were moving through water. I sidestepped his punch effortlessly, countering with a palm strike to his chest.


    The impact sent him flying across the cavern, crashing through several stone formations.


    "How?" Adrian demanded as he climbed from the rubble, genuine fear in his eyes now. "How did you suddenly be so powerful?"


    I looked down at my hands, marveling at the white-gold energy swirling around them. "Even I don''t fully understand my potential yet."


    For the first time, Adrian seemed uncertain. He nced toward the exit, perhaps considering retreat.


    "Don''t even think about running," I warned. "This ends here."


    Adrian''s face contorted with rage. "You think you''ve won? I''ve barely scratched the surface of this body''s capabilities!"


    He mmed his fists together, creating a shockwave that rattled the entire cave. Dark energy swirled around him, merging with the power of the holy body.


    "Witness true mastery!" he shouted.


    Adrianunched a barrage of attacks, each more powerful than thest. I dodged most, blocked some, and weathered others. Even with my Third Layer activated, his strikes carried tremendous force.


    One particrly vicious punch connected with my jaw, snapping my head back. But instead of falling, I smiled.


    "My turn," I said quietly.


    I moved with supernatural speed, appearing behind Adrian before he could react. My elbow smashed into his spine, driving him forward. As he stumbled, I materialized in front of him, my knee rising to meet his descending face.


    The impact echoed like a thunderp. Adrian staggered backward, blood pouring from his nose.


    "That body might be powerful," I said, pressing my advantage with a series of lightning-fast strikes, "but you haven''t earned its strength. You don''t know how to use it properly."


    Adrian roared in frustration, swinging wildly. I weaved through his attacks,nding precise counters that slowly wore him down.


    "Stand still and fight me!" he demanded.


    "As you wish," I replied.


    I nted my feet and met his next charge head-on. Our fists collided with catastrophic force, creating a crater beneath our feet. The shockwave sted outward, nearly knocking our observers off their feet.


    "They''re monsters," the woman whispered to Marvin. "Both of them."


    We separated, both breathing heavily. Despite his holy body''s natural advantages, Adrian was showing signs of fatigue. He hadn''t mastered its energy consumption.


    I, on the other hand, felt my power continuing to grow as I adapted to the Third Layer.


    "This isn''t possible," Adrian growled. "That body was cultivated for centuries! No one should be able to match it!"


    I smiled grimly. "You stole power. I earned mine."


    Adrian''s eyes zed with hatred. "Then let''s end this with everything we have!"


    He drew in a massive breath, gathering all his remaining energy. Dark power mixed with the holy body''s natural force, creating a swirling vortex around his right fist.


    I mirrored his preparation, channeling the Third Layer''s energy into my own attack. The white-gold light concentrated around my right hand, growing so intense it was painful to look at directly.


    "HOLY FIST!" Adrian bellowed, charging forward with his ultimate attack.


    "Beginning shes... HOLY FIST!" I countered, meeting his charge.


    Our attacks collided with apocalyptic force. The ground beneath us shattered. The cave walls cracked from floor to ceiling. Marvin and the others dove for cover as debris rained down around them.


    For a moment, we were locked in perfect stalemate, neither giving an inch. Then I felt something shift in the bnce.


    Adrian''s eyes widened in shock. A terrible cracking sound cut through the roar of our colliding energies.


    His fist—the one channeling his ultimate attack—was breaking under the pressure of my counterattack.


    "No!" Adrian screamed, his face contorting in pain and disbelief. "NOOO!"


    The bones in his hand shatteredpletely as my Holy Fist overwhelmed his. The stolen body that was supposed to be invincible had failed him.