Ruckle didn't waste a breath.
The moment Zain finished speaking, he launched forward again.
"Let's see if you can dodge this one, hero!"
He surged ahead and jumped, his entire body twisting mid-air as he raised his fist overhead.
BOOM!
He came down like a meteor, his Knuckle Burst exploding on impact with the concrete.
Cracks spiderwebbed outward as the ground cratered under the force.
But Zain wasn't there.
"Too slow."
Ruckle's eyes widened as Zain reappeared behind him in a flash.
Quick Step.
Zain's leg snapped out in a low roundhouse, aiming to knock Ruckle off balance.
CRACK—
The kick connected, but Ruckle didn't stumble.
Instead, he grinned mid-spin, scooping up a jagged slab of the shattered pavement from the impact.
"You like playing clean, hero? I don't."
He hurled the concrete chunk straight into Zain's face.
Zain barely had time to react.
THUNK.
The slab slammed into him, throwing off his stance and knocking him back a few steps.
Ruckle didn't hesitate. He was already moving again.
"This is a fight, not a tournament! No rules here!"
Zain wiped the dust off his cheek with the back of his hand, eyes narrowed.
"Tch. So we're playing dirty now? Fine by me."
His lips curled into a grin.
Zain took a subtle breath in—then exhaled, barely noticeable.
As Ruckle charged forward, there was a sudden pop in the air near his shoulder.
Then—
BOOM!
A small explosion burst to life right beside him.
Ruckle staggered, smoke sizzling off his upper arm.
"What the hell—?! Where did that come from?!"
But before he could process it—another detonation.
This time near his temple.
BANG!
Ruckle's head snapped violently to the side, blood gushing from the deep wound.
Zain stood still, one hand casually resting on his hip.
The faintest wisp of smoke curled from the corner of his mouth.
"Wow. You really are a C-Rank villain."
He smirked.
"Didn't even die after that. Tough skull."
Ruckle only growled as he pushed himself up, shaking the haze from his eyes.
"You little bastard—"
And again, he charged, fists blazing with red energy.
Zain exhaled again, calmly this time.
Another invisible burst snapped through the air—
BOOM!
This one hit Ruckle's chest, sending him flying backward.
He skidded across the ground, groaning as he used both forearms to block most of the blast.
He rolled once, coughed, and slammed his fist into the dirt.
"What the hell is happening?!"
"Where are these explosions coming from?!"
Zain tilted his head.
"You fight dirty, I fight smarter. Or maybe—"
He raised his fingers to his lips.
"It's just one of my other little tricks."
Ruckle's eyes narrowed.
"How many damn abilities do you have?!"
Zain just smirked, casually rolling his neck.
"Enough to defeat you. That's all you need to know."
Ruckle growled deep in his throat and scanned the wreckage.
His gaze landed on a twisted sheet of steel, half-buried in the rubble.
He stepped toward it, yanked it loose, and held it up with one hand—like a makeshift shield.
"You wanna play the range game?"
Ruckle sneered.
"Fine. Let's see how you handle this!"
He tossed the heavy steel plate into the air like a frisbee—then punched it mid-air with his glowing right fist.
BOOM!
Knuckle Burst activated.
The steel plate rocketed toward Zain, spinning like a deadly sawblade.
Zain's grin didn't fade.
He calmly took a deep breath in—and exhaled.
BOOM!
The plate detonated mid-air, breaking into hundreds of jagged shards.
But—
"Tch… damn it!" Zain cursed.
The explosion had scattered steel fragments in every direction.
The shards tore through the air toward him like razors.
Zain crossed his arms and braced.
CLANG! CLANG! SHNK!
Sparks flew as the shards slammed into his body.
His Hard Skin ability activating, shielding him from the worst.
A few pieces pierced his jacket, shallow cuts forming on his arms and legs.
"Ugh… Still hurts."
Across the field, Ruckle smirked.
"I knew it. Even if your body's tough, there's a limit. Let's turn up the pressure."
He reached into the rubble again.
This time, he pulled out a larger piece of concrete rebar and steel siding, then another, and another.
"Come on, pretty boy! Try breathing that away!"
He hurled a massive steel beam toward Zain, followed by chunks of a crumbling wall.
Zain's expression shifted. His breathing was sharp now—
"Shit. I've already filled the air with too much energy..."
Zain immediately crouched low and crossed his arms.
The wind howled as another wave of steel and concrete came crashing toward him.
"Can't detonate any more breath right now."
His eyes narrowed.
"Guess I'll have to endure it."
CRASH! CRACK! SMASH!
Chunks of debris slammed into him—Zain grunted as the impact rocked his stance.
His Hard Skin absorbed the brunt, but slashes and bruises still formed across his arms, shoulders, and ribs.
Blood ran down his forearm, trickling onto the ground.
Across the clearing, Ruckle was panting too, holding his right shoulder.
Though grinning, his face was scratched, and several shallow cuts lined his arms and neck.
Shards from his own earlier attack had hit him too.
Zain stood up slowly, bloodied but steady.
Ruckle spat onto the ground.
"Tough bastard… You're still standing after that?"
Zain flexed his fingers.
"I could say the same. Guess your own junk didn't spare you either, huh?"
Ruckle chuckled bitterly.
"What can I say? I fight dirty—even if it means hurting myself. Long as I win."
Zain took a slow, deep breath, smirking.
"Yeah… same here. As long as I win."
His voice dropped, colder now.
"But playtime's over. I need to finish this."
Without hesitation, Zain reached into his coat and pulled out the black pistol again.
He opened the magazine and exhaled softly into it before closing it.
Ruckle's eyes narrowed.
"Tch… not this trick again. You're loading breath into a damn gun now?"
Zain raised the weapon, aiming it straight at Ruckle's chest.
"I'm just speeding things up. I've got better things to do than babysit gang trash."
He squeezed the trigger.
PFTT—BOOM!A silent discharge—then an explosion erupted behind Ruckle as he dove to the side.
The blast tore through a pile of metal where he'd been standing.
Ruckle rolled and came up cursing.
"Damn you… A hero using a gun?! What kind of twisted joke are you?!"
Zain walked forward, slow and calm.
"Come on. You heard my hero name, right?"
He stopped a few meters away, eyes gleaming.
"Heavenly Demon. Heavenly to the people…"
He raised the pistol again, cocking it with one hand.
"And a demon to you villains."
Ruckle growled, fists trembling.
"Tch… you're insane!"
Zain's voice dropped low.
"No. I'm just efficient. Now sit down."