The forest race was becoming increasingly intense. The strong ones clashed violently, turning the competition into utter chaos.
Boston vs. Chase
Boston smirked as he tossed his shirt aside, flexing his muscles. His fiery aura burned brightly around him. "Where do you think you're going? We're just getting started," he said, his eyes locked on Chase.
Chase remained silent, his expression unreadable.
Boston frowned. "That move—"
"Ahhhhhhhhh," Chase interrupted, stretching his arms in frustration. "I'm tired. I just want to finish this damn race and relax. But, of course, I run into you, and now I have to fight."
Boston chuckled. "Huh? I can't believe the Copy Genius is tired."
"Of course I am," Chase shot back, rubbing his temple. "Do you know how many assholes I had to deal with just to get this far? And now, I have to deal with you."
Boston grinned. "Hehe... Anyway, that move you used to knock me to the ground—how did you copy it so fast?"
Chase sighed. "I don't really know. I just thought of doing it, and it came to me—bam!" He snapped his fingers for emphasis.
Boston's smirk widened. "Alright, that's all I needed to know."
Without warning, he charged straight at Chase, his fist engulfed in roaring flames. Chase barely managed to dodge in time, but as he moved, he felt a sharp sting on his cheek. He touched the spot and saw blood.
Shit… that was fast.
Before he could react further, Boston appeared behind him and delivered a powerful smack to his back, sending him crashing to the ground.
Boston laughed, standing over him. "What happened? Are you surprised?"
Chase groaned as he got up. "Yes. Yes, I am."
Boston's gaze turned serious. "You see, I trained like hell to reach this level. I will become the strongest."
Chase chuckled. "But you can never reach Steven."
Boston's eyes darkened with anger. "Watch your mouth," he warned.
"What? Too scared to hear the truth?" Chase teased.
Boston snapped. Fueled by rage, he lunged at Chase with an even stronger fire punch. Chase raised his hand in defense, coating it with lightning chi to absorb the impact. Sparks flew as their energies clashed.
"Aww," Chase taunted. "That must have hurt." With a swift motion, he delivered a powerful kick to Boston, sending him flying backward.
Boston landed on his feet, his expression furious. "You bastard!"
Chase sighed, rolling his shoulders. "Okay, time to take you seriously and end this. I'll copy the embodiment of my role model."
Boston's eyes gleamed with determination. "Bring it on."
Both fighters charged at each other once more.
Somewhere Else in the Forest...
Dan sprinted through the trees, his focus entirely on finishing the race.
Damn it, he thought. I can't figure out that chi gates technique Ash told me about. Forget it—I just need to finish this race.
As he leaped from tree to tree, his gaze caught sight of a girl surrounded by a large group of competitors. His eyes widened in recognition.
Wait… isn't that the girl who stopped Ash, Steven, and Alexis from fighting in the hall? His mind flashed back to their brief interaction. She also called me cute… I have to help.
The girl, Esther, a Knight Exam candidate from the Air Nation's 2nd Branch, stood tall despite being outnumbered.
"Hah… all of you ganging up on me, thinking I'm weak?" She clenched her fists, air chi swirling around her. "I'll show you with this special move—"
Before she could strike, Dan dropped down from the trees and swiftly took out several opponents with precise and powerful attacks.
When the dust settled, he turned to her. "Hey, are you alright?"
Esther blinked in surprise, her face slightly flushed. It's that cute boy… he came to save me!
"Hello?" Dan waved a hand in front of her face. "Are you listening?"
Esther snapped out of her daze. "What? Oh, yeah! I'm fine. Your name is Dan, right?"
Dan grinned. "Yeah! You actually remembered my name?"
Esther smiled. "It's an easy name to remember."
Before they could continue their conversation, they both sensed an attack coming.
"You feel that?" Esther asked.
Dan nodded. "Yeah. I sense it."
Both of them dodged just as a wire shot toward them. Dan grabbed it midair and yanked the attacker toward them.
The competitor, Pell, a wire chi user, cursed under his breath. "Shit!"
Esther readied herself for battle. "Let's—"
Dan held up a hand. "No need. You should go and complete the race. This guy doesn't seem strong. I'll finish him off fast—just leave him to me." He flashed a confident smile.
Esther hesitated, then nodded. "Alright."
As she ran off, Pell clenched his fists. "Do you think I'm some kind of pushover?"
Dan tilted his head. "Yeah. The people I've faced so far were way stronger."
Pell gritted his teeth. "Screw you!"
He lashed out with multiple wire whips, trying to ensnare Dan, but Dan dodged effortlessly, deflecting some of the wires with his hands.
Pell's face paled. "Oh no—"
Dan suddenly disappeared from view, reappearing in front of Pell at lightning speed. With a flurry of rapid lightning punches, he struck Pell all over his body, finishing with a devastating lightning kick to the face.
Pell collapsed to the ground, completely defeated.
Dan dusted off his hands. "Wasn't even a challenge."
Without another glance, he turned and dashed forward to complete the race.
Back to Boston vs. Chase
The battle raged on. Boston delivered powerful fire-infused punches, while Chase countered with quick and precise lightning kicks.
Boston growled, frustration creeping into his voice. "Damn you and your annoying kicks!"
Chase smirked. "I thought you wanted them."
"Asshole!"
Chase suddenly launched a kick to Boston's chin, sending him slightly airborne. He followed up with a spinning kick to the head, but Boston blocked it and retaliated with one of his special moves—Fire Fury Punches. A barrage of flaming fists struck Chase, forcing him back.
Boston grinned. "How do you like that?"
Chase wiped his lip. "Tch."
Boston leaped onto a tree branch, flames surging around him. "Time to end this!"
Chase cracked his neck. "Yeah, I agree."
Both fighters jumped into the air.
Boston charged a massive amount of fire chi for his next special move—Fire Fury Blast. As he aimed it at Chase and prepared to launch, Chase suddenly kicked his hand upward, redirecting the attack toward the sky.
Boston's eyes widened. "What the—"
Before he could recover, Chase spun midair and executed his own special move—Explicit. He delivered a devastating kick to Boston's head, sending him hurtling toward the ground at blinding speed.
Boston crashed into the dirt, the impact leaving a deep crater.
Chase let out a sigh as he landed. "Finally, I'm done… Time to go."
Winner: Chase
With Boston defeated, Chase continued toward the race's finish line, ready to leave the fight behind him.