Anderson launched a flurry of kicks, aiming for Erik's midsection with precision. Erik defended with all his might, blocking and evading as best as possible. He countered with powerful punches, aiming for Anderson's head and torso. But his opponent's evasiveness was unmatched, and he slipped through Erik's defenses, landing a swift strike to Erik's ribs.
The awakener winced, feeling the sting of the blow, but he refused to back down. He retaliated with a fierce kick of his own, aiming for Anderson's legs. His opponent responded with a swift dodge without wasting a second, but Erik followed up with a spinning back fist that grazed Anderson's cheek.
"Whoa, that was dangerous," Anderson said as he had just evaded the move.
"More are coming!" Erik said with a smirk on his face. However, he started to get a little bit frustrated. He knew that his friend was not an easy opponent, but the problems he was having while fighting him despite his physical superiority were too great.
<Damn, I now understand how he was able to keep up with Nathaniel despite never using his brain's crystal power…> The awakener thought. Then he realized he would be dead by now if Nathaniel had been as good as him in martial arts. Not even his multiple powers could have saved him in that case.
The fight continued at a breakneck speed, with neither Erik nor Anderson surrendering. They were both battered and bruised, with Anderson having fewer wounds on his body than Erik, but their determination was high, and the fact they were having a ton of fun prevented them from doing so.
That was very surprising, as Erik thought that his friend would be the one on the receiving end despite everything. At that moment, he truly realized how essential the basics were and how martial arts skills mattered. Yeah, that was a confrontation purely based on physical prowess and skills, but that didn't mean Anderson was less strong just because he couldn't use his power. Erik was amazed by his opponent and friend's ability to fight.
With these thoughts in mind, Erik pressed forward, determined to prove himself. He lunged at Anderson with a series of rapid punches, but Anderson skillfully dodged and weaved, avoiding most of the strikes.
<Damn, he is a damn eel!>
Erik's friend retaliated with a spinning kick, catching Erik off-guard and sending him sprawling to the ground again.
"You are starting to piss me off now," Erik said.
"You are pissed off? What about me, then? I am the one who must deal with your ridiculous speed!" Anderson replied.
"Well, you did it well until now! It's already the third time my face has met the ground."
Anderson sighed. A slight pause ensued as both fighters breathed heavily, their bodies covered in sweat and the bruises multiplying. They locked eyes again, acknowledging their respect for each other's skills. However, Anderson was aware he was starting to reach his limits. Erik's physical conditions were simply too much for him to cope with. This slowly became a battle of attrition that he was losing, but that was expected, knowing Erik.
They circled each other cautiously, assessing their next moves. Erik's mind raced as he searched for an opening in Anderson's defense, but there were none. He feinted left and then quickly changed direction, relaunching a powerful kick. Anderson blocked it, but Erik followed up with a lightning-fast punch to Anderson's gut. Anderson grunted but retaliated with a quick knee strike to Erik's chest, sending him staggering.
Erik gained some distance and started observing Anderson once again, something his opponent reciprocated. Then both dashed toward each other, and the fight continued, each fighter giving their all. They traded punches, kicks, and grapples, showcasing their entire arsenal of techniques. The training room was filled with the sounds of their exertion, the impact of their blows, and their heavy breathing.
The healer kept watching the fight go on; it was now reaching a climax, and he could see it from the fighters' moves. He knew that one wrong move could mean the end for either of them. Martin couldn't help but feel a sense of admiration for both fighters, who had trained tirelessly for this moment. As he watched, he couldn't help but wonder who would emerge victorious in this intense battle.
Erik and Anderson were locked in a grueling clinch, each trying to gain the upper hand. They pushed and strained against each other, their muscles bulging with effort. Sweat dripped from their foreheads as they fought for supremacy.
"It's been a hell of a fight," Anderson said, his voice hoarse.
Erik nodded, a smirk forming on his face. "Indeed. But I'm not done yet."
The two continued their intense battle, but Anderson's experience and fighting genius made it so that the slight advantage he earned until now gave Erik a lot of ache and pain that was preventing him from winning once and for all.
Years of training in martial arts gave Anderson a keen sense of anticipation, allowing him to read Erik's intentions and respond with lightning-fast reflexes. He seemed to predict all of Erik's moves before they even happened, leaving Erik frustrated. He wasn't always successful; he was not a god, but the bruises on Erik's body were a testament to that skill's superiority, and besides, they were much more than his own.
Every time Erik attempted a punch or kick, Anderson would swiftly counter with a precise strike, exploiting the awakener's patterns and weaknesses. This was the only way he could fight head-on against his friend, and he was aware of that.
In his mind, he already recognized Erik's strength. The awakener's frustration grew, and he realized he had to step up the game to defeat Anderson. He needed to adapt and find a way to outsmart his opponent.
<Let me try this,> the young man said to himself.
From that moment on, the young man changed his approach, feinting and using deceptive footwork to throw off Anderson's predictions. He aimed for Anderson's legs, hoping to impair his mobility and throw him off balance. His opponent's movements became more defensive, and his focus shifted to protecting his lower body.
"C'mon…"
Erik's frustration turned into determination. He focused his mind and tapped into his reserves of speed and agility, unleashing a flurry of lightning-fast strikes. Anderson was caught off guard by Erik's sudden burst of speed.
"Were you holding back?" Anderson asked.
"A bit; I hope you won't get offended," Erik said while circling around him. The fighting genius sighed but didn't let this get the best of him.
However, he struggled to keep up with Erik's rapid movements, barely blocking or evading Erik's attacks. The awakener's punches and kicks came from all angles, testing Anderson's defense to its limits.
Erik's relentless assault forced Anderson to back down, trying to create distance to regain his composure. But Erik was relentless, closing the gap with astonishing speed. He dodged Anderson's attempted counter and delivered a strong uppercut before spinning a kick that knocked Anderson off balance.
Thornton's top student's experience and fighting genius were being challenged like never before. He realized that he couldn't solely rely on his tactical approach anymore. What he didn't know was that Erik was pushing himself to the limit this time.
Anderson shifted his strategy, relying on his instincts and reflexes honed through years of martial arts training, as he started having problems keeping up with his opponent. He was able to evade Erik's attacks and hit him with a sharp jab and a quick, low kick that threw Erik off balance.
"Shit… That was heavy…" Erik said.
"You are not the only one with surprises," Anderson replied with a smile on his face; he was genuinely enjoying the fight despite everything.
Erik didn't let up. He recovered quickly and pressed on, his determination driving him forward. He weaved through Anderson's defenses, landing strikes that kept him on his toes.
The fight became a blur of movement again, but things were much faster than before. The two exchanged blows, both fighters showcasing their skills and pushing each other to their limits, and that was especially true for Anderson.
As the fight continued, his fatigue started reaching very high levels. Sweat soaked his clothes, much more than in Erik's case, and his breathing grew heavier.
"Are you tired?" Erik asked with a smirk.
Anderson ignored his taunt and kept trading blows with his friend, each refusing to yield.
Erik's increased speed and determination had put Anderson in serious difficulty. He struggled to predict Erik's moves now as Erik varied his attacks, mixing up his punches and kicks with feints and combos. Anderson's movements became more reactive, but his defense became less impenetrable.
"Shit!" Anderson swore for the first time during the fight.
Sensing an opportunity, Erik seized the moment. He unleashed a powerful punch, aiming for Anderson's head. But Anderson's fighting genius kicked in, and he managed to evade the full force of the blow, only taking a glancing hit.
Anderson retaliated with a quick jab to Erik's ribs, causing Erik to wince in pain.
"You are a monster!" Erik said with an astonished look.
"So you are!"
Erik pushed forward once again, utilizing his speed and strength to their maximum potential. He launched a barrage of attacks, each strike coming faster and harder than before.
Anderson struggled to keep up with Erik's relentless assault. He tried to counter, but Erik's speed and strength were too much. His strikes were getting through now, landing with precision and impact.
Then both punched, and their fists met, making a loud impact noise. The two fighters stood facing each other; they were both exhausted.
"You are good…" Erik spoke between breaths, his admiration for Anderson evident in his tone.
Anderson nodded with a slight smile on his face. "So are you," he replied, acknowledging Erik's skills once again.
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