章 17: Chapter: 16 Crazy fight

[REVOLUTIONARY ARMY'S HIDDEN HEADQUARTERS]

[TRAINING FACILITY]

The expansive training hall stood silent, its polished stone floors stretching beneath towering archways.

Torches mounted along the walls cast flickering light across the room, their glow creating long, shifting shadows.

The faint scent of sweat lingered in the air, a testament to countless hours of rigorous training that had taken place here.

Leo stood in the center of the hall, deep in thought. His aquamarine eyes glimmered faintly under the torchlight, their intensity betraying the storm of emotions churning within him.

His musings were interrupted by the soft, measured sound of approaching footsteps.

From the shadows emerged a figure garbed in the Revolutionary Army's uniform.

The uniform itself was unremarkable, but the wooden mask obscuring the man's face immediately captured Leo's attention.

The masked figure's black eyes locked onto Leo's aquamarine gaze as he stepped closer.

Recognizing the deliberate movements, Leo stood in silence, mere steps apart from the masked man.

The air between them heavy with unspoken tension. If anyone else had been present in the hall, they would have witnessed an unusual sight, two masked individuals, their height disparity stark, facing each other in stillness.

The silence was short-lived. Without warning, the masked man lashed out with a lightning-fast kick aimed directly at Leo's gut.

BAM!

The blow sent Leo staggering backward, slamming into the cold stone wall. Gritting his teeth against the pain, he quickly regained his footing, drawing a dagger from his belt in one fluid motion.

Before Leo could fully prepare himself, the masked man closed the distance between them in a flash, his short sword gleaming ominously in the torchlight.

Their blades clashed, but Leo's inexperience became evident as his opponent redirected the strike effortlessly, the blade slicing toward Leo's arm.

SHIKK.

A sharp pain shot through Leo as blood seeped from a deep gash on his forearm. The metallic tang filled the air, but Leo refused to falter.

Shifting into a defensive stance, he gripped his dagger tightly, his aquamarine eyes blazing with determination.

The masked man advanced slowly, each deliberate step echoing ominously in the hall.

His movements exuded confidence, as though he were merely toying with Leo, a predator cornering its prey.

Leo's mind raced as he fought to keep up with the relentless assault. Every strike pushed him further back, his attempts at retaliation easily evaded or countered.

Despite his efforts, the masked man's overwhelming speed and precision left him on the brink of exhaustion.

Cuts and bruises began to accumulate across Leo's body, blood dripping steadily onto the stone floor.

The pain was intense, but Leo endured it, his resolve unshaken. He had experienced worse during his time in the laboratory, endless experiments that pushed his pain tolerance to inhuman levels.

'This is nothing compared to what I've been through,' he thought grimly, his grip on the dagger tightening. 'I can't lose. Not here.'

Images of his family flashed in his mind, Liya and Ron, their smiles etched into his memory.

His hatred burned brighter with every passing second.

His anger solidified as he made a bold decision. Coating his dagger with his own blood, he prepared to turn his injury into a weapon.

SIZZLE.

A faint hissing sound accompanied the blood soaking into the blade, and Leo felt the warmth of regeneration coursing through his body.

The wounds on his arm began to knit themselves back together, the pain gradually subsiding as his enhanced abilities took hold.

The masked man paused momentarily, his black eyes narrowing in recognition of Leo's unnatural healing.

He adjusted his stance, his movements now tinged with a cautious respect.

Leo, however, paid no attention to his opponent's reaction. He focused on steadying his breath, his determination growing with each passing moment.

Gathering his strength, Leo dashed forward with newfound speed, his dagger aimed for the masked man's throat.

But his opponent was prepared. With fluid precision, the man sidestepped the strike, his short sword flashing in retaliation.

Leo countered with a punch aimed at the man's stomach, but it was effortlessly avoided. The masked man retaliated with a powerful kick, sending Leo crashing into a nearby training dummy.

BAM!

Despite the setback, Leo rose to his feet again, his aquamarine eyes gleaming with fierce resolve. His body was battered, his movements slower, but he refused to back down.

As the masked man charged at him once more, Leo prepared for a desperate gamble.

Their weapons clashed again, the sound of steel meeting steel ringing through the hall.

The masked man's superior technique was evident as he disarmed Leo with a swift slash, sending the dagger clattering to the floor.

SHIKK.

Blood sprayed as the short sword sliced into Leo's palms, severing his grip on the weapon.

The masked man's blade shifted toward Leo's shoulder, cutting deep into the joint. Confident in his victory, the man delivered a powerful punch aimed at Leo's temple.

In that moment, a devilish grin spread across Leo's face behind his mask.

As the punch neared, Leo hurled a handful of sand into the masked man's face.

Though momentarily blinded, the seasoned fighter remained calm, instinctively pulling back his sword.

But Leo was relentless. Ignoring the pain in his injured hands, he gripped the blade tightly and drove it deeper into his own flesh, trapping the weapon.

CHIIK.

The sound of steel piercing flesh echoed through the hall, and a flicker of disbelief crossed the masked man's features.

Seizing the moment, Leo stomped on the man's feet with bone-crushing force.

CRACK.

A muffled groan escaped the man as his knees buckled. Without hesitation, Leo delivered a headbutt, the impact sending the masked man sprawling to the ground.

BAM!

Leo pounced, unleashing a flurry of punches aimed at his opponent's head.

The sound of their masks colliding and cracking reverberated through the hall, blood seeping from both combatants.

But even as Leo pressed his advantage, a strange sensation began to creep through his body. A cold numbness spread from his neck, his movements slowing as his strength faded.

His vision blurred, the world around him tilting as darkness crept into his mind. His battered body collapsed beside his opponent, the hall falling silent once more.

The outcome of the battle remained uncertain, as the torches flickered softly against the still figures on the stone floor.