Boom!
From deep within the forest came the sound of repeated explosions.
Kirito slowly awoke from his slumber, eyes fluttering open as he let out a helpless chuckle.
"Looks like this place isn't meant for resting after all~"
After lying there for a while longer, he felt his strength beginning to return. With a deep breath, he stood up and stretched, bones cracking pleasantly with each movement.
After the exhausting grind, letting the mountain breeze wash over him for a moment felt quite refreshing. Just as he was about to make his way back down the mountain, footsteps and the sound of labored breathing approached from the other side of the woods.
Kirito turned toward the sound and saw Sasuke walking out from the trees, looking clearly drained.
"Yo~ Awake already?" Sasuke said with a smirk, his tone laced with a hint of mocking pride, as if the diligent were looking down on the slacker.
Kirito didn't mind. He nodded slightly. "Yeah... this intense training really wears you out."
Sasuke also nodded in agreement, then gave a faint, confident smile as he clenched his fist.
"But I can feel it. I've gotten a lot stronger."
"Is that so? Then congrats," Kirito replied flatly, giving a small wave as he turned to leave.
But just as he was about to walk away,
"Hey, Kirito," Sasuke suddenly called out.
Kirito looked back, puzzled, but then noticed the serious look in Sasuke's eyes, and immediately understood.
"You're not serious, are you?" Kirito asked with a hint of disbelief. "You really think now's a good time to spar?"
"Hah. Talking to someone sharp is so much better than dealing with the idiot on my team," Sasuke said with a wry grin. "And if we're talking stamina, we're probably about even right now."
"So?" Kirito asked.
"You know what I mean." Sasuke's eyes were sharp, unwavering.
Kirito paused for a moment, then exhaled softly. "Fine. If you're in the mood, I don't mind humoring you."
"We'll see if it's just 'humoring' once we start," Sasuke smirked as he shifted into a fighting stance.
Deep down, he had never let go of the loss at the martial arts hall. That defeat still stung. But now, after receiving guidance from Kakashi-sensei, he felt reborn, stronger, faster, and finally capable of surpassing the boy in front of him.
"Then let's begin," Kirito said calmly.
"Not gonna make the first move? Then I'll go!"
With a burst of chakra, Sasuke's body flashed forward like lightning.
Kirito sidestepped a sweeping kick, slightly surprised. "You've gotten a lot faster."
"Hmph! That's still not enough!" Sasuke's figure flickered again, this time even faster.
After learning how to stimulate his nervous system using Lightning-style chakra, thanks to Kakashi's training, his reaction speed and body movement had both skyrocketed.
Clang!
Kirito's punch was blocked, and Sasuke's eyes glowed red, his Sharingan now fully activated.
Enhanced vision and heightened reflexes. He could now track Kirito's every move.
"With that level of visual perception and neural speed, you're able to follow my movements pretty well," Kirito said casually. He clenched his fist again. "But..."
"I've already seen through your attack!" Sasuke shouted.
Kirito's straight punch came flying toward him. Sasuke raised his left arm for a knife-hand parry to redirect the strike, then planned to follow up with a sharp elbow strike to Kirito's chest.
It was a textbook counterattack, flawless in theory.
But there was just one problem, Sasuke had made one fatal assumption:
That he could withstand Kirito's first punch.
"Wha-?!"
The moment his knife-hand made contact, Sasuke felt like he had struck a steel pillar. A massive force surged up his arm, causing his expression to shift.
Boom!
He barely had time to cross his arms in front of him before Kirito's punch slammed into them, sending his entire body flying backward.
"Whew~"
After sending Sasuke flying with a single strike, Kirito muttered softly,
"What a shame. You misjudged my strength."
That's right. The two attribute points Kirito had gained after the last mission had both been invested into Strength. The difference between now and before wasn't even close.
"Ugh!"
Sasuke crashed to the ground hard. His arms, still numb from blocking the punch, trembled slightly.
Eyes wide, he stared at Kirito in shock.
"Your strength... how did it get this strong?!"
He remembered clearly, during their first match in the dojo, Kirito had relied on speed. His power wasn't anything noteworthy. Sasuke had even had the edge in raw strength.
But now, just a basic punch had left him reeling.
"Don't tell me... you weren't even using your full strength before?"
Sasuke's voice trembled with disbelief, quickly giving way to bitterness and frustration.
Damn it...
All this time, what the hell have I been doing?
I thought I'd worked so hard. I thought I'd gotten stronger.
But this is all I am?
Everyone around me... so many of them are stronger than me.
If this continues... how can I possibly kill that man with my own hands?
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45 Advanced Chapters on p(a)treon
p(a)treon.com/Aaltairr
200 P.S = 1 Extra Chapters
• TL/N •
Hello guys Fanfic recommendation!
Check out my other work:
> Naruto: Mind Control
If you like smart and strong MC, this fanfic is for you.
It's Peak.
Give it a chance and you won't be disappointed