"Force Field Defense!"
This was an automatic bonus effect that came with comprehending Absolute Domain.
Like the Sweeping Monk's three-foot qi wall—ordinary attacks simply couldn't break through.
Cloud stood with his hands behind his back, strolling leisurely through the rain of energy blasts as he approached Robert.
This sight completely shattered Robert's pride.
How am I supposed to fight this?!
He's just standing there, and I can't even break his defense!
This isn't a fight anymore—this is one-sided dimensional crushing!
"I don't believe it!" Robert's eyes went red as he unleashed his final trump card!
His aura blazed to its peak!
"Kyokugenryu Ultimate: Ryuko Ranbu!"
His entire being became a blue tornado piercing heaven and earth, charging at Cloud with do-or-die resolve!
Facing this all-or-nothing strike, Cloud finally got serious.
He slowly raised his right hand, fingers spread.
In his palm, a highly compressed energy sphere radiating destructive force gradually took shape.
"Since you used your ultimate, I'll respond to your resolve with my strongest technique."
Cloud's voice was calm yet commanding.
He gently pushed the energy sphere forward.
"Battle God Domain: Haoh Shoukou Ken."
BOOM—!!!
A golden pillar of energy and the blue swallow tornado collided at the center of the dojo!
For an instant, the entire building seemed swallowed by blinding white light!
The powerful shockwave tore up the dojo's hardwood floor!
When the light faded, everyone rushed to look at the scene.
Cloud still stood firmly in place, not a single wrinkle in his clothes.
Robert lay several meters away, covered in wounds, completely unconscious.
The winner was decided.
And it was a crushing, overwhelming victory!
The entire venue fell deathly silent.
After what seemed like forever, Yuri was the first to react. She let out a joyful cry and ran toward Cloud without hesitation.
"Cloud! You're amazing! Are you okay?!" She grabbed his hands, her sparkling eyes filled with unconcealed adoration and affection.
Cloud smiled and patted her head. "I'm fine."
Meanwhile, Robert—revived by Terry—watched this scene, his eyes dimming.
He'd lost. Completely, utterly lost.
He knew he'd lost not just in strength, but also... in Yuri's heart.
Seeing the love practically overflowing from Yuri's eyes as she looked at Cloud, he knew he had no chance anymore.
He was a proud gentleman. Defeat was defeat.
He slowly stood and walked to Cloud and Yuri, forcing a smile that was bitter but still maintained his elegance.
"Cloud, I lost." He extended his hand to Cloud. "From today on, I'm entrusting Yuri to you. If you dare bully her, the Garcia Financial Group's legal team doesn't mess around."
Then he turned to Yuri, gently ruffling her hair with a big-brotherly tenderness in his eyes. "Silly girl. Be happy, okay?"
With that, he turned gracefully and stopped beside Andy, who had been watching with complex emotions.
Two men who had both "failed" in love exchanged a glance, seeing wry, sympathetic smiles in each other's eyes.
They had both lost to the same man.
But perhaps this would mark a new beginning on their martial arts paths.
...
Ever since Cloud used his "dimensional crushing" [Absolute Domain] to make the suave Robert Garcia question his existence at the Kyokugenryu Dojo, South Town's fighting scene entered an unusually harmonious "peaceful development period."
Robert truly lived up to his noble upbringing—losing the match but winning in grace.
Not only did he not hold a grudge against Cloud, but he was completely won over by Cloud's unfathomable strength. He drove his Ferrari to Cloud's villa daily for "friendly exchanges."
Of course, these "exchanges" were mostly one-sided instruction sessions.
And so, Cloud's villa basement training room often featured this bizarre scene:
An Italian pretty-boy in Versace (Robert) and a white-haired pretty-boy in ninja gear (Andy) sat upright like attentive elementary school students, while their "teacher"—wearing baggy shorts and sucking on a lollipop—was Cloud.
"Robert, your 'Flying Dragon Kick' has the form but not the spirit. Don't imagine yourself as a swallow—imagine yourself as an F-22 Raptor fighter jet! You need to carry the momentum of crushing everything!"
"Andy, your 'Super Reppu Ken' is too rigid. Energy isn't static—try adding rotational force, like forming a Rasengan! Get it?"
Cloud spouted nonsense with a straight face, while Robert and Andy hung on every word as if discovering new worlds, occasionally showing expressions of sudden enlightenment.
The two former "rivals in love" had transformed from enemies to friends under their shared "learning" goal, even developing a "brothers in misfortune" kind of camaraderie.
After training sessions, they'd often sling arms over each other's shoulders, complaining together about what an "inhuman freak" Cloud was—then show up bright and early the next day to get "destroyed" again.
Cloud was happy to enjoy this "respected teacher" feeling. While guiding them, he continuously refined and perfected his own [Battle God Style], steadily improving.