"Bang—!"
When a dull impact suddenly erupted like a sound wave from a corner of the isolated island's forest, a flock of birds in the woods seemed to be startled awake, scattering into the sky with loud cries and the clear flapping of wings.
In the forest, Fang Li's sudden kick landed heavily on Ayanokoji Kiyotaka, producing that dull impact.
However, the blow did not land cleanly.
At the last possible moment, Ayanokoji Kiyotaka raised both arms before him and blocked Fang Li's sudden attack.
Yet the tremendous force carried by the kick was still borne by Ayanokoji Kiyotaka in full.
Ayanokoji Kiyotaka was immediately sent flying as though he had been kicked away. After landing, he promptly rolled across the ground.
Even so, Ayanokoji Kiyotaka did not appear overly disheveled.
The instant he landed, Ayanokoji Kiyotaka almost instinctively performed a breakfall. After several rolls, he completely dispersed the force Fang Li had inflicted. By the time he stopped, he was no longer sprawled on the ground, but had used the momentum to flip up, one hand pressed to the ground and one knee kneeling.
Though Fang Li's attack had been abrupt to the extreme, Ayanokoji Kiyotaka had ultimately not been hurt.
This showed that Ayanokoji Kiyotaka truly had experience in martial arts.
That exchange had not affected Ayanokoji Kiyotaka in the slightest.
If Fang Li's attack had stopped there...
"Smack!"
The sound of dirt being kicked up rang out again.
As Fang Li withdrew his kicking foot, he showed not the slightest delay. With movements so fluid they seemed like art, he suddenly shot forward like an arrow released from its bow.
His speed was astonishing.
"...!?"
Ayanokoji Kiyotaka reacted instantly. Without a second thought, he rolled to the side.
"Whoosh...!"
Amid a sharp tearing sound, the gale-like kick