The Ultramen held on to a strange kind of persistence.
Ian looked at Jack as he charged in and fell silent for a moment. Then the corners of his mouth lifted slightly, forming a somewhat helpless smile that even he himself did not notice.
"Fine."
"Then let's fight."
Jack's fist slammed into Ian's chest.
Golden light exploded from the point where fist met chest, like a miniature star detonating between the two of them. Ian's body slid backward tens of thousands of kilometers.
The soles of his shoes scraped a purple streak of light through the void.
He steadied himself and looked down at his chest.
A shallow fist print was stamped there, hot and smoking.
"Tsk, tsk."
He reached out and patted it, not even leaving a wrinkle behind.
"Not bad strength." Ian lifted his head and looked at Jack. "But it's still not enough."
Jack did not answer, nor did he hesitate. His body accelerated again, dragging a golden afterimage through the void. His fist came smashing in from straight ahead. Ian turned sideways and dodged, the fist grazing past his ear. Jack did not pull his punch back. Instead, he followed through with an elbow strike, the tip of his elbow carrying golden light as it smashed toward Ian's temple.
Ian raised his left arm to block it. The elbow struck his forearm with a tremendous clang like metal colliding. The shockwave spread in every direction, shattering several distant asteroids.
Ian's arm did not budge. Jack's eyes widened.
"I told you, it's not enough."
Ian's right hand came up from below, five fingers spread, and grabbed Jack's wrist. His fingers tightened, and Jack felt as if his wrist bones had been caught in a hydraulic press, creaking under the pressure. He struggled, yanking back with all his