Two beams of high-energy radiation collided in midair, their opposing energies instantly triggering a violent explosion!
As the explosion erupted, a tremendous force pressed the seawater beneath Homelander's feet into a depression, followed by a towering burst of spray.
A streak of blue light shot into the center of the energy explosion and raised a fist. A ring of ripples burst from the fist, blasting the flames of the explosion away.
"Huh?"
Although Josen was puzzled that Homelander's strength seemed to have increased, he did not hesitate. He threw a punch of his own, producing a piercing sonic boom as he met Homelander's fist!
Their raw strength collided. Faint spatial distortions appeared around their iron fists, and then a red-and-blue figure went flying.
The waves beneath them sank and compressed into a cone-shaped trench. Huge walls of water rose on either side, driven thousands of meters across the sea by the shock wave from their clash!
Homelander, likewise punched over a thousand meters away, stopped himself in midair. Recalling how he had just used the sea's surface to brace himself, he gained a new understanding of how to use his strength properly.
Tremble, mortals!
Homelander had finally learned to use his brain in a fight!
Homelander smiled excitedly above the sea, while Josen flexed his fists above the beach. Feeling the sudden increase in Homelander's strength, he was deeply gratified.
After being pinned down and beaten for the first time in his life, the kid had finally made some progress.
If he had brought out 50% of his strength in their first fight, he had now reached at least the passing mark of 60%.
His strength ceiling had increased by a fifth in one go. That was no small improvement.
(Daniel Wus, did I get the math right? o_O)
Homelander