There was no testing the waters, no maneuvering.
Xia Xi brazenly launched a frontal assault on Gyomei.
Watching from the sidelines, the Flame Hashira raised his eyebrows. Even though he had prepared himself, Xia Xi's outrageous speed still startled him.
Was this brat still holding back when he fought me earlier?
Even in Gyomei's eyes,
Xia Xi's figure blurred with speed, like an arrow of light tearing straight through the air toward him.
There was no time to swing the chain.
The Stone Hashira made an immediate decision, raising his Short Axe to block Xia Xi's fists, which had already reached him.
Clang!
The fierce wind sent the young man's hair streaming backward.
"Say, Great Monk, you don't mind if I take the first move, do you?"
He only said that after he had already attacked.
Feeling strength no less than his own transmitted through the Gauntlets, Himejima understood.
Mr. Xia Xi... really does things his own way.
He smiled faintly.
Then, without any warning, he drove a knee toward Xia Xi's abdomen.
But it struck only an afterimage.
At tremendous speed, Xia Xi flashed into view at his side again.
His eyes could not keep up.
But Gyomei still had his battle instincts, honed through countless trials.
This time, the Meteor Hammer finally had time to start moving.
The Meteor Hammer in his hand swung up with a howl, its chain tracing intricate arcs.
He intended to intercept Xia Xi before he entered effective striking range, just as he had in their previous match.
But this time, that seemingly impenetrable defensive net...
Looked so slow to Xia Xi that it might as well have been standing still.
The gap between their abilities was rather large.
Xia Xi's energy level had reached 751 (body 326, technique 244, mind 181).
Gyomei's,