Rhian stood in front of the tall girl, quietly watching her every move.
He didn't even know her name yet, but he already knew enough.
She was built different.
She stood casually, her arms loose by her sides, but her eyes were locked on him without blinking.
Rhian's eyes, though, kept drifting to Ash. Ash, who was also regretting life decisions as he stared at the big guy in front of him. Ash caught Rhian looking and mouthed "Don't leave me here."
Rhian smiled for half a second before snapping back to focus.
"You like staring, huh?" the girl in front of him said calmly.
Rhian blinked, realizing he hadn't introduced himself.
He raised his hand awkwardly. "I'm Rhian."
She grabbed his hand without hesitation.
"Nia," she replied.
The grip was firm. Way too firm. Rhian was pretty sure if she squeezed even a little harder his bones would crack.
She let go and stepped back, giving him a quick look.
"You don't look like the aggressive type," she said calmly. "What kind of match should I be expecting?"
Rhian smirked, just a little. "You'll see."
Nia smiled, not mocking, but amused. Like someone watching a younger sibling act tough.
"Alright," she said, tugging her braid once as if settling in. "Let's find out."
Before he could even breathe properly, she moved.
Her leg slammed the ground lightly, and she burst toward him like she'd done this a hundred times before.
Fast.
Way faster than he thought someone that should move.
Rhian jumped back on reflex, barely avoiding a fist aimed straight for his ribs.
Even though the punch missed, the wind from it brushed against him like a warning.
He couldn't block that directly.
He'd break something.
Rhian didn't stand still.
He moved, just like he always did against monsters back home. Monsters never fought clean or followed rules. And neither did he.
He stayed low, moving in irregular steps, not staying in one place for too long. His eyes watched her legs, her shoulders, every little sign of movement.
His instincts were sharper now.
His body felt lighter, faster, reacting before his mind even finished thinking.
'That must be the predator thing...' he realized. 'Not bad.'
Nia smiled slightly, noticing how he dodged clean without freezing.
She kept moving at him, pressuring him without wasting energy. Every time Rhian thought he found an opening, she'd already shifted or forced him to reset.
But Rhian was used to smaller targets.
He kicked out suddenly at her leg, low and quick, the kind of move that monsters hated because it messed with their balance.
She stepped over it easily.
But Rhian wasn't aiming to hit.
He was testing.
And what he learned wasn't good.
Her balance was perfect.
She was solid like stone but moved like water.
She stepped in suddenly.
This time, her fist didn't graze him, it clipped his arm while he dodged sideways.
Pain flared instantly.
His whole arm went a little numb from just that small touch.
His thoughts sharpened.
'Okay. I can't trade hits with her. Not even a little.'
But his new body didn't falter.
The pain dulled faster than normal.
His skin wasn't breaking easily.
'Reptilian regeneration… Ragnarok Physique… it's working,' he thought.
But this was still a mountain to climb.
Nia stepped again, faster this time, her fist coming straight for his face like a hammer.
Rhian ducked low, rolling out of the way, popping back to his feet behind her.
He dashed in, not to punch but to press his hand to her back, to push off and create distance.
Except...
Her back didn't even budge.
It was like pushing against a wall.
Nia turned with a grin.
"You done running?" she asked.
Rhian clicked his tongue.
'Running? No.'
He jumped back, breathing steady, eyes sharp.
He wasn't done.
Far from it.
If strength was her game.
Then survival was his.
And he played to win.
Rhian tightened his stance.
He wasn't just some weakling anymore. He could feel it in his body. His legs were firm when he stepped.
His arms didn't feel hollow when he raised them. His strikes had weight now. Not just surviving weight. Real weight.
He didn't need to just run.
Not anymore.
Nia stepped again, direct as always, coming at him like a truck on two legs.
Rhian didn't back away this time.
Instead, he stepped forward.
He shifted his body low, almost like crouching into his steps, pulling all the strength he could into his legs and shoulder. He swung his fist, not wild, not desperate, but sharp and aimed clean toward her side.
There was a small pause in the air.
The hit connected.
A solid, loud thud echoed out when his fist slammed against Nia's ribs.
She was forced to take a half-step back.
That alone surprised Rhian.
But what surprised him more… was the wide grin spreading on her face.
Her head turned slowly toward him, her brown eyes shining a little brighter like someone who just found their favorite toy.
"Oh..." she said with genuine excitement, "you can hit."
For the first time, she actually adjusted her stance.
Rhian's heart dropped a little.
'Oh no.'
Nia moved. Way faster.
Like a sprinter with nothing holding her back, she dashed in, this time leaving no space to breathe.
Rhian dodged the first swing, ducking low.
But the second one came even tighter.
He tilted his body, but the fist grazed his shoulder, and it felt like his bones rattled.
'Shit... she's picking up speed.'
The next punch came almost immediately.
Rhian brought his arms up in time, blocking.
But the impact shot through his whole body like a shockwave.
His feet skidded back across the ground.
She wasn't fighting wild.
She was having fun.
And every time he responded, she was cranking it up higher.
Rhian gritted his teeth.
'Alright... so be it.'
If he kept dodging, she'd just pressure him until he broke.
His best bet... was to stay close and make her hesitate.
She threw another punch, and this time, Rhian stepped in instead of away.
He turned his shoulder and took the hit on the meaty part of his arm painful, but better than the ribs, and countered immediately with a knee to her side.
He heard her breathe out a sharp laugh right into his ear.
Without missing a beat, her head lowered, shoulder ramming him dead in the chest, sending him stumbling back.
Rhian barely regained his footing when she was already closing in again.
It was fast, heavy, and hard.
But it was also clear.
This was her real style.
Direct and Relentless, just straight up overwhelming power.
But Rhian wasn't folding.
His arms ached and his legs burned.
'I'm not backing down.'
He planted his feet.
If she was going to break through him.
Then she better come ready.