The air hummed with tension as the last syllables of Boko Salerno’s cruel words hung in the air.

The ground trembled as Ivo’s heart pounded like a war drum in his chest. The stench of blood hung heavy, the cries of pain ringing in his ears, but none of it mattered. In front of him stood Boko Salerno, the monster responsible for this atrocity, and with every heartbeat, his anger swelled.

“This ends now,” Ivo said, his voice low, carrying the weight of his simmering rage.

Boko’s smirk only widened. He spread his arms wide as though welcoming Ivo into the chaos. “You think you can stop me?” His voice was a taunting whisper. “You’ve already lost, 'Magnificent'. You and your pitiful Guild are just toys for me to break.”

“Big talk for someone hiding behind a pack of cowards, Scarhead,” Ivo growled.

“Hiding?” Boko spat, his tone dripping with disdain. “You’ve got it all wrong, boy. I’m not hiding—I’m leading. This? This is destiny. And you? You’re just a stubborn little worm who doesn’t know when to die.”

“Stop spouting crap,” Ivo growled, his eyes narrowing. “Did you train only your tongue, or are those muscles actually good for something?”

Boko chuckled, a low rumble that seemed to shake the air. “You’ll find out soon enough, Magnificent. But I promise—when I’m done, you won’t have the strength to ask stupid questions.”

“Let’s see if those muscles can handle this!” Ivo shot back.

Salerno’s laughter filled the air as he flicked his wrist, “Let’s see how magnificent you really are.”

With a signal to the others, the battle erupted around them. Hundreds of gang members, led by Fallow, Scuttle, and Boko, charged forward, weapons drawn, ready for the bloodbath. Ivo, Fuma, Nobu, Zuri, and Cherrie had no choice but to brace for the storm that was about to hit.

“Attack!” Boko bellowed, his voice like a thunderclap, and at his command, the gang surged forward.

“Go!” Ivo shouted to his team, his eyes never leaving Boko. His hand darted to the ground, brushing against scattered rocks. A low hum filled the air as his power surged through them, lifting them into the air in jagged, spiraling arcs. With a single motion, he thrust his hands forward, sending a barrage of rocks flying into the crowd, knocking several gang members to the ground.

Nobu was already in motion, his twin blades flashing as he cut down any foe in his path, moving with fluid grace all while protecting Cherrie. Zuri and Scuttle collided with ferocity, each locked in their own vicious battle. Fuma stood apart from the chaos, summoning his pneuma dragon to rain fiery destruction down on Fallow.

But amidst the chaos, Ivo’s focus never wavered from Boko. The distance between them quickly closed, and they stood face-to-face, their eyes burning with pure fury.

“Let’s see how well you can handle this,” Ivo snarled, dropping low to touch the stones. They trembled under his hand before surging into the air, spinning with lethal intent.

“You’re gonna have to try harder than that, Magnificent,” Boko growled. His bare fists flexed, veins bulging as he prepared for the fight, his Anima-enhanced muscles rippling under his skin. The ground seemed to tremble beneath his feet, as if the very earth feared the beast before them.

Ivo exhaled slowly, “I’m not here to try,” he growled, his eyes narrowing. “I’m here to end this, Scarhead!!.”

He thrust both hands forward, generating a powerful gust of air to propel himself upward. The move strained his pneuma, his body trembling under the exertion, but he used the momentum to arc high over Boko, hurling stones down like meteors.

Boko twisted, his movements shockingly fast for his massive frame. He dodged most of the assault, but one rock grazed his shoulder, drawing a thin line of blood. Instead of faltering, he grinned wider, his teeth gleaming in the morning light.

Ivo’s fingers twitched, and rocks scattered around him again, he sent them whirled through the air like razors, converging on Boko with deadly precision. But Boko was already moving; too fast, too strong.

He punched the rocks aside effortlessly, fragments scattering like dust. His grin widened as he flexed his fingers, the power coursing through his veins making him seem untouchable. Then, with an animalistic roar, he charged. Ivo moved to block, but the impact shattered his focus. He staggered, the strain on his pneuma sapping his strength.

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Boko was relentless, using his immense strength and Anima-enhanced muscles to batter through Ivo’s defence, each punch sent ripples through the air, cracking the earth beneath them. The ground groaned under the weight of his strikes, as if even nature was recoiling from his power. The force was enough to push Ivo back several feet, his legs buckling under the pressure.

“Is that all you’ve got?” Boko taunted, his voice a low growl. “Throwing pebbles? I thought you were supposed to be impressive.”

Ivo gritted his teeth, his eyes burning with fury. He couldn’t afford to hold back. Not now. He lifted a massive chunk of the earth, hurling it at Boko with enough force to shatter stone. The impact was deafening, but as the dust cleared, Ivo saw that his opponent had not been crushed. Instead, Boko stood there, unharmed, his muscles rippling beneath his skin as he grinned, his fists still clenched tightly.

"Not bad," Boko muttered, his eyes glinting with admiration. "But I’ve been through worse…, way worse”

Ivo’s mind raced. He needed something more, something that could counter Boko’s overwhelming brute force. But Boko wasn’t just a brute he was a fortress. His Anima-enhanced muscles were like impenetrable iron, and if he felt pain, it only seemed to fuel him. Ivo needed precision. He needed to fight smarter.

He reached out, calling forth the rocks around him, his hands sweeping in sharp arcs. The stones spun into the air, forming a deadly whirlwind of sharp, jagged projectiles, circling in a tempest of destruction.

But Boko wasn’t impressed. He moved with terrifying speed, deflecting every stone with ease. His uncanny eyes never left Ivo, calculating, mocking.

"You’re just wasting my time," Boko sneered. With a roar, he launched himself forward, his fists like battering rams aimed directly at Ivo’s chest.

Ivo wasn’t quick enough. The first punch landed with a sickening thud, sending a jolt of pain through his body. The second one followed, hitting him square in the ribs and sending him crashing and rolling on the ground. He coughed, tasting blood in his mouth, but he pushed through the pain.

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“Captain!!” Fuma shouted, his voice urgent.

Before he could say more, Fallow lunged with startling agility, swinging his sword in a deadly arc. Fuma barely managed to dodge, his reflexes saving him as he jumped back, creating distance between them.

“Paying attention elsewhere while you’re up against me?” Fallow sneered, his tone dripping with disdain. “How disrespectful, kid.”

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"Come on, come on..." Ivo muttered, struggling to regain his footing. His body ached from the blows, his energy draining fast. But he wasn’t done. Not yet.

“You’re just flailing now,” Boko said, running a hand over his bald head, his fingers brushing the rough stitches. His eyes flicked lazily to the side, tracking a distant movement before snapping back to Ivo. “Think harder, Magnificent. Or don’t,” Boko sneered, his grin widening. “I enjoy watching you fail.”

As Boko charged forward again, Ivo gathered last of his strength, planting his hands firmly on the ground, and with a deep breath, sent a massive wave of rocks through the air. The rock wave hit Boko like a wrecking ball, sending him skidding back, his feet tearing up the ground as he struggled to regain his footing.

But before Ivo could strike again, Boko was already back on his feet, his rage fueling him.

“Is that the best you can do?” Boko laughed, wiping a trickle of blood from his lip. “You’re pathetic. Just like the rest of them.”

Ivo’s heart raced as he felt the exhaustion seeping in. The strain of manipulating the rocks, of propelling himself with his telekinetic power, was starting to take its toll. His pneuma was draining, his movements slower, his mind struggling to focus.

But he couldn’t afford to falter.

With a desperate cry, Ivo summoned the last of his strength, whipping the air into a violent whirlwind. Rocks spun within the vortex, a storm of jagged death hurtling toward Boko in an attempt to overwhelm him. Ivo put everything he had into it, hoping against hope that this would be the blow that ended the fight.

But to his horror, Boko’s massive arms swept through the air, scattering the rocks like leaves in a breeze. His expression didn’t waver if anything, he looked bored.

“You think that’ll stop me?” Boko laughed, his voice cold. “You’re not even worth breaking a sweat.”

Ivo’s body trembled with exhaustion. Sweat poured down his face, his breath shallow and ragged. His vision blurred from the strain, but still, he gritted his teeth, refusing to give in.

He couldn’t keep this up. He couldn’t lose. Not like this.

As Ivo staggered back, his hands trembling from the strain, he could see Boko approaching, unfazed, as if the battle had barely even begun. Ivo was on the verge of collapse, but the beast was as strong as ever, his confidence only growing with each failed attempt. To Boko, this wasn’t a battle—it was a game. And Ivo was losing.

Ivo’s legs buckled as exhaustion gripped him, but he refused to fall. His power was nearly gone. And there was no way he could win this fight.

He knew, deep in his bones, that it was only a matter of time before the monster crushed him beneath his fists.