After one hour, the sounds of Lizardmen roaring echoed from deep within the forest. From a closer vantage point, they could be seen fighting. However, it wasn’t amongst themselves—they were fighting against someone.

A loud crack resounded as a Lizardman was sent flying, its body smashing into a tree. The remaining eleven cautiously backed away, their reptilian eyes glinting as they roared at their attacker. Standing before them was Haruto, calm and composed, holding the limp, lifeless body of one of their fallen kin by the neck.

"Hoo~. You guys are some tough bastards," Haruto said, his voice steady but with a tinge of amusement. He casually let the body drop to the ground and ran a hand through his messy hair, his confidence radiating like a flame.

“You’re right about that,” came a voice from behind him. Haruto glanced over his shoulder to see Cale standing with his back turned, his posture relaxed yet exuding a sense of readiness. “Any bright ideas?” Cale asked in a calm tone, not even sparing the Lizardmen a glance.

Haruto smirked, turning his full attention to Cale. “Yeah. I’ve got an idea.”

Cale raised a brow, intrigued by Haruto’s confidence. “Oh yeah? And what’s that?”

With a grin as sharp as a blade, Haruto punched his open palm, the sound echoing across the clearing. “Let’s just beat the shit out of them.”

A brief silence followed before Cale let out a soft chuckle. “…Fair enough.”

Without hesitation, Cale bolted toward one of the Lizardmen, who immediately lunged forward, thrusting its spear. Cale sidestepped the attack with fluid precision and delivered a brutal punch to its abdomen, causing it to double over and spit out blood. Wasting no time, he followed up with a powerful uppercut to its chin, making its eyes roll back before seizing its spear and thrusting it through its chest. The force of the attack sent the Lizardman flying into its comrades, scattering them like bowling pins.

Watching the scene, Haruto grinned. “You're not the only one getting the kills here!” he shouted, charging forward with reckless abandon. His fists swung like hammers, striking the Lizardmen with raw power that sent ripples through their scaled bodies. Despite having no weapon, Haruto used sheer brute force to tear through their defenses.

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Both men refrained from using their abilities, relying only on their physical strength. Cale soon found himself surrounded by five Lizardmen, their snarls and glowing eyes full of malice. Haruto was in a similar situation, grinning as five Lizardmen encircled him as well.

The Lizardmen growled, adapting to their opponents' movements, and began coordinating their attacks. But suddenly, both Cale and Haruto paused, smirking at the Lizardmen in a way that sent a shiver of unease through the group. The Lizardmen stared at them. They were ready for them to use some kind of attack like fire, water or lightning. The Lizardmen had their guard up for their attacks.

Without warning, the two men charged toward each other, confusing their enemies. The Lizardmen hesitated briefly before roaring and pursuing them. Neither Haruto nor Cale showed any signs of slowing, and as they closed the gap between each other, Haruto crouched slightly. Cale leaped onto Haruto’s shoulder, using the momentum to launch himself high into the air. Haruto, unbothered by the maneuver, charged directly into the group of Lizardmen that had been chasing Cale.

The sudden switch threw the Lizardmen off balance. Haruto’s massive fists crushed through their defenses, while Cale descended from above with a flying kick that shattered the skull of one unfortunate Lizardman. Blood splattered across the forest floor as Cale landed gracefully, immediately transitioning into a series of rapid attacks.

‘Fighting with no powers is… different,’ Cale thought, his fists and feet striking with mechanical precision. ‘It’s more exhausting, but strangely exhilarating.’ A small smile tugged at his lips. ‘I feel free.’

A Lizardman thrust its spear at him from the front, while another tried to attack from behind. Reacting swiftly, Cale grabbed the spear mid-thrust and swung it horizontally, slicing open the throat of the Lizardman in front. Without missing a beat, he carried the momentum of the swing, turning around and severing the arm of the second attacker. The injured Lizardman roared in agony, but Cale silenced it by driving the spear through its heart. Blood spurted from the wound as the creature collapsed lifelessly.

On the other side, Haruto was an unstoppable force. His fists were a blur, each punch breaking bones and leaving his enemies gasping for air. The last of the Lizardmen facing him roared in desperation, but Haruto’s punch connected with its skull, shattering it in an instant. The Lizardman dropped dead, its body hitting the ground with a dull thud.

Cale turned to the last remaining Lizardman on his side. Sensing its impending doom, it shrieked and turned to flee. Cale calmly hurled a spear, which pierced through the Lizardman’s skull with such force that its head exploded, sending fragments of bone and blood everywhere.

Ding!

[Five Lizardmen Prey have been slaughtered.]

[Experience (Exp) points have been rewarded.]

The yellow System Panel floated in front of Cale, its text glowing faintly. He glanced at it briefly before turning his attention to Haruto, who stood triumphantly over the remains of his enemies.

‘What sheer, raw strength…’ Cale thought as he approached. ‘I should push my physical limits too. Relying too much on only my powers will only hold me back.’

Haruto wiped the blood off his hands, grinning as Cale came closer. “Not bad,” Haruto said casually, his tone as relaxed as if they had just finished a light sparring match.

Cale smirked faintly, his gaze sharp. “You’re one to talk. That last punch of yours was overkill.”

Haruto laughed, flexing his arm. “What can I say? Efficiency matters.”

Cale chuckled softly and glanced at the forest ahead.

“This was just the warm-up,” Haruto said, cracking his knuckles. “The real fight’s ahead.”

Cale nodded and calmly glanced at Haruto “Let’s move. We’re not done yet.”