Chapter 24: Heaven’s Shatter
Rowan stood tall in the arena, facing Lucien head-on. The two of them radiated contrasting auras—Lucien's eyes burned with fiery passion, full of energy and aggression, while Rowan appeared calm, cold, yet his sharp presence was undeniable.
"I'm coming for you!" Lucien shouted boldly, charging forward like a raging bull.
Rowan moved swiftly. As Lucien's fist nearly connected, Rowan executed a lightning-fast maneuver that was nearly impossible to follow with the naked eye. In an instant, his body shifted to the side, and with precision, he struck the side of Lucien's neck. The blow landed directly on the carotid artery, throwing Lucien off balance.
And not just once. Rowan struck the same spot repeatedly, landing each hit with deadly precision. Lucien clenched his teeth, enduring the pain as his body jolted and his movement space shrank. Thinking fast, Lucien swept his leg low, aiming to knock Rowan down, but Rowan nimbly leapt out of the way. Lucien's eyes widened, almost unable to believe what he was seeing.
But before he could fully process it, a powerful kick slammed straight into his face. Lucien's body was flung backward.
The cheers from the crowd grew louder and more intense. They could feel a different kind of pressure watching Rowan—how effective and precise every one of his moves was.
Without wasting time, Rowan stomped his foot down and quickly closed in on the staggering Lucien. Feeling the threat, Lucien forced himself to stand. Strangely, instead of attacking immediately, Lucien just smirked mockingly.
"You!" Lucien growled, his tone laced with building rage.
"Your turn," Rowan replied, a faint smirk curling his lips—a jab straight at Lucien's pride.
The spectators went wild. But amid the uproar, Lucien focused completely on Rowan. In a flash, he lunged forward—his speed so sharp it took only milliseconds for him to maneuver behind Rowan.
His palm was ready, emitting an invisible aura that seemed to ripple through the air, a telltale sign of his signature move: Palm Blast—a destructive technique that condensed energy into his palm to explode directly on his target.