Chapter 90: Infinitely Close
Ian stood still. His face showed no emotion, and his eyes were sharp and clear like ice. With the Cold Mind in full control, his whole body moved with perfect flow. There was no wasted motion. No extra energy spent. He vanished and appeared behind Adam in a blink, throwing a punch aimed at the side of his head. At the same time, his foot swept low, and a second punch followed from the front.
Adam gently stepped back, hands still behind him. With only one finger, he blocked both punches at once, tapping Ian’s wrist and knee at just the right spot. The attacks were stopped cold.
"Not bad," Adam said with a calm tone. "Your control is better now. Your footwork is smooth. But your center of gravity still shifts too early before each move. I can read it."
Ian said nothing and kept moving. Punch, kick, spin, jab. The ground cracked beneath them, and shockwaves ran across the marble floor. Each hit was faster than light, yet Adam dodged or blocked them all with ease, using only his index finger, and once in a while, a small tilt of his body.
Still, Adam’s steps stayed firm, unmoved.
But Ian didn’t notice something. Each time he failed to land a hit, Adam would glance at a certain spot or nod slightly. The Cold Mind helped Ian act better, sharper, but it also made him miss some signs, signs that only emotion and gut feeling could notice. Adam saw that.
"You’re stronger now," Adam said after a while. "But you’re thinking too much. Cold Mind makes your mind quiet, but too much quiet can hide what your instincts want to tell you."
Ian’s eyes flicked for a moment, but his face stayed calm.
Then he stepped back. Slowly, white light covered his whole body. His muscles swelled, his arms got thicker, and his chest widened. His silver hair grew longer and brighter, and his eyes glowed like stars.
A soft breeze turned into a storm. The ground cracked further, and the sky roared. Ian raised both hands and slowly dropped into a stance.
"Let me try this. Nine Paths God Form."