When Stephen threw his punch, he already knew there was a chance this would happen. It wasn't a surprise, nor was it something he hadn't considered before. In fact, from the moment he had unlocked his Vow and begun using its power in real combat, he had been painfully aware of this exact weakness.
Being a superhuman didn't mean his body was invincible.
All of Stephen's natural attributes, his speed, strength, and reactions, had certainly increased, but not to an overwhelming degree. His Vow didn't transform him into an indestructible monster. Instead, it placed a single trait above all others.
Speed.
Speed was the core of his power, the one thing his Vow prioritized above everything else. His movements were faster, his strikes sharper, and his reactions pushed beyond human limits. However, the density of his bones, the durability of his muscles, and the raw toughness of his body hadn't risen at the same rate.
And that imbalance came at a cost.
