Tony, who had just taken his stance, suddenly launched an attack.
He struck with multiple sword blows, but Hikiri either dodged or parried them all.
"Is that all you know how to do?" Hikiri said, glancing up with an unimpressed look.
Tony, who had only been using physical strength so far, transformed his body into lightning. In an instant, he appeared behind Hikiri.
The onlookers were stunned. One moment, Tony was in front of Hikiri, and the next, he was behind him.
Tony aimed a strike at Hikiri's neck with such speed that the crowd still saw his arm in mid-swing.
The lightning had amplified his speed, and just as the wooden sword was about to crash into Hikiri's neck, it suddenly stopped — just a few centimeters away.
Tony, confused about why his sword had stopped so abruptly, tried to apply more force... but his body wouldn't move. It was as if—
"You're thinking: 'I'm stuck,' right?" Hikiri said.
"You bastard…" Before Tony could finish his sentence, Hikiri delivered a brutally fast and powerful kick.
It slammed Tony's head straight into the ground.
From the crowd's perspective, one moment Tony's sword had frozen midair, and the next, he was lying on the ground.
"Ouch… that must've hurt. But honestly, that's the result everyone expected. As if he could beat Hikiri," said Asti.
"Get up. Just take two more hits, and then you can sleep," Hikiri said coldly.
Tony, who had lost consciousness for a moment, came to and quickly got back on his feet.
"Cat got your tongue? Don't worry, I'll help you find it," said Hikiri as he rushed toward Tony.
Tony, trying to understand how Hikiri had frozen him in place earlier, saw Hikiri coming at him and raised his guard—but it was too late. Hikiri was already upon him, landing blow after blow—far more than just two.
Still standing, Tony muttered, "You're just like the other guy who controls the wind…" He spat out blood and collapsed to the ground.
"I told you you'd be on the ground before me," Hikiri said as he walked away.
Many in the crowd feared Hikiri, but this time, they thought he had gone too far. He had done so much damage without even physically touching Tony.
To them, it was another clear reminder: don't mess with Hikiri.
"What an idiot… he shows up and immediately starts a fight, just to lose," Simone said.
"Don't be too harsh. He acted cocky, sure, but he just ran into someone stronger," replied Asti.
"And since when are we on speaking terms, little Asti?" Simone snapped.
Scratching his head, Asti replied, "I just picked up on what you were saying…"
"How about instead of talking nonsense, you take Tony back to your room?" Simone said sharply.
"But he's coughing up blood! I should take him to the infirmary instead," Asti protested.
Simone shot him a look that clearly said: Either do what I say, or you'll be the one bleeding next.
"F-fine… No need to give me that look," Asti muttered as he picked Tony up in his arms.
"Asti, if I see him at the infirmary, you're a dead man," Simone said with a threatening tone.
Asti quickened his pace, putting as much distance between himself and Simone as possible.