The bartender repeatedly whined and pleaded for the fight not to break out inside the tavern, his face ashen. The tension in the air was palpable, as if one wrong move could destroy the entire building. William finally complied. With leisurely steps, he stepped out onto the street in front of the tavern. The oil lamps quivered, casting a dim light that danced on the damp stone pavement.
Eager to witness the already heated fight, the patrons rushed out. Nervous whispers, muffled screams, and nervous laughter came from the crowd, but they couldn't hide their fear.
Across from William, Jones stood imposingly with his chest puffed out. The burly man's large muscles bulged as he stretched his arms, shoulders, and waist as if about to show off his strength. This only added to his wild and arrogant demeanor. To William, these movements were all just empty showmanship.
He stood with his arms crossed over his chest and an expressionless face. His cold stare seemed to assess not only his opponent's body but also the soul he was about to break.
"Brat," Jones sneered. His laughter was as loud as a dog's bark. "Are you still acting so calm? You're just covering up your own shame!"
William didn't answer. Instead, he lazily raised his hand and waved it as if swatting away a mosquito. It was a wordless taunt, sharper than a thousand acts of sarcasm.
Jones snorted loudly. His growl sounded like that of a trapped beast. A mana aura began to envelop his body, solidifying and forming a thick layer that resembled cracked earth. The power vibrated, channeling a violent energy that shook the ground beneath his feet.
The crowd shuddered. The atmosphere was so intense that it felt as if the earth itself were groaning.
Though Jones's body seemed encased in a stone shield, he moved swiftly. He charged, the ground trembling with each step. In an instant, his massive body was before William. His fist, enlarged by the earth, rose and swung forward with enough force to crush a normal human's head.
Jones grinned, confident that the young boy in front of him wouldn't be able to dodge.
However, William didn't back down. With just one hand, he raised his palm and blocked the punch. A loud cracking sound came not from his bones but from the air being compressed by incredible force.
Jones's eyes widened. He immediately swung his other hand, ready to hit William on the side of the head. But the boy simply reached out and held his hand back as if stopping a child's movement.
William's gaze remained unwavering. Cold. Sharp. Judging.
Then, without mercy, he raised his leg and kicked Jones straight in the face. The impact was like an iron whip flying through the air. The giant's body flew through the air and rolled across the dusty ground before hitting the wall of the building with a thud that created a long crack.
The crowd fell silent, their breaths caught. Then, whispers began to flow from the dark corners of the street.
"Seriously? Was Sir Jones knocked out like that?"
He's never lost, not even to other hired sentinels."
"That kid only blocked the attack with his bare hands. But his kick..." The voice lowered to a whisper. "... was enough to take down a giant."
Jones remained seated on the ground with his back against the cracked wall of the building. His breathing was labored and his chest heaved. He shook his head from side to side to make sure that he hadn't lost consciousness after the sudden attack.
The burly man slowly rose to his feet with a gruff growl. Dust fell from his shoulders as he smoothed out his clothes. His gaze locked onto William, who stood calmly in the middle of the street, surrounded by flickering lights.
"Boy," he hissed, his voice hoarse with anger. "You're quite good. My attack just now wasn't playful."
William tilted his head slightly and a faint smile appeared on his lips. "It's not that strong. If I were serious, I would have been pushed back a bit."
His words sounded casual, yet they cut deep, as if they were not mere arrogance, but cold judgment.
Jones snorted but didn't deny it this time. A faint recognition stirred in his heart: the boy was indeed no ordinary opponent.
His body trembled violently again, and a violent mana aura overflowed. Cracking sounds could be heard as the earth adhered more tightly to his body, forming a new layer that was denser and harder. His skin was barely visible beneath the dark brown stone that glistened like forged steel.
William's eyes glinted, their brown hues reflecting the dim torchlight. He appeared genuinely fascinated, as if he were staring at a phenomenon worth studying rather than an opponent out to kill him.
"So this is the second layer of earth magic...a complete defense, leaving no openings." No wonder he was able to withstand my kick unscathed." Interesting..." William thought to himself.
Jones stepped forward, his steps heavy yet swift. The ground shook with each one. His first punch flew, followed by a series of brutal blows, like a storm of rocks crashing from all directions.
William didn't back down. His body moved fluidly, parrying each attack with split-second movements as if brushing aside forest branches. Despite his slender frame, each swipe was precise, keeping him at a safe distance from the explosive fury.
"He's not weakening his attacks, even though he's focusing his defense on his body," William thought coldly. "He's even more savage. He relies on full force without reason."
Jones growled, the veins on his temples bulging. He was growing increasingly irritated that his opponent was simply parrying without retaliating.
"Brat! You only parried my attack! Whatever happened to your strength from earlier? Are you starting to get scared?!" he shouted as his fist tore through the air again.
William blocked the blow with one hand, then turned slightly and glared at him. "Do you really want to get kicked again?"
The words stunned the crowd. Although William's tone was calm and almost casual, it held a chilling threat.
Jones flushed even more and boomed, "If you're so strong, fight me seriously!"
William raised his eyebrows at Jones's demand for a serious fight. For him, seriousness wasn't about unleashing his full power; rather, it was about how much he was willing to reveal of what he had hidden within.