[Enhanced Fist] vs. [Halo Fist]

"Show us your training progress Dave!", demanded Ayano.

"Okay, just a second."

Dave looked curiously at her. Somehow Ayano was different after she came back from the Agency conference.

She seemed to be on fire.

'Did something happen over there. I know her relationship with the agency is a little bit complicated but since she still helped them, I thought it wouldn't be that bad.'

Dave looked at Anna, who stood behind Ayano. She had a wry smile playing around her lips. She obviously knew what was the matter with Ayano since both of them were friends for many years.

"Okay let's go!", shouted Dave readying himself.

"[Enhancement Bubble]!", shouted Dave.

He was surrounded by a bubble filled with a high-density of mana.

"Arrrrrhhhhhhh!", screamed Dave.

The mana-density increased even further. What was once a light blue hue around Dave turned slowly dark blue.

Seeing that Dave was ready Ayano stepped forward and said, "Dave show me your power directly. Let us spar."

Dave was flabbergasted hearing this. He didn't know which rank Ayano had, but she was obviously much stronger than him.

He never saw her fight or anything like that but just seeing her treat people with her ability and perceiving her excellent mana control made it pretty clear to him that they weren't in the same league, at least not currently.

"Okay, but I can only keep this maximum state up around 30 to 60 seconds depending on what other abilities I use.", explained Dave through clenched teeth.

"No problem, we will only exchange a few punches and you better don't hold back otherwise it might get dangerous for you, and I don't want to kill you accidentally!"

Dave gulped.

Without saying anything further both ran towards each other. In a split second, they were in front of each other.

"[Apprentice Hero's Skin]!" Dave activated the skin in the last second to take Ayano by surprise.

"[Apprentice Hero's Punch]!"

"[Enhancement Bubble]!"

Dave kept layering one ability after another. But this time he managed to show Ayano something new.

He used a second [Enhancement Bubble]. A much smaller version than the big one, which strengthened his body. This one had only the size of a ball and the mana inside was radiating a light blue hue.

It levitated right in front of Dave's right fist, which was empowered by [Apprentice Hero's Punch] and shined in a golden light.

Dave's golden glowing fist hit through the bubble, which further strengthened his attack.

Ayano was for a short moment taken by surprise then she smirked and copied Dave's attack movement and slightly adjusted her attack power.

Now it was fist versus fist.

Their fists were only 5 centimeters separated from each other when Dave activated another ability.

'[Hero's Intimidating Glare]'

A red light radiated from Dave's eyes. Surprised and effected by the ability Ayano's attack strength dropped slightly.

The fists hit each other and surprisingly Ayano was forced a step back by Dave.

Dave smirked complacently, obviously happy about his achievement.

Seeing Dave's complacent face a vein started throbbing at Ayano's forehead.

A light blue hue appeared around her and her fist started radiating in a red glow.

Ayano jumped forward with her fist raised.

Seeing this Dave was taken by surprise. Blinded by his unexpected success he wasn't ready for the second exchange of blows.

He hastily activated [Apprentice Hero's Punch] in both fists at the same time and created a new second [Enhancement Bubble] in front of him. This time the bubble was slightly bigger because he wanted both fists to be able to pass through at the same time.

All this took so much time that Ayano's fist reached his bubble at the same time his own did.

The fists beat against each other in the middle of the bubble.

For Dave, this was as good as it could be because like this the [Enhancement Bubble] wouldn't only empower him it would even weaken Ayano at the same time.

Unfortunately, Dave didn't have time to activate [Hero's Intimidating Glare] this time.

"Kaboom!"

The mana of the bubble and around their fists exploded. Dave was flung back by the pressure hitting a wall 20 meters behind him creating a human-shaped indent in it.

"Cough."

While Dave slid down the wall spitting up blood, Ayano was still standing at the same place as before. She obviously had no problem resisting the force of the explosion.

Anna ran to Dave's side.

"You went too far Ayano, look at him.", said Anna accusingly pointing at the unconscious Dave, who lay at the ground with broken arms and blood trickling from his mouth.

"No, Anna. He had to endure it. Fighting only against people at his power level is a luxury he won't have at the mainland. As a rank 2, he will be at the bottom of the food chain there."

"Ayano, you can't risk his life for your vendetta. You will kill him. I mean look at him he has this ability only for a few months and is already so strong. I can't imagine what a hellish training you put him through."

Anna feared that Ayano went too far and tried to talk some sense into her friend.

"Anna, first of all, I am not on a vendetta. I am on a rescue mission.", answered Ayano looking Anna in the eyes.

"You still believe ...", stuttered Anna only to be interrupted by Ayano before she could finish her sentence.

"Second, it is not me putting this guy through a hellish training. He has his own reasons to become stronger and I am going to help him with that."

Anna rolled her eyes.

"Ayano, we both know that he is unnormal. I know only a single person, who managed to progress this fast. I think you know, who I am talking about. And that isn't even the tip of the iceberg. Not only is his progress unprecedented his power is it as well. The force of your last punch reached easily the threshold of someone, who just recently advanced to rank 3 and you not only compressed your mana, you even combined it with Halo. By all means, he should be dead right now and not unconscious!

You think I would believe it is a coincidence that you found him?"

Hearing this Ayano laughed happily.

"I know it is unbelievable that I found the only person, who might have the potential to help me. But I ensure you it wasn't me, who brought him to my side, it was fate!"

Anna looked flabbergasted to hear this answer.

"Wait, what do you mean it was fate that brought him to you?"

While thinking about how to answer Anna's question, Ayano started to heal Dave.

"Well, his ability has the power to guide him where he is needed, isn't that the case. He calls this guidance quests. If you think about that, why is it so unbelievable that the same power led him to my side." Ayano thought about this for quite some time already but she felt that it had to be the truth. Was fate itself trying to help her?

Anna shouted, "Wait, wait, wait! Why would fate, if that even exists, guide him to your side?"

Ayano looked at her, her eyes calm.

"Isn't it obvious. It leads him to the eye of the storm, the place where he is needed the most, and can have the biggest positive impact on the world. Where could he show more heroism then next to me?"

Before Anna had a chance to respond, Ayano finished healing Dave, who woke up and stood up.

"Whoa, Ayano you really knocked me out there. If you didn't manage to take me by surprise I might have been able to block that...," said Dave grumpily.

Anna mustered Dave from the side while he talked to Ayano.

'This guy is a real monster. I know how strong Ayano's heals are and the fact that he can stand up so fast is simply insane. I wonder if Ayano was right. Maybe fate has a big plan for him. If fate thinks that we need someone with insane powers like him, doesn't that mean we are awaiting harsh times!", thought Anna bitterly.

While Anna was in thought Dave explained to Ayano his progress,

"Well as you could see I finally managed to use a second [Enhancement Bubble] as you suggested. It was only possible after the skill reached C rank! I wonder when I will be able to create and control 3 simultaneously..."

Ayano smiled seeing Dave's enthusiasm.

"Dave before you create a third bubble you first have to manage to further strengthen the second one. The mana in its inside was less compressed than the mana in your first bubble!"

Dave nodded hearing this. It was the truth. Right now it was still really hard for him to control the second bubble as good as the first one.

"By the way, was that Halo you used just now?", asked Dave curiously.

Ayano nodded as a response to Dave's question.

"Dave you should ready yourself now for the next Limit Breaking Quest. We are short on time. Use the next 30 minutes to adjust your physical and mental state and then I would recommend you start the next quest!"

Hearing this Dave sat down and started meditating consuming various medicines.