Chapter 13: Roger's Frustration

Chapter 13

Seeing that both were ready in their respective positions, Mrs. Sri immediately began the match.

Raka and Roger did not rush to attack, instead, they carefully observed each other. Both moved in circles, their eyes locked on each other as if they didn't want to miss a single detail.

Unconsciously, both sides kept getting closer, finally reaching striking distance.

Swosh!

Raka, who had a more extended attack range, immediately took the initiative, slashing diagonally.

Roger, who had been watching intently, was not surprised at all and easily dodged the attack.

Raka didn't give Roger a moment to breathe, launching attack after attack.

Roger continued to dodge freely, his fighting style reminiscent of a boxing athlete.

For a while, Raka couldn't land a hit. Their physical fitness was almost at the same level.

Just when Raka was confused about how to break through Roger's defense, suddenly, Roger struck with a seemingly relaxed move.

But for some reason, Raka felt an uneasy feeling in his heart.

"Virtual Resonance: Iron Fist!"

Bang!

Suddenly, Roger's fist, which had looked weak before, became as solid as a mountain, smashing into Raka's sword as he tried to parry.

Raka, unprepared, was pushed back several meters by the impact. The kinetic energy from the blow reverberated through his body, causing mechanical vibrations that made his hands tremble slightly.

Roger, seeing this, couldn't help but smirk with satisfaction. He had only used the first skill of his Virtual Resonance, and it wasn't even his full power.

Roger, who possessed a black iron knuckle virtual resonance ranked A-, was still quite proud of his talent.

However, Roger knew he shouldn't get complacent. He imagined Gabriel as his opponent, pushing himself to improve.

He had unconsciously underestimated anyone other than Gabriel, constantly striving to surpass him.

Now, Roger was thinking the same way. Remembering how effortlessly Gabriel had defeated his opponent before, he wanted to do the same.

Moreover, Roger believed his task would be easier, as his opponent only had a virtual resonance ranked lower than the one Gabriel had faced previously.

With a smug smile, Roger looked at Raka, as if he had just accomplished something great.

Raka, seeing Roger's demeanor, could only maintain a dignified expression.

He was confused, unsure what Roger thought of him.

But even so, Raka didn't care. He knew that everyone who smiled had their hidden plans.

All Raka could do was be cautious, ready to respond to any strategy Roger might employ.

Both continued to attack each other. Raka, aware that Roger was planning something, became even more cautious.

But his carefulness didn't raise any suspicion in Roger's mind. He assumed it was simply Raka performing at his peak.

Just when Roger thought the moment was right, he dodged to the side and launched an uppercut towards Raka's chin.

Raka, who had been anticipating this move, used his sword to parry the attack.

Bang!

Even though Raka was prepared, the force of the blow sent him flying slightly into the air.

Fortunately, Raka quickly regained his balance.

Roger, who had expected Raka to be defeated by the attack, didn't follow up with a counterattack. This gave Raka time to recover.

Roger frowned, unhappy with the outcome. But he didn't dwell on it, chalking it up to carelessness on his part.

Roger and Raka clashed again, each seeking an opportunity for a decisive attack.

After a while, Roger believed he had found the right moment. He launched a straight left punch. But to his surprise, Raka easily dodged it.

This time, Roger had a follow-up attack planned. He had learned his lesson and was ready.

His right fist punched straight into Raka's chest.

Bang!

Raka was pushed back a considerable distance by the impact.

The victorious smile on Roger's face froze as he realized something was wrong. The sensation of hitting Raka felt off.

Hesitantly, Roger looked at Raka, his eyes searching for an explanation.

And there it was. Raka, despite being pushed back, seemed unharmed.

The only noticeable thing was his trembling hand, still holding his sword in a defensive position.

Roger realized his attack had been blocked again.

Annoyance welled up inside him. He charged at Raka, striking him with his fists.

Swosh!

Raka effortlessly dodged the attack.

Roger's frustration grew. He continued to launch attacks, fueled by his anger.

The air roared with the sound of his blows, punctuated by the occasional thud of his fists against space.

Roger attacked relentlessly, while Raka continued to dodge and parry.

Roger's frustration mounted.

Raka, on the other hand, also felt uncomfortable. He had tried to counterattack, but Roger's iron fist made it difficult.

The fight continued, the intensity escalating.

Unconsciously, fine beads of sweat formed on Raka's forehead.

Roger, while seemingly tireless and able to keep Raka on the defensive, didn't feel happy.

He knew that even though he would win, it would come at a high price. It was a far cry from the effortless victory Gabriel had achieved in the previous fight.

To be fair, Roger knew that Raka, in every way, possessed superior physical fitness and fighting ability compared to Gabriel's previous opponent.

But Roger refused to make excuses for himself.

He believed that only losers and the weak made excuses.

He focused his mind, shedding his previous playful attitude.

If he had previously dismissed Raka as an insignificant opponent, he now saw him as a worthy adversary.

Raka, sensing the shift in Roger's mindset, felt a pang of unease. He wasn't sure if he could keep up if Roger were serious.

Both fighters entered a state of intense focus, their determination palpable, even affecting those watching.

Mrs. Sri, observing the change, became more attentive, fearing an accident.

"Arghhhh!"

"Hiyaa!"

Both fighters roared, fueling their spirits.

Bang!

Swosh!

They clashed, their movements deadly yet captivating. The spectators were awestruck.

But Roger's frustration grew. His position with Raka remained unchanged. Raka continued to dodge and parry his attacks with incredible speed.

It was clear that Raka was adapting to the intensity of Roger's attacks.

The more Roger fought, the more annoyed he became.

Every time he thought he had Raka on the ropes, Raka would surprise him with his incredible dodging ability.

Raka, however, wasn't feeling much better. His face was pale from lack of oxygen, his breathing erratic due to the constant distractions.

Just when Roger could no longer contain his emotions, he yelled at Raka:

"Damn it, are you just going to run away?"

"Can't you stop dodging?"

"You must be so frustrated right now, having a Virtual Resonance that's like a useless mattress! It doesn't even have an active skill to boost your power!"

"Pathetic!"

The spectators frowned at Roger's words.

Raka's friends were outraged by Roger's behavior. They wanted to defend their friend.

But people like Gabriel and Mrs. Sri knew this was nothing unusual. They understood the harsh reality of talent gaps.

This fight was a deliberate arrangement by Mrs. Sri, a reminder to Raka, her promising student, that there were obstacles beyond material resources and training that would hinder his growth.

She hoped this lesson would stay with him forever.

Raka, unaware of the thoughts swirling around him, focused on dodging and finding an opening to strike.

He had long stopped caring about the talent gap or feeling defeated. He had too many things to investigate, from his memories of Banyu Geni to the power of Banyu Geni itself.

As Raka focused, he finally spotted a weakness in Roger's attack.

His eyes gleamed with determination.

"You think I lack firepower? Well, I'm going to show you what real firepower is!" Raka said, his voice low, a small, unassuming smile playing on his lips.

Roger, hearing Raka's words, felt a wave of unease.

Raka effortlessly dodged Roger's straight punch, creating a wide opening in his defense.

Seizing the opportunity, Raka slashed at Roger with a heroic move, reminiscent of an ancient swordsman.

Rangga, watching the attack, recognized it as the same move Raka had used to try and cut his dog before.

But this time, Raka's attack was unstoppable. He poured every ounce of his strength into the strike.

Bang!

A loud explosion echoed through the air.