"Impossible," he gasped between impacts. Blood streamed from a dozen wounds. "You shouldn't be this strong. How can you possibly be as strong as the monkey!"
Shouldn't. Couldn't. Can't.
Ethan's response came as a horizontal sweep that cracked ribs beneath damaged armor. The City Lord's grunt of pain echoed across the ruined plaza.
Ezekiel's knees buckled.
His axe wavered, point dragging against broken stone as strength slowly abandoned his exhausted body.
Almost over.
From their distant vantage point, Ruan and Zhao watched in stunned silence. The impossible was unfolding before their eyes—their mighty City Lord, reduced to desperate defense against an anomaly who fought with the power of legends.
"He's going to kill him," Zhao whispered.
Ruan's throat worked soundlessly. Part of him wanted to intervene. Another part felt satisfaction.
They long since hated how the city operated.
