14 Brak vs. Dioro

"How's that?" asked Dioro.

"You," Brak was taken aback by the stunt, "You broke through? But how? And even so you're only an early-king, you can't hope to touch me."

Suddenly, Brak felt a stinging pain in his chest. He winced as he looked down to see Dioro's hand pressed against his chest and before he knew it Dioro delivered a quick punch, knocking him higher into the sky.

Everyone's jaws dropped at the sight, except for Brak whose jaw was forced shut and had cut off part of his tongue by the impact of his teeth.

"I didn't seem to have a problem touching you there," Dioro stated plainly to the wheezing Brak.

"You!? What are you?" his jaw showed no sign damage but the joints and muscles in his face and neck ached. "Looks like I underestimated you, it won't happen again."

Brak took initiative this time, using the same technique that had finished off Trada.

Dioro released his essence armor and reached out his hand. As the wing came down and collided with Dioro's chest, Dioro grabbed his wing and punched Brak at the joint connecting his wing to his body.

Instantly, Dioro's defense was breached, leaving a trail of blood across his chest. Brak's scales and physical defenses remained intact, but he now struggled to use his left wing thanks to more internal damages from Dioro's punch. Both opponents took a moment to assess one another.

"Is Dad going to be ok?" Oli was worried beyond belief.

"If anyone can pull off a miracle, it's Dioro," Vloz managed to reposition himself and lay on his side to watch the fight above. "Pay attention Oli, you don't see a fight like this very often. Learn from your father's example."

"He's right Oli," Ania and the rest of the clan finally managed to catch up, surprising Oli and Vloz from behind.

She stared at the two fighting in the sky and continued, "But this… this is worse than I would have imagined. If it goes on for too long, I'm afraid that…" Ania's words trailed off as she was afraid to mention the worst possible outcome.

Brak's eye squinted as he realized something. "Your battle prowess is exceptional for someone I've never heard of before. What's your name?"

Dioro's response was an onslaught of punches, which were evaded. Then Dioro's aura changed and the world around him obeyed his will as he absorbed all of the surrounding energy into both of his fists like boxing gloves.

Not giving Brak time to think, he struck out again with more strength and speed than before, scaring Brak a little as he was forced to block the blows.

Brak was busy assessing Dioro further, certain that he knew of this ape before. He was amazed that Dioro again raised his level to that of a low-king during the barrage. But it was when he saw Dioro's signature move with his glowing fists that Brak remembered something from long ago.

"There's only one Iron-body Gorilla with such abilities, and I can't believe that I didn't recognize you sooner!" Brak solved the mystery and wanted to yell it to the heavens he was so happy. "You're Dioro! The former West Quadrant Mortal Champion, right? You're a wanted man back in my prefecture, but I never would have thought you escaped to some low-life clan in the middle of nowhere. Wow, you've really fallen, haven't you?"

At first, Brak was somewhat afraid to face Dioro, since he was an unknown expert that kept getting stronger. But since Dioro was a wanted man with a huge reward on his head, Brak decided to get serious and take the reward for himself.

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Brak could think of a lot of ways to use his reward, including pay for sufficient materials to make another breakthrough. For him, the nuisance of a brat was a blessing in disguise that led him to Dioro.

Oli and Vloz were both confused and had no way to follow the conversation after hearing that Dioro was a wanted man. Both of them decided to get to the bottom of it after the fight.

The other gorillas were also baffled and looked to Ania, who had her eyes closed in prayer for her husband.

"So, you've heard of me," Dioro calmed his breathing. "I take it you want my head for the bounty, is that right?"

Brak didn't hide his excitement, "I'd rather have your head than the egg, to be honest, but luck is smiling on me today because I get both. Now that's a steal!"

"I guess there's no need to hold back then!" Dioro raged towards the golden dragon with glowing fists.

They met again in the air, only this time Brak was on guard and no longer underestimating Dioro.

Dioro grunted as he realized that Brak's defenses were far stronger than he anticipated. And though his soul arts could boost his offensive power drastically, it was unable to strengthen his defensive strength.

Both opponents' offensive abilities were about even, but a dragged-out battle would lead to Dioro's demise.

"What's wrong? Did you finally realize you can't win? Just admit it," Brak was happier than ever to have Dioro cornered, "You will die here and so will your son. It's time I sent you both off myself!"

Brak attacked mercilessly, shattering Dioro defenses but Dioro focused on countering instead of blocking and traded blows with Brak. The dragon left a deep gash in Dioro's side while his sharp scales sawed at the gorilla's flesh.

Dioro gave him an injury to remember though when he actually broke through the dragon's scales and sent a destructive pulse of soul energy directly into Brak's body.

Hoping to recuperate, Brak backed off, but Dioro pushed himself past his limits and jumped levels once more, sending shivers down Brak's spine.

The gorilla held onto the dragon's neck as he pummeled through the scales on the dragon's underbelly, the weakest part of his body.

Of course, Brak tried to pull Dioro off and tear the ape to pieces with his claws, but the determined Dioro never let go and never stopped throwing punches. With nothing left to try, Brak blew flames from point-blank at Dioro, who disregarded the flames to deal one final blow with every bit of energy he had left before letting go.

Ignoring the pain and scarring his flames had caused to himself, Brak took to the sky as he realized something. As he began to flee at top speed, Frak was yelling in his mind, "He uses soul arts! No wonder I can't understand his strength! He almost had me there, if I hadn't been willing to burn myself, he would've done far worse. I want that egg, but for now, I must leave."

"I better not see you again or next time you won't be so lucky!" shouted Dioro, standing tall in the air as the giant dragon fled the scene and vanished into the distance.

Oli finally let his worry go as he cheered, "Yeah, go Dad!"

Then suddenly, Dioro fell from the sky and crashed to the world beneath him.