The distance between Jayden and the D-Rank Earth Smasher vanished in an instant.
The Smasher swung first—a devastating right hook that would have shattered a truck. Jayden weaved beneath it, his claws lashing upward in a vicious arc aimed at the beast's ribs. But the Smasher was fast, twisting its torso just enough that the blades only grazed its hide, drawing thin lines of blood rather than deep gouges.
Jayden didn't let up. He pivoted on his heel, his left fist crashing into the beast's side with enough force to dent steel. The Smasher grunted but retaliated instantly, its knee driving upward toward Jayden's gut.
Jayden twisted midair, barely avoiding the strike, but the wind pressure alone sent him skidding back. He didn't stop, he pushed off the ground, closing the distance again in a blur.
His claws became a storm of slashes—each one aimed at vital points. But the Smasher was no mindless brute. It blocked, parried, and countered with terrifying precision.
