Titan Rumble Ch 8: Immense Strength & Durability,

(Cain) The moment my fist connected with Yuna's face, I felt the impact travel all the way up my arm, a satisfying jolt that told me l'd la

(Cain)

The moment my fist connected with Yuna's face, I felt the impact travel all the way up my arm, a satisfying jolt that told me l'd landed the hit clean. I couldn't help the smirk that crept across my face. Got her.

But the victory was short-lived-like, blink-and-you-miss-it short.

Yuna didn't budge.

She didn't stagger, didn't flinch, didn't even blink. Her arms stayed at her sides, completely relaxed, like she'd just let me punch her on purpose. Her face didn't twist in pain or even register surprise. She just stood there, staring at me with those blazing, furious eyes.

"Um.." The word slipped out of my mouth before I could stop it. My brain scrambled for something, anything, to explain what had just happened.

And then it hit me—she didn't even try to block it.

Before I could process the full weight of that revelation, Yuna's body tensed. Every muscle seemed to expand,

bulging and rippling like they were made of steel cords. A pulse of force shot out from her like an invisible explosion, and before I could even think to brace myself, it hit me like a freight train.

I went flying.

The ground was a blur beneath me as I was thrown back. Somehow, I managed to land on my feet, skidding across the grassy field and digging my heels into the dirt to stop myself. The sheer force of her power left my body vibrating, my bones feeling like they'd been shaken loose.

And what was Yuna doing?

Laughing.

She reached up and wiped at her lip— her bleeding lip-with the back of her hand, smirking as she inspected the tiny red streak. "Not bad," she said, her tone light but her eyes still fierce. "You're still as strong as ever."

I stared down at my fist, which was now red and throbbing from the punch. It felt like I'd just hit a brick wall. No, scratch that-her face was harder than a brick wall.

I glanced back up at her as she stepped forward, cracking her knuckles like she was just getting started. The Mindscape was supposed to level the playing field, letting Betas like me compete with Alphas and Omegas on even terms. In theory, it made their bodies less godlike and more human.

But theory and practice were clearly two different things.

Even in this space, Yuna's strength and durability weren't anything close to human. She might not have been the giantess she was outside, but her body still felt like it was  made of steel. Her strength was still terrifyingly real.

And now, she was coming for me.

"It's my turn," she said, smirking as she burst into motion.

One second she was walking, and the next she was a blur, closing the distance between us faster than I could track. My heart barely had time to lurch in my chest before her fist slammed into my stomach.

The world went white.

The impact knocked the wind out of me completely. I couldn't even cry out as I was sent hurtling through the air, my limbs flailing uselessly. When I finally hit the ground, it felt like the earth itself rose up to meet me, the force of my landing kicking up a cloud of dust.

lay there for a moment, staring up at the sky, struggling to breathe. My chest felt like it had been caved in, and my ribs ached with every shallow inhale. For a fleeting moment, I desperately hoped the pain was an illusion, just a trick of the Mindscape.

It wasn't.

"Is that all?" Yuna's voice cut through the ringing in my ears.

I lifted my head to see her standing over me, hands on her hips, looking more annoyed than anything. "Is this the fight I waited so long for?" she asked, her tone dripping with disappointment.

The sting of her words hit harder than her punch. I gritted my teeth and forced myself to sit up, clutching my chest. The pain was real, but it wasn't enough to stop me. I wasn't done.

"Too bad," I muttered under my breath, mostly to myself.

Her brow furrowed as she stepped closer, tilting her head. "Too bad? What are you talking about?"

pushed myself to my feet, forcing my body upright despite the protests from my ribs. My legs wobbled for half a second before I steadied myself.

"Oh, nothing," I said, brushing some imaginary dust off my pants. Then I raised my head and looked her dead in the eye. "I just needed my second wind, that's all."

Yuna snorted, crossing her arms. "Second wind?" she said, her voice full of mockery. "Don't flatter yourself, Cain. I haven't even used half my strength yet." She smirked, her eyes narrowing. "I hope you've got more to show me, because if that's all you've got, this is going to be over quick."

I smiled back, letting a bit of cockiness slip into my expression. "Oh, don't worry," I said, raising my fists into a ready stance. "I've got plenty to show you."

She arched an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed. "We'll see."

This was it.

The first round had been hers, no doubt about it. She'd  knocked me down, hard. But I wasn't about to let her walk away with this victory, not without a fight.

I shifted my weight, bouncing lightly on the balls of my feet as I measured the distance between us. She was taller, stronger, faster-but none of that mattered. I'd fought her before, and I knew one thing for certain: Yuna was powerful, but she was also overconfident.

If I could use that against her, I might just have a chance.

"Ready when you are," I said, my grin widening as I saw her eyes flash with irritation.

"Don't get cocky," she snapped, stepping forward.

The fight wasn't over-not by a long shot. And if Yuna thought she was going to steamroll me without a challenge, she was in for a rude awakening.