Kurogai watched Juggernaut closely, his eyes tracking every subtle shift of energy rolling off the massive mutant. With each thunderous step, the faint red glow surrounding Juggernaut grew brighter and heavier, like a mountain pressing down on the battlefield.
Kurogai understood exactly what he was seeing. This wasn't just Juggernaut charging up power—it was him breaking his own limits. Every surge of that crimson light raised his ceiling even higher, transforming already terrifying strength into something far beyond normal comprehension.
Yet Kurogai didn't move to stop him. Quite the opposite—he wanted to see just how far Juggernaut could go. The stronger his opponent became, the more Kurogai could test himself. So he stood still, arms folded, blue flames flickering faintly across his knuckles as he waited.
Finally, Juggernaut's preparation ended. His eyes glowed blood-red, a glint of madness shining inside them as his massive hands curled into fists.
"This is my strongest power," Juggernaut roared, his voice echoing like thunder. "Now feel true terror!"
He planted his feet, drew back his massive arm, and hurled a punch. But he didn't need to close the distance—the sheer force of his swing cracked the air itself.
BOOM!
The atmosphere detonated, a colossal shockwave tearing across the desert. Sand and gravel ripped free from the earth, forming a compressed channel of devastation that screamed toward Kurogai like a hurricane. Even the ground beneath that traveling gust cratered, the sand collapsing into a trench as the attack roared forward.
The impact wasn't even Juggernaut's fist yet—it was just the wind from his punch. The actual blow still carried even more power.
Kurogai's lips curved into a grin. "So you really can unleash something like this. Fine. I'll take you seriously now."
He raised his hand, calling on the Power Stone embedded within him. Its cosmic force poured through his veins like molten fire, amplifying his already inhuman strength. His fists clenched, muscles coiling like steel cables.
Then, matching Juggernaut's style exactly, he swung—not at Juggernaut's body, but into the air, unleashing his own shockwave of power.
The two forces met in the middle.
CRACK-THOOM!
A deafening explosion rolled across the desert, the air itself trembling. The impact gouged a vast chasm between the fighters, splitting the dunes like an earthquake. Even miles away, faint tremors could be felt.
For a long moment, the two titanic forces clashed in midair, neither yielding, locked in a deadlock of raw power.
Juggernaut's expression flickered from confidence to shock. "You… You matched it?!" His voice was hoarse, disbelieving. "I wield the favor of a god, and my strength skyrockets when I tap it. But you—without even preparing—hit me with this kind of power? What are you?"
Kurogai's eyes narrowed, glowing faintly with the pattern of his perfected rings. "Why don't you find out for yourself?"
He poured more of the Power Stone's energy into his next swing. The air howled as the pressure built, sand and rock whipped skyward by the force. Then he let it go—
BOOM!
The second strike dwarfed the first. The momentum of his energy broke the stalemate, ripping through Juggernaut's crimson shockwave like a beast tearing apart its prey. The resulting surge plowed forward, unstoppable, hammering into Juggernaut with the weight of a mountain.
The unstoppable force was thrown back.
Juggernaut's massive frame slammed through the sand like a meteor, plowing a trench dozens of meters long before skidding to a halt, buried halfway in a dune.
"You lost, Juggernaut," Kurogai said calmly, lowering his fists. The fight was over.
Juggernaut gritted his teeth, clutching his aching arm. "Yeah… I lost."
He didn't need Kurogai to tell him. His ultimate strike had landed, and still he'd been overwhelmed. The crimson energy of his patron deity would fade soon, leaving him weaker for a time. Continuing the fight now would be meaningless.
"I used everything," Juggernaut admitted, pushing himself upright. "But even at my peak, you overpowered me."
He exhaled heavily, red light fading from his body. "We had a deal. I'll honor it. I'll work under you. But…" He hesitated, then spoke plainly. "I'm not the kind of guy who likes being chained to someone's side. Use me where I'm needed. Give the order and I'll obey. And someday, I'll challenge you again."
Kurogai's expression softened slightly. "Fair enough. I don't need a guard dog—I need a weapon I can call on. That suits me perfectly."
Juggernaut managed a grin despite the bruises. "Then from today, you're the boss. So, boss… anything you want me to do right now?"
Kurogai smirked, blue flames flickering once again across his arm. "Not yet. But when I do, you'll know."