After witnessing the destruction of the heavy punching bag, Max’s eyebrow started to twitch rhythmically as he stared at the jagged hole Stephen had left behind.
The main reason for the irritation was simple: it was going to cost a significant amount of money to replace equipment specifically reinforced for superhumans. Stephen knew exactly why Max’s eyes were twitching; he had never known someone so incredibly wealthy to be so stingy. However, after learning more about the nature of Max’s Vow, which seemed inextricably tied to his wealth and resources, Stephen began to understand.
Despite the silent judgment from his boss, Stephen continued to test out his powers. Now that he no longer had to worry about the structural integrity of his own arms, he felt a sense of freedom he hadn’t experienced since his Vow was completed. He could finally go at full force. Still, out of respect for Max’s wallet, he decided to hit the remaining bags and sparring equipment with slightly less ferocity than his initial, rail-shattering strike.
As the training session progressed, Stephen noticed two distinct issues. First, he still couldn’t get the hang of using his speed on two different body parts simultaneously. For instance, he could move his arms with incredible, blur-inducing speed, or he could move his legs to dash across the room, but he couldn’t do both at once.
It didn’t feel like a lack of coordination or a skill issue; it felt like a fundamental limitation written into the "code" of his Vow.
"If I think back to the few true superhumans I’ve met... well, one in particular comes to mind," Max explained, stepping closer to observe the mechanical joints of the exoskeleton. "I can’t imagine that the moment he completed his Vow, he was as strong as he is today. My best guess is that time is truly needed to make these Vows stronger. You have to prove, over a long period, that you are truly sticking to the restrictions you set for yourself. As your commitment grows, the power scales. I suspect eventually you’ll be able to use your speed across your entire body at once."
However, there was a second problem that Stephen couldn’t shake: his stamina. Moving at those speeds was physically exhausting. While the exoskeleton protected his bones and muscles from the mechanical stress of the impact, it did nothing for his lungs or heart. It wasn’t as if he could get an exoskeleton for his cardiovascular system to improve his oxygen intake.
"Maybe I was a bit early in my assessment before," Wolf noted, tapping a finger against his chin as he watched Stephen catch his breath. "When he’s at his peak and doing everything at once, he’s definitely an S-grade. But his effectiveness drops off sharply as the fight drags on. Still, I can’t lower his overall grading because his base stats are just too high. Even without his Vow, he’d be a top-tier fighter with plenty of stamina. It’s just something we need to account for in a long-term engagement."
Immediately after they finished with Stephen, Max surprised everyone by stepping into the center of the ring.
"Wolf, it’s been a while. Why don’t the two of us go a round?" Max said, loosening his shoulders. "I’d like to get an accurate gauge of what you think of my current ranking... and I suppose you can update yours for the group as well."
Wolf nodded, a sharp smile spreading across his face. He was more than happy to agree. He suspected that Max had grown considerably stronger with the massive influx of funds he had managed to secure recently. As for Wolf himself, he had been unlocking the latent powers of his mind, allowing him to perceive and adapt to fights as they unfolded in real-time. The others crowded around the edge of the mat, eager to see the two leaders clash.
The fight between Max and Wolf was a masterclass in technique. Max utilized every skill he had painstakingly learned, moving with a calculated efficiency that minimized wasted energy. He pushed himself to his limits, but Wolf was an expert at adaptation. No matter how Max changed his rhythm or technique, Wolf seemed to read the intention before the strike was even fully formed.
In the end, the bout looked remarkably even. They eventually called a halt to the sparring before either of them suffered actual injury or became too worn out. They had achieved what they needed: a mutual respect for each other’s current levels.
Wolf wiped the sweat from his brow, his eyes turning to the others. "As for the rest of you, apart from Joe and Aron, since your roles are different, do you mind if I see you two fight it out as well? Darno, Na, let’s see what you’ve got."
Darno and Na stepped forward willingly. Neither of them were official "Rangers" yet, but there was a palpable tension between them. It felt as if they both had something to prove, to Max, to Wolf, and to themselves.
The fight was a clash of diametrically opposed styles. Na utilized his "Compact" hits, focusing his immense strength into short, explosive bursts that were difficult to dodge. However, it felt like a stalemate. Darno, utilizing his "Ultimate Defense," seemed to swat the heavy hits away with his palms as if they were nothing more than annoying flies.
Darno attempted to counter-attack, and while his strikes were heavy enough to stagger most men, Na was incredibly agile for his size. Na found ways to weave through the defense, getting in low tackles and trying to find the gaps in Darno’s guard. The intensity began to ramp up until it looked like they were going to seriously hurt each other, prompting Max to step in and end the session.
"Alright, that’s enough," Wolf claimed, stepping back into his role as the group’s analyst. "Before I give you your new ranking, Max, I wanted to see how everyone else has managed to improve their Vows. The collective power of this group now is amazing."
Wolf’s expression turned serious as he looked at the team. "We know Jett is an S-rank; we’ve seen him fight. From what you’ve told me, I’d bet Darius is an S-rank as well. But if they were to come at us with the Black Hounds alone, I don’t think we can lose. When you see my new rankings for this group, you’ll understand why."