Welcome to the Innocent World-Chapter 272: Strong Punches

I bent my knees mid-air, my black aura pulsing stronger, its purple accents glowing like embers as I prepared to launch. "Time to get serious," I said, my voice sharp with confidence, my smirk sharp as a blade as I locked eyes with Alaric.

He growled, his red aura flaring hotter, tendrils curling around his body as he shifted his stance, his boots hovering steady in the air. "Huh!? Finally decided to get serious?" he said, his voice low and taunting, his red eyes narrowing. "Sure, bring it o—"

Before he could finish, I launched myself forward in a blur of motion, my black aura surging like a dark comet. *THUD!* My fist slammed into his face, a clean, powerful punch that connected with a bone-rattling impact. The force sent us both hurtling through the air, Alaric’s body crashing into the concrete wall of a nearby rooftop with a deafening *THUD*, my fist still pressed against his cheek.

Dust and debris exploded outward, the shockwave rippling through the night, making the palm trees below sway and the ocean waves churn.

The crowd on the beach erupted, their cheers shaking the air. "Whoa!" a guy in a tank top shouted, his beer raised high. "That was a nice punch!"

An older man, grizzled and leaning on a cane, nodded with a proud grin. "See, I told you," he said, his voice calm but smug. "Zero was holding back. He’s just getting started now."

Below, Lyra leaped to her feet, her blonde hair catching the moonlight as she pumped both fists in the air, her voice bursting with excitement. "Hehe, that was great, Zero!" she shouted, her green eyes sparkling as she watched me drive Alaric into the wall, her boobs jiggling with the motion. "Keep pounding him!"

Afa scrambled to her feet, her face flushing red as she pointed a shaking finger at Lyra, her teeth grinding. "The fight’s just started, you idiot!" she snapped, her voice sharp with anger. "What are you celebrating for?" 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞

Lyra laughed, tossing her hair to one side with a dramatic flourish, her grin wicked and unshaken. "Beginning or ending, my Zero’s gonna win," she said, her voice dripping with confidence as she crossed her arms, pushing her chest out proudly. "Your alien’s already eating concrete!"

Afa’s eyes narrowed, her scowl deepening as she jabbed her finger closer. "We’ll see about that," she spat, her voice trembling with rage. "But first, put some damn clothes on, will you? You look ridiculous!"

Lyra leaned forward, her grin wicked as she grope her own boobs, lifting them slightly, her voice dripping with mock sympathy. "Why? You jealous you don’t have these?" she said, her tone taunting as she tilted her head. "Poor you, must be hard not being able to satisfy your man."

Afa’s face flushed red, her dark eyes blazing with fury as she shot to her feet, her fists clenched so tight her knuckles whitened. "Shut the fuck up, you shameless woman!" she snapped, her voice trembling with rage, her irritation raw like a kid being teased on a playground. "You think you’re so special, flaunting yourself like that?"

Dust and debris settled in a cloud around the crumbled concrete where Alaric had crashed moments ago, my punch having sent him flying.

I stood above him, my black coat billowing in the night breeze, my dark aura curling faintly around me as I looked down at the red-eyed alien sprawled in the rubble.

"Does that hurt?" I asked, my voice low and taunting, my smirk sharp as I tilted my head. "Don’t tell me one punch is all you were all this time."

Alaric growled, his red aura flaring as he pushed himself up, shaking off the debris like it was nothing. "Not at all," he said, his voice low and dangerous, his red eyes glinting with defiance. In a blur of motion, he launched himself toward me with a *swooosh*, his fist crackling with red energy as it connected with my face.

The impact hit like a freight train, sending me flying backward with a deafening *THUD* as I crashed into the side of a nearby building, concrete cracking under the force, dust exploding into the air.

The crowd on the beach below gasped, their cheers faltering as they watched me disappear into the wreckage.

"Oh no!" a woman in a sundress cried, her hands flying to her mouth. "Zero got hit!"

A guy next to her, clutching a beer, shook his head, his eyes wide. "That alien’s got some power," he said, his voice tinged with worry. "That was a hard hit."

An older man, grizzled and leaning on a cane, chuckled, unfazed. "Relax," he said, his voice calm but confident. "Zero’s tougher than that. He’s probably just sizing him up. Watch—he’s coming back stronger."

Back on the rooftop, Alaric stood straight, his red aura flaring as he wiped a trickle of blood from his lip, his smirk cold and triumphant.

"Hmm... a fucking insect is all you are," he said, his voice dripping with contempt as he cracked his knuckles, his red eyes glinting in the moonlight.

*Clap. Clap.* The slow, deliberate sound cut through the night, and Alaric’s head snapped toward the hole where I’d crashed, his eyes narrowing in surprise.

I stepped out of the rubble, brushing dust off my black coat, my dark aura pulsing stronger as I clapped my hands, my smirk sharp and unshaken.

"That was impressive," I said, my voice calm but taunting as I walked forward, my boots crunching on the broken concrete.

"So you do have some strength in you, alien." My dark aura curled tighter around me, its purple accents glowing like embers in the starlight.

Lyra’s voice rang out from below, bright and fierce. "That’s my Zero!" she shouted, pumping her fists in the air, her blonde hair catching the moonlight. "Get back in there and finish him!"

Afa’s glare flicked to Lyra, her teeth grinding. "He’s done for!" she snapped, pointing a shaking finger. "Master’s just getting started!"