"To be honest, your defense is higher than I imagined, which somewhat surprised me."
A hint of surprise appeared on Fitoria's face. Originally, she thought that her mastery of [High Speed Kick] would be enough to deal with Jason, but she didn't expect him to still stand there safe and sound.
"Stop talking nonsense, come again!"
Jason disappeared from his spot in an instant.
"Since you don't admit defeat, come on again. Although the result will be the same, a high defense alone can't solve anything."
Fitoria vanished from her position at the same moment.
The figures of the two flickered rapidly, moving at a speed that surpassed the dynamic vision of ordinary people.
At first glance, it seemed like two figures were appearing everywhere at once, making it impossible to discern their real bodies.
They collided repeatedly, each impact sounding like a thunderous crash.
Moments later, Jason's figure was hurled backward, smashing through several ruined houses before crashing into the rubble.
"Come again!"
In the very next second, he emerged from the debris, charging towards Fitoria once more.
Again and again, Fitoria launched Jason into the air, but each time, he came back stronger and faster.
Fitoria found it difficult to track how many times she had sent Jason flying.
He was like an indomitable cockroach—just when she thought she'd knocked him out for good, he came rushing back with even greater speed.
Fitoria had never encountered such terrifying endurance and vitality in one person.
What surprised her even more was how Jason's speed and strength increased each time. With every clash, his movements became more refined, his attack angles trickier, and the power behind his blows more intense. Even his speed and rapid movement distance improved drastically.
"In front of me stands a terrifying man, someone who grows stronger even in this state."
Fitoria couldn't help but ask herself that question in disbelief.
Of course, Jason wasn't some battle-born race like the Saiyans, who grew stronger as they fought. Instead, the 16% progress of the Garp template had been poured into his body all at once.
Now, his constant battles with Fitoria pushed his brain to adapt rapidly, allowing him to fully wield his newfound strength—making it seem as if he was evolving mid-fight.
"Boom!!!"
With another devastating impact, Fitoria sent Jason flying again. His body slammed into the ground, forming a large crater.
"How do you have this kind of strength? As a shield hero, you shouldn't possess such speed and power. The shield hero specializes in support and defense. At your current level, it should be impossible for you to move like this. You should have been immobilized long ago."
Taking advantage of a brief pause, Fitoria finally asked the question that lingered in her mind.
Now she understood how Jason had killed the Tyrannosaurus Rex. With the strength he displayed, it made perfect sense.
Jason didn't respond. Instead, he jumped out of the pit and reappeared behind Fitoria.
"Stop doing meaningless things."
Fitoria seemed to have eyes in the back of her head. Without turning, she lashed out with a kick.
"Boom!"
However, as if Jason had anticipated it, he used Moonwalk to pivot 180 degrees mid-air, dodging the blow. In the same fluid motion, he retaliated with his right leg.
"Tempest Kick! White Thunder!!!"
A massive slash burst forth—a refined version of Tempest Kick.
Jason had finally lasted long enough to complete the task, unlocking the extended uses of Tempest Kick and Moonwalk.
Fitoria instantly sensed the danger from behind. Although airborne, her wings gave her excellent maneuverability, and she flickered away just in time.
However, White Thunder had a far larger range than the standard Tempest Kick. When Fitoria reappeared, a deep bloodstain marred her arm.
Caught by surprise due to the proximity, she misjudged the attack's range and got injured.
"You actually hurt me."
Fitoria frowned deeply, visibly taken aback by the unexpected injury.
"Now's not the time to be surprised."
Seizing the moment, Jason appeared directly above her.
"Iron Body! Crush!!!"
The wind from his fist howled as he punched downwards. Under the force of Jason's blow, Fitoria was sent plummeting to the ground like a cannonball, raising a cloud of dust.
Jason knew that a single punch wasn't enough to take her out. He quickly retreated, landing on the ground to prepare his defense, anticipating her next move.
Yet the quick counterattack he expected never came.
As the dust settled, Fitoria remained standing in the same spot.
Her long gothic dress was soiled by the dust, but she seemed unfazed, tilting her head slightly in thought.
"Your strength doesn't seem to come from this world. Regardless, you are indeed very strong. It won't be easy for me to kill you. If I let you grow any further, even I may not be able to stop you."
Her gaze sharpened as she continued, "But if you don't cooperate with the other three heroes, you will only bring even greater disasters. I can't allow that to happen."
Suddenly, Fitoria raised her head and looked at Jason in the distance. Her voice, cold and murderous, echoed through the air.
"Oh? So, do you still think you can kill me?"
At this moment, Jason's face was covered with dust and soot, leaving only two rows of white teeth gleaming beneath the grime.
Just as the system had told him: a real man takes the worst oath and endures the worst beating.
And Jason—without a doubt—was a man's man.
After suffering countless blows from Fitoria, his current state looked tragic. His once-sturdy equipment was now riddled with cracks and nearly falling apart.
But the gleam in his eyes only grew brighter and more eager with every moment.
"Of course... Although your defense is absurdly high, the damage I can deal at one time is limited. But..." Jason grinned, baring his teeth. "Damage can stack over time."
Fitoria's expression remained calm as she replied with a light, yet confident tone:
"This is what my adoptive parents taught me—no matter how high your defense, no matter how thick the health of a boss, it can always be worn down."
Jason never imagined he would one day be seen as a boss monster—and by none other than the queen of the Filolials. He didn't know whether to cry or laugh at the absurdity of it.
"Grind me to death? I'm afraid you might end up disappointed."
With a flick of his right hand, Jason summoned the Storage Shield. In the blink of an eye, bottles filled with a dazzling array of colorful liquids appeared in his grasp.
Without any hesitation, Jason boldly uncorked the bottles and began chugging their contents without pause.
Witnessing this, Fitoria froze in place, stunned as if she had been petrified on the spot.
The liquids Jason consumed were a variety of potions—health boosters, mana potions, stamina restoratives, and more.
"A boss monster who can chug potions like this..." Jason gave a sly smirk as he downed another potion. "Tell me... aren't you afraid now?"