“Hey, are you trying to kill me?”

“One less villain in the world is a good thing!”

The Leaper jumped high into the air. Victor tracked her jump and was impressed. She had to be over five meters high, and when the Leaper was at the apex of her jump, the hero shot out three spits in a row.

Victor jumped to the side and threw himself forward to avoid the three spits. They hit the ground and began melting the concrete. Out of the corner of his eye, Victor saw the Leaper propping herself up against a wall and pushing off against it. She leapt into the air again, using the walls to drastically change her direction. Victor saw the spit coming and dodged. At that moment, he felt a sharp pain in his side and fell to the ground.

Victor cursed.

The hero had launched two spits! One arrived slightly later and was aimed in the direction Victor was dodging to. Victor endured the pain and quickly rolled to his feet. He got up just in time to dodge another spit. The Green Leaper landed in front of Victor and shot a spit at him. Victor dodged instinctively but noticed that the spit was slower. The Green Leaper’s first attack was like a bullet. This latest spit was much slower. Victor was too seasoned to smile.

The hero was inexperienced. She was using her powers too much and was getting tired. As if to prove his point, the Leaper stayed on the ground and shot at Victor. Victor easily dodge the spit and closed the distance. It was a mistake.

The Leaper jumped out of reach and once again used the walls to change direction. She flew over Victor and shot out a spit. Victor was too close to dodge, so he didn’t bother. He stopped in his tracks and reached into his core. Qi was instantly released, and Victor directed the energy to a far smaller core orbiting around his main core. In almost an instant, a brown bark-like material appeared on his skin. The bark spread all over his skin, covering Victor like a set of armor. The spit struck him squarely on the left shoulder. It began melting the bark on the shoulder, but Victor was physically unharmed.

The Green Leaper landed with her mouth opened. Victor didn’t give her the time to get over her shock. He gathered qi in his feet and charged. Since the fight began, Victor had avoided using any of his cultivation techniques. The Bear’s Charge caught the hero out. Victor tackled her to the ground and landed on top of her. He launched into Flurry of Punches. Cracks appear on the hero’s helmet. The Green Leaper somehow managed to shoot out a spit. It hit Victor in the face. The bark melted, but Victor continued his assault. Then, Victor felt something hooking his arms. He activated his Iron Body immediately as a great force grew him off the Green Leaper.

Victor rolled on the ground as he saw the Green Leaper bending her body into an impossible position. The hero didn’t just have super agility and spitting powers; she is also a super contortionist! The Leaper got up slower than Victor, and she was breathing heavily. All that jumping around, and Victor’s punches, were taking a toll on the hero. The hero’s helmet fell off. Victor saw the hero’s face for the first time. She was pretty, and young. Victor would be surprised if she was a day above eighteen.

“Walk away.”

“What?”

The shock on the hero’s face was genuine, and Victor replied. “You did good kid. You fought well, now walk away. There’s nothing to be gained fighting me at this time.”

“Heroes don’t run.”

“They do when they are in a fight they know they are going to lose. I have already won this. Now, walk away.”

Indecision momentarily wrecked the hero’s face, then she recovered. A grim determination settled on the pretty face and Victor sighed. The hero had made her decision. He could only respect it.

For a second, neither of them moves, then the Green Leaper shot a spit at Victor. He dodged to the side but kept his eye on the Leaper. He was expecting another spit, but the hero surprised him by launching herself at him with a flying kick. Victor crossed his arms and got into his stance. The kick hit him, and the explosive impact staggered the villain. However, between the bark and Iron Body, Victor kept his feet. Victor immediately activated the Bear’s Charge. The hero saw him coming and tried to jump out of the way. Inexperience told. The hero jumped straight up instead of sideways, and Victor grabbed the hero’s foot. He pulled the hero down and threw a punch at the Green Leaper as she was falling. It hit the hero in the temple, and she dropped to the ground. Victor stepped over the hero and raised his arm. The young hero looked at him in fear and disbelief. Victor hesitated. The hero took the opportunity and asked.

“They said you don’t have a superpower.”

“I don’t.”

The hero laughed. “Then what was that? What are you?”

It was a good question, and one that Victor had prepared for. He knew this question would come up sooner or later, and the lie came naturally.

“I’m a mystic.” The Green Leaper’s eyes widen. Victor smiled. “Sweet dreams.”