Amidst the cheers of the crowd, White walked back to his seat.

He still wore his mask intact, surprising most people. Everyone briefly focused on White before their attention shifted to the next fight between Vidyut and Paras.

This fight had to unfold differently from the previous ones among Sam's friends. Sam had given special instructions to both of them.

While they would test their skills with the three-hit strategy, it wouldn't mark the end. They aimed to put on a show.

Paras, displaying overwhelming might since the beginning, is going to be defeated by Vidyut, advancing him dominantly to the next level. Sam and his friends knew the truth. But the rest of the world doesn't.

So, Vidyut is going to the semi-finals.

The fight unfolded precisely as Sam had decided in the next twenty minutes. Vidyut progressed to the next round, setting the stage for the final match of this round between Jack and Watt. Sam hadn't given any special instructions; it was up to them to claim victory. Despite their friendship, their competitive spirits shone through in their skillful display.

Without the self-imposed three-hit rule they had established (which most spectators had caught onto by now), any impartial judge would have called it a tie.

Jack emerged as the winner, leaving only four candidates: Sam, White, Vidyut, and Jack.

In the order of their advancement, the time had finally come for White and Sam to clash. With no obstacles, interference, or limits, White had long awaited this moment.

Sam wished it were the finals. It would have been a grand conclusion to the tournament. Still, he was prepared for this scenario. He accounted for all variables and devised a plan to maximize the outcome.

Sam stretched, visibly excited.

"Are you confident?

" Dove asked.

"Is that even a question?

" Sam replied, making his way to the stage. Now the stage is merely a plain plot in the midst of the large spectator stands.

White, on the other hand, was even more thrilled about the fight than Sam. It wasn't the same kind of excitement. White harbored a desire to end Sam for reasons unknown to anyone.

"Let's finish this,

" White said to Sam as he withdrew his cane. Sam stood calmly, offering no response.

"Fight,

" announced Ivar.

*BOOM*

White made his move, executing his signature recoil shot that propelled him toward Sam like a cannon shell. In an instant, he stood in front of Sam, his cane aimed at Sam's heart. Yet, Sam remained stoic, showing no reaction even as the cane made contact.

The spectators were bewildered; they were familiar with White's fighting prowess and knew that he could easily end a fight with a decisive blow if the opponent didn't defend.

In their minds, despite Sam's strength, it seemed impossible for him to endure a clean, undefended hit. Yet, all they witnessed was a smile on Sam's face as the cane made contact.

Some of the more weak-minded onlookers closed their eyes.

*BOOM*

An explosive sound reverberated, but contrary to expectations, there was no scream of pain, no one sent flying due to recoil, and no flashy last-minute defensive maneuver. Sam stood there unfazed. This prompted a reaction from White, who staggered back.

"H... How?

" White stuttered, visibly shaken.

Sam inspected his chest; aside from a small hole in his shirt, there was no damage, not even a mark on his skin.

Then, he locked eyes with White, delighted by the horror he saw there.

White composed himself before making another attempt.

*BOOM*

With another recoil shot, he propelled himself toward Sam, landing another clean hit, this time aiming for Sam's head.

Normally, this kind of hit would take out Sam effortlessly if left undefended. White struggled to comprehend that Sam remained unaffected by the powerful strike aimed at his head.

*BOOM*

*BOOM*

*BOOM*

*BOOM*

White relentlessly attacked Sam, but no matter how hard he hit or how much energy he channeled into those hits, he couldn't inflict any damage.

Sam stood there, unmoved, leaving White panting not from exhaustion but from exasperation. He couldn't comprehend what was happening, and it frustrated him.

Meanwhile, some perceptive individuals began to realize something, yet they couldn't quite put their finger on it.

"Fight back,

" White demanded, but Sam remained motionless.

"I'd rather watch you exhaust yourself like this; it's more enjoyable,

" Sam retorted, provoking White. However, White quickly regained his composure, understanding his disadvantageous position.

He tightly gripped his cane and launched another attack, this time neither as forceful nor as fast as before. He struck Sam, focusing solely on the hit without checking for a counterattack. Even if Sam had retaliated at this point, White couldn't care less. He needs to understand how Sam nullified his style was more crucial.

*BOOM*

The attack landed, but Sam didn't budge. Yet, White glimpsed the truth.

Stepping back, he looked at Sam, horror on his face. He finally comprehended the method behind Sam's nullification technique.

The recoil style operated through a specific method: the energy at the point of contact served as the attack's center. In a split second, this energy spread from the point of impact and returned, colliding to create the attack's force. However, unlike his previous large-scale attacks, White controlled the direction of the resulting collision's power.

He used this force to propel himself away from the point of contact, simultaneously directing the collision's force back at the opponent. At the point of impact, the collision force not only caused damage but also provoked a recoil reaction within the opponent's body, intensifying the harm.

To counter this method, one had to create an exact opposite force to nullify the collision force. This required understanding the precise amount of energy in the attack, timing, attack point, and the atmospheric energy's reaction—a feat nearly impossible in a split second.

White hadn't considered this solution immediately because he couldn't fathom anyone possessing such knowledge. The variables necessary to achieve this were too complex to calculate instantaneously.

Or so he had believed until now.