Ultima's Bite!

April adjusted her stance, feet firm against the training mat. Jax stood across from her, relaxed but watchful. The weight of his presence alone was enough to make anyone second-guess attacking first.

Not her.

Kai, Dante, and Saya stood along the edges of the training area, watching.

Jax rolled his shoulders. "Let's see how far you've come, Ultima."

April smirked. "Try to keep up."

A sharp beep signaled the start of the match.

Jax moved.

Not just fast—explosively fast. His foot slammed into the ground, and the sheer force cracked the reinforced floor beneath him. 

He was on her in an instant, fist reared back.

April barely had time to react.

Dodge—!

She twisted, Jax's punch grazing past her, but the shockwave alone sent her skidding back. The air rippled with the force of his raw power.

"Come on," Jax called. "That all you got?"

April narrowed her eyes. She wasn't about to play defense the entire match.

She pushed forward, her body moving instinctively. The moment her foot hit the ground, she surged toward him, her movements sharper, cleaner.

She swung—

Jax deflected with his forearm, but April was already shifting, her second strike aiming for his ribs.

Blocked.

She clicked her tongue. He was reading her movements like an open book.

Jax smirked. "You're fast. But speed alone won't cut it."

Then, he stepped in—too close.

April barely had time to brace before his knee slammed into her stomach. The impact sent her airborne, and before she could adjust, Jax vanished—only to reappear above her mid-fall.

She had one second.

April twisted her body in midair, using the momentum to kick off his descending fist, flipping backward before landing.

The moment her feet touched the ground, she crouched and launched herself forward, fist aiming straight for his jaw.

Jax's eyes flickered with amusement.

CRACK! 

April's punch connected.

Or at least—it should have.

Instead, Jax's skin hardened, a metallic sheen covering his jaw for a split second before fading.

Her attack did nothing.

April barely had time to react before Jax grabbed her arm, yanked her forward, and spun, using her own momentum to hurl her across the room.

She hit the ground, rolled, and skidded to a stop.

Pain shot through her body, but she ignored it. She could still move. That was all that mattered.

Dante whistled. "Damn. She's actually keeping up."

Kai crossed his arms. "Yeah, but keeping up isn't winning."

April pushed herself to her feet, breathing heavy.

Jax tilted his head. "Your instincts are sharp, but you're still hesitating. You hold back. Afraid of using too much power? Or afraid of what'll happen when you lose control?"

April clenched her fists.

She wasn't hesitating.

She just wasn't there yet.

But she would be.

Jax smirked. "Alright. Let's turn it up a notch."

Then—his presence changed.

It was subtle, but she felt it.

The pressure in the air thickened. His breathing shifted.

Saya's eyes sharpened. "He's activating Mufasa's next phase. Mufasa's G-force energy."

Kai muttered, "She better brace herself."

April took a stance.

Jax grinned. "Let's see how you handle this—Ultima."

Then, he vanished.

And the real fight began.