MIGHT AS WELL BE OP
Chapter 182: Tall Vs Short

The battlefield was set: a vast clearing surrounded by ancient trees whose twisted, gnarled roots burrowed deep into the earth.

The sun, once shining brightly in the sky, was now hidden beneath a veil of dust and debris as the titan and his opponent prepared to clash.

Taeron Earthshatter, a towering figure of over eight feet in height, stood like a mountain amidst the tempest that brewed around him.

The mere weight of his presence sent ripples through the air, causing it to tremble under the overwhelming pressure of his aura.

The atmosphere thickened, dense with the latent energy of a being honed for annihilation, as if the very fabric of reality recoiled at the potential for destruction that he embodied.

Across from him, Thrain; a dwarf, stood unwavering, a pillar of resilience.

Despite his stature, diminutive in comparison to his towering adversary, he was no less a formidable warrior.

His frame, though compact, was a masterpiece of muscle and sinew, each fiber a testament to the relentless trials of combat that had shaped him.

The hammer, slung casually at his side, seemed to belong to him as much as his own hand.

It was a weapon forged from the very essence of the earth, as heavy and unyielding as the mountains themselves, and it radiated an aura of indomitable power, as though it were bound not just to his grip, but to his very soul.

His fiery gaze, alight with determination, bore into Taeron.

He had fought countless battles, but the one before him was unlike any other.

This was not the fiercest opponent Thrian had ever encountered; he had battled titans, dragons, and vampires, each an embodiment of immense power.

No, what set this confrontation apart was the purity of it.

This was a clash of raw, unadulterated physical might, where no cunning tricks, no arcane magic, could tip the scales or sway the course of the battle.

It was a struggle where every strike, every move, was a testament to the limits of human strength and the resilience of the body itself, with no external forces to rely upon.

Only strength would determine the victor, and Thrain intended to win.

The wind picked up, swirling around them, though neither warrior paid it any heed.

Taeron's first move came like the crack of thunder, his massive fists propelled by the force of his immense strength, crashing toward Thrain with the ferocity of a landslide.

The ground quaked beneath his feet as the air was momentarily displaced by the speed and power of his strike.

He intended to end this quickly, to overwhelm Thrain with the sheer scale of his power.

But Thrian, with a calmness that could only come from a lifetime of battle, was ready.

He swung his massive hammer in an arc, its enormous head cutting through the air with a roar.

The weapon met Taeron's fist with a deafening crash, the sound like a mountain splitting in half.

The earth beneath them trembled, and trees shuddered violently, their branches snapping under the strain.

The ground around them buckled and cracked, sending dust and debris flying in every direction.

A shockwave rippled outward, flattening the forest floor and toppling trees like fragile twigs.

The wind howled as if in response to the violence being wrought.

Birds scattered from their perches in a frantic flurry, but there was no escape from the chaos that had been unleashed.

And still, the battle raged on.

Taeron's fist remained locked against Thrain's hammer, but neither moved.

Their eyes met, and for a brief moment, there was no sound, only the steady rhythm of their breathing.

They were assessing each other, understanding that this was no ordinary clash.

This was a battle of bloodbath, where each movement would determine their survival.

Then, like a bolt of lightning, they broke the stillness.

Thrain twisted his body, using his hips to propel the hammer upward with tremendous force.

Taeron, his enormous frame moving with surprising agility, sidestepped the blow, his body flickering with unreal speed.

His massive leg shot out like a battering ram, aiming directly at Thrain's chest.

But Thrain was quicker than Taeron had anticipated.

The dwarf dropped to one knee, dodging the attack with inches to spare.

The strike missed, but the air around him was still cracked open with the force of the movement.

The impact left a deep gouge in the earth where Thrain had been standing, the earth beneath him crumbling like dust under the weight of Taeron's strength.

Without hesitation, Thrain sprang back into action, swinging his hammer in a brutal arc.

The blow came down with a force so intense it seemed to warp the very air around it.

Taeron raised his forearm, catching the hammer head with a sickeningly loud clang, the sound reverberating for miles.

Sparks flew from the impact, and the ground beneath their feet splintered apart like brittle stone.

The force of the collision sent shockwaves rippling through the earth, trees bending violently, their trunks creaking as if they were about to snap.

The forest, once alive with the hum of nature, had become a battleground, an arena where the very earth trembled beneath the fury of their blows.

Taeron, his muscles straining with the force of his resistance, pushed back with his immense strength.

His fist shot forward, crashing towards Thrain's side.

But the dwarf was there to meet the attack with same speed.

He staggered back but quickly regained his footing, his muscles rippling with the power of his own counterattack.

They were in perfect sync, their bodies moving like a well rehearsed dance of violence.

Each blow was met with a counter, every attack coming faster and harder than the last.

Taeron's massive fists swung with the power of landslides, while Thrain's hammer came crashing down like a fallen star.

The battle was a blur of motion, a contest of raw strength that stretched the limits of what their bodies could endure.

The ground beneath them had become a war zone, churned and torn apart by the force of their battle.

Massive fissures ran through the earth, and the once-pristine forest floor was now a tangled mess of broken trees and shattered earth.

Yet, neither fighter seemed to notice the devastation, their focus entirely on the other, each determined not to relent.

Thrain's hammer fell once more, but Taeron sidestepped with a speed that defied his size.

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The blow missed, but the force of the swing sent a shockwave that uprooted a tree, sending it crashing to the ground.

The forest seemed to be collapsing around them, the once-majestic trees falling like dominos, their mighty trunks splintering under the relentless onslaught.

Taeron's eyes narrowed in disbelief as he saw Thrain's next attack, a low swing of the hammer aimed at his legs.

With a swift leap, Taeron avoided the strike, his colossal form rising high into the air, a shadow against the brightening sky.

But Thrain was not finished.

The dwarf's legs coiled like springs, and in a blur of movement, he launched himself upward, swinging his hammer in a perfect arc toward Taeron's exposed side.

The two forces collided once more, the impact sending another shockwave through the earth, toppling even more trees.

This time, the force was so great that the very sky seemed to darken, as though nature itself had bent to the intensity of the battle below.

The air crackled with static, and the ground split open, sending debris flying in every direction.

They were locked in a contest of pure strength, each unwilling to give an inch.

The fight had become a brutal exchange of power, and yet, despite the devastation, it was clear that neither had used their full strength.

They were testing each other, probing for weaknesses, aware that any moment could bring a shift in the balance of power.

Neither of them was willing to take that risk.

Not yet.

Throughout the battle, Taeron's face remained a mask of impassivity, his expression unyielding as ever, yet deep within, a storm of disbelief raged.

Though he never let it slip, a profound sense of surprise simmered beneath the surface.

He had expected Thrain, the dwarf, to be an easy opponent, someone whose size would place him at a distinct disadvantage.

Instead, with every blow, every clash, Taeron found himself met with a tenacity and equal force and resilience that defied logic.

The dwarf fought not with brute force alone, but with a ferocity that spoke of years spent in the crucible of battle, honing a strength that was anything but ordinary.

Taeron had struck with the precise amount of force that would have obliterated most opponents of Thrain's size, a calculated blow, meant to crush the dwarf to death.

Yet, to his astonishment, Thrain not only blocked it with the effortless grace of one accustomed to warfare, but he countered with a power that seemed disproportionate to his size

But his surprise didn't hinder his momentum; it only fueled it.

Though he relished the thought of a true strength contest with Thrain, Taeron knew better than to indulge in such a reckless pursuit.

His remaining opponents were scattered within a few miles, their presence a constant, unspoken threat.

Any moment of distraction or lapse in focus could invite an ambush, and he couldn't afford that.

With that sharp awareness, he shifted his strategy, amplifying both the speed and force of his strikes.

His blows came faster, more brutal, each one like a crashing wave aimed at obliterating his foe, while his focus remained unyielding, never wavering from the task at hand.

His arm drew back with the precision and force of a divine weapon, a bow seemingly crafted by the hands of a god of forging, its strings taut with the power of a deity skilled in both bow and marksmanship.

Each muscle in his body rippled, swelling with the surge of energy as he channeled more strength into his attack.

The air itself seemed to warp with the sheer intensity of his movement, the promise of devastation in every motion.

With the speed of a lightning strike, his fist rocketed toward Thrain's head, a juggernaut of raw power aimed to obliterate.

There was no mercy in the blow, only the intent to explode the very skull that dared stand in his way.

Thrain's wrist flickered with a deft, almost imperceptible movement, an action so fluid it seemed to defy the very laws of nature.

In a split second, his grip tightened around the massive hammer's haft, and with the precision of a master craftsman, he brought it up in a single, seamless motion.

The immense weapon, forged with the strength of mountains and the heat of fire, collided with Taeron's fist just as it was about to crash into his face.

The force of the impact reverberated through the air, sending shockwaves through the ground beneath them.

Sparks of molten energy danced from the point of contact, the raw power of their clash lighting up the surrounding environment like the eruption of a star.

Thrain stood resolute, his knees bending slightly under the strain, but his stance unwavering.

Despite the sheer power behind Taeron's strike, the dwarf had held his ground, his hammer blocking the fist with a resilience that spoke to the depth of his experience and unyielding strength.

Thrain smirked, clearly enjoying the challenge.

Yet, there was caution in his eyes, aware that others just as dangerous as Taeron were nearby.

He stood firm, ready for any shift in the battle, knowing that the true danger lay not just in Taeron's strength alone.

Thrain shifted his weight, his center of gravity realigning with the fluidity of a seasoned warrior.

In a sudden, explosive motion, he swung his hammer in a wide arc, aiming for Taeron's side.

The air seemed to fracture around him, and for a moment, it appeared as though the hammer had multiplied.

Dozens, no, over a hundred, hammers materialized in the air, their massive heads thundering down upon Taeron from every angle, each one carrying the weight of an impending catastrophe.

The force of the strike tore through the earth, the ground buckling beneath the sheer magnitude of Thrain's assault.

Taeron's stance shifted in an instant, his feet sinking into the earth, grounding him as his body poised with the precision of a seasoned warrior.

The very air around him seemed to tremble as the wind howled, carrying with it the promise of the coming storm.

With a movement so swift it blurred, Taeron raised both of his massive fists in tandem, his arms coiling with the raw power of a titan.

His fists shot forward with incredible speed, each punch creating afterimages that flickered in the air like echoes of destruction itself.

The rapid assault was a blur, his fists a tidal wave of force crashing against the barrage of hammers Thrain unleashed.

Each punch Taeron threw met the oncoming hammers with the fury of a storm, shattering the very air in his wake as his fists collided with Thrain's attack, disrupting the flow of destruction with each devastating blow.

The sheer velocity of his punches created shockwaves that rattled the earth beneath them, sending shockwaves through the surrounding trees, their trunks splintering under the pressure.

The very fabric of space seemed to shudder as their attacks collided, a violent clash of titanic forces, like opposite poles of a magnet violently pulling at each other.

The air itself seemed to vibrate with the sheer intensity of the impact, as if the universe itself had been momentarily rattled by their might.

A deafening roar of force filled the atmosphere as their fists and weapons met.

A cloud of dust and debris rose into the sky, obscuring the battlefield as the shockwaves of their battle continued to ripple outward, leaving nothing untouched in their wake.

As Taeron's muscles tensed from the final, resounding impact, a sharp gust of wind whispered around his temples.

Without a moment's hesitation, his instincts flared, and his arm shot up, locking into place just in time to block the incoming strike.

His massive frame barely flinched as his hand met the attack with a reverberating thud, a testament to his sheer reflexes and combat discipline.

His gaze shifted, and in that fleeting moment, he saw it, Thrain, the dwarf, had not relented.

Using his hammer as an anchor, Thrain planted it into the ground with a defiant grunt.

In an instant, his foot lashed out, rocketing toward Taeron's exposed head with the ferocity of a mountain storm.

In an instant, Taeron's hand transformed from a defensive block into a crushing grip.

His fingers coiled around Thrain's leg with unyielding force, locking onto the dwarf's thick muscle like an iron vice.

The strength in his grip was immeasurable, a testament to the raw power coursing through his colossal frame.

With a savage twist of his body, Taeron's other hand shot forward, and in one fluid motion, he hurled Thrain through the air.

The dwarf's body spun, weightless for a moment, before it crashed down toward the ground with the force of a falling boulder.

But Thrain was no novice to the harshness of battle.

His instincts were honed over countless clashes, each one sharpening his reaction time to an almost supernatural level.

As his body plummeted toward the earth, his hammer moved in perfect harmony with him.

With a swift, practiced motion, he drove the massive weapon into the ground, its head embedding into the dirt with a resounding thud sound.

The impact absorbed his fall, arresting his descent just inches from the ground, and his body came to a sudden halt.

Thrain, never one to back down from a fight, swung his second leg with brutal force, aiming for Taeron's ribs.

The air cracked with the sheer intensity of the blow.

Even as his first kick had failed, the dwarf's determination remained unshaken.

He knew the titan's grip would be formidable, but he was far from done.

Taeron, his expression unchanged, simply moved with unyielding precision.

As Thrain's second leg hurtled toward him, Taeron's second hand shot out like a strike of lightning, catching the dwarf's leg mid-air with the same effortless power as before.

The titan's immense strength closed around Thrian's legs halting the second assault with the same finality.

With a grunt of exertion, Taeron's massive arms lifted the dwarf high into the air, his body seemingly weightless in his grasp.

Thrain's feet dangled helplessly as Taeron hoisted him, the dwarf's body suspended in the titan's hands like a mere ragdoll.

The air seemed to shimmer with the tension between them, as Taeron's eyes narrowed, the ground below him cracked under the sheer force of his power.

Without hesitation, the titan's intent became clear.

He aimed to crush Baldor into the earth, to shatter the resolve of his unyielding opponent once and for all.

Thrain, ever the tactician, had anticipated Taeron's move before he even launched his second kick.

The moment the titan's hands clamped around his legs, the dwarf knew that repeating an attack was futile.

Against an opponent of Taeron's size and strength, innovation was key.

He moved with the fluidity of a master, faster than the titan could register, knowing the same strike would never work twice.

As Taeron lifted him high above his head, Thrain's mind raced, already calculating his next move.

The hammer in his grip felt like an extension of his very will, and with a savage roar, he swung it down toward Taeron's head.

The weapon's arc was as swift as it was brutal, its massive form descending like an unstoppable force, aimed directly for the titan's face.

Taeron, his reflexes honed by countless battles, saw the hammer's shadow fall upon him in an instant.

A mere mortal might have frozen in the face of such a blow, but Taeron was no ordinary being.

However, even the titan couldn't afford to simply withstand the full impact of the hammer's destructive power aimed squarely at his face.

With a curse muttered under his breath, he released his grip on Thrain's legs, his body twisting to avoid the fatal strike.

The moment his hands left Thrain's legs, the dwarf landed agilely on his feet, the hammer still raised, its weight now pressing against the air, ready for another strike.

They had a brief respite as Taeron dodged Thrain's last attack.

In that moment, their attention shifted, but they remained focused on each other.

Their senses immediately turned toward the other champions during that split second of respite.