The Reflection Effect could only return the exact type of energy that was sent toward Alex.
If someone attacked using qi, then the reflected force would also be qi. If magic was used, then what Alex reflected back would be mana.
That was the core principle behind the technique.
However, Alex had noticed something important during his fight against the Anakim.
'The Anakim don't use qi,' Alex thought as he rushed forward.
'And they don't use mana either.'
Everything about the giant creature was raw and natural.
Its attacks weren't enhanced through cultivation or magic. The Anakim simply relied on monstrous physical strength and overwhelming body power. Even the gravity surrounding its body didn't feel magical.
It felt natural.
Like gravity itself obeyed the creature because of its existence.
Because of that, Alex couldn't use the reflected energy to directly activate skills the same way he normally would with qi or mana.
What he was reflecting was purely kinetic energy.
The force of movement.
The impact from the strike.
Nothing more.
Still, that alone was terrifying enough.
Using the stored kinetic force inside his body, Alex launched himself forward.
Boom!
The ground behind him burst apart as he accelerated.
As he moved, Alex twisted his body mid-air. His body spun once, then twice, gathering even more momentum into his strike.
The reflected force.
His spinning momentum.
The boost from Buster.
Everything stacked together at once.
His right fist trembled violently from the pressure building inside it. Even the skin around his arm looked strained.
Alex gritted his teeth and pushed through it.
'Hold together!'
The next second, his fist slammed directly into the Anakim's massive chest.
Bang!!
The impact exploded outward instantly.
The Anakim's enormous body was smashed straight into the ground with terrifying force. The earth cracked beneath him as dirt and shattered stone burst upward into the air.
But it didn't stop there.
The force kept dragging the Anakim across the ground.
Boom!
Crack!
Rumble!
Its gigantic body skidded violently through the forest floor, tearing apart trees and carving a deep trench across the earth before finally slowing down.
Only then did it come to a stop.
'I can't let this go on,' Alex thought.
The moment the Anakim's massive body started moving again, Alex activated his technique immediately.
[Buster]
A burst of force exploded beneath his feet.
Boom!
Alex shot forward at high speed. His body blurred through the forest as he rushed toward the giant creature.
The gravity around the Anakim instantly reacted.
A crushing pressure slammed onto Alex's body, trying to force him down into the ground. His shoulders felt heavy, and even his breathing became harder.
Still, Alex refused to stop.
The moment his feet touched the ground again, he activated the technique once more.
[Buster]
Bang!
Another explosive burst pushed him forward violently. Dirt and broken roots scattered behind him as his speed increased again.
With that final boost, Alex reached the Anakim just in time.
The giant creature was only halfway back on its feet when Alex arrived before it.
"Stay down!" Alex shouted.
He twisted his waist and threw his fist forward with everything he had.
Bang!!
The punch smashed directly into the Anakim's face.
The force drove the giant's head straight back into the ground, creating a loud impact that shook the surrounding soil. Cracks spread outward from the point of impact.
The Anakim growled angrily and immediately tried to swing one of its huge hands toward Alex.
But Alex had already expected it.
The instant the arm moved, Alex reacted.
He swung his own fist sideways and struck the Anakim's hand away before it could properly connect.
Thud!
The massive arm crashed into the ground beside him instead.
Alex didn't stop there.
Using the opening, he stepped in closer and started throwing punches directly into the Anakim's face one after another.
[Buster]
Bang!!
The first strike snapped the Anakim's head sideways.
[Buster]
Bang!!
The second punch slammed into its jaw hard enough to crack the ground beneath its skull.
[Buster]
Bang!!
The third strike landed even heavier than the others. Blood burst from the Anakim's mouth as its gigantic body trembled under the barrage.
Alex kept breathing heavily through it all. His arms hurt. His body hurt. Even controlling the timing of Buster repeatedly was rough on him.
But he didn't stop attacking.
Not for a second.
Alex kept attacking without stopping.
Punch after punch crashed into the Anakim's face relentlessly.
Bang!
Bang!
Bang!
Soon, Alex's fists were stained dark red with blood.
The Anakim had incredibly thick skin. That much was obvious. Their bodies were built through harsh survival and brutal battles. Ordinary attacks could barely damage them.
But Alex's punches were not ordinary either.
Every strike carried force, momentum, and reflected kinetic energy behind it.
Anytime the Anakim tried to lift an arm to retaliate, Alex would immediately react.
The moment the giant arm moved, Alex struck it aside before it could properly attack.
Thud!
Bang!
For a brief moment, it truly looked like Alex had gained complete control of the fight.
The Anakim was stuck on the ground while Alex overwhelmed it with nonstop attacks.
But battles against creatures like the Anakim were never that simple.
Suddenly, the gravity surrounding the area shifted again.
Alex immediately noticed it.
The force pressing downward disappeared.
Then the opposite happened.
The gravity started pulling upward instead.
"What?" Alex's eyes widened slightly.
His body instantly became lighter in the worst possible way. His footing weakened. The force behind his punches became unstable.
His attacks were no longer flowing properly.
Even his fists weren't moving as fast anymore.
'shit... I need to get out of here!' Alex thought immediately.
Every instinct in his body screamed danger.
The sudden gravitational shift had completely disrupted his rhythm.
Alex tried to pull back.
But he was too late.
The moment he threw another punch, a massive hand suddenly grabbed his fist tightly.
Grab!
Alex froze for a split second.
The Anakim slowly turned its bloodied face toward him. Blood dripped from its mouth, staining its teeth completely red.
"Got... you..." the Anakim muttered heavily.
Alex immediately tried pulling his hand free.
But the grip didn't budge.
Instead, the giant fingers tightened even harder around his arm.
Crkkk...!
'Heck...!'
Alex felt pain shoot through his wrist instantly.
'I always knew the Anakim were physically stronger than me... but not this strong!'
For the first time since gaining momentum in the fight, panic flashed through Alex's mind.
'Should I use my full strength?' he wondered quickly.
But there was no time left to think about it.
The Anakim had already forced itself fully upright.
And the next second, the giant creature started swinging Alex around violently like a rag doll.
The Anakim swung Alex downward violently.
Bang!!
Alex crashed into the ground hard enough to crack the earth beneath him.
But the giant creature didn't stop there.
Holding tightly onto Alex's arm, the Anakim continued swinging him from side to side like a broken toy.
Bang!
Boom!
Crack!!
Alex's body smashed repeatedly into the ground. Soil exploded upward with every impact while broken stone scattered everywhere.
Then the Anakim swung him straight into a tree.
Boom!!
The massive trunk snapped completely in half from the collision.
Alex coughed painfully as his vision shook.
'Heck... at this rate, my Reflection Effect is only helping me reduce the impact damage from the hits,' Alex thought desperately.
'I'm not even getting the chance to properly redirect his force back at him!'
Another violent slam followed immediately after.
Bang!!
Alex felt his entire body ache.
Oddly enough, one ridiculous thought still slipped into his mind despite the situation.
'This somewhat looks like that Loki and Hulk scene...'
Honestly, if he survived this, he was going to hate himself for thinking about movies in the middle of a death match.
Then suddenly, the Anakim stopped swinging him around.
Alex's heart skipped.
The giant creature grabbed both of Alex's legs with one hand while still holding onto his arm with the other.
Then it pulled.
Alex instantly understood what the Anakim was trying to do.
'Is he trying to rip me apart?!'
Cold sweat immediately covered Alex's body.
He tensed every muscle he had instinctively and struggled to hold himself together.
The Anakim pulled harder.
Crkkk...!
The sound of bones straining echoed out.
"Arghhh!!!" Alex screamed loudly in pain.
Pain exploded through his entire body instantly. It felt like his joints were being torn apart little by little.
'I can't...!'
'I can't die here!'
'I need to quit the tournament!'
For the first time since entering the competition, the thought of giving up hit Alex seriously.
But just as that thought crossed his mind...
Bang!!!
Something exploded.
A burst of blood suddenly splattered across Alex's body along with chunks of dark flesh and thick vein-like pipes.
The Anakim abruptly stopped pulling.
Its grip loosened slightly.
Alex froze for a moment in confusion before slowly looking upward at the giant creature.
Then his body went cold.
Where the Anakim's head was supposed to be... there was nothing left.
Its entire head was gone.
Only a destroyed neck remained with blood gushing upward violently from the torn esophagus like a fountain.
For a brief second, the massive body still stood there motionless.
Then the grip weakened completely.
Alex quickly pulled himself free just before the gigantic corpse collapsed heavily onto the ground.
Boom!!
Dust rose into the air.
Alex breathed heavily while staring past the fallen body.
Standing there calmly behind the corpse was a familiar figure.
A battle suit covered his body, glowing faintly with active energy lines. One of his arms had transformed completely into a massive gun barrel still releasing smoke from the shot.
"Well, well, well..." the man said casually.
"Seems like Rhyssa missed your direction, and I ended up being the one who found you instead."
It was Eric Valdeiro.
And from the smile on his face, Alex could already tell this situation had somehow become even worse.