"You Can't Stop Me," the Black Belt Sneered — Then the Dojo Doors Locked

Infuriated by the master's calm demeanor and the sudden psychological shift, Marcus dropped the katana and charged with a furious roar. He threw a devastating roundhouse kick aimed directly at Kaelen’s head—a brutal strike that had knocked out dozens of men in the ring. Kaelen didn't block it. Instead, he simply wasn't there. With a master's flawless timing, the old man pivoted slightly, stepping inside the arc of the heavy kick. Before Marcus's foot could even return to the ground, Kaelen’s open palm struck the center of Marcus’s chest. It didn't look like a forceful blow, but the impact sounded like a cracking whip. Marcus was lifted off his feet and sent flying backward, slamming into the mat and gasping for air as all the oxygen was violently expelled from his lungs.