I Built a Divine Zoo in Another World

The first attack came from his father, a direct punch, fast and precise. Lukas turned his body, the fist grazing past his face, the wind from the blow caressing his skin. At the same time, Lukas twisted his hips and launched an elbow toward Clavor’s ribs, a counterattack that took advantage of the opening.

Clavor raised his forearm, blocking the blow.

’THUM!’

The impact made the warrior’s arm recoil several centimeters, but he did not stop. His right leg advanced, a low kick aimed at Lukas’s shin.

Lukas realized too late the movement was too fast to be completely avoided. He jumped backward, Clavor’s foot passing mere centimeters in front of his shins.

Lukas landed and immediately advanced again, throwing a quick punch. Clavor dodged, his head moving to the side with natural fluidity. Another punch, a block. Lukas attempted a knee strike, but Clavor grabbed his shoulder and pushed, breaking his balance.

Lukas spun through the air, momentarily losing control, but managed to land on both feet.

”Not bad.” Clavor commented, a note of approval in his voice.

Lukas smiled, the spark of competition in his eyes.

”I’m just getting started.”

Then it happened.

Clavor’s gaze changed, a small, almost imperceptible alteration, but Lukas noticed. His father’s body lowered slightly, his right shoulder moved backward, and a thin silver light began to glow across his skin.

Lukas’s instincts screamed. Danger.

Clavor advanced, the punch coming directly toward his chest. Lukas did not think, did not calculate, and did not try to remember Clavor’s instructions. His body simply reacted, an automatic response born from weeks of training.

The Lunar Source opened, mana shot through his channels, and both arms received reinforcement simultaneously.

’BOOM!’

Clavor’s fist struck his forearms, the force of the impact making Lukas slide several meters backward. His boots tore through the damp earth, leaving two deep furrows in the ground. His arms trembled, a dull pain running through his bones, but nothing broke.

Lukas stopped, his breathing ragged. Then he looked at his own arms, mana still coursing through his muscles. A huge smile appeared on his face.

”I did it!”

Clavor did not answer, he was already advancing again.

Lukas’s eyes widened.

”Hey!”

The next blow came from the side, fast and unpredictable. Lukas raised his arm, blocking with his reinforced forearm. The impact made his shoulder recoil, but he maintained his position. Clavor spun, a kick striking his side, and Lukas reinforced his torso at the last instant.

’THUD!’

His body was pushed to the side, staggering. Clavor gave him no time, Lukas dodged. Another, he ducked. A third, he spun, Clavor’s hand passing over his head.

Lukas responded, reinforcing only his right fist. Mana concentrated in his arm, the muscle becoming denser, more powerful. The punch shot forward, fast and direct.

Clavor crossed his arms to block.

’BAM!’

The two moved apart, the impact echoing through the clearing.

Lukas’s eyes widened, the sensation of the blow still vibrating through his fist. The difference was incredible. When he concentrated the mana in only one region, he could release much more force at that point.

But he also immediately realized the price. The Source had lost a small amount of mana, a subtle but noticeable drain.

It was not much, but if he repeated that constantly, he would quickly run out of mana.

Clavor advanced again, relentless. Lukas waited, his eyes fixed on his father. The man attempted a punch to the face, Lukas dodged to the left. A second blow came immediately, and he retreated. Clavor attempted a sweep, and Lukas jumped, reinforcing his legs while in the air.

He landed heavily, spun, attempting to land a sidekick. Clavor blocked with both arms.

’BOOM!’

The impact sent dry leaves flying around them, a cloud of debris rising into the air.

The two separated, and Lukas was smiling. This was different from the sword fight, very different. With the sword, there was a distance between him and his opponent, a wooden barrier that mediated the battle.

Not now. Every blow could strike the body directly, every mistake meant taking a hit, and every second demanded an immediate decision.

And above all, mana transformed every movement into something far more dangerous, more intense.

Lukas advanced, and Clavor did as well. The two exchanged blows in the center of the clearing, a dance of strength and technique. Punch, block. Kick, dodge. Elbow reinforcement.

Lukas began to experiment, testing the limits of his control. When he attacked, he reinforced the limb only at the moment of impact. When he defended, he concentrated the mana in the area that was about to be struck.

When he needed to move, he reinforced his legs. It was exactly what he had learned during the week, theory becoming practice.

And it worked.

A low kick came toward him, Lukas reinforced his shin.

’TAC!’

Their legs collided, and he did not retreat. Clavor attempted a punch, and Lukas reinforced his shoulder, blocking it. Then he responded with a strike to the abdomen. Clavor reinforced his torso, and the blow landed, but he barely moved.

Lukas’s eyes widened, impressed.

”That was strong...”

”Not yet.” Clavor’s reply came coldly, and he attacked again.

One blow, another, another. Clavor increased his speed, and Lukas began to be pushed backward. He reinforced his legs, and exploded to the side, narrowly escaping. Clavor spun, and Lukas saw the heel coming toward him, reinforcing his chest.

’BOOM!’

The impact sent his body flying, a momentary sensation of flight before he hit the ground. He rolled twice, stopping on his knees.

”That hurt...” The words came between ragged breaths.

Clavor waited, giving him time.

”Continue.”

Lukas stood up, the smile returning to his lips.

”Right.”

He advanced again, more carefully this time. He did not try to win through strength, nor did he try to overpower Clavor with raw power. He tried to survive, learn, and adapt. He began to understand that combat was not about reinforcing everything all the time; it was about the precise application of energy.

Clavor attacked with his arm, Lukas reinforced his arm. His father retreated and attacked with his leg, Lukas changed the reinforcement. A blow came toward his face, the mana rose. An attack against his torso, the mana shifted. An opening appeared, the mana concentrated in his fist.

It was almost like breathing, a natural flow of energy. But it was not natural yet. Lukas had to think, and that small delay made all the difference. Clavor could exploit every hesitation, every moment of indecision.