Drift Of The Multiverse: [Marvel] [Resident Evil] [DC] [Bleach] [DB]

"Combat?"

Ethan's words left not only Diana stunned but also the surrounding Amazon warriors who had gathered to watch.

As the princess of Themyscira, Diana had already displayed extraordinary talent since Hippolyta approved her training and education. Her progress had been rapid, despite her young age, she could already compete with most adult warriors on the island, and even the few who surpassed her in strength often lacked her skill.

While she wasn't yet the strongest fighter on Paradise Island, most believed it was only a matter of time. Even those who underestimated her still viewed her as a rising competitor rather than someone incapable.

And now, this young man—thin, seemingly fragile, relying only on strange magic for protection was actually proposing an actual combat test against Diana? Was he joking?

"You heard me right. Actual combat!" Ethan pointed at himself, then at Diana. "One-on-one. Use all your abilities, and I'll use all of mine."

His main goal was to evaluate Diana's current combat strength, whether her divine power remained dormant, gradually enhancing her physical capabilities in the background, or if it had already been partially awakened and could be used instinctively.

Of course, Ethan was well aware of his limitations. Engaging in pure melee combat against Diana would be asking for a beating. So, he had no intention of holding back on his magic. Without hesitation, he donned his magical equipment. The only missing piece was his battle cross, which was still damaged and awaiting repairs. He also retrieved his staff and enchanted glasses.

Seeing Ethan firmly grip his staff with both hands, Diana realized he wasn't joking, he was serious. She didn't overthink it. If he wanted to test her strength, actual combat was the best way.

Besides, she was genuinely curious about Ethan's abilities.

Until today, she had always viewed him as mysterious. His true strength was unclear, and his thin frame made her wonder if he was physically weak.

Now that she had the chance to find out firsthand, how could she pass it up?

Glancing at her mother, Diana saw Hippolyta draw the sword from her waist and hand it to her.

Diana wasn't the only one curious about Ethan's abilities nearly everyone wanted to know just how strong he really was.

Hippolyta stepped back, ensuring they had enough space. Diana swung her one-handed sword a few times to get a feel for the weapon. Once she was comfortable, she looked at Ethan and nodded, signaling that she was ready.

"Bring it on!"

Wasting no time, Diana charged forward, delivering a powerful slash. Ethan met it head-on with his staff, feeling the force behind her strike.

"Pure brute strength… Is she trying to overpower me just because I look weak?"

There were no energy fluctuations in her attack, meaning she wasn't recklessly exerting her full strength. Instead, she was testing her opponent's potential weaknesses, an indication of solid combat instincts.

Unfortunately for her, it wouldn't be that simple. Ethan had already admitted he couldn't compete with Diana in pure melee combat. Even though he had taken a close-combat stance, he was actually fighting with magic and his superior mental control.

Diana's movements were swift, but with Ethan's enhanced perception, they seemed much slower than they actually were. After deliberately absorbing the impact of her first attack, he effortlessly dodged her next few slashes. Not a single strand of his hair was touched.

The Amazons watching didn't view this as cowardice. They weren't ignorant of combat strategy. Instead of jeering at Ethan, they marveled at how he remained calm and composed under such fierce attacks, flawlessly evading each strike.

Not only that, he was countering with his staff, disrupting Diana's rhythm and forcing her into a defensive position.

"This man is much stronger than he looks… No wonder he dared to say he'd teach Diana."

Diana quickly realized that she wasn't landing any hits, yet her stamina was steadily draining. Recognizing this, she adjusted her approach. Rather than relying on brute force, she shifted to a faster attack style, aiming from angles that were more difficult to evade.

This forced Ethan to change tactics. His mental reaction speed was fast enough to keep up, but his body still had limits. With less time to reposition, he was forced to parry more of her attacks instead of dodging entirely.

"This is my chance!"

Too much defensive play meant losing control of the fight. If she could keep pressuring him, she could eventually force an opening and land a decisive strike.

"You lose!"

Diana attacked with full confidence. Of course, she had no intention of actually harming Ethan—just scaring him a little.

Unfortunately, she was still too young and had forgotten something important.

Ethan had told her from the start that he wouldn't hold back. Up until now, he had only engaged in melee combat with a weapon he wasn't even proficient in. She seemed to have completely overlooked the fact that Ethan was, first and foremost, a magician.

Hippolyta, watching from a distance, didn't look pleased. On the contrary, as Diana delivered what she believed was her finishing blow, the queen's expression turned serious.

Since this was a test, Hippolyta chose not to intervene. She felt it would be a valuable lesson for Diana.

Sure enough, just as she expected, the moment Diana's attack was about to land, a burst of white light flashed. A spherical shield materialized around Ethan, instantly repelling Diana. The force of the rebound sent her flying backward, and the shock caused her to lose grip of her sword. The weapon spun through the air before landing on the beach.

Ethan casually glanced at the fallen sword, noting that, unlike in movies, it didn't dramatically pierce into the sand. He smirked slightly before shifting his attention to Diana, who had already gotten back on her feet.

"In battle, you should never assume victory until your enemy is truly dead," he said. "You have no idea what cards they might still have, even if they seem completely defeated."

This was Ethan's first lesson for Diana.

"I told you from the start, I wouldn't hold back. Did you really think this was just going to be a simple sparring match?"

Diana wiped the sand from her face, discreetly covering her flushed cheeks. From the beginning of this test, she had indeed thought of it as nothing more than a spar. Only now did she remember that Ethan was a magician, and melee combat wasn't his specialty. She had underestimated him and was promptly put in her place.

"So… does this mean I failed the test?"

"What? You're giving up already?"

Ethan spread his arms, his attire and staff making him look every bit the classic magician.

"Do you surrender so easily when facing an enemy? I said to give it your all. This isn't a competition, it's a real battle. Come on, show me everything you've got."

For a moment, Ethan felt like a villain delivering a dramatic speech. The whole scene felt strangely familiar, and he wondered if his enhanced mental strength had subconsciously caused him to mimic a movie he had seen in his past life.

Diana took a deep breath, fully understanding Ethan's meaning now. She glanced toward her fallen sword, only to see Ethan subtly shift his stance to block her path.

"Don't make your intentions so obvious," he warned.

Diana refocused on Ethan and, for the first time, truly felt his presence. The seemingly thin young man standing before her suddenly felt imposing, like a towering mountain blocking her way.

"Actual combat…"

Diana repeated the words to herself, finally embracing the reality of the fight. Before this moment, even though she had understood the concept, she had still treated it like a competition, a mere exercise rather than a true battle.

Without fully engaging her fighting spirit, she could never draw out her true power. Now, she charged forward with renewed intensity, launching a relentless assault.

The warriors of Themyscira were trained in all aspects of combat, including unarmed techniques. Even without her sword, Diana was more than capable of overpowering Ethan, if he didn't use magic.

But Ethan had already made it clear that this was a real fight.

In an instant, fiery wings erupted from his back. The massive flames not only obstructed Diana's attacks but also radiated intense heat, scorching everything in their path. If not for the divine power within her constantly reinforcing her body, even a slight touch from those flames would have rendered an ordinary warrior incapacitated.

As Ethan stood with his blazing wings spread wide, the Amazons watching the battle fell silent.

Each warrior asked themselves the same question: If it were me, could I win against this man?

No—more realistically, they wondered: How long could I even last against him?

Even the mightiest warriors feared an opponent with endless magical abilities.

Hippolyta, too, was taken aback. She had known Ethan was capable, but she hadn't expected him to possess so many powerful techniques. Even though he clearly wasn't using his full strength, the techniques he had displayed so far were enough to prove his formidable prowess.

Yet Ethan wasn't done.

This test wasn't just about assessing Diana's abilities, it was also an opportunity to establish his own authority, ensuring he would be taken seriously as Diana's teacher. Instead of holding back, he escalated the fight even further.

As his movements became more fluid, a glowing blue magic circle appeared beneath his feet.

***

For every 100 PS = 1 extra chapter. Support me on patreon to read 30+ advanced chapters: patreon.com/Blownleaves.