The bright, burning blast continued to pour intensely out of the Namekian's palm for what seemed like an eternity, fighting back against the Heran's desperate pushes for control! His arm quaked from the pressure, feeling the Heran step closer and closer through his frighteningly destructive blast, beads of sweat running down his head! Rhytid was absolutely dumbfounded by Gaivahros' persistance, able to continue walking through Rhytid's powerful Ki for this long, despite the power gap...!?
''HUUUAAAAAAAA!!!''
Rhytid let out a loud, powerful grunt, pouring every last bit of his Ki inside of the final push. His other hand gripped his wrist tightly, stabilizing himself as the last bit of Ki flickered and spurted from his palm. As the flickers faded, the damage Rhytid had done became clear- and it shocked him deeply.
The smell of burnt hair, the burnt clothing, the torn, singed skin and flesh...
And his hand, only removed a mere inch from his face...!
A terrible, odd silence rang through the air. Rhytid gasped for air, eyes widened in shock and awe from Gaivahros' resilience. As tough as he fought, though, everyone had their limits- and Rhytid seemed to have pushed the Heran to his own limits.
Rhytid's eyes closed for a mere moment, slowly gaining control over his breathing. The Namekian gulped shakily, slowly breathing from his nose, in and out, trying to calm his mind and find the right words...
Yet when he opened his eyes to speak, he saw the Heran's fingers twitch.
Gaivahros' sudden shout filled the air between them, and his fist opened to reveal his flickering, powerful Ki! ''WHA?!-'' Rhytid stuttered, instinctively leaning back and desperately lifting his arms to block the the attack, yet once again, Gaivahros had truly surprised him!
The Heran's palm was driven deep into Rhytid's face, cracking the bone under his skin under the booming pressure. The sudden explosion of Ki erupted in a loud shockwave that could be felt for miles, blowing apart the rock below them and causing the water to create waves that crashed against the coastline!
Rhytid flew like a speeding bullet, ears ringing with a dazing static as his vision blurred. The Namekian's body blew straight through the ocean's surface, continuing to spiral downwards until he hit the bottom, creating a gigantic splash that further unbalanced the once calm waters.
His eyes shot open in an instant, mouth closed as Rhytid suddenly realized where he was and what happened. The Namekian's aura flew to life, before he blasted himself from the Ocean's depths.
Once he emerged, he gasped loudly for air, his entire body pulsating with the same numbing pain. A dazed vision scanned the surrounding islands hastily, soon locating the Heran and his ship.
With a stumble to his flight, Rhytid flung forward an extended hand just in time to save Gaivahros from collapsing onto the torn ground. Rhytid moved closer, landing next to the exhausted Heran with a tired, but proud smile.
''...You fought well.'' Rhytid let out a faint chuckle, retracting his arm and holding Gaivahros up with a hand on his chest. ''Truly...I've never seen anyone as fearless as you are.'' The Namekian's voice was low and sincere. He held a genuine respect for the Heran now, it was the least he deserved after that impressive showcase of skill and willpower.
He'd attempt to help the Heran upwards, assuming he was still conscious. ''I don't know if you can hear me, but...'' Rhytid paused, ''You've won this fight.''
The Namekian smiled, content with their amazing battle, as short as it may have been. ''Come on, let's get you patched up.''
If Gaivahros was actually unconscious, Rhytid would pick him up with both arms, carrying him over to his own village. If, however, he was actually awake and able to fly, he'd allow Gaivahros to move on his own.
Luckily, Rhytid knew of a certain Dragon Clan mystic that could help treat his wounds...