"I'll count to three, then withdraw my ability. Once I do, we strike together," Steve said, glancing at Ray.

Ray nodded. "Sounds good."

"One… two… three! Go!"

Steve immediately deactivated his ability and swung the fruit knife at the Jayzepanese.

But he wasn't a combat-type. His physical enhancements were minimal and mostly incidental. The knife strike was fast and vicious—by ordinary human standards—but against an enhanced enemy, it was just a scratch.

The Jayzepanese flinched at first, th