Ryoma exhales quietly, letting the insidious whisper fade from his thoughts. Breaking bones might end the fight faster. But that was never the plan tonight.
Instead, he returns to Nakahara's advice, building damage patiently, accepting the slower path as long as the risks remain controlled.
As Thanid pushes away from the ropes and settles back into the open ring, Ryoma's eyes begin scanning again, calmly mapping the targets that offer the least danger; the midsection, the ribs, and the narrow space between them, where the liver and solar plexus lie beneath the guard.
Thanid plants himself in his solid stance once more, elbows tight, gloves high. He sets the fortress again; which means Ryoma has to work the walls first before those targets can be reached.
For a brief moment his gaze flicks to the system's HUD, the timer glows faintly in the corner of his vision; 48 seconds left.
"Okay… Let's get back to work."
