In truth, Gossagen had been in grave danger by then.
A boxer's body under such extreme exertion meant a racing heartbeat and overworked circulation. He'd been bleeding heavily for too long. With his brain already starved of oxygen, the repeated blows left his neural tissue on the verge of shock. If Jason Luo hadn't pulled back when he did, the consequences could have been catastrophic...
The referee owed Jason Luo for that restraint—otherwise things might have gone horribly wrong.
After a quick check, the referee realized Gossagen needed immediate medical attention. He signaled for the cornermen to bring up a stretcher, and Jason Luo even stepped in to help.
Once Gossagen was carried out, the referee shot Jason Luo a grateful look before raising his arm and declaring the KO victory!
"Ding! Congratulations on another official victory. The Greedy Wolf talent has extracted 3 points of Stamina, 1 point of Toughness, 1 point of Heavy Punch Power, and 1 point of Explosiveness from your opponent's superior Attributes. Additionally, Greedy Wolf has triggered a bonus effect, absorbing a small amount of Vitality from your opponent. Your lifespan has been extended, and your body has partially recovered. Please check your stats."
A warm, soothing current flowed through Jason Luo's body, gathering in his head before fading. He felt the numbness vanish almost instantly. Vision returned to his swollen left eye, and the massive lump on his eyelid deflated by half...
So this was the power of Vitality? Truly remarkable!
Ecstatic with victory, Jason Luo ran to his coach. Raúl wasted no time patching him up. But after wiping away the blood, he realized the injury was barely more than a scratch—no stitches needed, just a bandage.
What was going on?
But Raúl, swept up in the thrill of the win, didn't think too hard about it. Fewer injuries meant no setbacks for the fight five days later.
Once Raúl finished treating him, Pedro finally let out a smile.
"Didn't think you'd actually pull it off! Well done. You made the right call at the crucial moment. Jason, even if killing someone in a sanctioned match brings no legal punishment, remember—this is sport, not a battlefield."
"The true meaning of competition lies in elevating human Stamina, Speed, Skill, and Willpower. It's about exploring life itself—not reckless brawling. Don't forget that."
"I understand, Coach!"
"Good. Let's head to the locker room. With this win, you're close to breaking into the top 100…"
What Jason Luo didn't know was that everything in the ring had already been documented by sports reporters. Soon, his name would spread far beyond the venue.
Back in the locker room, the phone wouldn't stop ringing. A happy kind of headache—frustrating yet addictive…
From this hard-fought victory, Jason Luo gained new perspective. Gossagen's wild style had been reckless, yet it was especially effective against technical fighters. Perhaps there was something there he could adapt for himself.
After such a brutal battle, Coach Pedro granted him half a day off to recover.
But Jason Luo didn't dare head home early. With his face so swollen and battered, his father and Grace would surely press him with questions. That would be a headache of its own...
Luckily, Tony Huo had an idea—as always.
"Perfect! I'll take you to a hot spring. The steam will help with the swelling. Then later this afternoon, I've got a landlord to meet—I'm helping Grace find a place. We can check it out together."
Jason Luo's eyes lit up. "Sounds good. But aren't hot springs expensive?"
"Relax! You're not paying—I am!"
Jason chuckled. "Oh? Feeling rich today?"
"Damn right! Haha. To tell you the truth, I uploaded all your fight videos online. The views are insane. I've already made over eight grand! And today's match was even crazier—it might just blow up! Treating you to a hot spring is nothing."
Driving along, Tony was buzzing with excitement. "At this rate, I won't need to run jobs with the master anymore. I'll just do this—and be your driver and assistant on the side."
Jason Luo was shocked. He hadn't realized the online economy could be this powerful. Just by filming his fights, Tony was making nearly as much as him.
But he was genuinely happy for his friend. "That's awesome. If it really works out, we'll be partners for life—taking on the world together!"
"Haha, right! Brothers united, unbeatable!"
They joked and laughed all the way until Tony parked at a mid-range hot spring spa. As soon as they walked in, several attractive attendants approached them with smiles.
"What kind of service would you like?" one asked.
Jason and Tony froze—totally clueless. The attendants started rattling off options: massages, steam foot treatments, back-walking bone adjustments, even "special services."
There were over a dozen massage packages alone. Jason's head spun. Blushing, he stammered, "Sorry, I just finished a match. I just want a soak to help with the swelling."
The attendant's interest vanished. Her face went cold. "The basic package is $100 per person, amenities included."
Jason's eyes widened. He turned to leave, but Tony grabbed his arm.
"We're already here, Jason. Let's try it once. If it sucks, lesson learned."
Jason clenched his teeth and nodded.
In the end, the soak wasn't bad. His body relaxed, and they even got free fruit and instant coffee. The price, though, still stung.
Tony teased him. "How about a massage too?"
Jason shook his head furiously, like a rattle drum. "A Thai royal massage costs over four hundred bucks each! You're crazy."
Tony roared with laughter. "Maybe there's more to it than that…"
"Get lost! You're nothing but trouble—you'll end up catching something one day!"
"Aw, you know me. Just running my mouth."
...
When they came out, both felt refreshed and lighter. Jason Luo had been pressing a hot towel to his face the whole time, and sure enough, the swelling had gone down. By the time they got back later, it wouldn't look too bad.
After getting back in the car, they went to view the apartment. The place was close to a pharmacy, not too far from Jason's home. Though small, it was perfect for Grace to live alone. The landlord's price was fair—$360 a month, utilities not included—but he required a six-month deposit up front.
Jason Luo checked the furniture and bathroom. Satisfied, he made a verbal agreement on the spot.
Since Jason had no cash, Tony covered the $200 deposit. Jason bumped fists with the landlord, both men giving a thumbs-up to seal the deal.
Don't underestimate that gesture. In the U.S., even a simple verbal agreement carries weight, nearly as binding as a contract.
With Grace's housing secured, Jason Luo felt relieved. Winter was coming, and with the snow and distance, he hadn't been comfortable leaving her alone without a place nearby.
...
(40 Chapters Ahead)
p@treon com / GhostParser