The coach was right—at this stage, every step forward made a world of difference.
For example, if Jason Luo broke into the Top 50 of the overall rankings, he wouldn't even need to worry about finding a professional promotion company. Being Top 50 was already a kind of semi-professional status.
With that rank came the qualification to fight at Podiat. Fighters who competed there enjoyed treatment completely different from those who fought in taverns: appearance fees, a small cut of ticket revenue, even the chance at sponsorship deals.
Turning professional, on the other hand, meant starting from the bottom again, climbing step by step. Still, most chose to go pro—the professional circuit promised far greater prospects in the long run.
That was why every upcoming fight for Jason Luo felt like a final. He had to give everything to secure victory...
...Time flew by, and the day of the third elimination round arrived.
By this stage, tickets were impossible to get. The stands were packed with people—forget seats, even standing room was scarce.
Raul told Jason Luo that if he reached the Top 16, the tournament would be broadcast live on TV and online. Just making it there would give him real recognition—and bargaining power with promotion companies.
Jason Luo clenched his fists. Top 16—I will make it!
Three more matches.
Success was just three steps away.
He prayed he wouldn't run into a monster opponent. Raul went to check the draw, while Jason Luo and Pedro waited nervously...
Raul returned.
His expression was grim, which immediately made Pedro tense. "Well? Who is it?"
Jason Luo's anxiety spiked. "Don't tell me it's one of those top five guys!"
Raul sighed dramatically. "Ah, why is my luck always this bad? Looks like we've drawn the weakest opponent possible at this stage. Haha! It's Griffin. We actually got Griffin..."
Jason Luo let out a huge breath of relief. He remembered Griffin—ranked around 261st overall. Raul had nearly scared him to death.
Quick—pull up the stats!
Griffin: 26 years old, from Nevada. Height: 178 cm (5'10"), reach: 183 cm (6'0"), weight: 77.9 kg (170 lbs). Known for agile evasion, proficient in Switch Stance, with excellent timing.
Amateur record: 17 wins, 2 losses, 2 draws, including 4 wins by knockout.
This tournament: three straight wins in preliminaries, then 4 wins and 1 draw in the ranking stage, earning 17 points and an overall ranking of 261.
Jason Luo had developed an eye for analysis. Another technical fighter—good. That type was manageable.
He had come to realize that aggressive fighters were far more dangerous for him. If he couldn't control their pace or stop them from closing the distance, he'd be forced to rely purely on Strength in head-on clashes.
After reviewing Griffin's record, Pedro relaxed slightly. "Not bad, Jason. This is your chance. Win this, and you'll lock yourself into the Top 64. Do well in the next round, and even if you lose, you might squeeze into the Top 50. This match is crucial."
"Same plan as before—force him into close-range exchanges. That'll neutralize his evasion. His Switch Stance is tricky though. If only you'd had time to learn it yourself... but our training window was too short. You'll have to improvise in the ring."
Jason Luo didn't want his coach to worry. "Don't worry, Coach. I'll figure it out. If he's a technical fighter, I'm confident I can win."
Pedro nodded. "Still, be careful. Fighters who make it this far are no joke. You need to be fierce, but also smart—don't get careless! Brown's been sulking at me for days. Heh, that old man! Let him sit one more round in the stands. Don't give him the chance to laugh at me."
"Got it. I'll stay sharp."
...
As they left the locker room, they heard that today's commentator had changed. It was someone named Hebrew.
"Alright! Next up, we have Griffin from Nevada versus Chicago's own Jason Luo! Let's give them a warm round of applause!"
Jason Luo thought the man's voice lacked the passion of Wollers, but there was nothing he could do about that.
Before stepping into the ring, he studied Griffin in the aisle. The man looked hyperactive, bouncing with each step, but his eyes were sharp.
Once they were both in the ring, everything proceeded as usual. The referee's signal started the match.
Griffin clearly knew Jason Luo's record—especially his brutal win over Gossagen. Jason now carried a reputation, and Griffin opened extremely cautiously.
Every time Jason Luo moved forward, Griffin backed away, refusing to engage.
This wouldn't do.
Jason Luo instantly understood. His opponent's strategy was to stall—keep things even early on, then rack up points later using technical advantages. Once the lead was established, Jason Luo wouldn't have enough time to catch up.
Smart plan. But Jason Luo sneered.
Outsmart me? Not a chance.
You want to drag this out? I won't let you.
He equipped the [Little Madman of the Ring] title. His aura shifted, his eyes burned with intensity, and he charged straight at Griffin!
Griffin's face paled as he scrambled to dodge and retreat.
Seeing Jason's relentless pressure, Griffin tried to use his lead hand to block the attack lanes.
But Jason Luo, fresh off his victory against Gossagen, now had greater Stamina. With the title boosting him further, his energy reserves seemed endless. He launched furious, relentless attacks without holding back.
His toughness overwhelmed Griffin, and his wild, feral eyes unsettled him further.
Had Jason Luo caught Gossagen's madness? Was it contagious?
Griffin's panic deepened. Damn it! If that madness spread to him too, he'd be ruined!
From then on, Griffin refused to let Jason close in. Each time Jason rushed, Griffin practically ran.
One chased, one fled. The fight looked more like a track meet than a boxing match—drawing laughter from the crowd.
Commentator Hebrew could barely hold back his frustration. "How am I supposed to call this?"
Finally, the referee stepped in. He gave Griffin a stern warning—this was boxing. Prolonged running and evasion wouldn't be allowed.
But Griffin's heart was already wavering. On one hand, Jason Luo had nearly beaten Gossagen to death—his heavy punches had to be devastating. Griffin had no desire to test that.
On the other hand, Jason Luo's attacks carried a madness that looked too real to fake.
Now, with no option to run, Griffin was quickly cornered. Under the title's negative influence, Jason Luo fought like a raging beast, bellowing as his fists rained down like a storm.
Griffin's defense wasn't bad, but his mind collapsed first.
He knew his limits. With his ability, the Top 16 was out of reach anyway. Why waste his youth and health here?
So mid-fight, he signaled to his coach: surrender.
The coach complied. And just like that, Jason Luo secured an easy win in a crucial match—something that surprised even him.
...
(40 Chapters Ahead)
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