In front of the television, Henry Luo and Grace stared at the screen, their freshly brewed tea untouched. Both were on edge...
"Dad, that Carl is so vicious! Can my brother really hold on? I'm scared just watching!"
Henry Luo clenched his fists. "We have to trust Jason. He'll find a way. My son won't give in..."
Meanwhile, countless viewers followed the fight on TV and online. Before the match, Dr. Miao and his friends had done some promotion, but most people weren't convinced.
A 19-year-old stepping into the ring against a seasoned fighter? They assumed the two weren't even in the same league. Many gave up on showing up in person, choosing instead to follow the match through TV or their phones.
Sure enough, when they tuned in, the screen showed Jason Luo being battered by Carl's relentless assault. Under the barrage, Jason barely had the chance to fight back!
"Sigh! What did I tell you? Some people just aren't built for boxing. Maybe for skill-based sports, sure—but this kind of head-on clash? It'll never work."
...
"Look! He's holding on! Come on, fight back already! You're not smaller than him—hit him!"
...
In the ring, Jason Luo had successfully provoked Carl, but the furious Carl's left Body hook was a constant danger. Jason could manage to absorb most of the other punches, but this one was simply too heavy. Even blocking it was becoming difficult—he had to rely on dodges to get by.
It was brutal.
Every time Carl threw his left Body hook, it cut through the air with a rush of wind. When it grazed Jason's face on an upward angle, it stung so sharply he could feel the pain just from the brush.
How much power did that punch carry?
Jason had no doubt—if it landed clean, even his current Toughness wouldn't save him from serious damage.
Because of that one weapon, his defense began to falter. While dodging the left hook, he was often clipped by Carl's right hand, leaving him pressured and passive.
The commentator jumped on the moment. "The defense is breaking! Oh, Carl truly lives up to his legacy as the champion's heir! Even with an all-out shell defense, Jason Luo can't withstand the pressure! Under the threat of that devastating left Body hook, Jason in the red shorts is clearly reaching his limit! His guard is cracked—he's taken several heavy shots! Can he hold out any longer?"
But both men were human. Carl's nonstop attacks, especially the repeated left Body hooks, drained him heavily. His tempo slowed.
And the moment it did, Jason Luo exploded. The instant he sensed the pressure drop, he surged forward with a furious counter, fists flying as he drove Carl back all the way to the opposite side of the ring!
Now the arena came alive!
This kind of fight was rare. Normally, either both fighters would exchange punches, or one would dominate while the other defended and countered from a stationary guard.
But here? It was like watching a card battle. One side went all out, the other turtled up, and the instant the attack ended, the defender sprang out like a compressed spring... The fight had turned into a tug-of-war!
Jason Luo knew he couldn't fight a straight-up exchange yet.
Carl's technique was sharper, his Punch Speed faster, and his left Body hook lethal. If Jason dropped his defense for an all-out brawl, even if he managed to track Carl's hook, he'd still be the one to suffer.
So this was the only way.
You attack, I defend. When your stamina drops, I'll drag you down with me.
Even so, Jason wasn't really gaining ground. His problem was Punch Speed—only 10 points, too slow against Carl. His bursts looked fierce, but the actual effect was limited.
Carl, even while retreating, anticipated most of his strikes. He dodged or blocked, neutralizing nearly everything. The few that landed barely slowed him. Carl was built like a tank.
Still, Jason Luo had done far better this round than in the first. By the time Carl was driven back again, his composure was gone.
Unbelievable!
A fight he hadn't even taken seriously had turned into this. Carl's face burned with shame. His opponent lacked technique, lacked Punch Speed, lacked power compared to him. If he actually let this guy drag him into the distance, wouldn't he disgrace the reputation his family had carried down?
Shit!
Carl cursed under his breath, his glare shifting from anger to pure hatred.
After a few deep breaths to steady himself, Carl came at Jason again with a fresh offensive.
By now, most of the spectators had caught on. This Jason Luo wasn't so simple after all. His fighting style was unorthodox, sure, but it was working.
And that made the match even better. A lopsided fight wasn't worth watching. What the fans wanted was suspense—and this fight had it.
The cheers for Carl quieted. Now, all eyes locked on the ring, waiting to see which fighter would crack first in this war of attrition.
A tug-of-war like this devoured energy.
Sweat poured from both men. Carl gasped for air after his furious attacks, while Jason panted heavily from dodging and blocking. Both were running on fumes.
But they were still young—one 19, the other 21. With over sixty thousand people watching, neither was about to lose face by breaking first.
It was down to endurance.
In the middle of Carl's furious rush, Jason slipped. A left Body hook slammed into his ribs, pain exploding until his vision went black.
But Jason gritted his teeth and stayed up.
He couldn't fall—if he did, Carl's confidence would only grow.
He countered with a desperate punch, smashing Carl on the right eye socket. Carl's eye turned blue and purple instantly.
Carl nearly spat blood in rage. No matter what he threw, he couldn't break through Jason Luo's guard. Then—salvation. The bell rang, halting the brutal tug-of-war.
Jason had wanted to bound back to his corner, but the toll was too much. His legs were gone, forcing him to walk steadily instead.
He sat heavily, gasping for breath. Each inhale sent a stab of pain through his ribs. It was agony.
Brown's face tensed with concern. "How are you holding up? The fight's stabilized now. It's all about who lasts longer. Jason, don't push too far. If you can't go on, just give me the signal..."
Jason glanced at the white towel in Brown's hand and smiled. "Mr. Brown, even if I lose, I'll never use that. I'll never surrender in this lifetime. Don't worry—I can take it."
Then Jason Luo opened his attribute panel and added a point to Punch Speed. A wave of cool energy swept through his body, dulling the pain in his ribs. Feeling his strength return, he fixed his eyes on Carl and thought grimly: I don't believe it. Even with a cheat, I still can't take you down?
...
(40 Chapters Ahead)
p@treon com / GhostParser