Chapter 218: Called Out
Adam is surprised by the number of professional fighters who are here right now.
Most of them have earned a name in the MMA scene. Some more, some less, but they all have. Even the least skilled have a few thousand fans who are willing to pay for tickets to watch their fight.
"Shit, this is awesome! This place is going to work wonders for my career," Crill says, grinning as he sees the caliber of sparring partners that he will have access to.
After all, one improves the most during a spar as it forces a fighter into a fight-like situation without the stakes of a real fight.
It helps develop timing, distance management, composure under pressure, adaptability, defense, offense under fatigue, and fight IQ—all things that cannot be fully replicated elsewhere.
Even Zydan looks excited, as there couldn't be a better outcome for his career.
Till now, all of his fights have been won by wrestling his opponents; the ones he lost were when he was forced into an unwanted striking match. Here, Zydan knows he can train very well and continue to improve his striking game even better.
Even Adam feels a little envious now. If he trains here, his progress would also skyrocket, maybe faster than anyone else, but he has already made up his mind.
Plus, changing teams now would probably destroy any potential relationship he could have with Lamai. He has already made up his mind about her and his future, and since he has made up his mind, he is not going to back out of it.
Adam might be many things, but he is not someone who backs away from things that he has already made up his mind on.
"Come on, I need to watch it all, up close," Crill speaks again and takes the lead while Adam and Zydan follow.
A few people on the floor notice Adam and the gang, but only for a second before going back to their training. These people, after all, are very dedicated to their careers, and they don't want to lose their focus while training.
Adam watches closely. He sees these fighters throw their punches while their coaches guide them. He takes in all the new information that is being introduced to him.
Everything he sees, everything he hears is something new, as his training has still not advanced to such a level. Adam, of course, doesn't plan to implement any of these techniques and methods without Rangsan guiding him through them, but he can still store them in his mind for future usage.
As the gang moves around, checking out the fighters training and sparring with each other, they arrive before a crowded ring.
People are standing around as they watch two people go at each other inside the ring.
Adam's attention is also drawn towards the spar, and that is when he notices a familiar face.
'It's him,' Adam thinks, looking at the young blond dude who is putting up a clinic of a performance on his sparring partner.
It's the same guy Adam came face-to-face with on his first week at his gym, and of course, saw him yesterday, smirking at Lamai while sitting next to Xang Lao.
Adam wonders what this guy's deal is. Why does he act so cocky, no matter the situation? So he decides to observe.
The blond guy is clearly very skilled. He is young, his movements are sharp, and his footwork is on point. Adam can't find any technical flaws in his game, which is quite a surprise considering that the guy looks about the same age as him.
'A prodigy,' Adam thinks as he realizes why the guy's so cocky. A natural sense of arrogance that only comes to one when they know they are superior to others.
Adam's the same as well.
As Adam continues to watch the blond dude spar with his training partner, he notices a few things. Even though his punches don't have any power or intent to hurt his sparring partner, Adam can notice that the man is a bully.
He uses his big body to block his partner's escape and then starts laying punches on him. Even though those punches have very little power behind them, being repeatedly tagged by them in the head would soon turn into discomfort, which would then turn torturous.
And the sparring partner can't say anything about it because the blond guy didn't hurt him; he just relentlessly bullied him with his superior techniques and physical gifts.
Adam wonders what the point of sparring with someone less skilled than you.
Soon, those soft by continuous punches add up, and his sparring partner goes down on his ass, exhausted, while his lungs burn for air.
As for the blond guy, he still has that cocky smile on his face.
"That's Jack Havoc, a personal student of Xang Lao. He has already made a name for himself in the MMA scene with a 5-0 record; all his fights have ended within thirty seconds of the very first round.
People are already claiming that he's going to be the future world champion, bringing another championship under Xang Lao's name." Crill gives a brief introduction about Jack and his background.
'Why is every other asshole I encounter named Jack?' Adam wonders as here is another one with the same name as his father.
"You don't say, he is good," Adam answers.
"He is not just good, he's a fucking monster. He only started training three years ago and is already better than some professional fighters who have given more than ten years into this sport," Crill says.
"I heard that even his grappling is at the elite level. It's just that no one has tried to take him down to the mat," Zydan says, finally opening his mouth.
Adam just stares at Jack in return, wondering how he will fare against this so-called monster, Jack Havoc. When it comes to skill, Adam knows he is no match; he still needs a few months to catch up. But when it comes to physical matters, Adam has no rival.
So he wonders, if he steps into the ring to face Jack right now, how would he fare against a prodigy like Jack?
And, he's not the only one who is having such thoughts; both Crill and Zydan look at Adam as they know that there is another monster on this floor other than Jack, and it's Adam.
They wonder who's the bigger monster.
As Jack bathes in the praise directed at him by his team members, he turns his head to find a familiar face staring back at him.
Jack freezes for a second as he locks eyes with Adam.
Jack can never forget Adam's face and those intense eyes of his. During their very first face-off, Jack sensed that Adam was not your normal guy and should be treated with caution. There have not been many people who have invoked such a reaction from him.
So Jack never forgot.
'Those eyes again,' Jack thinks as he feels Adam's gaze on him.
That gaze, it's not of fear, respect, envy, jealousy, or anger; it's curiosity. And this somehow makes Jack angry, because Jack feels looked down upon by Adam. As if he is someone whose existence amuses Adam and doesn't feel threatened one bit.
Jack is a monster; he is the greatest fighting prodigy of this generation, a future world champion in the making, so how dare someone look at him with that gaze?
"Hey, you! Aren't you Rangsan's student?" Jack opens his mouth and directly confronts Adam.
Adam didn't expect the callout. And now everyone's attention is on Adam. Even the ones who were busy seriously training stop and look at Adam as they hear Jack call him out.
"Yes, I am, what about it?" Adam asks.
"Nothing, I just wanted to make sure it's you. After all, the old man was very persistent about not letting you go. That makes me wonder what's so special about you?" Jack asks as he leans on the ropes of the ring, looking down on Adam with a smirk.
"I don't know, ask him," Adam answers.
"Hmmm, Na, I have no interest in talking to that washed-up old loser. How about this? Get in the ring and let's spar. See who's better?" Jack suggests.
Adam's surprised by Jack's offer. In fact, he's even tempted to do so as he wants to see how he would fare against Jack, but then that would be him letting the situation control him, not the other way around.
Adam's whole deal is being in control.
"Not interested," Adam says.
"Come on~ Do you know that my teacher and your teacher were rivals back in the old days? Of course, my teacher thrashed your teacher around. The beating was so bad, he had to retire," Jack says with a big grin on his face.
Adam looks at Jack and finds his methods amateurish. It's so obvious that he is trying to rile up Adam, but that's not going to work.
"I am aware, but what does that have to do with me? Why do I care if two old farts fought? It was their job. I don't give a shit. I am only interested in learning," Adam replies.
The smirk on Jack's face disappeared hearing Adam's words. He wanted to get Adam angry so that he would step inside the ring, giving Jack the chance to beat and humiliate Adam for looking at him like that.
"Well, if you are only interested in learning, then what's better than getting inside the ring and having a spar. Nothing beats a good spar when it comes to earning experience," Jack says.
"Na, not interested. I don't think I would improve much after a spar with you. I don't want to waste my time," Adam says nonchalantly with his arms folded while he stands relaxed.
It's Jack who's now getting riled up.