Chapter 4 - Stephen Rey(4)

I stood in the center of the gymnasium as my opponent, a formidable figure, glared at me with a mix of confidence and aggression. I'm at rank 443, and he's at rank 428. I have to beat him in order to level up my rank.

I stretched my neck as I glanced at the referee, waiting for his cue.

"You must be very confident." A mocking tone came from the front. I swept my eyes back to the front. He sneered as he bumped his fists together.

He mocked and cracked his knuckles, saying, "You can't beat me today, just like you can't beat me before." I find myself wondering what the original Stephen did to him because of his intense animosity for me. I looked at him, trying to remember to keep my acting consistent. When I lifted both hands and pointed my middle fingers up to the ceiling, the corner of my lip went up. His face darkens, and his eyebrows furrow. Because you once lost to them, some people believe that makes them better than you. It's only now that he knows Stephen won't keep a grudge when he loses fairly that he has the courage to go up against him.

A signal came from the referee, and without a moment's hesitation, I lunged forward, aiming a swift jab towards his face. He anticipated my movements as he deflected my blow with a skillful parry, countering with a powerful roundhouse kick. I managed to evade the attack by swiftly ducking under his leg, feeling the rush of air as it swept past me.

Using the momentum from my dodge, I unleashed a rapid combination of punches, targeting his torso and head. Some connected, landing with satisfying thuds, while others were deflected by his expertly placed blocks. The sound of our fists colliding echoed through the room.

He's tough, should I change my tactics? I clenched my fist as I focused on delivering precise strikes to vulnerable areas such as the torso, head, and limbs. He tries to counterattack, but when I almost hit his neck, he gets cautious. Although he has a formidable defense, not all of my attacks are defendable. I employed rapid combinations of punches, kicks, elbows, and knees to overwhelm my opponent's defenses. By chaining together multiple strikes in quick succession, I aimed to keep him off balance and minimize his chances of mounting a successful defense.

He faltered for a moment, and without the slightest hesitation, I launched a quick jab to his midsection, followed by a powerful hook to his jaw. The impact of the hook caused his head to snap to the side, momentarily disorienting him. His eyes were dazed, yet he was adamant about staying upright. Without wasting a second, I unleashed a rapid series of alternating knee strikes to his torso, driving the air out of his lungs. The combination of punches and knee strikes came in quick succession, leaving him struggling to defend himself effectively.

With a lightning-fast sweep, I aimed a devastating low kick at his supporting leg, unbalancing him for a split second. Seizing the opportunity, I delivered a powerful punch to his jaw, feeling the satisfying crunch of bone beneath my knuckles.

He flew through the air in slow motion. A loud thud could be heard as the surroundings fell silent. The referee hurriedly announced the fight was over as the paramedics came rushing towards the unconscious man.

*******

After the paramedics moved away, the room buzzed with palpable energy and those who had been watching the fight closely shared looks of amazement and awe. Although Stephen is a living trash, that doesn't change the fact that he is an incredible fighter. Due to his poor academic record, his rank is unlikely to rise past 300, but based purely on combat, he is regarded as being in the top 100.

The onlookers watched as Stephen went to sit as a chubby man handed him a towel. Stephen took the towel with a detached expression. They watched as he wiped away the sweat rolling down his face. He looks cool today, they thought as Stephen wiped his well-cut hair. Despite the fact that everyone wears the same haircut, Stephen looks like he suits it better.

The spectators knew that this handsome man is a devil, they grimaced when the thought crossed their mind as they look away.

"Are you okay?" Paulo asked with a slight concern. Even though the original Stephen treats him the worst, Paulo still worries about him. Stephen swore to treat him better this time.

"Of course I'm fine. Who do you think I am?" Stephen said in a low voice, sneering as his left eyebrow rose. Paulo clamped his mouth as he nodded his head. Stephen didn't forget to express his annoyance as he continued to watch the fights.

Even though Stephen's tone is somewhat cold, he is not as harsh as before. The difference is subtle, but the sense that something has changed is evident.

What could have happened? Paulo thought as he recalled what happened yesterday. Perhaps it was because Stephen had fought with his father. Paulo witnessed for the first time yesterday in the hallway during lunch break when he saw how Stephen's father, the general, slapped him. He didn't know what happened, but he saw how Stephen became still with his head bowing without rising for the whole time his father was there. After his father left, Stephen stood still for a minute while the hallway remained silent.

Paulo didn't know what to do in that situation and was afraid that Stephen would vent his anger at him, nevertheless, he still reached out to Stephen. When his hands touched him, Stephen jolted as if he had just woken up from his stupor. He then walked out. After that, the surroundings buzzed as the people began to whisper. Others didn't see it, but he did. He saw Stephen's shoulder shiver for a moment. Even though Stephen's expression at that time was dark, he saw the corner of his eyes with a little shade of pink. At that time, Paulo knew that Stephen was hurt.

Normally, Stephen would start to rampage, but yesterday he silently walked out without a word.

Paulo can't deny that the subtle change made him happy, but thinking about the things that happened yesterday still made him feel a little sad, speculating that Stephen's father may have contributed to his quirky attitude.

Paulo glanced at Stephen and thought that the change was for the better, hoping that it would change him for the better. Paulo grimaced that his thought was too farfetched, he should be content with the change.

Stephen became aware of Paulo's quiet. With a shrug, he turned his attention to the battles.

Although Stephen is now ranked 428, this could change in the next few fights.

The ranking system does not base itself on what rank you've beaten. The ranking system will be first evaluated during a duel. How did you defeat your opponent, what techniques and methods did you use throughout the fight, and who is the opponent, Is he stronger than you or more skilled than you? There are numerous factors to consider, which is why Stephen's current rank doesn't really matter. It is subject to modify depending on how the evaluation team see it. The second evaluation would be the test examination. After that, the evaluators will calculate the trainees' overall scores. The ranking will then be posted on the notice board.

*******

Stephen already beaten 8 opponents and now his at 207 rank. The past fights are not hard but he still gotten a scratch from not paying attention. He was a writer but he was once part of the military from his last life. He fought at the frontlines with times almost dying at the past while now his only having a duel with a trainees. It's like a veteran soldier picking a fight with children. Though fighting with children does sound easy but getting scratch by them makes the soldiers embarrassed. 

The thought went through his head, and he overdid it. He only got a scratch, but the opponent bleeds more than it supposed to. Well, an accident can happen during a duel, so it's not really surprising.

As the referee announced that the duel would continue tomorrow, chatter echoed through the gymnasium, signaling the end of the duels.

Stephen wiped the sweat off his brows. It's almost dinner, and they were only given snacks for lunch, which is why the tired trainees are very hungry. The trainees decided to head to a nearby cafeteria for a well-deserved dinner. Stephen also felt hungry.

Stephen and Paulo walked side by side, their boots loud tapping sound could be heard against the polished floors as they made their way out of the bustling gymnasium. The jovial chatter of other people gradually faded into the background as they stepped into the cool evening air.

As they strolled down the hallway, the fading sunlight painted the sky with warm hues. Paulo recounted the highlights of the battles, relishing the exhilaration of the duel. Stephen, with his nonchalant expression, would nod from time to time, occasionally chiming in.

Approaching the bustling dining area, the aroma of freshly brewed coffee and a medley of delectable dishes wafted from the entrance, luring them in.

Entering the cozy establishment, they were greeted by the buzz of conversations and the clinking of cutlery. They went to the counter, where they received their dinner.

Stephen and Paulo found an empty table near the window. As they settled into their seats, an arrogant and propensity man walked to them with a smirk on his face.

He approached their table, his tone laced with condescension. "I heard you fought with your father." The words spoken were intended to provoke and humiliate. Stephen stopped his movements.

"Stephen Rey was your father slapped hard enough to shake your dumb brain."