4 Chapter 4 - Defeat

He managed to do a crossed guard blocking my attack giving a moment of relief and gritted their teeth as I pushed my fist further. Even though my fist was blocked I didn't let it rest and gave everything I had into my fist to strike his face. My bones in my hands were cracking and strain made my eyes wince in pain. You think I'll give up now!? Far chances!

I gritted my teeth and the green glow emanated from me as my eyes shone in green hue. I'm tapping with the [ Spiral Energy ] once again doing the impossible possible and sending my opponent flying.

It was still rough but I'm not someone that can be underestimated. Fuck my body feels like crap but I'll experience it often if I want to get stronger. My prowess was rising and they were the perfect tool for me to grow.

"Haaa….haaa…now do you think it's luck!? You guys are really weak." Getting cocky while I'm beaten like this isn't a pleasant look and I give zero Fuck about it! They got angry and decided to do what he told them since they can't accept a loss.

"You ask for it! Everyone attacks him!" They did as told as all of them surrounded me while Kenichi didn't know what to do and panicked.

"Stop this, Haruto-Nii! You can't possibly Defeat them!" I know you dumbass! Just shut for a moment and let me handle this!

"Yeah, listen to your friend and apologize while kissing our toes." Eeeeww! This guy has some weird fetish…

"Just cheer for me, Kenichi! And you, I won't judge if you have weird kinks." I said and this made everyone try to not laugh making the one said it to get angrier and attack me.

"Die!" They said as I waited for them to attack me and went towards the first one tried to kick me but I move to the side and took the opportunity to take the course under my feet letting it travel through my body then release it into their abdomen.

"Blurgaah!" How interesting? Even though this is my first actual fight against people who know how to fight, I am able to hold my own. However I got little too distracted and one of them manage to send a devastating Living shot kick.

The pain was excruciating that stunning me and I almost cried in pain but received a powerful punch to the face. Everything hurts! I don't want to do this! I can simply stand down and give up then apologize.

'Haaa…but what is this burning sensation?' A part of me hated the idea. Would there be any difference if I gave up? Kenichi is watching and I can't lose now! Fingers and nose broken with my eyes blurry looking at them unleashing flurry of punches towards me as I tried to crossblock. Their fist had been tempered and a lot tougher, turning my forearm swollen.

"Hahahaha what!? I told you! A weakling like you can't hope to win against us!" They may have said that but ganging up on me wasn't exactly making me weak. Though, I still didn't like that I was on the receiving end and needed to stop it.

My blurry eyes smeared with blood made it difficult to see their attack as I tried to evade them and block some but I obviously couldn't fight them all at once without getting hit. My only goal was not to get grabbed and immovable. Focus, Haruto! Concentrate! You can't lose! Fight!

'How are you still standing!' I can't read their thoughts but their expression was obvious to me. My body wanted to collapse yet my mind refuses to lose. Earlier I was only tired but now I'm both tired and hurt.

"Why won't you fall down!" One of them screamed as their fist inches away from my face and made me anticipate the incoming pain. Damn…should I stop this farce? Winning is impossible…

'What if…What if I didn't run? What if I'm not a coward?" I asked myself, thinking about the possibility of winning against them. If I fought someone weaker, was I really strong? No, I am just a bully at that point. Yes…I refused to be that person.

"What if I want them to kill me!?" A burning thought resurfacing and the craving of winning the fight was roaring inside me. I'm a man and every man wants a good fight only dulled by time of peace and taken everything for granted. Yes….I want to win. Me, losing? Yeah…

"What if I want them to try!?"

At that moment, something snapped within me as the [ Spiral Powers ] churned and pushed me further where I was taken aback when time seemed to slow down.

[ You have received "Lv.1 Tachypsychia(E)"! ]

In that moment everything became clear to me. Isn't this the same thing as Yu from The Boxer? From what I remember, [ Tachypsychia ] is a neurological condition that distorts the perception of time, appearing to make events slow down or speed up.

This is actually a real phenomenon experienced by people. Did I activate it when I'm at the brink of death? Yeah, most likely since I'm using the last battery life I have like how phones are when at their remaining percentage.

Without a moment to waste, I use the time gap to execute combo punches. I strike their chin that shook their brain shutting everything down but I knew it wasn't enough.

The speed and power that I displayed shook them as the one who was about to end me was on the ground panting heavily with seemingly steam coming out of my mouth. I looked like a wounded animal that managed to overpower their predator and even Kenichi was clearly shaken from my desperation.

Is this what it feels to win against someone strong? It's quite exhilarating not to lie. The feeling of superiority was addicting. But I don't want to be like them. I need to end this before my perception ends and I pass out. I rushed towards them where they tried to counterattack but clearly frightened at what they witnessed.

My body is certainly slower than I perceive things but that's fine since I simply have to move. Doubts waste energy. They can't believe that someone as weak as I was able to keep up and push them back. When an easy prey is suddenly able to defeat a predator then it feels as if I have defied natural order. My fist planted into one of their faces and strength that had grown since the beginning slammed into the ground

The attack caused the wooden floor to crack as only one of them remained and that was Makoto Daimonji who was larger than me. He was going to be a tough opponent but I didn't care.

"You're tough I give you that but—" I blitzed towards him and he managed to evade then tried to punch me. However this is what I was waiting for and only used my attack as feint. He seems to focus on offense rather than defense, allowing to take advantage of it.

I jumped a bit then struck his chin to shake his brain to shut everything down then spun my body performing an uppercut even after he was knocked out afterwards finished him with an upward diagonal kick to the head. This happened all in a few seconds.

The sheer force of my attack wasn't strong but the technique I displayed was enough and my perception helped me in executing them. When I stand and return to normal perception and stagger standing up but I have things to say to them and hopefully help Kenichi.

"You're all wrong, There isn't any shame in being weak, the shame is in staying weak." I said as Kenichi was moved by my words. It wasn't bad for my first major fight. Now….how do I explain my bruises to Mikan.

"Haruto-Nii! Are you alright!?" Kenichi helped me stand and looked at my injuries. The adrenaline was numbing my pain and once it disappear I'll be sleeping like a log but nothing a quick bath can't fix.

"Haa….Don't bother joining this club. It's best for you to find somewhere else to train." I said as I was having a hard time breathing. Fuck my ribs is fraction isn't it? Hopefully [ Spiral Powers ] able to heal it soon.

"H-How did you defeat them!? When did you learn Martial arts!" He shouted. Fuck my hear! Dude you're right in front of me!

"Can you not shout!? My ear is ringing now." I said as he quickly stopped.

"Ah, sorry."

"It's fine but let's go to the locker and change back while I tell you along the way." I suggested and received a nod as the two of us got into the locker room. I took off my Karate Gi and the mirror nearby showed cuts and bruises. Now that I think about it, no fighter is left unscathed like how Ohma, the protagonist of Kengan Ashura, had countless scars and showed that even the best fighter would get wounded if they want to get stronger.

"Haruto-Nii, tell me how you did. When did you get this strong?" Kenichi clearly has a goal to stop being weak and get stronger. Frankly he doesn't have the ounce of talent and only persevered because of sheer luck and tenacity. Can't say the same for me. I was fortunate to have a system that gave me ways to know my progress and grow faster.

"Can't say for certain and I won't lie it's sheer luck but…." I don't like lying especially when I'm a cheat and Kenichi has none of mine.

"I ignored everything and put my faith and trust in winning. Pain is temporary and gain is eternal. I once read that 'It may seem difficult at first, but all things are difficult at first.' I had an option of giving up and losing without getting injure like this or I can say Fucked that! fight even if I lose, at least I showed that I'm not a coward and an easy prey."

I said as I took a deep breath and placed my hand on his shoulder. Kami, I don't know if I should be doing this but as a brother figure then I could only give him advice and how he uses it is up to him.

"Remember, Don't believe in yourself. Believe in me! Believe in Haruto who believes in you." I didn't even cringe and truly believed in him that he was going to be great. Kenichi seems affected by my words and hopefully he can get strong cause I won't babysit him every moment. I'm a brother not a nanny.

"I will! But can you teach me those moves?" He asked me while I can but he can't exactly do the same move as I do considering I have now 40% of Big Daniel Park Template.

"Sure, but I'm still new at it. However, I suggest building up that muscle and your endurances. We can try doing exercise in the morning around 4 Am." I suggested since running alone is boring and having some Gym bros would help. He looked disappointed since he clearly wanted to do those fancy moves.

"Don't make that face, we start somewhere. Building those core muscles would help you use martial arts a lot better and without injuring yourself." When I performed those moves, my muscle was strained and ripped apart since kicks need a lot of flexibility and I have none of those until earlier.

"But that's so early, though."

"Hey, discipline is doing something you hate. I also don't want to wake up that early but if we want to get stronger then we need to put on the work." Damn, it's only been a day and yet I'm acting as if I've been working for a long time but that's how it is.

"....can't we do it at 5 am?" Goodness gracious I want to punch him right now.

"Excuses make today easy, but they make tomorrow hard.

Discipline makes today hard, but it makes tomorrow easy. That's why it's important we wake up early." I said while he was reluctant but giving it some more thoughts made him nod.

"Alright, let's do it!" Kenichi said and made me smile as we soon both changed clothes and headed home leaving the karate club unconscious. After a while, the two of us parted ways as I headed home.

"I'm home." I took off my shoes and head inside where I glanced over the first door finding Mikan.

"Welcome home, Nii-chan…wait." Mikan stood up from the couch and walked over to me.

"Why do you have so many bruises!?" She noticed the cuts and scrapes on my face. How do I explain it to her without making her angry?