Chapter 17 - Why Are You So Strong?

The sound of punches and blows echoed in the boxing gym. The crowd's cheers only fueled Colin's desire to kill Vernon.

The green-eyed man didn't stop landing kicks and punches on his opponent when the referee declared that Vernon was still alive, made him lying on the floor, covered in blood.

Colin let out a wicked laugh. "I can't believe you to be this weak, especially after you actually beat Mico! You're pathetic and don't belong here! So, die!"

Just as Colin was about to land the final kick to Vernon's head, Robinson's shout stopped him.

"STOP IT!" Robinson jumped up, glaring at Colin. "Don't hit him again!"

The cheers instandly died down.

"But you made the rule that a boxer has to kill his opponent to win this match, Mr. Robinson," Colin answered, holding back his frustration.

"That's an order!" Robinson snapped. "If you touch him again, you're fired!"

Robinson glanced at the referee, signaling for the medical team to come in and take Vernon to the hospital.

Colin clenched his fists, furious at his boss's decision. He had been just one step away from finishing off Vernon and reclaiming his honor as a B-rank boxer.

Mico quickly entered the ring and approached Colin after Vernon was carried out on a stretcher.

"Are you alright—"

Colin angrily pushed Mico's hand away when he patted his shoulder to congratulate him and then stormed out of the boxing ring.

'Robinson bastard! I'll make him pay for this.'

***

Vernon opened his eyes in the hospital. He was exhausted from pretending to be unconscious for half an hour.

"How are you awake, sir?" The nurse tending his wounds was shocked. Vernon should have been in a coma from the severe injuries in several critical areas.

Vernon sat up. "I need to go."

"But you're not fully healed yet—"

"I'm fine," the man said firmly.

Vernon had a brief argument with the nurse, insisting that he leave.

"You can't go, Vernon. You're still seriously injured." A soft voice made Vernon instinctively turn toward the door. A beautiful woman in a white coat approached him.

Ellen smiled, leaving Vernon speechless for a moment before the painful reality hit him again.

"That's none of your business." Vernon looked away, disgusted by Ellen, as she reminded him of Xander.

"But I was ordered to take care of you."

Vernon glared at Ellen. "Who ordered you?"

Ellen hesitated for a moment before answering, "Mr. Robinson."

Vernon tensed. "How do you know him?"

"Because he owns this hospital... and he's also Xander's father."

Vernon gaped in disbelief. 'Xander's father?!' It felt like a knife to his heart. How could he not have known that?

He looked around the room, remembering that this was the same place where he had been treated after Xander beat him up.

"You're right. This is the hospital where you were treated the first time," Ellen said, answering the question Vernon hadn't asked, as if she could read his thoughts.

Filled with rage, Vernon stormed out of the room without saying a word.

"Vernon, wait—"

The blue-eyed man roughly shoved Ellen's hand away when she grabbed him, then continued walking out.

Vernon quickly got into a taxi and sat, stunned. Now, he didn't know where to go. He had no destination and no family.

'I can't believe the kind man who supported me at Naomi's orphanage is Robinson, the bastard who dragged me into this brutal boxing world!'

Vernon cursed his own stupidity. Why couldn't he escape the Watson family's grasp? He wanted nothing more to do with Xander's family, who had trampled on his pride. Except for Naomi, Xander's grandmother.

'No wonder Xander and Robinson are so alike, both ruthless and cunning. They're father and son!' Vernon fumed inwardly.

A few minutes later, the taxi stopped at a convenience store. Vernon got out after paying and bought a can of beer, sitting outside.

He felt a dull pain all over his body.

'I didn't expect Colin's punches to be this brutal!' Vernon stretched his sprained neck. Even though he had used the 'Invisible Armor' item, which was supposed to block damage, Colin's punches still managed to break through his defenses.

Luckily, Colin's attacks didn't kill him.

Vernon smirked slyly. He was thankful he had escaped that deadly match without having to kill or be killed.

He was also glad there was no winner, so he wouldn't be promoted to B-rank and face public scorn.

Vernon had expected Robinson to stop the match when he saw how badly injured he was. That's why he bought the item and faked his defeat.

As much as he hated to admit it, Vernon knew Robinson saw him as a valuable asset for making money, so the bastard wouldn't let him die in the ring against Colin.

Vernon opened his system screen and checked the System Points in the top-right corner. His points were now depleted after purchasing two 'Invisible Armor Items,' which cost 10 points each.

'This item is incredible.'

Vernon suddenly remembered he still had one System Card left. He quickly opened the Collection icon and found an unopened card.

'Open card—'

"What are you doing here, Vernon?"

Vernon instantly turned around, recognizing the familiar voice.

"C-coach?"

A muscular man walked up to Vernon and stood over him like a towering giant. "You haven't answered my question. What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be in the hospital?"

'Damn!' Vernon felt a bit nervous. Why was Mico here all of a sudden?

"I-I…" Vernon tried to think of a reasonable excuse. "I ran away because I couldn't stand the smell of antiseptic." He lied.

Mico didn't seem to buy the excuse. He sat down next to Vernon, making the younger man even more uncomfortable.

Minutes passed in silence. Neither spoke.

"Why did you pretend to lose?" Mico's cold voice was like a chilling breeze that sent shivers down Vernon's spine.

Vernon tensed but tried to remain calm. "What are you talking about?" He pretended not to understand.

"I know you faked it," Mico said, giving Vernon a sharp look. "What are you planning?"

Vernon turned away, avoiding Mico's intense gaze, which seemed to search for the truth in his eyes.

"Nothing," Vernon replied. "I lost because Colin was stronger than me. You know that."

"No," Mico disagreed. "In reality, you're stronger than Colin."

Vernon couldn't detect any deceit in Mico's expression. Strangely, it didn't make him feel good, as Mico's words didn't sound like a compliment.

Was Mico suspicious of his strength, or was he genuinely acknowledging Vernon's superiority?

Vernon forced a laugh, but it sounded awkward to Mico.

"Don't joke around, Coach," Vernon said between laughs. "Colin's a top-tier B-rank boxer, while I'm just a lowly F-rank. There's no way I pretended to lose."

"Now tell me, how did you recover so quickly? Isn't it obvious you were faking, and Colin's punches didn't really hurt you?"

Vernon stayed silent, unable to deny it anymore.

"Be honest with me," Mico demanded. "Where does your strength come from? Why are you so strong, as if you can't be injured, even after taking fatal blows?"

Vernon struggled to come up with a reasonable explanation.

"You can't lie to someone who's spent 20 years in the boxing world," Mico interrupted before Vernon could come up with another lie.

Vernon's words caught in his throat. What could he say?

"Your nervousness only confirms my suspicion that you're hiding something from me."

Vernon chugged the rest of his beer, tossed the can into the trash, and walked away from Mico without saying anything.

"Vernon! Answer me! That's an order from your coach!"

Vernon stopped and glared at Mico without turning around. "I was a boxer before I had to quit because of a heart condition. During that time, I faced insults, and even my best friend called me a loser.

"But now, I'm healed. I'm determined never to live like a loser again. I'll get stronger and destroy someone I hate. So, my strength comes from my desire for revenge."

Mico froze, trying to process what Vernon had just said.

"Doesn't everyone try to get stronger either to protect someone they love or to take revenge on someone they hate? I'm doing the latter."

Mico stiffened. Who was this person that had turned Vernon into a boxer with terrifying potential?

He never expected Vernon, a calm-looking man, to harbor such intense hatred for someone.

Vernon left Mico behind, not giving him the chance to demand more answers.

'Damn! I didn't expect Mico to be so suspicious of me. Have I been using the system too much and fighting unnaturally?'

'If he exposes his suspicions, I'm screwed.'