Chapter 9 - The Annihilator

"Ellen and I are dating," Xander replied arrogantly.

Vernon stared in disbelief. He froze, as if a shock of electricity ran through his body.

How could that happen? They didn't even know each other back in high school.

"Is that true, Ellen?" Vernon looked at her, disappointed.

Ellen just lowered her head.

Vernon clenched his fists in anger. He felt betrayed, even though Ellen wasn't his girlfriend.

He cursed his foolishness for thinking Ellen loved him. In reality, she was just being kind because she felt indebted to him for saving her life once.

"Do you like Ellen, Vernon?" Xander laughed. "Look at yourself, idiot! You're just a loser! You don't deserve Ellen!

Vernon glared at Xander with hatred. He would never forget everything that jerk had done.

His fists clenched so tightly that his veins bulged. 'It's time for revenge!'

Ellen was terrified as Vernon radiated a murderous aura. Even though Vernon was strong, he couldn't match Xander. She feared Xander would put him in a coma again.

"Ver—" Ellen struggled to speak, as if the words were stuck in her throat. She wanted to calm Vernon down, but the situation was too complicated.

She didn't want Vernon to get hurt, but on the other hand, she couldn't make Xander jealous. He had been so kind to her and her family, helping her go to her dream university.

Thinking about that, Ellen remembered the time nine years ago when she lied to Vernon, telling him she got a scholarship abroad, when in reality, it was Xander who paid for her education.

Now Ellen knew why Xander had been so kind to her. It wasn't love. He was jealous of Vernon, who was always superior and liked by many women.

Xander was a parasite, secretly destroying his friend.

Vernon stepped forward, ready to throw a punch, but a transparent screen suddenly appeared in front of him.

[Warning! You are prohibited from committing violence outside the ring or harming others for personal reasons! You are only allowed to use the system's powers for fighting or helping others!]

'I don't care, bastard!'

[The system will disappear, and you'll return to the moment when you were in a coma at the hospital!]

'Shit!' Vernon cursed. His body froze, unable to move after hearing the terrifying warning.

Xander grinned mockingly as Vernon hesitated. "Why did you stop, dude? Are you afraid of me?"

The muscular man was confused when he didn't see fear or despair on Vernon's face, yet he had stopped as if holding back. Vernon clearly wanted to put that jerk in a coma for the second time.

"It's pointless to fight over a woman like her." Vernon glanced at Ellen, who looked shocked and hurt, coldly.

Xander growled. That wasn't the reaction he wanted.

"I'm out." Vernon walked away, leaving Xander fuming. Xander had waited for years for this moment, to see Vernon crushed after finding out his first love was now with him.

He had even sent Ellen to take care of Vernon a few days ago, hoping to give him false hope. He was right; Vernon still loved Ellen.

But, frustratingly, Vernon seemed fine.

Vernon stormed out, his anger blazing. He wanted to explode and punch everyone around him, venting the frustration tearing at his heart.

He decided to return to the basecamp and aggressively punch the heavy bag.

'Fuck! How could you lie to me!? Why did you act like you loved me, Ellen!? I will never forgive you!'

All the boxers training there stared at Vernon in fear, imagining what it would be like if he hit them with that kind of power.

"What's wrong with you, dude? You seem messed up today." Colin approached Vernon, holding two cans of beer, a friendly smile on his face.

"None of your business," Vernon snapped.

Colin chuckled, unfazed. "Here, take one."

Vernon instinctively caught the can Colin tossed.

"Awesome! You've got great reflexes! No wonder you beat Mico."

"What do you want?" Vernon glared at Colin, still trying to calm down.

Colin didn't answer immediately. He took a long drink from his beer and wiped his mouth arrogantly.

"I want to challenge you."

Vernon's eyes widened. That sentence hit him like lightning. He didn't know Colin well, but all the other boxers respected him, which meant he was feared.

However, Vernon quickly masked his shock and resumed punching the bag. "I'm not interested."

"You're so cocky. Do you think you're all that just because you beat Mico, huh?!" Colin sneered.

Vernon let out a heavy sigh and stopped. "I'll be around for a while, so I don't want enemies."

"Enemies?"

Vernon looked at Colin coldly. "If you lose, you'll hate me, right?"

Colin growled, his veins popping as he crushed his beer can.

"Do you even know who I am?!"

Vernon shrugged, uninterested in arguing.

"You bastard!" Colin grabbed Vernon's collar roughly, glaring at him. "Where are your manners, huh?! Don't turn away when I'm talking to you, idiot!"

Calmly, Vernon swatted Colin's hand away, breaking his grip. "Don't touch me."

"Fu*k! Do you know what rank I am?! If you did, you'd regret it!"

"Rank?" Vernon raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"

"So, you don't know about that?" Colin spat on the ground in mockery. "How pathetic. Did Mico really consider you his student?" Colin scoffed. "But since I'm kind, I'll explain it to you."

Vernon frowned, trying to follow.

"All the boxers here are ranked based on their win rates. There's F, C, B, and A. But above that…"

Vernon watched as Colin's expression turned tense.

"There's the Annihilator Rank. Boxers at that level are terrifying. They're like monsters."

There was hatred in Colin's eyes as he said this, sparking Vernon's curiosity.

"They can kill without even moving."

Vernon remained calm, showing no fear. "I didn't know that."

Colin was irritated by Vernon's lack of fear but tried to control himself. "Guess what rank I am?" He grinned slyly, testing Vernon's judgment.

"B," Vernon answered flatly.

Colin's eyes widened. "How did you…?"

"Because you don't call Mico 'Mister,' even though he's much older than you."

"What does that have to do with anything, idiot?!"

"You never address someone with a title unless they're weaker than you. You know Mico is 45, while you're 25. You look down on him because he trains group F."

Colin gaped. 'How does he know my age? Did someone tell him?'

"No need to be surprised. I could tell by looking at the wrinkles around your eyes."

"Nonsense! Now fight me!" Colin raised his fists. "I'll prove that your win against Mico was just luck!"