"Hand-To-Hand Combat"

"All right, now that you've settled down, follow me," commanded Sergeant Henry, gesturing for the group to follow him.

They soon arrived at a massive fighting arena, with multiple raised platforms situated in the center. The platforms were surrounded by ample seating arrangements for the students to rest and observe as they awaited their turn. Even the academic test participants had joined the fray, swelling the number to approximately two thousand.

Each participant had been assigned a number before the test, and they were all required to take suppressing pills once again. The top 150 were first asked to choose their opponent, and the remaining ones were then randomly paired with their opponents.

During the mock battles, each participant had to engage in three fights before advancing to the final round. When it was time for the first round, Theo decided to sit out to observe his competitors' strengths and weaknesses before joining in.

As the eight platforms were occupied by the participants taking turns to fight, Theo's attention was drawn to platform six where two of the top 150 participants were facing off against each other. These participants were numbered 24 and 79.

The referee explained the rules and signaled the beginning, and number 24 wasted no time in charging forward with a ferocious straight punch aimed at number 79's face. The punch was fast and precise, taking number 79 off guard.

Despite his attempts to defend himself, the impact of the initial blow shook number 79, throwing him off balance. Seizing the opportunity, number 24 followed up with a brutal calf kick that proved too forceful for number 79 to withstand, causing him to limp to one side. With a barrage of punches and kicks, number 24 backed number 79 into a corner, leaving him with no space to move. Number 79 found himself struggling to defend, constantly on the defensive as number 24's attacks rained down upon him.

However, number 24 was not just a reckless fighter but also a strategic one. As he feigned a left jab, he carefully observed number 79's movements, noticing his opponent's guard and rightward duck. In a split second, number 24 withdrew his fist and unleashed a devastating karate kick to number 79's face.

The impact was so immense that it sent participant number 79 hurtling off the platform, rendering him unconscious upon crashing onto the floor. The referee swiftly declared the winner, revealing his name.

"Aiden Brown. So that's his name?" Theo couldn't help but admire his skills.

All the remaining fights drew to a close, and the next set of contenders began to prepare for the second round of the test. Having closely observed the first round, Theo now had a better grasp of everyone's abilities and was ready to fight.

Theo was assigned the number 55 and he was paired against number 123, so he got up and decided to fight.

Neil was a former military veteran, who spent most of his life in combat. He was a master in hand-to-hand combat and continued to train every day even after retiring.

He had set up a gym in their home where he trained regularly, and Theo would often watch him. As he observed his father's workouts, Theo developed a passion for martial arts, which Neil decided to nurture by teaching him everything he knew, from basic self-defense to advanced offensive techniques.

Eventually, Theo found himself standing on the fighting platform for his first military fight, facing off against his opponent, Jason. After the referee explained the rules, both fighters retreated to their respective corners.

To start, Theo decided to take a defensive stance and study Jason's moves before making a move of his own. Jason began with strong left jabs, but Theo was well-prepared and effortlessly defended against them. Undeterred, Jason changed tactics and attacked from multiple angles, testing Theo's defenses. His attacks grew faster and more unpredictable, including swift kicks and knee strikes, revealing his expertise in kickboxing.

Jason's endurance was impressive, as he relentlessly attacked Theo without showing any signs of slowing down. Theo's footwork was expertly executed, allowing him to dodge each strike with precision and speed. However, Jason grew increasingly frustrated as none of his attacks seemed to make an impact.

"Are you going to cower in defense forever? Come at me!" he goaded, pounding his chest in an attempt to provoke Theo.

Despite Jason's taunts, Theo remained composed and continued to analyze his opponent's attack patterns. He soon identified a weakness in Jason's left leg, which he wasn't using much for attacks. Seizing the opportunity, Theo launched a counterattack. He evaded a straight punch from Jason and landed a powerful kick on his left calf. Jason staggered in pain, and in that moment of vulnerability, Theo struck with a swift jab to his jaw.

Jason stumbled, struggling to regain his balance, leaving himself wide open. Theo quickly took advantage of the opening and attacked the weaknesses in his defense. Overwhelmed, Jason found himself on the defensive. Theo taunted him, "Not so tough now, are you?"

With a wild yell, he charged toward Theo, completely consumed by his fury. But little did Jason know, this was exactly what Theo had been waiting for. With quick reflexes, Theo dodged Jason's attack and struck him with a powerful calf kick to the same spot, but with even greater force.

Jason stumbled back, his defenses weakened. Seeing his opportunity, Theo seized the moment and tripped Jason, swiftly maneuvering him into a chokehold. He applied pressure to Jason's neck, causing him to gasp for air. It was only a matter of time before Jason either lost consciousness or submitted.

To Theo's surprise, Jason quickly tapped out, forfeiting the match. "You're a tough guy, right? You can handle this," Theo taunted him, his voice laced with a cruel edge.

"Let go of me, you psycho!" he growled, struggling to break free. Despite his surrender, Jason's words were filled with defiance. But Theo held tight, unwilling to release his grip. The referee eventually stepped in and separated the two, but Jason had already lost consciousness.

With this Theo won his first bout and went back to his seat.