241 Don’t Care About the Head, but the Tail – Crushing with Fists**

Pereira was on the move, and the camera focused intently on his legs. While he only bent his knee a few times, the unease in the air was unmistakable; something was definitely off. To anyone untrained, his leg appeared fine, yet the sharp decrease in his opponent's speed told a different tale. The evident pressure on his left leg was alarming, and if the limp continued much longer, it was likely the referee would have no choice but to halt the match.

"Pereira, conserve your energy and close the distance!" his team shouted urgently, quickly recognizing the critical situation. Both fighters were acutely aware of the shift in momentum—a palpable tension filled the arena as Pereira, realizing his condition, instinctively retreated to his corner, leaning back against the cage for stability. Staying still was now his best option, allowing the leg to recover; after all, surrender was not an option he could entertain.

Pereira's confidence in his striking ability was crucial, but Ye Chen was relentless, closing in with fierce intent. Pereira grimaced at the sight of Ye Chen advancing and quickly shifted to a reverse stance, placing his right leg and hand forward. His long limbs reached out, desperately attempting to establish control over the distance, swatting at Ye Chen's hands to keep him at bay.

Ye Chen was no fool; diving in recklessly would be a grave mistake. No matter how proficient his wrestling skills were, he needed to find a clear entry point if he wanted to succeed. An unprepared grapple could lead to catastrophe. So, he stood firm, biding his time and exerting pressure. The tension he created had to weigh heavily on his opponent. Pereira was visibly rattled and cornered; his injury effectively prevented any escape, and the panic was palpable. Under this kind of stress—especially for someone as seasoned as Pereira—mistakes were not just possible; they were imminent.

In this pivotal moment, Ye Chen's strategy bore striking resemblance to Pei Zhi's tactics against the powerful Black Dragon. He didn't even need to throw a punch to apply significant pressure.

"Bang." Ye Chen feinted, testing Pereira's reaction. As expected, his instincts kicked in rapidly, and he thrust a jab towards Ye Chen's head with lightning speed. Ye Chen deftly deflected the jab with his front arm and leaned back, delivering a counter punch, only to immediately feint once more. Pereira reacted instinctively, raising his knee, prepared to retaliate if Ye Chen dared to close the gap.

If Ye Chen attempted a sudden advance now, he risked running directly into Pereira's knee. The title of double kickboxing champion wasn't merely for show; it was a testament to his formidable skills. While Pereira might not match Black Dragon in flexibility, speed was arguably his greatest weapon. Remember, Black Dragon had sacrificed strength for speed, but Pereira was no slouch among heavy hitters—he was exceptionally quick.

In an unexpected move, Ye Chen took a small but strategic step forward, edging into Pereira's jab range. He kept his head low, bracing for an anticipated jab. The moment Pereira obliged, he lifted his arm to throw another jab. In a split second, Ye Chen's body shifted left, fluidly dodging Pereira's attack. As Pereira missed his target, Ye Chen seized the moment, launching a flat hook that nearly grazed his hair, pivoting into a devastating knee strike aimed directly at Pereira's body.

This wasn't entirely new ground for Ye Chen; he had battled Pereira in numerous simulated encounters and was prepared for every one of his moves. The instant Pereira aimed his jab and raised his leg, Ye Chen's elbow cleaved through the air, crashing squarely onto Pereira's thigh with a resounding "pop." The impact echoed through the arena, sending shockwaves through his leg and smashing it back down into position.

Even someone as tough as Pereira felt the effects; his face contorted in pain, teeth clenched as he absorbed the agonizing blow. "Bang." Almost immediately after landing that elbow, Ye Chen pressed forward with a powerful jab. He twisted his hips as he advanced, fully committing to the strike.

Ye Chen had fully mastered explosive combinations from Ava's playbook, and with these skills in his arsenal, he was poised to unleash a flurry of well-placed punches that could overwhelm Pereira. The sharp pain rolling through Pereira had him bending instinctively at the waist, his arms dropping as he sought to cover his abdomen. The fierce onslaught of strikes made him feel as though his insides were disintegrating; if it weren't for the cage net behind him, he might have crumbled to the ground.

"Bang." Ye Chen landed another punishing blow to Pereira's already battered midsection. The impact caused Pereira to double over, reflexively trying to shield himself, but Ye Chen was far from done. At the moment of impact, his punch shifted direction, transforming into a flat hook aimed directly for Pereira's head.

Ye Chen executed his attacks with a mastery of rapid line changes, a technique Ava had perfected, and now it flowed seamlessly through him. The rhythm of his punches was relentless. Even a highly skilled fighter like Pereira struggled to keep up, let alone someone fatigued from a devastating liver shot.

The flat hook struck Pereira's temple with pinpoint accuracy, sending violent shockwaves coursing through his body. The force of the blow nearly buckled his knees, and confusion clouded his vision. Desperately, he pushed against Ye Chen, trying to create even a moment of distance.

"Bang." Just as Pereira attempted to shove Ye Chen away, Ye Chen retaliated with yet another punishing strike to his midsection. The sheer speed of Ye Chen's punches and his unorthodox paths rendered Pereira defenseless. The balance he had so confidently maintained was completely shattered; it felt as if Ye Chen had closed off every conceivable escape, obliterating any chances for reprieve while making counterattacks utterly impossible.