Pup Champion

Haruto wrapped a long strip of cloth around his hand, binding it tightly to protect his knuckles. 

Despite the makeshift protection, his knuckles were already raw—either from bruises or the blood seeping through from earlier fights. 

His gaze never left the ring, eyes sharp as they tracked the two men inside.

One of them, dressed in a simple gray sleeveless shirt, moved with precision, his punches fast and calculated. 

His opponent struggled to keep up, already faltering from the relentless blows. 

'That'll be my next opponent,' Haruto thought, leaning casually against the cold iron pillar behind him, arms crossed. 

He studied every movement, each strike, and counter, mentally preparing himself for the inevitable clash. 

This was his fourth fight of the night, and if he won, he'd claim the Pup Championship. 

The ring rarely stayed quiet tonight—there were too many fighters eager to prove themselves, especially with Haruto's name being whispered around the arena.

Unbeknownst to him, the organizers had begun hyping him as the rising star, the new champion who would eventually take down Enji. 

And for anyone who managed to defeat Haruto, the reward would be double the usual prize.

'Not bad,' Haruto mused, his hands still busy tying the red cloth over his other palm. 'But not as good as Enji.'

His attention snapped back to the ring just in time to see the man in the gray shirt—Reynold, they called him—land a brutal punch to his opponent's jaw. 

The man crumpled to the floor like a rag doll. The referee quickly moved in, counting to ten as the unconscious man lay motionless. 

With a final blow of the whistle, the referee raised Reynold's arm in victory.

"Reynold, winner of the fourth chapter!" the announcer declared to the roaring crowd.

Reynold didn't waste time celebrating. He turned toward Haruto, his chest heaving, and taunted him with a mocking gesture—a hard slam of his fist into his palm, eyes gleaming with challenge.

Haruto only smirked in response, his dark eyes gleaming with cold intent. 'I'll crush you to pieces,' he thought, his fists tightening in anticipation.

In the underground ring, there were no rules. That was both the best and the worst part of it. 

It was a place where anything could happen—a win-win and lose-lose situation all at once.

The crowd erupted in cheers as Reynold stepped down from the ring, his victory celebration brief as his gaze remained locked on Haruto. 

Haruto pushed off the pillar, his muscles taut as he unwrapped his arms from his chest and rolled his shoulders, readying himself. 

The ring announcer's voice boomed across the warehouse, "Next up, Kuro Usagi versus Reynold!"

The crowd shifted as people surged forward, eager to see this next battle. Haruto made his way to the ring, his eyes cold and calculated, every step a rhythm of calm focus. 

As he climbed through the ropes and entered the cage, Reynold was already bouncing on his feet, loosening up his shoulders and grinning at him with excitement.

"In this ring, there's only one rule!" 

The referee, a man in his mid-forties with a weathered face, announced as he glanced between the two fighters. 

"The last man standing is the winner!"

Haruto, under his alias Kuro Usagi, stood casually, his posture loose and unbothered. His opponent, Reynold, circled him, cracking his knuckles.

"Alright, let's get this over with."

Reynold sneered, sizing him up. "Just so you know, I don't care about the rewards or the money."

"But seeing you named as the next champion? I couldn't let that slide. I'll be the one who beats you down tonight as I am the defending champion!" His tone dripped with confidence.

Haruto, however, merely shrugged, the words rolling off him without effect. He wasn't here for the taunts or theatrics. All that mattered was victory, and the sooner it came, the better.

Reynold wasted no time. With a speed that belied his muscular frame, he closed the distance, throwing a sharp jab toward Haruto's face. 

Haruto leaned back just in time, narrowly dodging the punch, his lips curving into a smirk. 

'Too predictable, this man is just a joke.' he thought. 

Reynold came at him again, this time with a right hook aimed at his ribs, but Haruto anticipated the move, deflecting the blow with his elbow before countering with a quick jab to Reynold's stomach.

The punch landed, but Reynold barely flinched. He grinned wider, as if enjoying the pain, and threw a wild uppercut. 

"Huh, you just called that punch?! Come here! Punch me harder!" he screamed and the crowd cheered together with him. 

Haruto sidestepped, the force of Reynold's swing sending him stumbling forward slightly. 

He seized the moment and slammed his fist into Reynold's exposed ribs, feeling the satisfying thud of impact. 

He grunted but twisted around quickly, throwing a vicious elbow at Haruto's head.

It grazed Haruto's temple, stunning him for a split second. Reynold saw the opportunity and charged, aiming a heavy punch at Haruto's midsection. 

This time, Haruto took the blow head-on, the impact sending a wave of pain through his body, but he held his ground. His eyes flashed with a dangerous glint. 

'Now's my chance.'

As Reynold pulled back for another strike, Haruto ducked low, driving his shoulder into his torso with all his strength. 

Reynold staggered back, winded, but before he could recover, Haruto was already on him. He landed a brutal series of punches—left, right, left—his fists connecting with Reynold's jaw and cheekbones with bone-crunching force.

Reynold's grin faltered, blood dripping from the corner of his mouth. Desperation flickered in his eyes as he swung wildly at Haruto again. But Haruto was in control now. 

He dodged effortlessly, each of Reynold's punches becoming slower, more frantic.

"Just that? Where are your big words? You can't fight me anymore?" Haruto laughed at the pathetic man in front of him. 

His eyes were unfocused and his face was bloodied, full of bruises and blood. 

With one final calculated move, Haruto pivoted on his heel, delivering a powerful roundhouse kick straight to Reynold's side. 

The blow sent Reynold crashing into the iron gate of the ring, the metal rattling violently as he slumped to the ground.

The crowd erupted, their cheers deafening, but Haruto's focus remained on Reynold. 

The man struggled to stand, his body shaking from the force of the impact, but he couldn't muster the strength to get back on his feet. 

Haruto stalked toward him, every step deliberate, before crouching beside his fallen opponent. 

"I told you," Haruto muttered under his breath, just loud enough for Reynold to hear, "I'd crush you."

Reynold tried to glare at him, but his body wouldn't respond. He was done.

The referee stepped in, raising Haruto's hand in victory. "Kuro Usagi wins the Pup Championship!"

The crowd roared in approval, the sound vibrating through the walls of the warehouse. 

Haruto stood tall, glancing up at the black box where Kikuchi and the others watched. 

Enji, who had been observing the fight with a smirk, now narrowed his eyes, acknowledging Haruto's win with a nod.

Haruto met his gaze and smirked back. 'I'm coming for you next.'