Night
Pacific Island – Empire Mall
"Peter! I'm here!"
"Brother Peter!"
Peter, V, and Lucy arrived at the ring, where they spotted Jack Jie warming up. Not far away, Peter's master waved at them, signaling them over.
David had also come to watch the fight, and the crowd was growing larger by the minute.
Peter and his group walked up to Jack, who was still discussing strategies with his coach.
Since this was one of the most well-known underground boxing matches in Night City, the arena was packed. The audience included not just enthusiastic fans but also soldiers who had come for the excitement.
Of course, they weren't just there to enjoy the fight—street black boxing meant big money bets, and most were there to gamble.
Jack's coach, an experienced trainer from Heywood, sighed as he analyzed Razor, Jack's opponent.
"Carbon fiber, titanium alloy bones, hydraulic joints… I've lost count of how many enhancements this guy has. The best cybernetic doctors in Night City have built him into a monster. I can't suggest a strategy for this fight, Jack—you might want to talk to Victor and see if he has any advice."
The coach's voice was filled with concern. Razor was a beast in the ring, and finding a weakness in his reinforced body was nearly impossible.
Just then, Razor spotted Jack from across the ring and shouted, "Hey! You over there! After this match, you're heading straight to the emergency room! They'll have to put you back together, piece by piece! Hahaha!"
Jack smirked and shot back, "Stupid! You'll know who your uncle is once we're in the ring!" He flipped Razor off, fueling the already tense atmosphere.
The audience erupted in cheers. They thrived on this kind of energy—boxing was more than just a fight; it was a war of words and intimidation.
A loud voice boomed through the speakers.
"Oh my! It looks like our fighters are already exchanging pleasantries!"
The announcer, hired to keep the energy alive, stepped into the ring, hyping up the crowd.
"Let me introduce our competitors!"
He gestured toward the reigning champion.
"Our defending NIGHT CITY HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION! The undefeated, the ruthless, the unstoppable—RAZOR! With an impressive record of 47 wins, 0 losses, and 20 knockouts, he is an absolute nightmare in the ring!"
Razor stood up, waving to the crowd with a menacing grin.
"RAZOR! RAZOR! RAZOR!"
His fans roared, filling the arena with deafening cheers. They had been following him since his early street-fighting days, and their devotion was unwavering.
The announcer then turned to Jack.
"And our challenger! From Heywood—JACK WELLS! He has defeated the top street-fighting champions of Night City and earned his shot at the title!"
Compared to the overwhelming cheers for Razor, Jack's support was modest. His victories had been impressive, but he was still the underdog.
Even so, the crowd was electrified.
Jack grinned, soaking in the energy. "Damn, I love this vibe."
Peter patted Jack's shoulder. "Keep your eyes on his belly. It looks fresh—could be a weak spot."
V chuckled. "Don't worry, Jack. If you end up in pieces, we'll call the trauma team for you."
As the fighters stepped into the ring, the tension skyrocketed.
Razor sneered. "Boy, you're about to regret stepping into my ring."
Jack smirked. "Yeah? I'll miss you when they carry you out on a stretcher."
The referee had to push them apart before the fight could even start.
Meanwhile, in the betting section, the real action was heating up.
"I'm putting three hundred on Razor!"
"Three hundred? Hah! I'm betting three thousand! Razor all the way!"
Most of the crowd placed their bets on Razor. Only a few dared to put money on Jack, and even then, it was just small amounts—maybe a hundred or two, nothing significant.
The odds were completely one-sided.
1.1:15
Even Victor, Jack's close friend, placed a hefty five thousand on him.
Misty, Jack's childhood sweetheart, stood anxiously near the betting booth. "Peter, Victor, since everyone's betting on Razor, does that mean Jack is doomed to lose?"
Peter smiled. "Not necessarily. High bets don't always mean a guaranteed win. The real question is—who can last longer in the ring?"
Victor nodded. "Don't worry, Misty. Jack has a chance. As long as he plays it smart, he can take down Razor."
Just then, Peter noticed a familiar group entering the arena—Mann's team.
"Peter!"
Rebecca came rushing over, full of energy as always.
Peter quickly stepped aside, dodging her. He had more pressing matters—V, Lucy, and Sasha were all here, and he needed to keep the atmosphere neutral between them.
Sasha approached Peter with a soft smile. "Peter."
V folded his arms. "Aren't you going to introduce us?"
Lucy remained silent, her eyes locked onto Sasha.
Peter sighed and introduced them. "This is Sasha, the hacker from Mann's team. Sasha, meet V and Lucy—they missed the last drinking night."
The tension between the three women was undeniable. Peter felt trapped.
Rebecca pouted. "Peter, why are you avoiding me? I almost bumped into you!"
But Peter barely heard her—his focus was on the brewing storm between V, Lucy, and Sasha. If he didn't smooth things over, he'd probably be sleeping alone tonight.
While Peter dealt with his personal crisis, Jack and Razor finally clashed in the ring.
The crowd roared as the fight began.
Razor's cybernetic body gave him monstrous durability, but his head was still vulnerable.
Jack, equipped with gorilla arms and advanced subdermal armor, wasn't far behind in strength. His enhanced fists packed incredible power, giving him a fighting chance against Razor's brute force.
The match quickly turned into an all-out brawl.
Punches flew as the two fighters exchanged brutal blows. Jack dodged Razor's heavy swings, countering with precise strikes.
Razor grunted, stepping back momentarily. Jack grinned.
"You're not so scary up close, Razor."
The audience was on fire.
Each punch sent shockwaves through the arena. The battle was evenly matched—Jack's power versus Razor's endurance.
"COME ON, JACK!" Misty screamed from the stands.
"RAZOR, KNOCK HIM OUT!" his fans chanted.
Neither fighter backed down.
Jack's fists slammed into Razor's body, but the cybernetic enhancements absorbed much of the impact. Razor retaliated with a devastating hook to Jack's ribs, sending him staggering back.
Jack gritted his teeth and charged forward, his gorilla arms delivering a powerful uppercut.
Razor's head snapped back, and for the first time, the champion looked shaken.
Peter smirked. "This fight is far from over."
The match had only just begun, but the tension in the air was thick.
Would Jack pull off the impossible and defeat Razor?
Or would the reigning champion prove once again why he was undefeated?
The next few rounds would decide everything.
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