The crowd's excitement was palpable, a heavy tension in the air. The crimson screen in the arena blinked with the countdown—10:00. A hush fell, and the announcer's voice echoed through the cold night, booming across the open arena.
Announcer: "The battle begins now. Fighters, introduce yourselves."
Khalid Al Harbi stepped forward, his silhouette casting a long shadow. His frame, towering and muscular, rippled with power as he addressed his opponent.
Khalid: "I am Khalid Al Harbi, the Desert's Fist. A warrior born in the sands, hardened by the harshest battles. You may be quick, but I am relentless."
Huang Qi didn't flinch. His eyes remained focused, unwavering.
He spoke with the calm demeanor that defined him: "I am Huang Qi, from the Shaolin. I don't need the power of rage to win. I fight with my Will, and nothing more."
The two men locked eyes—there was a moment of stillness before the announcer's voice broke the silence once more.
Announcer: "The battle starts now!"
The clock on the crimson screen began its countdown. 10:00—the fight was on.
Khalid wasted no time. He moved forward with the force of a storm, a massive fist aimed directly at Huang's head. The speed and power of the attack were overwhelming, and Huang barely had time to react. He ducked low, the punch missing by inches, but the shockwave from Khalid's strike rattled the air.
Point -1: Huang Qi — The system logged the slight miss, penalizing Huang for the evasion.
Without hesitation, Huang flowed into a quick counter, his foot sweeping the ground beneath Khalid's legs, aiming to unbalance him. Khalid grunted, feeling the sudden shift, but he wasn't thrown. Instead, he stomped hard, stabilizing himself and swinging his leg in a counter.
Huang, anticipating this, sidestepped and thrust his palm toward Khalid's exposed ribs. The strike was sharp, but Khalid's thick frame absorbed most of the impact. Still, the moment caused a slight stagger.
Point +2: Huang Qi — A clean hit, calculated and efficient.
Khalid's eyes narrowed. He grinned, an expression full of confidence and raw hunger. He wasn't here to simply survive—he wanted to dominate. He launched himself forward again, but this time, Huang was ready.
Khalid's arms came down in heavy arcs, aiming to crush Huang with each swing. But Huang's footwork was fluid, precise, dancing just out of range of the blows. He ducked under a heavy right cross, then followed up with a rapid jab to Khalid's jaw, aiming for the weak spot he had sensed.
Point +1: Huang Qi — Another clean strike, a perfect execution of timing and precision.
Khalid recoiled slightly, but his face remained unflinching. He grunted with effort, and before Huang could step back, Khalid surged forward, his body a machine of brute force. He slammed his shoulder into Huang, forcing him back, the power almost taking him off his feet.
Point -1: Huang Qi — The collision knocked Huang off balance, his footing lost for a moment.
As Huang recovered, he found himself locked in a battle of endurance. Khalid's strikes were fast and heavy, but Huang's agility was his greatest weapon. For every attack Khalid threw, Huang countered with calculated strikes of his own, trying to land as many clean hits as possible while avoiding Khalid's devastating blows.
As the battle continued, the rhythm intensified. Khalid's movements became heavier, his strikes slower but more powerful. Huang, still light on his feet, ducked and weaved, his precision slowly chipping away at Khalid's defense. The points shifted back and forth, each hit pushing both fighters toward the edge.
Khalid, growing frustrated, threw a massive haymaker—a wild swing aimed directly at Huang's head. Huang sidestepped just in time, but the power of Khalid's swing caused the air to rush by him, rattling his nerves.
Huang seized the opening, diving forward with a knee strike to Khalid's ribs, but Khalid was already moving to retaliate. With a low growl, he swept his leg toward Huang's midsection. The kick landed, and Huang staggered back.
Point -2: Huang Qi — The strike sent Huang back, losing points as the force was undeniable.
But Huang didn't back down. He recovered quickly, his breathing steady, his mind clear. He shot forward again, less reckless now, taking small, controlled steps toward his opponent. With another spin, he struck a low kick to Khalid's inner thigh, forcing him off balance for a brief moment.
Point +2: Huang Qi — The leg strike was sharp and effective, slowing Khalid's momentum.
Khalid grunted, his expression now darkening. His earlier arrogance was giving way to a quieter fury. He roared and pushed forward with renewed vigor, throwing a brutal combination of jabs and hooks in rapid succession.
Huang's defense was like a stream, bending and flowing around the barrage. He absorbed what he could, but it was clear Khalid's sheer power was taking its toll. He could feel the drain on his stamina, but his will—his relentless determination—kept him moving.
The fight raged on. The clock was ticking down. 4:30 left. Both fighters had taken blows, their bodies showing signs of wear. Huang's legs burned, his muscles screaming for respite. Khalid's breathing was heavier, but his will was ironclad. He was beginning to catch Huang in moments of fatigue, where the boy's movements were slower, less precise.
A misstep—Huang stumbled as he stepped backward to dodge a heavy punch. It was all Khalid needed. He closed the gap, lifting Huang off his feet with a brutal uppercut. The impact left Huang gasping, a sharp pain in his chest as he was thrown to the ground.
Point -3: Huang Qi — The uppercut landed with devastating force, causing the system to register a heavy point loss.
Huang's hand hit the ground as he pushed himself back up, the arena's digital clock now flashing 2:30. His vision swam, but he shook it off. This was far from over.
But Khalid wasn't letting up. He stormed forward, his fists like hammers, relentless in their pursuit. Huang moved with a fluid grace, narrowly avoiding each strike. With each evasive maneuver, Khalid's power drained him further. His strikes grew slower, more deliberate. Huang seized on the smallest window, delivering a quick jab to Khalid's ribcage.
Point +1: Huang Qi — Another successful hit, a rare moment of clear advantage.
Yet Khalid's fury was unstoppable. He backhanded Huang, forcing him to stagger. With a growl, Khalid pulled Huang into a crushing bear hug, squeezing the air out of his lungs.
Point -2: Huang Qi — The grapple left Huang unable to retaliate, his strength draining rapidly.
The clock counted down, now at 30 seconds. Both fighters were exhausted, their bodies aching. Khalid's strikes had slowed, his energy depleted, but Huang's reserves of will had been all but spent. The final moments were a blur of movements, each one a desperate attempt to land a decisive blow.
Huang made one last attempt, leaping forward for a spinning kick, but Khalid, seeing it coming, caught his leg mid-air and slammed him to the ground with brutal force.
Point -3: Huang Qi — The final blow left Huang immobile, his body unable to react.
The timer hit 0:00.
Announcer: "The battle is over. Final points: Huang Qi - 0, Khalid Al Harbi - 8."
The screen flashed, but there was no victor in the truest sense. Huang lay still, his chest rising and falling steadily. He had fought with all his strength, his will unbroken despite the loss of points. Khalid stood over him, breathing heavily, acknowledging the fight with a nod.
The announcer's voice echoed across the arena once more.
Announcer: "Huang Qi remains standing. The battle ends with 0 points for Huang. Both fighters pushed their limits. A fight for the ages."
And with that, the crimson arena fell silent, the crowd's roars echoing into the distance as the fighters' stories continued.