"Theoretical knowledge is important, but only theory isn't good on its own. Focus on sharpening your reflexes, go practice some more!" A middle-aged instructor yelled in the ring. As two students left, he called for the following combo: "Number 52 and 106."
Two other teens sitting in the same hall stood up, heading towards the ring. This was the most popular Training hall in the city for multiple reasons, one of which was to produce the most suitable cadets for NSDR.
"Punch me in the face, but I think I might have just wasted 5000 nits in enrolling into this shit," Said a black haired teen sitting in the crowd. This was Max, about 5 feet 10 inches tall, with a decent to good-looking face, and medium wavy hair, side-parted. He wore an oversized T-shirt and trousers, which looked cheap and old.
"Really? I thought this was the best in the city!" Said the guy sitting next to him, unlike Max, He emitted an energy of confidence and charm. He was over 6 feet tall, with silky blonde hair, and was dressed in branded clothes that screamed of lavishness. He was of fair complexion and handsome to the point that more people were looking at him than at the ring.
Max turned to look at him, dumbfounded. "Best my ass, if you have a thousand enrollments per class, you will naturally produce three cadets into the selection round...at this point, it's not even about training, this is just probability."
"I mean..." The blonde-haired man wanted to say something, but he was interrupted by Max again.
"As a matter of fact, I already see an enrolled candidate next to me who is gonna get selected," Max looked at him with doubtful eyes, "Tell me, Ray, why did you join this place again?"
Ray, the blonde-haired teen, gave a dumbfounded smile, "You were joining, so I thought I should join as well, you know, they said it's the best...in the... city."
As Ray completed his sentence, the instructor announced again, "Number 53 is out, next is 106!"
Max's eyes squinted as he talked to Ray; his gaze was fixed on the stage, specifically the 53rd number trannie, who had been winning for the past five rounds in a row. He continued observing with the same expression, "I joined here cuz this was the best I could join, you, on the other hand...you should join somewhere better."
"Umm..." Ray made a face, then sighed, "I can refer you to some better place."
A moment of silence fell; at this point, both Max and Ray were looking at the 53rd number trainee, for yet again, he had easily defeated his opponent. "Number 102 is out, number 101, Maximus Steel, to the ring."
Max stood up; it was his call. He looked around the arena, the crowd, the floor, the ring length, everything into consideration as he walked to the stage. His opponent, about his height, with short hair, wearing shorts, constantly jumping on his legs. Ray from the audience watched the fight closely.
"The fight will start on my signal. Warm up, and be prepared." The instructor said emotionless. Max took his T-shirt off, revealing his defined body marked by faint scars as he prepared for the fight.
'Same height, about 80 kg or more, right-handed, advanced boxing, his fighting stance is mostly of a striker, considering the possibility of an awakened one combined with weight, a single clean hit, and it's game over for me,' Max thought, a completely abrupt stance, he stood focused.
"ALRIGHT," The trainer stepped in, "ON MY MARK... BEGIN!"
That was the last word Max needed to hear before he locked in the fight. Now, only visible things were him, his opponent, and the ring.
Max took a step back and leaned to his left, analyzing the previous fight: 'He will attack first.'
"Hyyaahh!" His opponent closed with a straight punch, just as Max predicted.
'Next will be an axe kick.' Max jumped to his left, dodging an axe kick. He then ducked and rolled, just in the moment to avoid a jab-cross followed by a spin kick.
"What the fuck!" His opponent, the raid haired boy uttered in disbelief, he could feel it; he was faster than Max, and yet he wasn't able to land a hit, almost as if Max was reading his mind, dodging before he even attacked.
"Come on, this isn't all you got, did you?" Max provoked, and his opponent reacted, rushing towards him, with another right punch, then a one-two-three combo, but Max dodged like he had already seen it all.
'A striker, with more raw strength and speed than me, he prefers in boxing, my only option left is grappling,' Max thought, timing for a perfect opportunity, his opponent suddenly stepped back from him, trying to catch a breath, but Max was not sparing this moment.
Max closed in with a right hook; his opponent's eyes glinted, waiting for his attack. His opponent replied with a jab, and just when the attack was about to hit, something weird happened.
Max's punch changed its direction, not aiming for his face but suddenly curling down, Max hit him in the foot. His opponent momentarily fell unbalanced, and Max used this opportunity to get right behind him, locking his arms against his belly.
"A German suplex!" Ray almost yelled from the crowd, his excitement visible in his eyes.
Max clutched tightly, about to lift his opponent, but something was amiss. He couldn't lift his opponent. And before Max could react, his opponent turned around, as if his lock had no effect on him, and delivered a headbutt.
A clean hit, Max stumbled a few steps back with his nose bleeding. He looked at the red haired boy, who had a mischievous grin, and then a spinning kick was thrown at him that Max didn't try to dodge.
"Number 101 is out, next up 100, Rayan Mehra," The instructor announced. Rayan stood up from his seat, furious as he walked towards Max.
Rayan anxiously said as soon as he saw max"Comeon Max he was totally in-" but his sentence was cut short, as max leaned closer to him, his voice barely a wishper, "Listen carefully, that guy have lubricant applied over his body, he pretends to be a striker, baiting you to go grab him, but when you do, youll be right into his trap.
Rayan's jaw opened wide, "But...then...why didn't he get disqualified yet?"
Max too a small paise, looking at the instructor,"I am afraid, the instructor is part of the game."
Rayan didn't say anything, so Max tapped on his back, "Just don't lose your composure, you'll be fine."
Rayan nodded as he walked to the ring, cracking his neck. While Max walked back to his seat, cleaning his nosebleed.