Night had fallen, and Jason Luo was training alone at home. But tonight, no matter how hard he punched, he just couldn't find his rhythm. His mind kept circling back to Kamman's words: Learn from your opponent? But how was he supposed to do that?
Kamman was far stronger than him—his footwork was sharp, his punches lightning-fast, and his combinations hit like a storm. But Jason Luo's current strength was nowhere near that level. He simply couldn't match him...
Frustrated, Jason Luo pounded the heavy bag, venting his frustration. After a frenzied round of punches, his stamina quickly gave out. Gasping for breath, he had to stop.
No good! If he tried to fight like Kamman, he'd last a single round at most. And if he couldn't finish his opponent within that one round, wouldn't he just be waiting to get beaten down?
That path was a dead end. Kamman's half-baked advice was driving him crazy. Could he have meant something else?
Drenched in sweat, Jason Luo sat on the floor and carefully replayed their sparring in his mind. Whenever they exchanged punches head-on, Kamman would use his lead jab to probe. The moment he saw an opening, he'd slip in with a quick combination, then immediately disengage, refusing to stick around. That left Jason Luo fuming, unable to get close for a counterattack.
And whenever he tried to force his way in, Kamman would retreat swiftly, firing back while moving. In the end, Jason Luo always took the hits, but the distance never closed...
Even cutting off his movement space didn't work. What else could he do? Jason Luo couldn't figure it out. The worst part was Kamman's eyes—it was as if he could read Jason Luo's every thought. How could he fight like that?
This was far too passive. No wonder Coach Pedro insisted on turning him into a technical boxer. If you could keep your opponent out and never let them close in, wasn't that just pure domination?
Wait... why was he so obsessed with closing the distance? Wasn't he himself training to fight as a technical boxer? In that case, wasn't Kamman the perfect model to learn from?
The thought struck like lightning. Jason Luo's eyes lit up, his mind suddenly clear. Ha! Now I understand! The coach's morning drills and his afternoon sparring with Kamman weren't random—they were practical lessons. He just had to play the role of an offensive fighter in training.
During sparring, all he needed to do was observe carefully, absorb what he saw, and learn. Then, when he faced real offensive fighters in the future, he could use those same tactics as his best counterstrategy. While he couldn't yet copy Kamman's speed or strength, he could definitely study things like controlling distance, managing rhythm, footwork, and punch timing.
So that's how it is! On the surface, I'm Kamman's sparring partner, but in reality, he's also my coach in live combat—and I don't even have to pay him! No wonder so many famous fighters started out as sparring partners. Turns out being one is like doing dirty work for a beauty—seems like suffering, but it's oddly rewarding.
With his thoughts clear, Jason Luo found new purpose. During sparring with Kamman, he focused on studying punch timing and footwork, and began applying what he learned in practice.
He gave up pressing forward and forcing exchanges, devoting himself instead to defensive counterpunching. He tried to throw as many intercepting punches as possible, sharpening his predictive sense...
Noticing the shift in Jason Luo's style, Kamman smiled faintly. Looks like the kid's figured it out. But this is only the beginning. He needs to keep pushing. Some things you can't learn from books alone—I'll just have to turn up the heat.
And suddenly, Jason Luo felt Kamman's punches grow even faster, even heavier!
Damn it! Struggling to defend, Jason Luo finally understood what the real "Black Storm" felt like. So powerful!
...
Days blurred together in sweat, vanishing before he realized. Twenty days later, Jason Luo smiled as he looked at his system panel.
System Binder: Jason Luo
Age: 18
Height: 184 cm
Wingspan: 187 cm
Weight: 76.2 kg
Occupation: Amateur Contracted Boxer
Reputation: Rising Star
System Talent: (Greedy Wolf Power – Beginner)
After defeating an opponent, permanently extract 15% of their superior Free Attribute Points.
Strength: 8
stamina: 9
Boxing Technique: 6
Footwork: 7
Reaction: 5
Punch Speed: 6
Coordination: 7
Explosiveness: 5
Recovery: 7
Dodge & Anticipation: 7
Toughness: 10
Jab Power: 5
Cross Power: 9
Free Attribute Points: 2
Overall Assessment: Though your technique remains rough, your outstanding physique already gives you a fighting chance among entry-level amateurs. What are you waiting for? Go fight, kid!
Over the past twenty days, Jason Luo's stats hadn't improved much, but his understanding of boxing had transformed completely. His fighting style now showed the beginnings of a true technical boxer, and he had gained new insights into applying stamina and Boxing Technique.
At the gym, Coach Pedro continued filling his head with boxing knowledge.
"Your evasions are too predictable. Don't let your opponent read your rhythm. Like I've told you before—keep your movements as small as possible. That way, you hold your balance and can counter at any time..."
"Be very cautious with uppercuts. They're dangerous weapons, but they also leave you wide open. Miss once, and you'll be in serious trouble..."
After finishing his explanation, the coach added, "We've been at this for almost a month. You've improved, but it's still far from enough. Many lessons only sink in through real fights. I've already asked Raúl to find you a suitable opponent. Get yourself ready."
Jason Luo was so excited he nearly jumped. Day after day of repetitive training was dull and passionless. He'd been itching to test himself in a real fight.
"No problem, Coach! I promise I won't embarrass you!" he said confidently.
Pedro frowned. "You don't even know who your opponent is, and you're already making promises? Do you think you're invincible?"
"Haha, of course not." Jason Luo scratched his head. "But since Mr. Raúl is the one choosing, the opponent should be around my level. I have confidence I can win. Otherwise, I'd be letting your teaching go to waste."
"Talk is cheap. In the ring, only strength matters. This is your first fight since signing, and Raúl takes it seriously. Whether you can truly stand in this sport depends on this match. Think about that."
"Understood, Coach. I'll push harder these next few days and make sure I'm at my absolute best!"
The very next day, Raúl came with documents for Pedro and Jason Luo. But this time, he brought two sets. Jason Luo leaned over curiously.
"Mr. Raúl, why are there two?"
Raúl explained, "This is your debut match after signing. It will be recorded and kept on file for professional agencies to review later, so it's of great importance. We must be cautious. These are the two boxers I've shortlisted. Now, it's up to you to decide who you want to challenge."
...
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