Jason Luo stared at his newly drawn talent, speechless for a long time.
There was actually a talent like this? It was ridiculously powerful!
He knew all too well what it felt like to be dropped by a heavy punch. A solid blow to the head left you dazed, unable to focus your vision or mind. It took sheer willpower just to get back on your feet.
And in that state, your opponent would never let up—they'd launch a storm of attacks while you were barely holding yourself together. Surviving that kind of situation was almost impossible.
But now, after being knocked down, he could instantly recover to full condition—and on top of that, all his stats would increase by 15%. What did that even mean?
Like some unkillable pest, only getting stronger the longer the fight dragged on?
Sure, his base stats weren't high, so a 15% boost only meant a slight bump in each attribute. But even that was impressive across the board. This was nothing short of a divine skill!
The only drawback was that it lasted just three minutes. Amateur bouts had two-minute rounds with a one-minute break in between. That meant no matter when he got knocked down, he'd only have two minutes of real fighting time to use it.
If he couldn't finish the fight within those two minutes, he'd fall into a weakened state—and that was practically a guaranteed loss.
Still, as long as the gap in strength wasn't overwhelming, that worst-case scenario shouldn't happen...
Right now, Jason Luo felt like he'd stumbled upon a cheat code. The world was his for the taking. A mischievous grin tugged at his lips.
If that's the case... what if I just let myself get knocked down every time I step in the ring? Then...
The thought was absurdly tempting, but Jason quickly shook his head, forcing himself to let it go.
Keep it under wraps. Stay low-key! He was just a beginner amateur fighter right now. This was his biggest trump card, and it was better to keep it hidden. Showing his full strength too early would only backfire.
Ha! He'd been hoping for just one free attribute point, but instead he'd hit the jackpot. This was a rocket boost! With this divine skill in hand, he actually had real confidence in the upcoming match.
Studying his attribute panel more closely, Jason noticed that his Jab Power was far too weak. A jab like that posed no real threat.
On top of that, explosiveness, reaction, and Boxing Technique were still his major shortcomings. Now that he had the Unyielding Body, saving his free attribute points would be wasteful. It was better to shore up his weaknesses—it would help far more in competition.
After careful thought, Jason allocated the three free points into Reaction, Explosiveness, and Jab Power. As for Boxing Technique, that was something he could polish through hard training.
The moment he added the points, that familiar cool, refreshing sensation coursed through him—it was addictive. Jason felt like he could get hooked on this. The feeling was even better than a full-body massage from a beautiful woman.
Riding the high, he spent the night at home drilling his Boxing Technique. But his striking practice had already hit a plateau. After an entire night of work, he saw no improvement.
...
The next day at the gym, Coach Pedro adjusted the training plan.
"Jason, this opponent is strong. I want you to control his range and rhythm. Avoid mid-to-close exchanges as much as possible. It won't be easy, but that's the only way to increase your chances of winning."
Jason scratched his head.
"Coach, I get what you're saying, but I don't think I can pull it off. You know my Boxing Technique is still rough. I've been practicing, but the results aren't great."
Pedro nodded.
"I know. That's because your understanding of boxing still lacks depth. Tell me—what's your current understanding of boxing?"
Jason thought for a moment.
"Faster, steadier, more accurate."
"Anything else?"
Jason shook his head.
Pedro smiled and spoke slowly.
"Of course, punches need to be fast, accurate, and sharp. But in real combat, two other things are just as important—timing and purpose."
"Let's start with timing. Boxing is a combat sport, but in the ring it's also a psychological battle. When both fighters are intensely focused, seizing the right moment to strike is crucial.
If you punch too early and your opponent predicts it, at best they'll dodge in advance and your punch will miss. At worst, they'll counter right through your opening."
Jason recalled his time in the ring and found it true.
"So that's why my punches rarely land. But I can't just not throw punches forever."
Pedro nodded in approval.
"Of course you have to punch. The best moments include: one, when you sense your opponent is about to punch but hasn't thrown yet—strike first to disrupt their rhythm, that's what we call an 'interrupting punch.'
Another is when your opponent has already punched but hasn't retracted yet—take advantage of their unsteady balance and exposed guard to land your own punch, putting them on the defensive."
Jason sighed.
"That's tough, Coach. I really want to learn, but my body's just too slow. Sometimes I see the opening, but my body won't react fast enough..."
Pedro clapped him on the shoulder with a laugh.
"Don't get discouraged. How long have you even been training? This kind of fight awareness is the hardest to develop. With more training and match experience, it'll come. But you also need to consciously guide yourself.
Now, let's talk about purpose."
"As I said, accuracy requires purpose. Throwing punches without purpose is one of the biggest mistakes in boxing. Every jab must have intent—are you keeping distance, setting up your rear-hand punch, or just distracting the opponent? You have to be clear."
"An experienced boxer knows how to leverage his strengths to craft combinations suited to his style, building the perfect setup for his heavy punch. That's why purpose is just as important."
Pedro's words gave Jason a sudden clarity. His understanding of Boxing Technique instantly rose to a whole new level.
...
(40 Chapters Ahead)
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