After defeating Sasaki Ichiro, Jason Luo secured his place in the ranking tournament. The event would run for five rounds, with just two days separating each match.
Such a tight schedule placed enormous strain on the fighters' stamina and physical condition. Any injuries or setbacks would be nearly impossible to recover from in such a short window.
The profile of his first-round opponent soon arrived: Joseph, a 28-year-old fighter from Pennsylvania. Standing 179 cm tall, with a reach of 181 cm and weighing 76 kg, he carried an amateur record of 13 wins, 1 draw, and 4 losses. He excelled at controlling the tempo of a fight, his front-hand punches precise and powerful. But his back-hand lacked real threat, and his age meant his stamina reserves weren't what they once were.
After three rounds of preliminary selections, the profiles of the competitors were becoming more detailed. The tournament committee handed out these technical dossiers so fighters could prepare better, encouraging more explosive, all-out bouts instead of wasting time cautiously testing each other in the ring.
With so little time between matches, the team immediately gathered at the gym to discuss strategies and training adjustments.
Pedro was the first to speak. "Looks like another technical fighter—this one relies heavily on front-hand control. It's a tricky style. If you can't break through his jab, you'll be stuck on the defensive the whole time. Don't underestimate it—those jabs may seem harmless, but the accumulated damage can be brutal."
Brown nodded. "The key is the opening round. Jason, your last fight went well. We can use the same approach this time, but with a few adjustments."
The last match had really opened Jason Luo's eyes. He hadn't realized there were so many variations among technical fighters. Sasaki Ichiro's unorthodox style had been difficult enough, and now Joseph presented something entirely different—relying almost exclusively on his front-hand punch instead of his power shots. It was impossible to predict what might come next.
"My advice," Brown continued, "is to come out swinging aggressively from the start. At the same time, we'll focus on high-speed evasion drills and counterattacks to disrupt his rhythm as much as possible."
Annoyed at being interrupted, Pedro stepped forward to make his point. "And don't forget his stamina—that's a weakness too. Wear him down, keep him tied up. At his age, his body's already on the decline. That's an opening we can exploit."
"Besides playing to your strengths, you have to patch your weaknesses," Pedro added, turning to Jason. "Your injury will improve in two days, but you must strengthen your defense. If you get hurt again, the rest of the tournament could be over for you."
"Your accuracy is too low, and your combinations are inefficient…"
"Right," Brown cut in, "you need to accelerate sternocleidomastoid training to improve your neck strength—that'll help you absorb head shots. Your explosiveness is still lacking too, so keep building your core and waist strength..."
The two went back and forth endlessly, leaving Jason Luo with a pounding headache. One coach had been tough enough. Now he had two. What would training be like in the future? He didn't dare imagine…
Qualifying for the main draw didn't ease the pressure—it only made the atmosphere more intense.
Mr. Raul reminded him not to underestimate the importance of an official amateur ranking. "It matters more than you think. Look at the Old Tavern Arena tournaments—prime-time evening fights are almost always reserved for ranked fighters."
Appearance fees, salaries, even choosing opponents—all of it hinged on ranking. Raul urged him to seize this opportunity: "If you win just two of the five matches, you'll have a shot at cracking the top 1,500."
Jason Luo frowned. "Why always 1,500?"
Raul explained, "Because once you're in the top 1,500, you're generally considered a solid second-tier fighter."
So that was it…
To give him extra motivation, Raul confided in him. "Actually, now that you've made the main draw, your salary's already been raised to six thousand a month. And if you break into the top 1,500, it'll be adjusted again—to eight thousand."
Eight thousand!
The thought alone made Jason Luo's heart race with excitement. With that kind of income, he could finally face his father with confidence—able to support a family. And that was only the base pay. With prize money from fights, breaking ten thousand monthly was realistic.
That night, after returning home, Jason Luo lit incense for his mother, shared the good news, and then checked the system notifications.
"Ding! Congratulations on another official match victory. The Greedy Wolf talent has automatically extracted one point in Punch Speed, two points in Dodge & Anticipation, and one point in Boxing Technique from your opponent's superior attributes. Please review promptly."
Two points in Dodge & Anticipation meant Sasaki's Attribute had been at least 13 or higher. Even third-rate fighters seemed to have at least one Attribute above 13, while Jason hadn't reached that level in any Attribute yet. He still fell short in strength.
Two wins in a row hadn't unlocked an achievement. Without them, he couldn't get free Attribute Points or lottery chances. He hadn't realized before just how valuable free Attribute Points were.
From now on, he wouldn't dare waste them unless absolutely necessary…
With four new Technique points, his Boxing Technique rose to 7, Punch Speed to 9, and Dodge & Anticipation to 9. This patched some weaknesses, but his Boxing Technique, Footwork, Coordination, Reaction, and Front-Hand Punch Power were all still far too low. Especially Boxing Technique—despite all his training, the lack of progress was maddening.
Another source of worry loomed closer: his father would be discharged in five days. That meant he could only compete in two more fights before then—possibly his last two matches. What would he do if his father forbade him from boxing after leaving the hospital?
More importantly, could his father overcome his guilt and face life again?
These questions weighed on Jason Luo like a massive boulder, suffocating him with frustration and unease…
...
Jason Luo's qualification for the main draw felt like a shot of adrenaline for Pedro. The old coach looked radiant, brimming with energy these past few days.
But for Jason Luo, this wasn't exactly good news.
"Pick up your speed, kid! Don't think you're something special just because you've won three in a row. You won't understand real strength until you step into the main event. Heaven gave you this chance—now's the time to fight like hell!"
"Change up your jabs! Short, light, rapid-fire… mix feints with real punches. Keep your opponent guessing so your back-hand lands clean!"
Jason Luo, exhausted, had barely gotten Pedro's nod of approval when Brown stepped in before he'd even caught his breath.
"Neck extension training—urgent. Your body's warmed up, so now's the best time. Come on, get moving…"
Jason Luo's face twisted as if he'd swallowed bitter medicine. This life was unbearable. Somebody save me…
...
(40 Chapters Ahead)
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