The fight entered the fifth round!
The moment the bell rang, Jason Luo stormed forward, leading with a front-hand jab to draw out Carl's counter. The instant Carl reacted, Jason slipped sideways, twisting his body and hammering a fierce hook into his midsection.
But Carl was no easy mark. After a short rest, his stamina had fully recovered. He hopped back lightly, dodging the attack, and immediately countered with a powerful hook!
The punch came fast and heavy. Jason had no time to evade—he raised one fist to shield his head, absorbed the blow, and instantly retaliated...
The two clashed at close range from the very start. Carl had completely abandoned the cautious tactics from earlier rounds, reverting to his brutal, aggressive style—and the crowd went wild!
Now that's more like it!
A lion teaching a monkey tricks? What a waste of those fangs! This was the super middleweight division, not the welterweight class where Pretty Boy Mayweather ruled. In this division, power speaks louder than finesse. Let that defensive, point-chasing style go to hell—this ring belongs to warriors!
After all the back-and-forth, the match had finally returned to its raw, primal roots—where strength and courage decided the outcome. The audience erupted in excitement, the mix of cheers, shouts, curses, and roars blending into that uniquely electric boxing atmosphere...
"Come on! Smash him with a power shot—make him taste your iron fist! Hook to the ribs! Yeah! Nice one—damn, he's still standing?"
"Let's go! Damn it, Carl keeps using that shoulder to block—what a cheap move! Fight him head-on if you've got guts—let's see whose bones are harder!"
...
That's the thing about boxing—casual fans love the spectacle, experts study the craft. But everyone was on fire tonight. The explosive exchanges, the echoing thud of fists against flesh, sent adrenaline surging through the arena. The crowd clenched their fists as if they themselves were trading blows in the ring.
On the stage, the intensity had reached its peak. Jason Luo had targeted Carl's head from the start—if he could land a few more heavy shots on that already bruised forehead, it might force the referee to stop the fight.
But this round, Carl flipped the script. He went on the offensive, turning defense into attack. Every time Jason aimed at his head, Carl threw heavy counters, forcing Jason to back off. His Shoulder-Roll defense also frustrated Jason endlessly—straight punches couldn't get through, leaving only hooks and angled attacks as options.
Looks like it's time to use that move again!
Jason ducked low, closing the distance. His rising uppercut missed—but as before, he feinted and swung another crushing downward overhand punch.
But Carl had been waiting for this exact move. The moment Jason committed, Carl's lips curled into a knowing smirk. He slipped past the hook, took a half-step sideways, and with a fierce shout—"Hah!"—unleashed a devastating left straight right into Jason Luo's face!
That punch had been loaded with power, and it landed with surgical precision—steady, sharp, and merciless.
It smashed into Jason's nose and lips. Because Carl was slightly shorter, the full force concentrated on his mouth. Even through the mouthguard, the impact tore his lower lip wide open.
Jason reeled as if struck by lightning, stumbling back two steps. His nose burned, his lips went numb, and the salty tang of blood filled his mouth—he was bleeding!
But Carl didn't let up. Seeing his chance, he charged like a tiger unleashed, unleashing a furious barrage with both fists!
Jason raised his guard and backed away quickly, but Carl pursued relentlessly, step after step, blow after blow!
Jason was in real danger. The fans in the stands all jumped to their feet—some shouting "Hang on!" others yelling "Fight back!"—the arena erupted into chaos.
Coach Brown rushed to the edge of the ring, shouting, "Don't panic! Stay steady—!"
But Jason, having lost the initiative, couldn't even lift his head under Carl's savage onslaught. He kept his guard high, barely holding on. Seeing that Jason's head was tightly covered, Carl shifted his target—hammering hooks into his midsection. One punch landed flush against Jason's ribs, sending a brutal shock straight into his liver!
Agonizing pain exploded inside him—those who've never felt it could never imagine such agony.
(A friendly reminder to readers: Don't ever try this! You'll regret it for life. And don't pull this on your friends either—they'll hate you forever!)
The pain was unbearable. Jason dropped to one knee, clutching his stomach, his face pale as his eyes rolled back.
That was the power of the Liver Punch! No matter how tough you are, your internal organs can't take that kind of blow. No one could endure it!
Seeing him down, the referee immediately pulled Carl away, signaling the first knockdown. He crouched beside Jason and began the count.
"If the pain's too much, you can stop now! Counting—ONE… TWO…"
The entire arena went silent. Very few fighters ever recover from a clean liver shot—it wrecks your stamina and lingers for the rest of the match. Could Jason survive this?
...
Ding!
System detection: conditions met. Talent [Victory in Adversity] automatically activated.
Special notice: For the next eight minutes, if you are knocked down again, the system will deduct two Life Points per recovery until the duration ends or vitality is depleted. Proceed with caution!
As the Victory in Adversity talent activated, Jason's entire body surged with power. All stats increased by 18%, his stamina instantly restored to full capacity. Though the pain didn't completely disappear, it dulled just enough for him to breathe again.
Clenching his teeth, Jason forced himself to his feet, signaling to the referee that he could continue. But his face was still twisted in pain. The crowd held their breath—Carl was bound to attack again.
The referee hesitated, clearly worried, but rules were rules. Jason was standing, so the match had to continue.
At the signal, the fight resumed. Carl, sensing victory within reach, charged forward without hesitation.
No more holding back!
Jason instantly triggered his advanced offensive title—Life or Death Charge!
Strength +5, Punch Speed +3, Explosiveness +5, Recovery +3.
The system blocked pain signal transmission. The burning pain in his abdomen vanished, replaced by a primal surge of bloodlust.
Expression cold and focused, Jason swallowed the blood in his mouth, clenched his fists, and locked eyes on Carl.
As Carl closed in, Jason let out a fierce roar—his fist streaked forward like a meteor, cutting straight through the air. Facing Carl's attack, he didn't dodge or defend. Instead, his rear-hand straight shot forward like a steel spear—unyielding, unstoppable, lethal!
Momentum!
It couldn't be seen or touched, but Carl could feel it—something in that punch was deadly. It looked like a simple straight, but the glare in Jason's eyes gleamed like blades. Instinctively, Carl's hair stood on end—every cell screaming danger!
A true fighter must trust his sixth sense without question. Carl instantly aborted his charge, pulling back, shoulders tight as he switched to defense. But even then—this punch carried far more force than he'd ever imagined…
...
(40 Chapters Ahead)
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