Barely into the sixth round, Carl was already knocked down. Though not seriously hurt, the air inside the arena turned electric—everyone could sense the tension thickening. Excitement surged through the crowd. This round was bound to be a slugfest, and it might just mark the turning point of the entire match!
After Carl got up, the referee—fully aware that he wasn't badly injured—still performed a symbolic count, using it to slow the pace and give the fallen fighter a moment to recover.
Once the brief check was done, the fight resumed.
At the sound of the bell, the fired-up Jason Luo stepped in with a Pendulum Advance, weaving as he charged forward, fists clenched tight, eyes locked on Carl, ready to decide the match with one decisive punch!
But Carl's reaction took everyone by surprise. Keeping his gaze fixed on Jason Luo, he suddenly began stepping backward at high speed, retreating rapidly as if unwilling to take Jason's head-on assault. Was his confidence shaken by that earlier knockdown?
Jason Luo didn't buy it. In Carl's eyes, he still saw the same burning will to fight. So why retreat?
In high-speed exchanges, forward momentum was everything. When two fighters were evenly matched, one advancing while the other retreated was almost suicide. Even the boxing legends ringside were puzzled—what on earth was Carl planning?
Jason Luo didn't have time to figure it out mid-attack. Whatever—maybe Carl was trying to open distance for a counterattack. Hmph! Too bad for him—he'd have to survive this wave first!
Jason accelerated again, diving straight in. But just as he closed the gap, Carl—now only a step away from the ropes—suddenly made a shocking move.
As he retreated, he planted both feet firmly and leaned back into the ropes, using their rebound to launch himself forward like a spring-loaded missile—hurtling straight toward Jason Luo charging in from the opposite side!
What the—!?
He actually pulled off a rope rebound straight out of professional wrestling!
Jason Luo froze mid-charge, startled by the unexpected maneuver. That single moment of hesitation killed much of his momentum. Meanwhile, Carl, propelled forward by the rope's elasticity, rocketed straight toward him—firing a punch at Jason's face midair!
The shift happened in an instant!
Jason's instincts screamed danger. Seeing Carl's flying strike coming straight at him, he ducked fast, lowering his head to avoid the blow.
But that was exactly what Carl had planned. The airborne punch was a feint. The moment Jason ducked, Carl pulled his arm back, coiled his waist, and swung his rear hand in a wide, brutal arc—a massive Overhand Smash descending like a mountain crashing from above!
Jason, caught mid-duck, had no chance to evade again. Before tens of thousands of spectators, Carl's devastating heavy punch slammed straight into Jason Luo's skull—
"BAM!"
The impact echoed through the arena. Still crouched, Jason staggered backward as if struck by a meteor, stumbling wildly, his legs barely holding him up.
In an instant, the entire audience shot to their feet. Carl's fans erupted in an explosion of cheers.
"Insane! Absolutely insane! What a comeback! Carl truly lives up to his title—what a move!"
"Finish him! One punch decides it—he's done for! Go, Carl, finish this and claim the win!"
"Haha! Once he wins this, the 168-pound division will have a new king!"
...
It was, without a doubt, a brilliant play. Carl's rope-rebound counterpunch was a masterpiece—perfect timing, flawless psychology, and devastating execution. Jason Luo was in serious trouble now.
In Jason's corner, Coach Brown, Raul, and Pacquiao were pale with shock. That blow had been vicious. All they could do was pray Jason could weather the storm and hold out defensively.
Without giving him a moment to breathe, Carl followed up instantly. Closing in with rapid steps, he unleashed a brutal combination of heavy blows. Jason, still dazed and dizzy, could do nothing but cover up—arms tight around his ribs, gloves guarding his head—desperately holding on until his senses returned.
But Carl refused to let up. Smelling blood, he went all out like a lion on the hunt—massive swings, body hooks, uppercuts, looping punches. His strikes came in relentless succession, hammering Jason backward from the center of the ring to the ropes in a storm of pure violence. The scene turned savage, raw, and bloody.
The arena was a madhouse.
Carl's fans jumped to their feet, fists pumping.
"Harder! Harder! He can't take it—finish him!"
"Break through his guard! Crush him!"
...
Meanwhile, Jason Luo's supporters and his corner stood frozen, fists clenched tight, hearts pounding. All they could do was pray for a miracle—that Jason could somehow survive this barrage.
The referee stayed close to Carl's side, eyes locked on Jason Luo's condition. The moment Jason's guard cracked or he started taking consecutive heavy hits, the referee would stop the fight.
If Jason couldn't escape or mount any effective counter for too long, the referee also had the authority to declare him incapable of continuing.
Jason Luo was in grave danger now. Time was running out. That last punch had been brutal—its shock had rippled through his skull straight into his brain. It was a miracle he was even standing. His vision was doubled; he couldn't track Carl's movements at all. How could he possibly fight back?
But as the seconds ticked by, Jason's mind began to clear, even though his sight was still blurry. He knew one thing for certain—if he didn't counter soon, Carl would destroy him. Even a blind strike was better than nothing. He had to make Carl hesitate!
Trusting his instincts, Jason relied purely on the feel of impact through his arms. Judging from the recoil, Carl had just thrown another heavy punch. Jason swung back in Carl's general direction, launching a wild but desperate counter.
The sudden counterattack startled Carl completely—it was ferocious, instinctive, and fast. But Jason's aim was off by a few degrees. Carl slipped aside, narrowly avoiding the strike. He was about to move in for the finish—when disaster struck.
His evasive step had unintended consequences—it left the referee, positioned diagonally behind him, directly in harm's way.
The referee had been cautious, deliberately staying behind Carl to watch the exchange. But when Carl suddenly sidestepped, Jason's punch—previously obscured—came flying through. The referee had no time to react.
Jason's counter was still fierce, even though it had already begun to lose power. The straight punch hit low, slamming squarely into the referee's chest. Even so, the impact sent him sprawling flat on his back!
The crowd went silent in shock. Carl froze mid-step, unsure if he was even allowed to continue. Jason, dazed, blinked in confusion. His vision was still clearing, but he was certain—he'd aimed at Carl! How had the referee ended up on the floor?
A chill ran down Jason's spine. The shock was enough to jolt his senses—and, ironically, his vision snapped back into focus at that very moment...
...
(40 Chapters Ahead)
p@treon com / GhostParser