"Next up, please welcome Dongchuan Guang—the university's number one mysterious expert who just defeated the city's karate champion Luo Dongba... Diao!" the beautiful emcee shouted enthusiastically.
"University!? Diao?"
"Mysterious expert?"
"What the hell?"
The audience below froze in shock. Why was a college student mixed into this violent, brutal arena? The styles clashed completely!
"Go on up," Coldsmile patted my back.
"Mm." I climbed the ring steps and slipped through the ropes.
"Uh~" My foot snagged on a rope. Balance vanished—I tilted sideways and *thud*—crashed flat at the ring's edge.
Faceplant!
Dead silence swallowed the arena.
"Don't tense up," Coldsmile called from below, facepalming.
"Hahaha~" Yeping in the stands laughed heartily.
So embarrassing... I silently pushed up, acting like nothing happened. I walked to the center without blushing or flinching.
"Hey, he's just a kid!"
"How can he beat the Great White Shark? The size gap's insane!"
"And he faceplanted~"
After a quiet pause, the crowd erupted again.
"Mysterious expert Diao?" the referee asked me.
"...I am." I really didn't want to admit it—this name was too... Diao.
"Free fighting rules: no move limits. No eye-gouging. No groin strikes. Down for ten seconds or surrender loses. Clear?" the referee continued.
"Clear." Great White Shark Bing replied.
"Clear."
"Both clear? Fight!" The referee stepped back, leaving us alone.
Neither Great White Shark Bing nor I moved first.
Instead, we talked.
"Miss Yeping's man?" Great White Shark Bing suddenly asked.
"Sort of." Up close, he was terrifying—a born killer's face, muscles bulging everywhere.
"I know we're alike. I won't hold back. I'll win honor for Mr. Coldsmile," he glanced at Coldsmile below.
"I can't lose," I shook my head.
"That's not your choice..." He closed in, dropping into a fighting stance.
Huh. Not just a dumb brute after all.
"I'll let you throw the first punch," he said.
"Huh?!" Underestimating me?
I stepped forward and slammed a fist into his six-pack abs.
Like hitting a brick wall.
"Is this all you've got?" he laughed, unharmed.
"No way?" I gasped—70% power hadn't even dented him.
Great White Shark Bing swung a left hook at my face.
I felt the fist's wind! Off-the-charts power, but slow speed.
I twisted my head just in time. The wind brushed my nose—his huge fist flashed past.
I retreated fast, steadied myself, touched my nose. "Strong punch. Too slow."
Though I said that, his power was monstrous—only I barely dodged.
"..." Great White Shark Bing fell silent. Never met such a shameless guy. No more words—he charged.
No fancy moves. Just a straight punch.
I dropped low—his fist whiffed!
An opening! Chest wide open! I jumped, driving a knee strike upward.
My knee smashed his forehead!
"Huh!?" He stepped back, absorbing the hit. As I pulled away, I saw his fierce smile.
"I said no mercy."
His hands clamped my waist, lifting me high. Before I knew it, I straddled his neck.
"Batista Bomb!" he roared, slamming me down hard. From two meters up, accelerated into the mat!
No time to react—I crashed like a rollercoaster.
Back pain exploded. Darkness swallowed me.
"One! Two!" the referee counted.
The boy lay still.
"Three! Four!"
"Get up!" the crowd yelled.
"Five! Six!"
I snapped awake. Fire burned my back. My body felt shattered.
"Seven! Eight! He's up!"
I struggled upright, leaning on the ropes to breathe. Damn... I'd blacked out for a second.
"Continue!" the referee shouted, stepping aside.
"Oh~ You've got guts surviving that," Great White Shark Bing said, watching me.
"Huff... huff..." Still breathless, chest tight and queasy.
"Rest enough? Here I come!" He charged.
"Holy crap!"
A two-meter giant lunging—scared me stiff!
"Whoa~" Full impact! Pure muscle slammed me. The ropes cushioned it—just nausea, no pain—but I rebounded wildly.
He yanked my arm, then shoved me opposite. I crashed into the other ropes, rebounding harder this time.
This scene felt familiar...
"Gorilla Arm!" he bellowed, swinging his thick arm at my neck.
This move! I knew it—I raised both hands to guard.
*Smack!* I slammed into his arm.
I blocked the hit, but the rope's recoil plus neck-focused force knocked me off balance. I crashed down hard.
"Cough cough cough~" Neck struck—I choked. Head hit the mat. Pain and dizziness flooded my brain.
No time to recover. Great White Shark Bing leaped, knee aimed at my chest.
One hit, and I'd spit blood for sure.
Activate skill: Invincible Roll! I rolled blindly—just rolled!
*BANG!* A crash echoed from my last spot—the ring shook.
I'd rolled to the corner. Trapped.
"Bro Coldsmile!" I glanced down.
"Don't look! Attack coming!" Coldsmile yelled.
I snapped back. Great White Shark Bing's huge kick flew at me.
*Ding-dong!*
"Round one over!" the referee called—but the kick couldn't stop.
*BAM!* It slammed beside my head.
"Lucky break," he retracted his foot, grinning, then walked to his corner.
Cold sweat dripped down my forehead. I slumped weakly in my corner.
Coldsmile handed me water and a towel, placing a small stool for me.
"Not bad. Took Shark's Batista Bomb and Gorilla Arm and still standing. Impressive," Coldsmile remarked coolly.
"Cough cough~" I gulped water, gasping.
"Durability's solid. But zero fight sense. You'll just get crushed like that."
I wiped my mouth, then poured water over my head.
Mm... clearer now.
"Skip the lecture. How do I beat him?"
"Don't rush. One hit, and his attacks never stop—beats you till you choke. Felt that, right?" Coldsmile stayed icy, unfazed by my sharp tone.
"Mm." True—I'd been pummeled nonstop after the first strike.
"Shark's skills and strength are top-tier. Even I might not win normally—but I'd never lose. Know why?"
"Why?"
"Speed!" Coldsmile pressed on. "His moves are mostly throws and joint locks. Get caught, you lose. But his muscles cripple his speed. Strength means nothing if it misses. Dodge first. Then focus all attacks on one spot."
"...Got it."
"Good."
"...Sorry for snapping earlier." I muttered.
"No issue. Youth needs to vent. It's healthy. Now fight well." Coldsmile patted my back, face still stern.
"Watch me crush this slow shark," I growled back.
