"Hey, that college student actually survived the first round."

"Took a Batista Bomb and is still bouncing around?"

"He’s got some skills."

The first round ended, and the spectators below buzzed with wild chatter.

*Ding-dong~*

"Round two begins. Fighters, to the ring!" The referee waved us forward.

"Do your best," Coldsmile said, face icy.

"Don’t worry." I climbed onto the ring. Coldsmile seemed cold and expressionless—a gang boss—but he wasn’t half bad.

"Begin!" the referee shouted once we stood ready.

But as usual, we chatted first.

"Mr. Coldsmile favors you," Great White Shark Bing said.

"I guess so."

"With your strength, you’re qualified for the Shadowless Abode?"

"Why not?" I asked, puzzled.

"Only two Beast Kin in the Southern District joined it: Number Ten, Mr. Coldsmile, and Number Five... that woman..." Bing’s voice trailed off, deflated.

"Wuxiaowu?" I asked.

"Ugh! Don’t say her name!" Bing shouted.

I clearly saw him shudder at Wuxiaowu’s name. That woman had dark history with all of them.

I could imagine it. The day she tortured me haunted my mind, a deep shadow.

"Enough talk!" Bing roared, lunging instantly.

*Speed! Must dodge 100%!*

I saw it—I dodged! I evaded! Facing his bear hug, I crouched and stepped back, keeping distance.

"Huh? Not charging to hit me?" Bing sneered at me, dodging but not countering.

*...* A taunt? I wouldn’t fall for it.

"If you won’t attack, I will." He lunged with a chokehold for my neck.

If he grabbed me, I’d be beaten from start to finish.

No choice—emergency roll!

"Rolling again?" Bing saw through it. "Same move twice?" He retracted his hand, swinging a massive kick instead!

It slammed into my stomach, launching me across the ring. I crashed into the ropes, bounced back, and hit the canvas hard.

"Ugh~ cough cough~" I groaned, clutching my gut and rolling. Damn, that bastard Great White Shark was sharp!

"Don’t get up. Save yourself the pain," Bing said, not pressing yet. He walked slowly toward me.

"One! Two!"

"Get up!"

"Stand up!"

"Three! Four!"

"Kid, hang in there!"

The crowd cheered for me now!

"Five! Six!"

"Hold on, kid!"

"Come on! Get up!"

Their cheers fired me up. I gritted through the searing pain and struggled to my feet.

"Good endurance. But it ends now!" Bing accelerated instantly.

Left foot planted, right foot pushed off—his massive body twisted. A textbook hook smashed into my face.

Just standing, I flew back to the ropes. This time, I hooked my arm around them, hanging on.

Sharp pain flared on my right cheek and eye. Red flooded my vision—I was bleeding. That punch was brutal. Dizziness hit; my limbs felt weak.

"Still struggling? Truly tenacious."

Bing wouldn’t let up. He charged like a drawn sword, ready to slam me out of the ring!

"Huh? This aura’s wrong!" Coldsmile gasped from the sidelines.

Ordinary people felt nothing, but as a Beast Kin, Bing sensed it too—more intensely!

It came from the boy barely standing on the ropes.

Killing intent only Beast Kin could feel—the same aura they’d sensed before Number Five, the killer!

Superior species pressure! Top predator dominance!

Bing halted his charge, retreating steps. He stared warily—but the aura vanished instantly.

"Gone? What was that?" Only the weak-looking boy remained.

After retreating, he slowly approached again.

The boy lifted his head. Blood covered his right face; his left eye had turned into a yellow beast pupil...

"Serpent pupil!" Bing gasped.

"Serpent pupil..." Coldsmile muttered, then turned toward the spectator seats.

Serpent pupil... like that woman’s brother, the legendary Beast Kin.

"Heh~ I blacked out again..." I shook my head clear and roared at Bing, "Come on, let’s go!"

I felt incredibly pumped! My body was cold—I needed heat.

"Seeking death?" Bing sneered, charging with his powerful build.

I didn’t dodge. I rebounded off the ropes, launching like a cannonball at him!

My shoulder slammed into Bing center-ring! Two vastly different bodies collided head-on!

We flew apart instantly!

"What?" Bing stumbled back, shocked. He pushed me back? How did his strength surge?

Before he could think, the one-eyed boy charged to fight.

The battle raged on.

Coldsmile sat beside Yeping in the stands.

"Young mistress."

"Hmm?"

"Didn’t you say Xiaobai was modified by Wuxiaowu?" Coldsmile asked.

"Correct. His mutation point matches Xiaowu’s—spider legs... but the process is unclear," Yeping replied, touching her face.

"His bloodline isn’t just Wuxiaowu’s... he had a serpent’s eye just now," Coldsmile said.

"Huh? Xiaowu’s eyes are blue-patterned white pupils," Yeping said, surprised.

"Yellow serpent pupil. I know one person..." Coldsmile’s voice turned grave.

"Who?"

"Number Four, the Undying Great Serpent—Wuxiaowu’s brother."

"Huh? The Number Four Beast Kin who died in the lab?"

"I don’t know if he’s dead. An Esper struck him with heavenly lightning; he fell into a river and vanished. If he lives, chaos follows. The kid’s healing and toughness must be partly his influence," Coldsmile explained.

"They’re siblings. Mixing blood isn’t odd~ Stronger kid is better~" Yeping laughed.

"I hope so." Coldsmile stood and walked toward the ring.

As they chatted, the arena clash continued.

"What the hell is happening?" Bing shouted.

No answer. The boy traded punches, growing more frenzied!

Knocked down, he rose instantly. More injuries, more fire.

"Shark, come on! Scared?" I roared.

I punched his left eye. He winced, kicking my chest hard. I flew back, twisted mid-air, and landed steady.

"What’s wrong? Weak?" I shouted, standing.

"Kid, don’t get cocky! Take this!"

"Why fear you now!" I taunted.

Fist against fist, blow for blow! Pain ignited my blood; agony fueled my fight!

A punch smashed Bing’s face, dazing him!

"Aah!" I leaped, climbed his body, and unleashed wild punches! Left hook! Jab! Right hook! Left hook! Flurries rained on his face!

"Die die die die die!" I was frenzied—just hitting!

"Get off!" His face stinging, Bing shook wildly, grabbed me, and hurled me down!

*Thud!* I hit hard. Back pain fired my spirit. I rolled up and charged again!

"What?!" Bing was shocked. This nobody Beast Kin had taken over ten full-power punches! No transformation on either side—he shouldn’t last this long!

Unkillable, growing stronger! Fear gripped him, recalling that immortal man!

"Double Wind to the Ears!" Tai Chi’s fourteenth form. I leaped like in movies, slamming both palms at Bing’s ears!

Hit! Then fists smashed his temples. His eyes bloodshot, unfocused—briefly dazed.

He’s out! I won!

Just as I cheered, massive pain exploded in my jaw. Force launched me three meters high!

Uppercut...

*Thud!* Dazed Bing collapsed to his knees.

*Crash!* The boy slammed onto the ring floor.

Both fighters fell simultaneously!