In this round, Lucian seemed to have figured out the bald man’s style. When the bald man launched an attack, Lucian took a step back, narrowly avoiding the strike. Seizing the opportunity, Lucian threw a powerful right hook aimed at the bald man’s abdomen. The bald man stumbled back but wasn’t quick enough to dodge the blow entirely.
The match was thrilling, with both fighters exchanging blows. However, as the fight progressed, the bald man’s superior stamina began to show. Lucian, exhausted, couldn’t hold on much longer. With a final punch, the bald man knocked Lucian to the ground. It was clear Lucian had given his all, but he simply couldn’t match his opponent’s strength. The outcome was inevitable.
When the match ended, the members of the Iron Fist Club erupted in cheers. Their excitement was palpable. After all, Lucian was one of the Eagle Club’s top fighters, yet the bald man had defeated him with seeming ease. It was a shocking result.
Next, it was Kael’s turn to step into the ring. My heart started to race, my breathing slowed, and I felt a wave of tension. I watched as Kael removed his black robe and made his way to the platform. On the other side, Briar stood up and approached the ring. Their entrance was met with an unprecedented wave of screams from the crowd.
I had never heard such deafening cheers before; it felt like my eardrums might burst. Was Briar some kind of heartthrob? Why were so many girls going wild for him? But then again, his looks were undeniably striking. He was even more handsome in person than in photos. His features were sharp, and his demeanor carried a blend of gentleness and intensity.
If Kael resembled a wolf, Briar exuded the aura of an eagle. When not in action, he seemed calm and unassuming, but once he locked onto his target, he struck with precision and power. I couldn’t explain why I felt this way, but the closer he got to the ring, the stronger this impression became.
When Briar and Kael finally stood face to face, I was struck by how evenly matched their presence seemed. It was clear now why others had been worried. In the past, Kael’s aura had always dominated the ring, but this time was different.
The match began quickly. As soon as the referee signaled the start of the first round, Briar moved forward with the agility of a leopard, his fists clenched and his focus razor-sharp. His left jab shot out like lightning, aimed straight at Kael’s face. Kael reacted swiftly, tilting his head just enough to avoid the blow.
Kael didn’t rush to counterattack. Instead, he stepped back, carefully observing Briar’s rhythm. This was typical of Kael-he always took the first round to study his opponent, only striking when he had a clear understanding of their patterns. For most of the first round, Kael focused on defense, throwing occasional jabs to test Briar. Each time Briar dodged, Kael retreated, avoiding prolonged engagement.
By the end of the first round, Briar emerged as the clear winner.
In the second round, Kael became more aggressive. As the referee signaled the start, Kael launched a right straight punch aimed at Briar’s chest. Briar stepped back, but Kael pressed forward, delivering a series of jabs that forced Briar to retreat. Still, Briar wasn’t one to back down. He countered with a powerful left hook aimed at Kael’s jaw. Kael ducked just in time and retaliated with an uppercut to Briar’s stomach.
Briar grunted, clutching his abdomen as he took a few steps back. From there, the two fighters exchanged blows with equal ferocity. Their movements were almost artistic, a perfect balance of attack and defense. This round ended with Kael as the victor.
When Kael won, Vivienne jumped up in excitement, cheering loudly. But then Kael turned and looked in my direction. In that moment, my heart seemed to stop. Time slowed, and everything around me faded into the background.
In the following rounds, Kael’s attacks grew even more intense. The sound of fists hitting gloves was heavy and rhythmic. A right hook landed on Briar’s cheek, snapping his head to the side. Briar quickly countered with a left hook that struck Kael’s ribs. Kael bent over momentarily but straightened up almost immediately.
Taking advantage of Briar’s brief hesitation, Kael delivered a powerful hook to Briar’s head. The impact was so strong that Briar collapsed to the ground, unable to get back up. The referee began the count, but Briar remained down. Kael had won the match.
The fight had been spectacular, but Kael didn’t look unscathed. He was drenched in sweat, with cuts and bruises on his face and body. This had clearly been one of his toughest matches yet.
As for me, my initial tension had given way to relief. At least Kael had secured the victory, no small feat. Yet, I couldn’t help but worry. Kael had just faced Briar, a newcomer to the boxing club who had only been training for less than a month. If Briar continued to improve, would he eventually surpass Kael? Would Kael’s undefeated streak come to an end?
Though Kael was a werewolf, he couldn’t use any of his supernatural abilities during the match. As I pondered this, Vivienne rushed to Kael, attempting to embrace him. But Kael instinctively pushed her away. Vivienne shot me a glare, as if blaming me for Kael’s rejection. I rolled my eyes. Did she really have to make everything about me?
Kael’s gaze met mine, and for a brief moment, I saw a flash of golden light in his eyes. It was strange. Amid the crowd’s jubilant cheers and disappointed sighs, no one else seemed to notice the unusual glint in Kael’s eyes. Only I saw it.
The day’s matches concluded with the Eagle Club emerging victorious. But just as the awards ceremony was about to begin, the coach from the Iron Fist Club spoke up. “I suspect he has been using stimulants. His stamina exceeds that of a normal human. We request an investigation into his physical condition.”
The crowd fell silent, and I froze. Had Kael’s extraordinary abilities finally raised suspicions? If they investigated, would they uncover his secret?