“Let the match begin!” Announced the Overseer.

  “Ahh I didn't sign up for this!” The Player exclaimed.

 The Grandmaster smiled and got into a fighting stance, left leg back, right leg front, left hand placed near the ribs, while his right hand remained raised, ready to counter. His piercing gaze locked onto The Player, daring him to attack.

 “You want to become strong? Then prove to me that you have what it takes” The Grandmaster challenged.

 The Player hesitated, doubting himself. Glancing at his gauntlet–covered fists, a flame of hope ignited.

No, I can't back down now after all the time and effort I spent climbing this mountain! I despise being called weak. I despise feeling like a burden to my family. I despise not being strong enough to protect my loved ones. This is my time to shine. I am going to be strong!

No matter what! I WILL BE STRONG!

 The Player charged towards The Grandmaster and pulled his right fist back, trying to give what seemed like a punch. The Grandmaster pivoted, chambered his right leg back, and gave a whip-like kick straight into his abdomen. 

 Boom! 

 The Player was sent hurling towards the ground just before the rope at the end of the arena. He looked at The Grandmaster who was standing menacingly, radiating a powerful aura, which made him doubt his ability to win.

 A metallic taste filled his mouth, coughing out crimson red blood. The Player trembled as he used his hands to support himself up. The kick was a powerful one. 

 How the hell is this old coot this strong?

 Pushing past the searing pain, The Player forced himself forward, lunging at The Grandmaster, desperate to get his hands on The Grandmaster’s torso. With a swift and effortless motion, The Grandmaster leaped back, easily evading the attack. 

 Gritting his teeth, The Player adjusted his approach. If he couldn’t grab The Grandmaster’s torso, then his best bet was The Grandmaster’s right leg. Again, The Player lunged towards The Grandmaster’s right leg— 

 Pain erupted in his abdomen, sharp and relentless, like a thousand daggers stabbing into his core. Betrayed by his body, he froze mid-attack

 Thud. 

 The Player fell to his knees.

 A deafening silence fell over the crowd. The Grandmaster’s eyes narrowed slightly – he hadn’t expected The Player to get that close.

The Overseer’s voice rang out, laced with concern, “are you alright, young man? Are you able to continue the match?”

 The Player barely heard him. He was too focused–consumed by the fight. The Grandmaster turned towards the Overseer, who gave a hesitant nod, signaling the continuation of the match.  Before the Overseer could declare the continuation of the match, The Player blitzed towards The Grandmaster faster than before. 

 Everyone in the room held their breath, stunned

  How did he get faster?

 The Player shot his right fist towards The Grandmaster in the face.
Reacting instantly, The Grandmaster tilted his head, leaned forward, and struck The Player’s right shoulder with a precise palm strike. The force generated by the strike should’ve sent The Player sprawling.

But he didn’t.

 Instead, The Player twisted, his left hand reaching for The Grandmaster’s robes, his grip inches away—

 The Grandmaster’s eyes flared with both shock and frustration as he dodged back. His voice thundered through the dojo.“YOUNG MAN , DO YOU HAVE A DEATH WISH?! Your abdomen has been contused, your right shoulder has become dislocated and yet you're still trying to fight?” His words filled with anger, and a flicker of concern.

 The Player, shaking from the pain in his shoulder and abdominal injury, stood in the arena’s middle, smirking, “The one who is crazy is you, old man, why did you pause, scared that you might kill me? Don’t worry, I’ve already lost everything that mattered to me. I’M NOT FORFEITING NO MATTER WHAT!”

 The whole room fell deathly silent. People’s attention glued to the 2 people at the arena, The Player shook in pain while The Grandmaster stared at him with anger as he berated “Don’t be overconfident young man, not everyone can push past their limits. Some walls can’t be broken.”

 The Player interjected, “Overconfidence? No. It’s determination, old man. Let me show you what it is.” 

 The atmosphere changed.

The Grandmaster’s sharp eyes flickered for a brief moment. What kind of pain has this boy endured to make him fight like this?

 The Player dashed before The Grandmaster, crouched down, and threw a heavy right uppercut to The Grandmaster. The faster Grandmaster reflected it with his left palm and went for a right acupuncture strike to his right shoulder.

 The Player balled up left fist right and struck before The Grandmaster could use his acupuncture strike. Despite that, The Grandmaster dodged it with a forward lean. Consequently, interrupting his acupuncture strike. Taking the opportunity of the forward lean’s momentum, The Grandmaster dashed towards him, reaching his back and tried to use an acupunctural technique with both hands.

The Player, predicting this, crouched down to the ground, both palms touching the ground, elevating his lower body, and shot out his legs, giving a double front kick aimed at The Grandmaster’s abdomen. Again, being faster, The Grandmaster grabbed his legs before the kick could connect and threw him to the side.

The Player tried to get up from the ground but he was in agonizing pain. His contused abdomen and dislocated right shoulder being the main causes.

 The Grandmaster stood before him questioning, “Why do you still want to continue the fight? You know you won't win against me.”

The Player, enduring the pain, spoke, “I told you I want to become strong, to protect what I love. But old man...didn’t you say you’d go easy on me? Looks like you got carried away.” Smirking as he finished that last sentence.

 The Grandmaster stood there motionless, at a loss for words.

His thoughts drifted back to the fight, to the moment he had stopped seeing The Player as a mere beginner. Somewhere along the way, his instincts had kicked in, treating the boy as a true opponent rather than a novice.

Losing consciousness due to pain, The Player laid knocked out in the middle of the arena.

The Overseer raised his hand and declared, “THE BATTLE IS OVER! THE VICTOR—GRANDMASTER YOOJIN!”

The crowd erupted into murmurs, their awe evident in their hushed voices.

"Is he really a newbie?"

"How did that scrawny kid go toe-to-toe with The Grandmaster?"

"And that sudden burst of strength—what the hell was that?"

But there was an explanation.

Adrenaline rush.

A desperate human, cornered with no escape, could unlock a hidden reservoir of strength. A weak man, trembling with exhaustion, could suddenly push past his limits in a fight-or-flight moment. It was rare, unpredictable—but it was real.

And in battle, a man under the effects of an adrenaline surge… was dangerous.

The Grandmaster crossed his arms, staring down at The Player. I wanted to teach him the dangers of pursuing strength, of facing enemies beyond his reach… His gaze softened slightly. But instead, something in him awakened.

His voice rang out, firm but with a trace of urgency, “Eir, take him to the medical room.” 

Author = Ryujin (@gol_d_ryujin) 

Editor/Proofreader= Tricky (@tiky_tricky)  

Art = Sara

Instagram = ryujin._.200