Chapter 149 - Clashing Potential

Hamadeen weaved through the air, charging forward as Kuro unleashed several quick punches. His fists moved like blurs, but Hamadeen avoided each one. Kuro stepped back as Hamadeen's fist stopped just short of his face.

Hamadeen: Got you.

Kuro: You did fucking not!

Hamadeen: Say what you want, but you backed down.

Kuro: Fuck you!

Kuro brought down a hammer fist only for Hamadeen to entirely avoid the strike. He hopped back, moving light on his feet.

Hamadeen: But thank you for sparring with me all this time, bro. I feel so much more motivated for this fight.

Hamadeen clenched his fist, his eyes staring intently at the bandages that wrapped around them. Kuro snickered, placing his arms behind his head.

Kuro: I only helped you because I want you to beat up that fast fucker. If my grandpa thinks that bitch can beat me, I'll make sure you can beat him.

Hamadeen: You really have something against this guy, don't you? You sound pretty jealous.

Kuro: Of course not! I ain't a sad bitch that needs to be validated!

Hamadeen: You sure don't sound so sure of that yourself.

Hamadeen let out a small laugh with Kuro crossing his arms, facing away from him. Hamadeen calmed down, turning to the hallway that would bring him to the entrance of the ring.

Hamadeen: I hope I can live up to your expectations.

Kuro: You better! I didn't become friends with a weakling, did I?

Hamadeen: I refuse to be weak, I'll show you that much.

Hamadeen walked away from Kuro, both fighters wearing smiles on their faces. Hamadeen took off the shirt he wore, revealing the bandages wrapped around his body.

Hamadeen: Simon sure left a scar, but I won't let this scare me off.

The lights in the ring began to dim as Zachary took center stage. The cheers of the audience started as a low rumble before erupting as spotlights focused on the shade-wearing announcer.

Zachary: LADIES AND GENTLEMEN! AFTER THE INTENSE MATCH THAT WAS REMY VS CERO, WE BRING YET ANOTHER INTENSE MATCH! THESE FIGHTERS HAVE SHOWN THAT WHEN IT COMES TO SKILL, THEY ARE AMONG THE BEST! THE FIRST TO ENTER THE RING SHOWED US JUST HOW FAR BOXING HAS COME! HIS MATCH AGAINST THE KARATE MASTER SIMON LEFT MANY SPEECHLESS! WILL HE CONTINUE TO LEAVE US BEWILDERED BY HIS ADVANCEMENT?! HERE COMES "THE CHUPACABRA" HAMADEEN HAMEEEEEEEED!

The boxer entered the ring with cheers surrounding him. He waved his arms around, welcoming in the sounds of the people. The sounds of the people's cheers reminded him of the excitement in a boxing ring. The sensation could do nothing but bring a warmth to his heart. He stopped before Zachary, giving the man a nod. Zachary smiled back with his sharp teeth. He turned around, pointing at the opposing entrance. The moment he did so, Hamadeen could feel the air around him change.

Zachary: AND HIS OPPONENT BROUGHT AN UNBELIEVABLE AMOUNT OF SHOCK TO ALL THOSE AROUND HIM! IN A BATTLE OF THE SPEEDSTERS, HE SHOWED WHY HE STANDS ALONE AT THE TOP! DESPITE HAVING A SWORD AT HIS HIP, HE HASN'T USED IT ONCE! WHAT TRICKS DOES THIS FIGHTER HAVE UP HIS SLEEVE?! PERHAPS HE'LL SHOW IT TO US TODAY! HERE COMES "THE RED REAPER" JASON BELLLTHOOOOOORRRNEEE!!

Hamadeen immediately noticed all the cheers towards him change, focusing entirely on his opponent. The spotlight focused on Jason walking towards them, his entire body hidden behind all that red armor and clothes. His opponent's face was never seen before in these matches, which sent a slight shiver down Hamadeen's back. Jason didn't pay a single mind to the audience cheering his name over and over, walking directly to Hamadeen and Zachary.

Jason: Yo.

Zachary: From how your last match went, I doubt you had many injuries to sleep off!

Jason: Basically. I hope you show me a good match, Hamadeen.

Hamadeen: Yeah…

Hamadeen stared into the Red Reaper's yellow slits for eyes. He could tell from each of his words, the man was hardly worried or excited. The way he spoke was as if someone went out to hang out with friends.

Hamadeen's thoughts: No other fighter, not even Daymond and Cero, acted like this. He's… different. What does he think of me?

The lights turned back in the ring, and Zachary stepped away from the fighters. Hamadeen and Jason simply stared at one another as the referee began to approach them. Both fighters turned their back to the other, taking several steps forward with the space between them widening. The referee watched both fighters closely. Standing at both their entrances was a friend of theirs. Kuro had come back to Hamadeen's entrance with his arms crossed. At Jason's entrance was…

Lorisian: SQUIIIIREEE!!

Lorisian's scream caught everyone's attention as the knight stood at Jason's entrance proudly. Jason shook his head, trying his best to block out the knight.

Jason's thoughts: I had a feeling it was getting a bit too quiet.

Hamadeen, however, didn't turn to face the knight. Instead, his attention had focused on the audience around them. Not once since Jason's entrance had any gone back to cheer for him. Every person in that stadium seemingly had their eyes on Jason. Even the words of Kuro and the others implied that they were all focused on Jason's performance.

Hamadeen's thoughts: So he's really the favorite to win this match… I'll need to get over that hurdle.

Both fighters turned back around, facing the other down. Jason's hands showed no sign of reaching for his sword. His stance was entirely relaxed.

Referee: FIGHTERS! TAKE YOUR STANCES!

Hamadeen took a low-hand guard, jumping on his feet. His body felt light despite all the extra bandages attached to him. Jason stood normally, his stance revealing his nonchalance. Hamadeen furrowed his eyebrows, his focus entirely on his opponent. Lorisian and Kuro both watched the match closely, as well as fighters from all around the ring. Moll and Midori sat in the infirmary, waiting for the match to begin.

Midori: Your friend is about to face my student. I do apologize that one of my own will be the one to take down your ally.

Moll: Jason is strong, I'll give you that. When it comes to potential, both of these fighters are nearly matched, but Jason has definitely taken more of the initiative to expand on that potential.

Midori: So you acknowledge that he will lose.

Moll: It's hard to deny the facts, but Hamadeen isn't without his saving graces. Don't forget that when it comes to strength, Hamadeen outclasses Jason.

Midori: There's more to a match than just pure strength.

Moll: Of course, but if Hamadeen can use his strength, he can win this.

Midori: You have a lot of faith in this man.

Moll: He's the super welterweight champion for a reason. He won't take this fight sitting down.

The referee raised his arm in the air, the tension getting higher in the stadium. Hamadeen's gaze was locked entirely on Jason. Alexia walked back to her seat, noticing Tolman was already there. Her eyes opened wide as she noticed the man that now sat in her seat. Tolman's eyes were locked on the man that had made himself comfortable: Gerald Azufield.

Gerald: Ah, dearest cousin. I see you've finally returned. I was afraid I'd be stuck with the old man this entire time.

Alexia: W-What are you doing here?!

Gerald: I'm just interested in seeing your reaction once Jason gets beat around.

Tolman: How dare you! Are you suggesting that Jason is going to lose here?

Gerald: We'll just have to see.

Gerald took out a stack of dollars from his coat pocket, handing it to the person next to him.

Gerald: I'll pay you one thousand for that seat. Find somewhere else to make yourself comfortable.

The man took the money and walked away, Alexia's eyebrow twitching. Gerald moved to the now open seat, placing a hand on Alexia's shoulder as he walked by her.

Gerald: Let's see what your fiance does in his matches now.

Alexia gritted her teeth as she sat next to her father. They stared down at the match, both of them having light sweat building on their foreheads. They watched Jason stand there casually, facing his opponent. The referee swung his arm down at full force, cleaving through the tension in the room.

Referee: BEGIIIIIIIIN!!!

Hamadeen immediately charged forward, his defense as tight as possible. His pupils dilated, turning smaller as his mouth opened in pain. Jason walked behind him, holding a fist at his side. Hamadeen stumbled, breathing heavily from the speed of the attack.

Zachary: U-Unbelievable! Jason managed to land the first strike of the match before any of us could notice it!

Zenzo: Let's play it back on the monitor.

A monitor in the stadium went back to a slow-motion replay of the first attack. It was slowed down an amount that seemed unnecessary for a human attack, but even that was just barely enough to capture Jason's first attack. The man clad in red ran towards his opponent, throwing an uppercut to Hamadeen's gut and past his guard. Hamadeen ignored the replay, turning back to Jason.

Jason's thoughts: I was hoping to end this match in the first strike, but his defense was too tight for me to be able to strike anywhere but outside of it. I guess he isn't a boxing champ for nothing.

Lorisian: Exquisite display, squire!

Kuro: Keep your head in the game, fucker!

Hamadeen's eyes stayed determined, focusing on Jason. His fists clenched tighter, refusing to bring down his guard. The boxer charged forward once more, only for Jason to move like a blur. Hamadeen's entire body tightened up, sliding back as Jason's fist was fully extended.

Jason's thoughts: He prepared his entire body that quickly? He really did train for this fight.

Hamadeen's guard remained up, his eyes burning with passion. Alexia and Tolman turned to Gerald, who let out an impressed whistle.

Gerald: He really took his training seriously. That'll make this show a lot more interesting.

Alexia's thoughts: Gerald… Just what did you plan?

Jason felt an intense pressure from Hamadeen, who moved forward slowly.

Jason's thoughts: This guy is getting really serious, huh?