CHAPTER 20

Chris slowly walked back to the arena. He had already passed the energy detector and nothing happened.

Sir Connor made a phone call before he left and the man in charge agreed to tweak the machine, so it would read the former energy level again.

Sir Connor was indeed the king of Apex Grove. Nobody would dare to go against his order, especially in his own territory.

Chris entered the arena with a poker expression, but he couldn't contain his emotion when he faced Tate.

A little smile creeped to his face and slowly the smile became a big one.

Tate was surprised by Chris' awkwardness, but he didn't give it any thoughts. Perhaps Chris must've received some tutoring from Mr Bushman and Sir Connor.

'Well, those lunatic can teach the brat all they know but at the end of the day, they wouldn't be the ones fighting me.'

Tate took his stance seeing the second round was a few seconds away. His lips formed a half smile.

'The dummy would be the one fighting and he knows nothing about martial arts. I bet he would do the same moves again, but even at that, Mr Bushman and Sir Connor know nothing about me.

They don't know how strong I have become for the past few days!'

Tate squeezed his fist hard.

'I will show them by knocking this so-called champion to the ground in the first ten seconds!'

BEEF!

The large stopwatch sounded loudly, indicating that the second round had begun.

Tate was about to move his legs when Chris suddenly appeared in front of him.

"Where do you think you are going, little cat!"

Tate's eyes burst open in shock seeing Chris was already standing close to him.

'How did he move this fast!'

Tate thought as his eyes remained widely opened in shock.

"Did you actually think you are faster than me?"

Chris covered the distance between them in the next second.

He placed his hands on Tate's shoulder and sounded quietly while looking ahead.

"Have you forgotten who I am and who you are? Maybe I should remind you again."

Chris faced Tate and whispered.

"I am the champion, and you are the loser. Get that into your skull. You can NEVER DEFEAT SOMEBODY LIKE ME!"

With those few words, Chris grips Tate hardly on his shoulder, before Tate could even comprehend the motion, Chris forcefully bend his upper body downwards, and then he sent his knees to Tate's chest.

BANG!

The impact caused Tate to cough out blood.

[Host has lost 20HP]

[Host current health; 58]

Tate's eyes widened in shock seeing the damage he just received. Chris' attacks were more powerful than before. This wasn't supposed to be so, he was sure Chris wasn't this powerful with the AZ grade one uniform on.

What the hell is going on here.

Chris let go of Tate, and Tate staggered backwards trying to give Chris some distance, however his vision was immediately covered by a flashy kick from Chris.

BANG!

The kick sent Tate to the wall.

[Host has lost 15HP]

Tate back slapped the wall and the system message followed.

[Host has lost 8HP]

[current Health status; 35]

Tate was panting heavily now, his sight was blurry and his whole body felt like a heavy weight to him.

His legs were shaking, looking like he would be falling soon, and his hands were like heavy rods that he couldn't lift up. 

Tate looked forward but all he saw was his heart pounding heavily, and all he could hear was his heart racing like a sports car.

'What the hell is going on? What the hell is this!'

Tate sounded in his mind as he tried to gain himself back.

'My health status has reduced to 35%. At this rate I might not be able to fight anymore.... that means I am going to lose!"

Tate's breath vibrates heavily when he thought about that.

'I am going to lose. There is no way I can continue with this shape. I have lost already.'

His eyes became wet.

'My hands are heavy and I can't even move my legs. damnit. There is no way I can continue like this, but..... but.. but am I really going to lose. I have signed the contract already, if I lose, I will work here for the rest of my life!'

Tate subconsciously squeezed his fist hard.

'I will have to do fixed matches for the rest of my life..That is even worse than my father. What would mom say when she gets up. The house, and Lora would all be gone.'

Tate's expression darkened. His forehead folded completely, and several veins could be seen in his tightly squeezed fist.

'It seemed I have forgotten what this fight means to me!'

Tate looked at Chris, he was slowly approaching him.

'It means Freedom!'

Tate squeezed his fist harder. He forcefully moved his legs forward to Chris.

'I can't lose... I can't lose... I CAN'T LOSE!'

[Sprint has been activated]

[Available Orenda energy; 87]

Tate launched forward to Chris. Chris' eyebrows moved  a little. He was surprised that Tate was still able to move. He actually thought those two attacks would bring Tate down. Well, it doesn't matter if Tate stayed up.

It would be boring if those two attacks were to be the finishing blow, cause they weren't his finishing moves!

Chris launched forward to Tate too.

"You are quite tough but how long can you keep to your feet?"

Chris's expression was poker as he reached Tate.

"How long can you face the Brobdingnagian pressure of a champion!!!!"

He moved his hands to punch Tate in the face, but Tate surprisingly went below the attack. Chris' eyes burst open in shock.

'Have he become faster again!'

'No! That is impossible!'

Tate evaded Chris' attack by going down. It wasn't that he was faster than Chris. he just knew what Chris was about to do.

He had seen the moves countless times, in fact it was the only moves Chris knew, and he had developed several ways to counter it, except he never got to try them because the match was always fixed.

Now that it wasn't a fixed match, he would use all his knowledge to his advantage.

All he had to do was to hit Chris on the face and this would all be over. He needed to get a clean hit on Chris' face.

Tate swiftly moved his fist to Chris face. 

Chris' eyes remained widely opened as Tate fist zoomed to his face. He must stop Tate from hitting him with his stupid attack, in fact, he needed to stop Tate before four minutes, otherwise his uniform would shatter to pieces.

That would be him losing the fight and he can't afford to lose the fight!

"Back away!! Brat!!"

He moved his legs to kick Tate on the face, but to his greatest surprise, Tate went below his attack again.

Chris was stunned to the bone now.

'What the hell is this!'

He had no idea what was going on. How could Tate be faster than him, when he was basically putting on AZ grade three energy core? Tate should be nowhere near his level in terms of speed, yet Tate had been able to evade two of his attacks!

Before Chris could comprehend the motion. Tate fist covered his vision, this time Tate fist was glowing.

'This bastard predicted my attacks!!!'

Chris screamed out in his mind. Tate fist wasn't glowing on the first attack, meaning he wasn't planning to really attack, he knew he was going to move his legs to stop him, so he casually waited for that.

'What a sneaky bastard!!!'

Chris roared in his mind but it was pointless as it should be!

[Host has activated Super Punch.]