Round Two: Tensions Rise

"Huh? Pro boxer? Wait, are you talking about that guy I coached? The one who hit the bag just right? His jab was sharp and precise, like he'd been doing it for years," Jamie asked, his tone becoming more serious, realizing the potential danger in this new opponent.

"That's right. It's him," Kenjo replied, his words carrying a slight worry. He could feel the tension in the air. This wasn't just some random street fighter—they were about to face someone dangerous.

"Interesting," Jamie mumbled, more to himself than anyone else, his mind racing. He could feel the weight of what was to come, the uncertainty and the challenge of facing someone who wasn't just another fighter off the street.

The matches continued relentlessly: lightweights, heavyweights, and middleweights all taking turns in the ring. Some fighters were knocked out within the first few seconds, the result of raw inexperience. Many inmates had joined the tournament with nothing more than raw ambition or arrogance, thinking it would be an easy win, only to be dropped with one well-timed blow by seasoned fighters. The tournament roster thinned out rapidly, the weaker participants falling by the wayside.

It wasn't just about strength; it was about experience, strategy, and grit. Fighters with real potential moved on to Round Two, and it wasn't long before the weaker competitors had all but vanished.

After a long day of exhausting bouts, the final match of Round One began—a lightweight battle between Len and Dekol. The two fighters wasted no time. They charged at each other with everything they had, throwing jabs, hooks, and powerful crosses. It wasn't a technical fight; it was pure, unbridled aggression.

The sound of fists landing echoed in the hall. Both fighters looked like they were wearing down, but neither gave an inch. They kept pushing forward, circling, swinging. The crowd preparing to announce the winner by decision.

Jamie leaned forward, watching intently, impressed by the endurance of both fighters. He roared with excitement, feeding off the energy of the fight.

They slugged it out for an intense six rounds. Round after round, their punches seemed to land harder and faster. Neither fighter seemed to be backing down. But by Round Eight, the fatigue was setting in. Dekam, who had been acting as the referee, stepped in to stop them, could see the toll the fight had taken on them.

The judges tallied their scores, and the commentator's voice broke the tension in the air: "After a close and hard-fought battle, Len scores 87 points, and Dekol scores 86 points. Len is the winner!"

The crowd erupted into cheers, but Len—clearly spent from the fight—stumbled as he tried to exit the ring. He tripped, falling flat on his face, but managed to scramble to his feet in embarrassment, then quickly ran off, eager to avoid the humiliation of staying any longer.

"What a fight," Jamie shrugged, a half-amused look on his face. He wasn't overly impressed, but he respected the fight that had just happened. It was one of those moments when you saw raw determination, even if it wasn't pretty.

Kenjo glanced over at Jamie, his expression serious but calm. "Yeah, well, that's officially it for this round. You ready for the next round after our rest day tomorrow?"

"Hell yes!" Jamie replied, his eyes sparkling with excitement. This was the adrenaline rush he'd been craving, and now he was more than ready to face whatever came next.

The commentator signed off, "And that concludes Round One of the tournament! Fourteen lightweight competitors remain, along with eighteen middleweights and thirty-one heavyweights. Make sure to tune in again in two days at 13:00 for the opening fight of Round Two!"

As the inmates made their way back to their cells, the air was thick with conversation. Everyone was talking about the matches, the winners, the losers, and what was yet to come. Some of the more seasoned fighters were already making plans for their next matches. Others, like Dekol, were still trying to process the disappointment of losing and the humiliation that followed.

In a shadowy corner of the hallway, five inmates surrounded Dekol, their voices low but filled with menace.

"You lost us a hell of a lot of money. How are you gonna pay for it?" one of them growled, his voice dripping with venom.

"Yeah, that's right! I bet 800 bucks on your sorry ass," another sneered, his eyes narrowed with anger.

"You better pay up, or we'll rip your heart out," one threatened, cracking his knuckles ominously.

Dekol, visibly shaking, tried to reason with them. "L-look, guys, I'm sorry I couldn't live up to your expectations, but I don't have the money..." His voice wavered in fear, knowing there was little he could do against five bigger inmates.

"Right, so you're gonna pay the consequences now," one of them snarled as he stepped forward, grabbing Dekol's arms, while another held his legs down. one raised his fist, preparing to strike with all his might.

The punch landed hard against Dekol's chest, the force knocking the wind out of him. He screamed in pain, but before the second blow could land, it was abruptly stopped.

Jamie had appeared out of nowhere, gripping the inmate's arm with an iron-like hold, crushing it.

"Let him be," Jamie said, his voice laced with anger. He wasn't going to stand by and watch this kind of cruelty.

The inmate scoffed, clearly not impressed. "You're Jamie, right? The so-called hero? Shika should've killed you. I'll gladly do it myself if we meet in the ring. I made it to Round Two, too. Name's Nijadil."

Jamie didn't flinch. His eyes darkened as he glared at the inmate. "You're going to regret ever saying that. If I see your disgusting face on the other side of the ring, I'll make sure you can't stand up anymore."

Nijadil grinned, a cold, sadistic smile twisting his features. "Very well. No point in escalating it now. Let's settle this in the ring, boy."

The five inmates walked away, leaving Dekol trembling with relief.

"Thank you, Jamie," Dekol said, his voice shaky but full of gratitude.

"No problem. I'll definitely beat that guy up," Jamie said, his fists clenching at his sides. He was more determined than ever to win.

Jamie returned to his cell where Kenjo sat quietly, lost in thought about his next match. He didn't want to disturb him, so Jamie just hopped into bed, letting the exhaustion from his earlier fight with Vilk wash over him as he relaxed his sore muscles.

The next day, the matchups for Round Two were announced: Jamie vs. Kohol and Kenjo vs. Sanade.

Jamie searched the area for his opponent but couldn't spot Kohol anywhere. It was like he had vanished. Meanwhile, Kenjo casually greeted Sanade, an older man who carried himself with a certain air of dignity. He wished Kenjo a fair and respectable fight, which Kenjo accepted with the same level of courtesy.

Jamie sighed, feeling the frustration of not knowing who he was up against. "Damn, I wish I could at least see who I'm fighting. You're lucky, though. Your opponent seems pretty cool."

Kenjo shrugged, unfazed by Jamie's excitement. "Well, he's respectful. It'll be a good fight, I'm sure."

Across the hall, Menta glanced at Jamie, then looked down at his own matchup sheet. His paper read Nijadil.

He sighed, muttering under his breath, "It's truly disappointing, having to wade through all this fodder just to get to the main guy."

Nijadil overheard Menta's remark and stormed up to him, grabbing him by the shoulder with a furious growl.

"What did you just say, bastard?!" Nijadil shouted, his face flushed with rage.

Menta remained calm and composed, his voice a low, deep growl as he said, "Remove your hand. Now."

Nijadil sneered, his laughter dripping with malice. "What's the big deal? What're you gonna do about it?"

SMASH.

Before Nijadil could finish his sentence, he was on the ground, flat on his back, his nose shattered, his face a bloody mess.

His other friends stood frozen in shock as the entire hall went silent. The guards rushed in, taking control of the situation. After a quick investigation, they determined it was a case of self-defense. Menta was allowed to continue in the tournament, advancing to Round Three due to Nijadil being unable to fight.