First Blood Practice

"How about we have a spar, Ryder?"

Duke challenged Ryder to a fight.

"Sure, Duke." Ryder accepted the challenge, curious about Duke's strength.

Now, the two of them stood on the ring, facing each other.

"Show me all your strength here, Ryder," Duke said with a faint smile, hoping Ryder wouldn't hold back.

Ryder didn't reply to Duke's words. He knew Duke was strong and didn't want to underestimate him.

They stood very close to each other. Suddenly, Duke threw two punches toward Ryder's face. Ryder was able to read the attacks, shifting his head left and right to dodge them.

But then, Duke launched a sudden side kick aimed at Ryder's stomach. Ryder quickly leaped backward, managing to avoid the kick.

"Not bad," Duke praised Ryder.

Ryder moved his eyes, searching for an opening to attack Duke. He didn't want to rush his attack, knowing that defending patiently was the key to finding the right moment to strike.

Ryder decided to attack Duke's leg. He stepped forward and kicked toward Duke's ankle. Duke quickly took the attack and hardened his ankle to absorb the pain.

It wasn't just Duke who felt the pain; Ryder did too. Without stopping, Ryder swung his left leg upward, aiming for Duke's head.

Duke blocked the attack with his right arm and swiftly countered with five rapid punches toward Ryder.

Ryder quickly retracted his leg and crossed his arms to block Duke's attacks.

Duke's punches were as fast as the wind. The first and second punches targeted Ryder's cheeks, but Ryder managed to block them. Duke then changed the direction of his third and fourth punches, aiming at Ryder's temples.

Ryder didn't want to lose to Duke and managed to block the punches with both hands, this time without crossing them.

Duke's final punch aimed for Ryder's forehead. Ryder stepped back several paces to avoid it, but Duke suddenly changed his attack pattern, launching a straight kick toward Ryder's stomach.

Ryder didn't expect Duke to switch up his attack, and the kick landed squarely on his stomach.

Ryder staggered a few steps, feeling an intense pain from the impact.

'It's hard to find an opening to attack Duke.'

Ryder clutched his stomach, the pain spreading throughout his body and making it hard for him to breathe.

Duke raised an eyebrow, looking at Ryder with a small smile. He hoped Ryder wouldn't give up just because of that single kick.

"Are you going to give up, Ryder?" Duke asked as he put his hands in his pockets.

'Seriously... if I give up now, I'll never be able to defeat the strongest person in Dog's Club Harlem!'

Ryder charged toward Duke. As he got close, he threw a punch with his right hand, aiming for Duke's stomach. Duke calmly took the hit.

"What?!" Ryder was shocked that his punch had no effect on Duke.

Duke just smiled. "A hit like that doesn't even hurt, Ryder." He grabbed Ryder's hand, which was still pressed against his stomach.

With lightning speed, Duke countered with a flurry of punches, both hands aiming directly at Ryder's face.

There was no time to dodge. Ryder could only take Duke's blows. His face was now being pummeled by Duke's fists.

'Duke's attacks… they're so fast and wild. I can't block them like I did against Brizks. He's on a completely different level…'

"Here it comes, Ryder!!" Duke shouted, delivering the final punch straight to Ryder's face.

Ryder's face was now covered in bruises once again, courtesy of Duke.

Duke looked at Ryder, who was now panting with a bruised face but still standing in the ring with defiant eyes.

"Good, you didn't give up," Duke said, wiping his nose with his thumb. "But you're still too slow, Ryder."

Ryder clenched his fists tighter. The pain on his face and stomach burned throughout his body, but in his mind, his mother's face continued to appear.

'I can't lose here… If I want to save Mom, I need to get stronger…'

Duke returned to his fighting stance, bending his knees and lowering his shoulders slightly. That faint smile remained on his face, but his eyes stayed sharp, observing Ryder's every move.

"Come at me again, Ryder. Or are you going to give up now?"

"Never, Duke!" Ryder shouted.

Ryder leaped forward, spinning his body to deliver a side kick aimed at Duke's waist. But Duke easily blocked the kick with his arm and quickly countered with a straight punch to Ryder's chest, forcing Ryder back several steps.

But this time, Ryder endured the pain and remained standing. He lifted his head, breathing heavily, and stared at Duke with determined eyes.

"Not bad," Duke said with a nod. "But that's still not enough to survive in Iron Street Vale."

The street fighters in Iron Street Vale were incredibly strong, not just in Dog's Club Harlem, but in many other areas where fighters were even tougher.

Ryder clenched his fists again and lowered his stance, trying to calm his breathing and refocus.

He remembered how he fought Brizks, how he managed to take hit after hit, and how he used his agility to find openings.

'I can't win with strength alone. I need to use my speed and wits.'

Ryder quickly moved to the right, trying to bait Duke into attacking. Duke followed his movement, but Ryder suddenly jumped to the left and threw a punch toward Duke's jaw.

The punch landed, pushing Duke's head slightly to the side.

Ryder was surprised, but before he could celebrate, Duke turned back with a wide grin.

"Good. You finally managed to hit me."

Suddenly, Duke grabbed Ryder's hand and pulled him closer, driving his elbow into Ryder's stomach. Ryder's breath was knocked out of him, pain flooding through his body.

Duke then shoved Ryder, making him fall onto the ring floor.

"Huff… huff…" Ryder clutched his stomach, trying to get up even as his body trembled.

"You're still far from being strong, Ryder. But you have potential."

Ryder looked at Duke with eyes that still burned, even though his body was battered and his breathing was ragged.

"I… will… get stronger…"

Duke simply smiled, extending his hand toward Ryder, who was still on the floor.

"Good. Get up. Your training has just begun."

Ryder stared at Duke's hand for a few seconds before using what strength he had left to grab it, pulling himself back to his feet in the ring.

Though his body was in pain, Ryder felt something changing inside him. For the first time, he was not just fighting to survive, but to become stronger so he could protect the ones he loved.

And that day, inside Duke's garage, Ryder's journey as a street fighter officially began.