In the ring, Jason Luo—still lacking the experience of a seasoned boxer—was completely stunned. He simply couldn't understand what was happening.
But he refused to lose!
Did they have any idea how hard he'd fought to get this far?
He'd nearly put his life on the line in the last match just to stand in this ring today. How could he possibly give up now?
No! Never!
Jason Luo opened his Attribute Panel and put his final free attribute point into Dodge & Anticipation. He needed to enhance his evasion—this was his last chance!
A familiar cool sensation coursed through him, easing the pain in his body once more. Jason pushed himself off the canvas, rising to his feet again...
The referee frowned deeply at the sight before him. Blood trickled from Jason's brow and nose, a huge bump swelled on his forehead, and bruises and welts covered his entire body. It was a miserable sight...
"Boxer, are you certain you can continue the match?"
"Yes, I'm certain!"
After a quick check, the referee asked again, "Final confirmation—do you wish to continue?"
"I do!"
"Very well, the match continues!"
This time, Jason Luo charged at Tutkason, using swift sidesteps to evade every attack while countering with aggressive strikes.
Tutkason was caught off guard by Jason's sudden counteroffensive. Those constant flanking attacks threw him off completely, and before long, Jason had him cornered and overwhelmed again.
The crowd erupted in a frenzy.
"That kid's got guts! A real warrior! Smash him!"
"My God! Jason, go! Win this and you'll be a legend!"
"Jason Luo, push forward! We're proud of you! Go!"
Up on the stage, Jason weaved and struck with sharp precision. His focus was at an all-time high—not only guarding against the rear-hand punches but also defending against Tutkason's front-hand attacks. He knew he could only win by dodging everything.
Under that immense pressure, Jason suddenly entered a strange, heightened state. His vision expanded, and all the noise around him faded away, leaving only the rush of air as their punches cut through it. It felt unreal.
"Ding. Through high-intensity training, your Reaction and Dodge & Anticipation attributes have both improved by one point. Keep pushing forward and check your status regularly."
What?!
Jason's heart leapt with joy. This was only the second time he'd gained an attribute boost mid-match—and it was in the two areas he'd struggled with most.
Those two stats were the hardest to train during normal practice. The swinging punching bags had given him more than a few concussions in the past...
Another surge of coolness flowed through him, washing away his pain and sharpening his senses even further.
Energized, Jason locked eyes on Tutkason's next attack. He feinted left to draw his opponent's focus, then twisted his waist sharply, shifting right as his rear hand swung out in a wide, heavy hook aimed straight at Tutkason's temple!
Tutkason's ingrained defensive instincts saved him again. His raised gloves absorbed the impact meant for his head.
Thwack!
The blow slammed his own gloves into his face, bursting his lip and sending a spray of blood through the air.
Jason froze for a moment. Something wasn't right—the sound was off, and the feeling was wrong too.
When his punch landed on Tutkason's gloves, it felt like hitting solid stone. The shock even made Jason's knuckles ache. Damn...
But Tutkason was clearly hurt. He stumbled back several steps, unsteady on his feet. This was Jason's chance—his perfect opening!
No time to think. Jason lunged forward to finish him.
But although Tutkason's face was torn and throbbing, his mind remained clear. As Jason charged in, Tutkason suddenly fired off a rapid counter-combination.
The counter came completely out of nowhere. Jason, already mid-charge, couldn't stop his momentum. He twisted to avoid a straight punch—but couldn't escape the hook that followed!
A rear-hand hook smashed into the side of Jason's head, right below his ear. The impact felt like being struck by a sledgehammer. His mind went blank—then nothing.
Momentum carried Jason's body forward as he collapsed into the ropes, rebounded, and crashed flat onto the canvas.
The entire arena fell silent.
The audience stood frozen, unable to believe their eyes.
The referee rushed over, checked Jason's pupils, then immediately waved his arm—stopping the match. Tutkason had won by knockout.
Tutkason jumped up, fists raised, shouting, "I'm the winner! The semifinals are mine!"
No one cheered.
Raul grabbed the ropes and was the first to rush into the ring. "Jason! Jason! Wake up! Don't scare me! Doctor! Hurry, we need a stretcher!"
Below the stage, Dr. Miao and Tony Huo sprinted forward with medical kits in hand. Tony shouted through tears as he ran, "Jason, what happened to you? What the hell happened?!"
...
The entire venue descended into chaos. By the time Dr. Miao and Tony reached the ring, the event's official physician had already begun examining Jason. Ignoring him, they immediately pulled out their own instruments and began their assessment.
The official doctor quickly set down his stethoscope. "His pupils are dilated, heart rate is slowing. The emergency setup here isn't sufficient—he needs to be rushed to a hospital right away."
Dr. Miao nodded grimly. "He's right. Jason's in critical condition—he needs immediate resuscitation. But I've noticed something strange about his injuries. Tony, take a few photos quickly. Saving him comes first. We'll investigate later."
Hearing that, the official doctor frowned as well. Having worked ringside for years, he was even more experienced than Dr. Miao—and he had never seen bruises or impact marks like these before.
Still, after stealing a glance at Tutkason, he kept silent.
After Tony finished taking photos from multiple angles, Jason was lifted onto a stretcher and carried off the ring. Everyone followed closely behind.
In the ring, Tutkason continued celebrating alone...
...
University of Chicago Medical Center.
Barely four or five days after being discharged, Jason Luo was rushed back to the hospital. This time, Dr. Miao wasn't the attending physician—he had taken leave to watch the match himself.
Outside the emergency room, Raul, Tony, Brown, and attorney Richard Cao paced anxiously in the hallway. Brown smacked his forehead in frustration. "How did this happen? What the hell went wrong after I left?"
Raul's face was pale. "Please, let nothing happen. I won't be able to face anyone if something goes wrong..."
Just then, Henry Luo and Grace burst in, frantic. "How's Jason? Raul, tell me—what's happening to my son?"
"Uh... I'm sorry, Mr. Luo. We don't know yet. He just went in. Dr. Miao's inside... we're all waiting for the results..."
Henry swayed, almost collapsing. Grace bit her lip and quickly supported him. "Dad, just hold on. My brother's going to be fine... He has to be..."
Her voice broke, and she couldn't finish.
The corridor outside the emergency room fell into suffocating silence.
Everyone waited—helpless—under the weight of fate's final judgment.