On the boxing stage, Jason Luo was in the zone!
The man who once preferred to fight in silence suddenly discovered that roaring before each punch gave him an extra surge of Strength. And this time, to draw out even more Vitality, Jason Luo was determined to make Matsumoto bleed!
His shouts thundered through the arena, amplifying the force of every strike. Like a raging lion, Jason Luo charged forward with terrifying momentum, launching a relentless assault.
Matsumoto, battered left and right, could barely hold on. He quickly covered his head with both fists and tried to retreat, but Jason Luo—who had yet to draw blood—had no intention of letting him escape.
Circling and cutting off his opponent's path, Jason drove him into the corner. Matsumoto knew that if he got trapped there, he was finished.
In desperation, he launched a furious counterattack to break free—but Jason, empowered by his Intermediate Offensive Title, didn't retreat a single step. He pushed through the blows and countered with unrelenting pressure.
Matsumoto had misjudged completely. He'd been away from serious competition for too long, too accustomed to the easy pace of exhibition fights where most fighters pulled their punches for show. No one went all-in the way Jason did...
His counterattack not only failed to push Jason back—it sealed his fate!
Jason absorbed the incoming blows, let out a roar, and drove a straight right directly into Matsumoto's face. The punch split his cheek, sent his mouthguard flying, and left him dazed and half-unconscious.
Even so, instinct made Matsumoto dodge right—and just as he did, Jason's left hook crashed in. The impact accelerated his sideways movement, making it look as though Jason had literally flung him across the ring with a single punch!
The crowd erupted!
On the canvas, Jason unleashed his fury, hammering Matsumoto from one corner to the next, unstoppable in his rampage.
Matsumoto's coach, horrified, ripped the white towel from around his neck and hurled it onto the ring.
But by the time the referee pulled Jason back, Matsumoto was already in bad shape. He slid down the ropes and collapsed to the mat. His coach rushed over to check him—thankfully, he was still conscious, though he'd likely be bedridden for months.
A resounding, exhilarating victory!
That single minute of the second round had given the audience everything they could hope for. Jason's overwhelming, destructive offense left them breathless.
The broadcast hall erupted in applause and thunderous cheers. Then the host stepped up to the mic:
"Congratulations to Jason Luo on his victory! I've just received breaking news—twenty-three days from now, on August 3rd at Madison Square Garden in the United States, Jason Luo will challenge the WBA North American Intercontinental Super Middleweight Interim Champion, Siham! Let's give him a huge round of applause and wish him success in bringing home the Gold Belt!"
The entire audience rose to their feet, clapping and shouting,
"Go, Jason Luo! You can do it!"
"Go get that belt! I'll be cheering for you!"
...
This was clearly another stroke of genius from Mr. Rod. Professional promotion really made a difference—Jason had just gained a massive wave of new fans.
Soon after, an online creator edited highlights of the match with an intense background track, and the video went viral online, sending Jason Luo's popularity skyrocketing.
But for now, fame was the least of his concerns. He needed to return to the U.S. as soon as possible to train. The next fight was critical—there was no room for mistakes.
The victory also earned Jason Luo 1 point in Punch Speed, 2 points in Jab Power, 1 point in Footwork, 2 points in Coordination, 1 point in Dodge & Anticipation, and 2 points in Vitality—a total of nine Attribute Points. A solid reward!
His father and Grace still had two days before they could visit the prison, so Jason decided to fly back early with Rod.
But just as they were about to board their flight at Zhengzhou Airport, a Japanese man suddenly blocked their path.
"Sir, I am Ishikawa Hidehisa, the younger brother of Koichi Matsumoto. You struck my brother with such brutality in a mere exhibition match—it was utterly devoid of warrior honor! Though I am a K-1 kickboxer, I hereby challenge you to a private duel to avenge my brother!"
His Chinese was fluent enough, though his tone felt strangely formal.
Rod immediately spoke up: "The match was conducted under official rules. We broke no regulations and bear no responsibility for your brother's condition. If you have issues, BX Promotions is prepared to address them through legal channels."
Jason, however, was puzzled. How could Koichi Matsumoto's brother have a completely different surname—Ishikawa Hidehisa? That didn't make sense to him.
Ishikawa stared firmly at Jason. "As a martial artist, I will not sue you. But if you refuse my duel, I'll be forced to resort to extraordinary measures. Please understand."
He then bowed deeply and formally.
Rod frowned. "Are you threatening us?"
But Ishikawa remained calm and expressionless.
Jason raised a brow. "You're not even a boxer—how are we supposed to fight? And if something happens, who's responsible?"
Seeing Jason finally respond, Ishikawa replied, "Such things are common in Japan—no-rules matches with contracts signed under mutual consent. Thailand or Myanmar would both suffice. Time, location, rules—everything is negotiable. But as a warrior, I must avenge my brother. Otherwise, I'm unworthy of the title."
Jason nearly swore aloud. What is this, a death match?
The Japanese were exhausting—you beat the brother, and out comes another! Jason quickly asked, "Do you happen to have any other brothers or sisters?"
He had to make sure—otherwise this would never end.
Ishikawa blinked, then quickly understood the meaning. "Sir, rest assured, I have no other relatives. This duel concerns only samurai honor—it's not a life-or-death battle. I simply hope that, as a fighter, you'll show the courage worthy of your calling."
This was turning into a headache.
With such an important match ahead, Jason had no time to indulge in a private duel. While the idea of gaining a few Attribute Points was tempting, the man's strength was unknown, and Jason couldn't take unnecessary risks. K-1 was Asia's top-level combat tournament—packed with elites—so carelessness was out of the question.
After conferring briefly, Rod stepped in.
"Jason is a signed company fighter. Every one of his matches requires official authorization. We'll need time to confirm whether your proposal qualifies as legitimate competition. Leave your contact information, and the company will get back to you."
"Arigato gozaimasu. I hope you won't keep me waiting too long. Thank you for your time," Ishikawa said, bowing again before turning to leave.
Rod and Jason exchanged glances, half amused and half bewildered. The man's politeness made his threats even stranger.
"What a lunatic," Rod muttered, shaking his head. "Ignore him for now. Our company already works with K-1—we'll find out who he is soon enough. If he's just some fringe fighter, forget him. Focus on your training."
Jason frowned. "He seemed pretty confident. What if he's actually strong?"
Rod thought for a moment. "Unlikely. I've never heard of him. Anyway, don't dwell on it. We'll handle it if it comes up… unless you actually want to fight him?"
Jason smiled faintly but said nothing. Let's finish the official fight first. After that... maybe a little extra excitement wouldn't hurt.
...