Evenly Matched — Part 1

Section 1: A Humble Invitation

Raymond continued his destruction inside Tangram Mall, smashing one glass storefront after another without showing any signs of stopping.

Michael was about to approach him when a familiar voice suddenly caught his attention.

“Hey, Captain Lam! Over here!”

Michael turned and spotted Mildy, the tiny, unlicensed doctor, standing beside a motionless man lying in a large pool of blood. His oversized white lab coat was splattered with fresh blood, making it painfully obvious that something had gone terribly wrong.

Mildy proudly pointed toward his unfortunate patient, looking strangely pleased with himself.

“Guess what? I just finished some emergency surgery! Poor guy fell off an advertising rack and broke his femur. I tried to fix him up, but, uh… I accidentally cut his femoral artery. Whoops!”

Michael glanced at the lifeless patient, then looked back at Mildy without the slightest surprise.

“Ah. Same old Mildy.”

Suddenly, another loud crash echoed through the mall as Raymond shattered yet another storefront window.

Michael turned toward Mildy, his expression growing serious.

“Mildy, I strongly advise you to leave this place. Immediately.”

Mildy blinked, completely unaware of the approaching danger.

“Huh? Why? What’s going on?”

“There’s no time for explanations! Leave this mall at once, and under no circumstances are you to return!”

Seeing the seriousness in Michael’s eyes, Mildy finally sensed the danger and hurried toward the nearest exit, his oversized lab coat flapping wildly behind him.

Once Mildy had disappeared, Michael picked up his briefcase, adjusted his golden-rimmed glasses, and calmly approached Raymond.

“Excuse me, Mr. Raymond!”

Raymond showed no reaction whatsoever.

Michael continued forward until he was walking right beside him.

“Mr. Raymond, I represent the Humble Organization, and we would like to offer you a position. Our boss is quite impressed with your remarkable abilities…”

Michael hesitated briefly, struggling to find a polite way to explain the rest of his boss’s unusual interest.

“…and your funny look.”

Raymond remained completely silent, showing no interest in Michael or his generous offer.

“The position is called Higher-Up Executioner. It’s a rather prestigious role, with excellent benefits and considerable opportunities. May I ask whether you would be interested?”

Instead of answering, Raymond clenched his fist and drove it straight through another glass storefront.

CRAAASH!

Shattered glass scattered across the marble floor as the deafening crash echoed through the mall.

Michael watched patiently before giving a small, understanding nod.

“I see. I shall take your silence as a refusal. Very well, Mr. Raymond. I fully respect your decision.”

He casually stepped past Raymond, giving every impression that their conversation had come to a peaceful end.

Then, without warning, Michael spun around and drove a devastating straight kick into Raymond’s stomach.

WHAM!

The attack came without the slightest warning.

Raymond was launched nearly ten meters through the air before crashing violently into a concrete wall. The tremendous impact sent cracks spreading across its surface, knocking loose chunks of concrete as Raymond bounced off the wall and slammed onto the marble floor.

Dust and debris filled the air around his fallen body.

Michael remained perfectly composed, calmly watching the aftermath.

Had he been allowed to fight without restrictions, he could have delivered a far deadlier attack. A sharp hand chop to the neck or a powerful punch through the chest might have ended Raymond’s life instantly.

However, Boss Colin had given him strict orders to bring Raymond back alive.

After all, dead men couldn’t sign employment contracts.

That was why Michael had deliberately used only half of his full strength, yet the kick had still been powerful enough to crack a concrete wall.

For several seconds, Raymond lay motionless among the rubble.

Then he slowly began to move.

He pushed himself off the floor and struggled to his feet. Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth before a violent cough sent a large splash of fresh blood across the white marble tiles.

Raymond wiped his mouth with the back of his hand and slowly raised his head toward Michael.

The strange, dark mist continued to swirl within his eyes, but something had clearly changed.

Until now, Raymond had treated Michael as little more than another meaningless stranger. But that single kick had finally forced him to recognize the man standing before him as a genuine threat.

Michael flung his briefcase aside and stood calmly, waiting for Raymond’s next move.

The peaceful recruitment attempt was over.

Now the real battle was about to begin.

Section 2: A Battle of Equals

Without warning, Raymond charged toward Michael, gathering energy into his right fist before launching a devastating punch at his chest.

CONCUSSION PUNCH!

Michael reacted instantly, twisting his body aside and narrowly avoiding the attack. He knew that a direct hit would send violent vibrations through his body, causing massive internal damage.

However, Raymond’s technique had one important weakness. Each Concussion Punch required a brief buildup of energy, creating a short delay between attacks. Michael had already noticed this during Raymond’s earlier battle with Robinson.

Michael quickly exploited that weakness.

Raymond continued his fierce assault, throwing heavy punches in rapid succession. However, his offensive movements were relatively slow, allowing Michael to slip past his attacks with remarkable speed and precision.

Whenever an opening appeared, Michael immediately counterattacked with a rapid series of punches and kicks. Yet Raymond’s defensive reactions were extraordinary. Despite his slower attacks, he managed to block or deflect almost every strike Michael threw at him.

Their fierce exchanges echoed throughout the mall, quickly attracting a crowd. Some frightened shoppers rushed toward the exits, while others remained behind to witness the incredible battle.

Before long, the two fighters had exchanged more than a hundred blows, yet neither had managed to gain the upper hand.

For the first time in a long while, Michael felt the thrill of facing an opponent who could truly match his strength. A satisfied smile slowly appeared on his face.

Suddenly, Raymond drove his fist straight into the ground with tremendous force.

BOOOOM!

A devastating shockwave erupted beneath them, sending violent vibrations racing through the ground. Deep cracks spread rapidly across the marble floor as storefront windows shattered and nearby furniture was thrown into the air.

Even some of the bystanders who had stayed to watch were caught in the shockwave. Several suffered severe injuries, while others were killed on the spot.

But Michael was already prepared.

With perfect timing, he launched himself high into the air and grabbed a sturdy metal support bar attached to a massive advertising frame overhead. His body swung clear of the floor just as the destructive shockwave swept beneath him, tearing through the mall.

Suspended high above the shattered ground, Michael calmly watched the destruction unfold below.

His choice of battlefield had paid off.

Section 3: The Die-Hard Spectators

Michael hung from the metal support bar of a massive advertising frame, looking down at the devastation below. The mall floor was covered in deep cracks, shattered glass, and broken furniture. Most shoppers and store owners had already fled in terror, but at least a dozen spectators remained, forming a loose circle around the battlefield. Others watched from a safer distance, hiding behind concrete pillars, overturned furniture, and damaged kiosks.

Despite the destruction, the remaining spectators cheered wildly and argued over which fighter would win. A few had even started placing bets, treating the deadly battle like a live sporting event.

Several spectators pulled out their phones and began recording the fight from different angles.

One man raised his phone high and shouted with wild enthusiasm.

“Holy cow! This is gonna be epic! I’m recording the whole thing!”

Among them was a loudmouthed teenage fanboy who seemed more excited than anyone else. His eyes were glued to the fighters as he waved his arms wildly, screaming at the top of his lungs.

“HELL YEAH! THAT’S WHAT I’M TALKING ABOUT! COME ON! KICK HIS ASS! LET’S GOOO!”

A worried woman standing beside him desperately pulled at his arm, trying to get his attention.

“Hey! Your mom’s over there! She got hit by that shockwave! She’s not moving! Are you even listening?!”

But the boy didn’t even bother turning his head.

“She’s probably dead already! WHO CARES?! LET’S GOOO!”

Without showing the slightest concern for his mother, he continued cheering even louder, completely absorbed in the battle.

Not far away, a middle-aged man sat comfortably on a bench, holding a steaming cup of hot coffee.

Unlike the other spectators, he showed neither excitement nor fear. He calmly took a sip of coffee and studied the fighters with great interest, as though he were enjoying a professional martial arts tournament rather than witnessing a deadly battle.

“Mmm. Nice balance on that kick. Smooth footwork, too… Yeah, that guy’s definitely trained.”

He took another leisurely sip, paying little attention to the injured and dead bystanders scattered across the shattered mall floor.

Meanwhile, high above the chaos, Michael was already preparing his next attack.

Still hanging from the advertising frame, he began swinging his body back and forth, building momentum with each movement. After three powerful swings, he released the metal bar and launched himself through the air toward Raymond.

With his leg fully extended, Michael delivered a straight flying kick directly at his opponent.

Seeing Michael approaching from above, Raymond charged his fist and unleashed a Concussion Punch straight at the incoming leg.

Michael reacted with incredible speed. Using his powerful abdominal muscles, he twisted his body sharply in midair, narrowly avoiding the devastating punch. In the same movement, he pulled back his extended leg and transformed his straight flying kick into a spinning kick, striking toward Raymond’s opposite side.

Raymond quickly raised his other arm to block the spinning kick. However, the tremendous impact sent him staggering several steps sideways across the fractured marble floor.

Michael landed smoothly, his eyes firmly fixed on Raymond.

The two fighters faced each other in silence before dropping into their fighting stances. Round Two was about to begin.

Section 4: Uninvited Big Shot

The second round raged on as Michael and Raymond continued exchanging powerful punches and kicks. Despite their different fighting styles, they were still dead even, with no signs of slowing down.

Meanwhile, on the second floor of Tangram Mall, Brian stood beside the railing, carefully studying the battle below.

“Incredible… I’ve been studying their every move for several minutes, and I still can’t find the slightest advantage on either side. They’re practically equal!”

He recalled how quickly Boss Colin had reached the same conclusion earlier that day.

“And Boss Colin? He figured it out in less than thirty seconds, just by watching them from the fiftieth floor of our headquarters. His intelligence is on a whole different level!”

Suddenly, heavy footsteps approached from behind.

Brian turned and spotted a legendary figure he had heard so much about.

It was Jason.

Despite being only in his thirties, Jason had already earned the respected status of an elder in the underworld. This formidable fighter rarely appeared in public and was known for one particularly strange habit: he appeared only during winter, disappearing throughout the warmer months almost as though he were hibernating.

Yet it was the middle of summer.

What on earth was he doing here?

Brian had never met Jason in person, and his sudden appearance immediately put him on alert.

Jason had wild, spiky black hair resembling that of a Super Saiyan. His half-buttoned white shirt exposed a broad, hairy chest, while a simple pair of blue jeans completed his rugged appearance.

In his hand, he carried a long, heavy black steel staff.

As he approached, Jason casually tapped the tip of his staff against the marble floor.

CRACK!

A network of cracks instantly spread across the tiles, reaching nearly a meter in every direction.

Brian had no idea whether Jason was a friend or foe. His body tensed as he watched the mysterious fighter with growing caution.

He quietly activated his Golden Eyes, examining Jason’s body with extraordinary precision.

Something immediately caught his attention.

Jason’s skin was unusually smooth, almost unnaturally perfect. His pores were incredibly small, with barely a trace of sweat or oil on his face.

Brian narrowed his eyes, studying him more closely.

Then, without warning, Jason opened his mouth and slowly stuck out his tongue.

He began panting gently, letting his tongue hang freely as he cooled himself down.

Just like a dog.

Brian stared in disbelief, unsure whether to laugh or become even more concerned.

Here stood a legendary fighter whose steel staff could crack the floor with a casual tap, yet he was cooling himself down like a household pet.

Whatever Jason’s strange habits might be, Brian knew better than to underestimate him.

Remaining alert, he turned his attention back toward the battle below.

Michael and Raymond were still exchanging fierce blows, with neither fighter showing any sign of defeat.

Section 5: The Missing Clue

More than twenty minutes had passed since the battle began.

After exchanging hundreds of blows, Michael and Raymond were still locked in a fierce struggle, with no end in sight.

Michael could feel exhaustion creeping through his body. His muscles were growing tired, and continuing to fight this way would only drain his remaining strength.

Something had to change.

He abandoned his offensive approach and switched to full defense, relying on his superior speed to dodge Raymond’s relentless attacks.

But while his body remained focused on survival, his mind was racing.

He recalled the conversation with Boss Colin and Brian earlier that day, on the fiftieth floor of the Humble Organization’s headquarters.

Boss Colin had mentioned something important about defeating Raymond. Michael was certain of it, but the exact words continued to escape him.

As Raymond unleashed another powerful punch, Michael narrowly slipped aside, never losing focus on his thoughts.

Somewhere in those forgotten words lay the key to breaking this endless deadlock.

Section 6: Jason’s Warning

Meanwhile, back on the second floor, another teenager standing farther down the corridor suddenly burst into laughter.

He pointed at Jason, who was still standing near the railing with his tongue hanging out like a dog.

“Yo, old man! Why the hell’s your tongue hanging out like that?! You look like a stupid-ass dog! HAHAHA!”

The teenager laughed uncontrollably, completely unaware that he had just made a terrible mistake.

Jason stood perfectly still, his tongue still hanging from his mouth as though he hadn’t heard a single word.

Brian glanced at the foolish teenager and immediately sensed trouble.

This kid’s dead. He just doesn’t know it yet.

Without saying a word, Jason calmly transferred his heavy steel staff from his right hand to his left.

Then, without even taking a step forward, he casually swung the staff sideways toward the teenager, who stood more than twenty meters away.

WHOOOOSH!

A tremendous blast of wind erupted from the steel staff, tearing through the corridor with terrifying force.

The staff never came close to touching the teenager, but the powerful wind pressure struck him directly.

In an instant, his shirt and pants were completely shredded, leaving him naked and covered in bruises.

Overwhelmed by terror, the teenager immediately turned and fled, screaming desperately as he raced down the corridor.

PSSSSHHH!

As he ran, urine began spraying behind him like a broken water fountain. His legs moved wildly as he sprinted across the marble floor, leaving a long, glistening yellow trail in his wake.

Within seconds, he disappeared around a corner, his terrified screams echoing down the corridor.

Brian stared at Jason in astonishment.

The legendary fighter had remained in the exact same spot throughout the entire attack. With nothing more than a casual swing of his staff, he had unleashed enough force to tear the teenager’s clothing to pieces without tearing his body apart.

The sheer power of the attack was astonishing, but what impressed Brian even more was Jason’s extraordinary control over that power.

Such precision could only belong to a truly exceptional fighter.

Still keeping his guard up, Brian turned his attention back toward the battlefield below.

Michael was continuing to dodge Raymond’s relentless attacks, but Brian suddenly noticed something different.

A faint smile had appeared on Michael’s face.

Brian watched him closely and quietly muttered.

“Well, well… Looks like he’s finally figured something out.”

Section 7: The Split-Second Opening

Michael continued dodging Raymond’s relentless attacks, moving with remarkable speed and precision. Despite the constant danger, a confident smile had appeared on his face.

At last, he had remembered Boss Colin’s crucial advice from earlier that day.

“If you want to defeat Raymond, you’ll need a split-second opening. A distraction. Just one brief moment is all it takes to gain the upper hand.”

Michael was overwhelmed with admiration for his boss’s extraordinary intelligence.

Boss Colin… Your wisdom is truly beyond measure! You are a magnificent lighthouse shining through the endless darkness, forever illuminating my path to victory!

Filled with renewed confidence, Michael continued slipping past Raymond’s powerful punches while carefully scanning his surroundings.

He needed a distraction, something that could create even the smallest opening in Raymond’s defense.

His eyes immediately turned toward the second floor.

There stood Brian, watching the battle with his arms crossed. Beside him was Jason, the legendary fighter who was still standing there with his tongue hanging out like a dog.

Michael stared at the two men in disbelief.

Ugh. Nothing useful up there. They’re too far away.

Without wasting another second, he turned his attention elsewhere.

Around the battlefield, several spectators were still hiding behind damaged storefronts, while others continued cheering enthusiastically despite the terrible destruction.

One particularly loud fanboy was still screaming at the top of his lungs.

“LET’S GO! YEAHHH! COME ON! KICK HIS ASS!”

Michael ignored the shouting and continued searching the far corners of the mall.

Suddenly, something caught his attention.

Near the restroom entrance, a man was squatting behind a large potted plant, taking a dump with his pants around his ankles.

And the restroom was literally right beside him!

Michael stared in complete disbelief.

What on earth?! Are you kidding me?! The restroom is RIGHT THERE!

Just then, another powerful punch came flying toward his face. Michael quickly twisted aside, narrowly avoiding the blow before returning his attention to the battle.

But as he scanned the area once more, something else caught his eye.

Not far from the battlefield, the same middle-aged man was still sitting comfortably on his bench, casually sipping his hot coffee.

Michael’s eyes suddenly lit up.

That’s it! That’s exactly what I need!

He had finally found his opportunity.

Without revealing his intentions, Michael subtly adjusted his footwork, gradually leading Raymond toward the unsuspecting coffee drinker.

Raymond continued his relentless assault, seemingly unaware that his opponent was carefully guiding him toward a specific location.

Five meters…
Four meters…
Three meters…

Michael’s excitement grew with every step, but he forced himself to remain calm. His eyes stayed fixed on Raymond as he carefully prepared for the perfect moment.

Just one distraction.

Just one split-second opening.

That was all he needed.