Evenly Matched — Part 2

Section 1: The Long-Awaited Sock Attack

Three meters…
Two meters…
One meter.

Finally, Michael had lured Raymond within reach of the middle-aged man sitting on a nearby bench, calmly enjoying his hot coffee.

For nearly a minute, Michael had focused entirely on dodging Raymond’s relentless attacks, carefully guiding him toward this exact spot.

Come on, dude! Just one more punch. That’s all I need!

Meanwhile, the coffee drinker was watching the battle with great interest, casually commenting to himself between sips.

“Mmm. Those punches could smash concrete! Yet the guy in glasses keeps dodging them! Amazing reflexes!”

He took another sip, clearly impressed.

“Now, if he could just find an opening…”

Just then, Raymond launched another devastating punch.

NOW!

Michael swiftly dodged aside, snatched the man’s coffee, and hurled it directly toward Raymond’s face.

FSSSHHHH!!

Raymond instantly crossed his forearms to shield his face from the scalding coffee. A moment later, he staggered backward, blinking rapidly and struggling to steady himself.

Michael’s eyes lit up.

Boss Colin! Your brilliant advice worked perfectly! This is the opening I’ve been waiting for!

The coffee drinker jumped to his feet, furious.

“Hey! What the hell, man?! I wasn’t even finished!”

Michael completely ignored him.

Without wasting another second, he quickly removed his polished right dress shoe and peeled off his sweaty sock.

The moment the filthy sock came free, a disgusting purple aura rose from it, swirling through the air like the dark energy of a cursed object.

The stench was absolutely unbearable.

Michael immediately crumpled the sock into a tight ball, gripping it firmly in his right hand.

Yet Michael remained perfectly serious.

Time to finish this, Raymond. Let’s see you handle this!

He raised the cursed-looking sock high into the air and shouted with tremendous confidence.

SOCK ATTACK!!

Section 2: The Long-Awaited Concussion Punch

With his filthy sock tightly clenched in his right hand, Michael lunged forward, determined to shove the disgusting weapon straight into Raymond’s mouth.

Gotcha! There’s no escaping this one!

But just as he closed the distance, something completely unexpected happened.

Raymond slowly lowered his crossed forearms, revealing a dark, cunning grin beneath the strange mist swirling in his eyes.

Michael felt a sudden chill.

Wait… What’s with that evil grin?!

Throughout the past several days, Raymond had shown almost no emotion, whether on television, under observation from the fiftieth floor, or during their brutal battle.

Michael had always taken him for a mindless wrecking machine, driven purely by instinct and destruction. That sinister grin proved otherwise.

Hold on… This guy is actually intelligent?!

Michael wasn’t the only one looking for an opening.

Raymond had been waiting for one, too.

Knowing they were evenly matched, Raymond had quietly played along, allowing Michael to guide him toward the unsuspecting coffee drinker.

Even the hot coffee had been part of the act. Raymond’s crossed forearms had blocked every drop, leaving his eyes completely unharmed.

He had simply been waiting for Michael to get close enough.

And now, the hunter had become the prey.

Just as Michael thrust the filthy sock toward his mouth, Raymond’s right hand suddenly shot upward.

SMACK!

The disgusting sock flew out of Michael’s grip, spinning high into the air.

He knew all along! I’ve walked straight into his trap!

Michael immediately sensed the danger, but it was already too late.

Raymond’s left fist was already charged with tremendous energy.

They were practically face-to-face.

No distance.

No escape.

With terrifying precision, Raymond drove his left fist directly into Michael’s powerful abdominal muscles.

CONCUSSION PUNCH!

KRAA-BOOOOOOM!!

A blinding black flash erupted at the exact moment of impact!

Jagged black lightning exploded around Raymond’s fist, accompanied by violent crimson sparks. For one terrifying instant, the air itself seemed to twist and crackle under the tremendous force.

Michael’s eyes widened behind his golden-rimmed glasses.

He couldn’t believe what had just happened.

After more than twenty minutes of fierce combat, Raymond had finally landed his first direct Concussion Punch.

And at that very instant, the world seemed to slow down.

Section 3: One Second in Slow Motion

Everything that followed happened within a single second, yet unfolded like a movie montage, frame by frame.

On the second floor, Brian stared down in disbelief. Even with his Golden Eyes, he had never expected Raymond to land such a devastating blow.

Beside him, Jason was so stunned that his tongue, already hanging out like a dog’s, stretched even farther from his mouth.

Meanwhile, the middle-aged coffee drinker was still furiously waving his arms, shouting at Michael. His mouth moved wildly, but in the strange silence of that frozen moment, not a single word could be heard.

Near the restroom, the man who had been taking a dump behind a potted plant had just finished wiping his ass with toilet paper. He was calmly pulling up his pants, completely unaware of the incredible battle taking place nearby.

And then there was the filthy sock.

After being knocked away by Raymond, the disgusting weapon continued spinning high through the air, trailing its sinister purple aura behind it.

Directly beneath its path stood the same teenage fanboy who had been cheering nonstop throughout the battle.

By now, his voice had grown terribly hoarse from all that screaming. Yet he continued cheering with wild enthusiasm, throwing his head back and opening his mouth as wide as possible.

The filthy sock was heading straight toward his wide-open mouth.

PLOP!

The disgusting ball flew directly inside, cutting his celebration short.

His eyes rolled backward, and his entire body went limp before collapsing onto the floor, instantly unconscious.

But the most extraordinary moment was unfolding at the very center of the battlefield.

Within just 0.1 seconds of Raymond’s punch connecting, Michael gathered every ounce of energy in his body and concentrated it directly into his abdominal muscles.

Using his extraordinary muscular control, he tightened his entire core, turning his powerful abdominal muscles as hard as steel.

Raymond’s devastating vibrations surged through Michael’s body, but his sudden defense absorbed much of the impact. The overwhelming resistance then sent a powerful force back through Raymond’s fist, causing him to skid five meters backward across the shattered marble floor.

CRAAACK!

The violent shock shattered both lenses of Michael’s golden-rimmed glasses, sending tiny fragments flying in every direction. Miraculously, the golden frame remained perfectly intact.

As the final pieces of glass fell to the ground, Michael remained standing, his fists tightly clenched and his abdominal muscles still locked in place. Despite taking a devastating blow at point-blank range, Captain Lam had somehow endured the attack without falling.

The single second had finally passed.

Then, something even more shocking occurred.

For the first time since the destruction began, Raymond finally opened his mouth.

His voice was unusually deep, cold, and sinister. He spoke slowly, with a chilling sense of satisfaction.

“Looks like I win… the great Captain Lam.”

But the battle was far from over.

Section 4: All-Out Madness

A thin stream of blood trickled from the corner of Michael’s mouth.

Without saying a word, he calmly wiped it away with the back of his hand, keeping his eyes firmly fixed on Raymond.

Impressive, Raymond. You actually caught me off guard. But don’t think this battle is over!

Five meters away, Raymond stood motionless, the mysterious dark mist still swirling within his eyes.

Without warning, both fighters charged straight at each other.

BOOOOM!!

They collided with tremendous force, immediately launching into another furious exchange of punches and kicks.

Neither fighter held back anymore.

They abandoned their cautious fighting styles and went completely on the offensive, exchanging more than a hundred attacks over the next several minutes. Their fists struck with tremendous force, their kicks landed with brutal precision, and every powerful impact echoed throughout the devastated mall.

Despite their growing injuries and exhaustion, neither showed the slightest intention of backing down.

The remaining spectators went absolutely wild, cheering as though they were witnessing the greatest martial arts tournament in history.

“Are you seeing this?! They’re not even trying to block anymore! This is insane!”

One particularly enthusiastic man jumped up and down, waving his arms wildly as he watched the two fighters exchange devastating blows.

“I don’t care if I die here! This is the greatest fight I’ve ever seen! It’s totally worth it!”

Little did he realize that his friend, who had been standing right beside him moments earlier, was already lying dead on the floor. He was too absorbed in the battle to notice.

Meanwhile, on the second floor, Jason was beginning to lose interest.

His earlier surprise had faded, replaced by growing boredom. He casually let out a long yawn, his enormous tongue hanging lazily from his mouth.

Beside him, Brian continued studying the battle through his Golden Eyes, carefully examining every movement.

After such a long and punishing fight, both Michael and Raymond were clearly reaching their limits. Their movements had grown slower, their attacks had lost some of their original power, and the injuries they had suffered were beginning to take their toll.

Yet they continued exchanging blows with extraordinary determination.

Brian watched with growing admiration before quietly muttering.

“Hmm… What a spectacular battle! Even after all that punishment, neither one can gain the upper hand. Still perfectly even…”

But as he examined their movements more closely, something unusual caught his attention.

Wait… Something doesn’t add up.

Although both fighters were slowing down, Michael appeared to be struggling with an additional disadvantage.

Through his Golden Eyes, Brian noticed that Michael was repeatedly misjudging Raymond’s distance by just a few inches. His punches were becoming less accurate, leaving openings that Raymond was increasingly able to exploit.

Brian’s attention shifted to Michael’s golden-rimmed glasses. Both lenses had been shattered by the Concussion Punch.

Of course! Without his lenses, he can’t see clearly!

Michael could still follow Raymond’s general movements, but his blurred vision made it increasingly difficult to judge the precise distance and timing of each attack.

The difference was subtle, yet enough to give Raymond a growing advantage.

Brian leaned forward, his expression suddenly turning serious.

“Oh, wait… I think Captain Lam is actually losing!”

Down below, Michael launched another powerful punch toward Raymond’s face.

But with his vision impaired, he misjudged the distance by a few inches.

Raymond instantly ducked beneath the incoming fist and seized the opening.

In one swift motion, he spun around and delivered a devastating low sweep directly at Michael’s legs.

SWOOOOSH!

Michael’s feet were swept clean off the ground, sending him crashing flat onto his back.

BAAAAM!!

The tremendous impact shattered the tiles beneath him, sending deep cracks across the surrounding floor.

Michael lay face-up on the broken marble, his arms and legs spread wide amid the scattered debris.

For the first time in their brutal battle, Captain Lam had been knocked completely off his feet.

And standing directly above him was Raymond, ready to make his next move.

Section 5: Sock Attack: Once More

Before Michael could recover, Raymond dropped one knee firmly onto his abdomen, pinning him against the ground.

Michael struggled to get up, but Raymond’s tremendous strength kept him trapped.

Without wasting a second, Raymond pulled off Michael’s left leather shoe, removed the sweaty sock underneath, and crumpled it into a tight ball.

A familiar, disgusting purple haze rose from the filthy sock, swirling through the air like the aura of a cursed object.

Michael’s eyes widened in horror.

No way… He’s going to finish me with my own Sock Attack?!

Michael immediately pressed his lips tightly together.

But Raymond was already one step ahead.

Without warning, he shifted his knee upward and drove it hard against Michael’s chest, squeezing the air from his lungs.

THUMP!!

The crushing pressure left Michael struggling for breath. Despite his desperate efforts to keep his mouth shut, he instinctively opened it to gasp for air.

Seizing the opportunity, Raymond instantly shoved the filthy sock deep into Michael’s mouth.

SQUISH!!

Michael’s entire body stiffened in disgust, his eyes bulging as the horrifying stench overwhelmed him.

Before he could spit out the sock, Raymond braced his elbow firmly against Michael’s lower jaw, forcing his mouth tightly shut. Pouring every ounce of his remaining strength into the hold, he pressed down with his entire body weight.

Michael twisted and struggled beneath him, but Raymond refused to give an inch.

The unbearable stench began dulling all of Michael’s senses. His vision grew blurry, his strength faded, and his consciousness slowly slipped away.

Time is running out… If I don’t break free now, I’m finished!

In desperation, Michael grabbed Raymond by both shoulders and summoned every last bit of strength remaining in his battered body.

His powerful arms trembled violently as he began pushing upward, fighting against the crushing pressure.

Raymond leaned down even harder, determined to keep Michael’s jaw firmly shut.

But Michael kept pushing.

Little by little, Raymond’s body began to rise.

Then, with one final burst of strength, Michael lifted his opponent completely off the ground.

HNNNGGHHH!!

Raymond’s eyes widened in surprise as his elbow lost its leverage against Michael’s lower jaw.

Michael’s jaw slowly loosened, allowing the disgusting sock to slip toward the edge of his mouth.

Just a little more.

He was almost free.

Section 6: Sock Attack: Down to the Last Second

As the filthy sock slipped farther out of his mouth, a faint glimmer of hope emerged from the depths of Michael’s fading consciousness.

But just as freedom was within reach, Raymond suddenly swung his free hand downward and slapped his palm directly over Michael’s mouth.

SLAAAP!!

The filthy sock was trapped beneath Raymond’s palm, unable to slip any farther.

At that very instant, the last trace of Michael’s consciousness faded into darkness.

His eyes rolled back, his arms gave way, and his entire body went limp.

With nothing left to support him, Raymond dropped back onto Michael’s motionless body.

Raymond rolled off his fallen opponent and slowly struggled to his feet.

He tilted his head back, drawing deep, heavy breaths as his battered body trembled from exhaustion.

His face remained almost entirely expressionless. Yet somewhere beneath that cold, empty stare, the faintest hint of triumph began to emerge.

After nearly thirty minutes of relentless fighting, the battle had finally come to an end.

Raymond had won.

Section 7: The Fallen Captain

For several seconds, an eerie silence swept across the devastated mall.

The remaining spectators stood frozen, staring at Michael’s unconscious body.

Captain Lam, one of the Humble Organization’s most formidable fighters and a highly respected figure in the kung fu world, had finally been defeated.

“Holy crap! Captain Lam actually lost?!”

“Are you kidding me?! He got knocked out by his own sock?!”

The silence suddenly gave way to an explosion of shocked voices.

Some spectators shouted in disbelief, while others stood speechless, struggling to comprehend what they had just witnessed.

Several spectators hurriedly checked their phones, making sure they had captured the entire battle.

“Dude! I got the whole thing on video! This is going straight to YouTube!”

Some spectators were already uploading their recordings. Before long, footage of Captain Lam’s defeat would spread across the internet, sending shockwaves far beyond Flushing City and shaking the very foundations of the kung fu world.

Meanwhile, on the second floor, Brian stood motionless, his Golden Eyes still fixed on the battlefield below.

Despite witnessing every moment of the brutal confrontation, he could hardly believe the outcome.

Captain Lam… actually lost?!

Beside him, Jason continued watching Raymond in silence.

His earlier boredom had completely vanished, replaced by an unusually serious expression.

Without hesitation, Jason launched himself over the second-floor railing with a powerful leap, descending straight toward the ruined mall floor.

BOOOOM!!

He landed several meters in front of Raymond, sending a cloud of dust and shattered marble fragments flying in every direction.

His wild, spiky hair stood above his head, while his half-open white shirt exposed his hairy chest. His blue jeans were covered in dust, and his enormous tongue still hung from his mouth as he held his black steel staff firmly in one hand.

Still struggling to catch his breath, Raymond slowly lowered his gaze and looked toward the unexpected newcomer.

Jason stood perfectly still, his expression deadly serious as he stared directly into Raymond’s eyes.

“Now it’s my turn.”