The morning sun painted the streets golden as Ippo and Alex made their way to the gym.
The older of the cousins, Ippo, wore his usual determined expression, but Alex had an air of calm confidence about him. He walked with a spring in his step, every move deliberate, every gesture measured.
Unknown to everyone else, Alex's confidence wasn't just bluster. The night before, while Ippo and his mother were fast asleep, Alex had quietly pushed his template further. He shadow-boxed in the dim moonlight streaming into their room, focusing on perfecting his form and movements, increasing his template proficiency.
System Panel
[Template: Hitman Style - Training Progression]Current Proficiency: 3%Last Shadow Boxing Session: +1%Time Spent Training: 8 DaysSkills: Flash, Crazy Mode (not unlocked)
Alex's lips twitched into a small smile as the system's words flashed in his mind.
Eight days. Eight days in this gym, and I'm already improving like this. Not bad. I spent the last week mastering the basics, reaching 3% proficiency, but the extra effort last night pushed him one step further. Every bit counted.
When the cousins arrived, the gym was bustling. Fighters were scattered across the room, punching heavy bags, skipping ropes, and working mitts.
But as Alex began his warm-up, the buzz shifted. Slowly, people started to gather around, their conversations fading as they watched the focused Alex.
"Look at him," one fighter murmured. "The guy's so calm, like he already knows he'll win."
"He's got that aura," another said, leaning against the wall. "Like he's been doing this for years."
Ippo gazed at Alex from the side, admiration and a hint of envy flickering across his face.
Takamura smirked, watching the scene unfold.
"He's good. No, he's really good. And all this in just over a week. Makes you wonder where he's been hiding this talent."
The crowd grew silent as Alex climbed into the ring. Across from him, Miyata entered, his expression calm but his eyes sharp, analyzing Alex's every move.
The two met at the center, their gloves touching briefly in a gesture of respect before stepping back into their corners.
Kamogawa's voice broke the tension.
"Keep it clean. I'll stop it if things get out of hand. Understood?"
Both nodded.
The bell rang, and the match began.
Miyata immediately adopted a southpaw stance, his lead right hand extended slightly, ready to counter. Alex responded by slipping into his Hitman Style, his left hand low and his right fist poised near his chin, his body angled defensively.
The first few seconds were a dance of feints and probing jabs. Alex's jab was lightning-fast, snapping forward, hitting Miyata's guard. Miyata, having trouble with Alex's speed, circled to the left to avoid getting caught.
Alex, looking at Miyata running away, launched a double jab followed by a straight. Miyata stepped back just enough to avoid the straight, then countered with a sharp left cross. Alex tilted his head back, narrowly dodging the blow, and returned with a quick jab-body hook combination that forced Miyata to reset.
The crowd erupted.
"Damn, that was fast!" someone exclaimed.
Miyata's father, watching from the side, furrowed his brow.
"This Alex... his talent is different."
In the ring, Miyata took the initiative this time and tried to blitz Alex with a jab to the body followed up with a right overhand.
Alex blocked the jab using his forearm but got hit with a clean overhand — bang — the sound reverberated through the noisy gym.
In the crowd, Takamura's eyes locked on Alex.
"How?"
Aoki's eyes widened, so did Kimura who was leaning against the wall. Ippo tilted his head, looking at Alex, who was standing there unscathed.
Alex, looking at Miyata who stood frozen in front of him...
Shit... should I pretend that I took damage? I didn't realize that Gaolang's durability is this good. I should've known it, Gaolang is a fcking superhuman,* he thought to himself.
Miyata's mind was running fast.
How did this guy take a clean right overhand from me? That's my full power. I intended to knock him out in payback for our last sparring. Just how? Is he on steroids? Is his chin made out of steel?
A voice echoed through the silent gym.
"That's enough!" Kamogawa, hands crossed, walked into the ring.
The bell rang sharply, and both fighters snapped out of their own thoughts.
The crowd was silent as Miyata and Alex removed their gloves.
Miyata's POV
Shit, wtf is that? I have never seen a human like that. Is he even a human? Then a picture ran through my mind — a middle-aged dude with white hair and a lean build. I've heard that this guy only took monster students. Maybe, just maybe, Alex is a monster just like this guy's student. I'll just convince myself that Alex is different, because if I don't, I may have a meltdown.
Alex shook hands with the coach and sat on the bench, his mind drifting.
What now? I feel the eyes around me, are they wondering how I could take a clean right overhand like that without even taking damage?
Sigh... what should I do?
Then a brilliant idea popped into my mind.
Yes, that's right. I will hold myself back. When I fight, I will try to fall down and I will make my punches a bit slower. I will make some of my fights competitive. I need to do this. I don't want to get diced in a laboratory.
Maybe this is not only the Hajime no Ippo verse. I hope this is a mixed world so I wouldn't hold my power back.