The referee's eyes glanced toward Ryder and Brizks. He raised his right hand high, then quickly dropped it while shouting,
"FIGHT!"
The fight began.
The referee immediately stepped back, giving space to both fighters now facing each other in the wide arena.
Brizks charged forward, both hands reaching out to grab Ryder's body. Ryder quickly leaped to the right, dodging the grasp.
But Brizks didn't give up, immediately chasing after Ryder again. Seeing that, Ryder spun his body, then launched a straight kick toward Brizks's head.
The kick landed squarely on Brizks's head. Blood started dripping from Brizks's temple onto the floor.
Brizks shook his head, looking dizzy from Ryder's kick. Ryder took the chance to deliver another kick toward Brizks's head.
However, Brizks managed to dodge, feeling the gust of air from Ryder's narrowly missed kick. Ryder quickly retracted his leg and spun like a tornado, throwing a punch with his right hand toward Brizks.
Brizks ducked, avoiding the spinning punch, then closed in to use his signature move—wrapping his arms around his opponent before slamming them down.
In an instant, both of Brizks's arms locked around Ryder's body.
"Got you, Ryder!!" he shouted with a sinister smile.
Ryder immediately punched Brizks in the head.
Ryder's punches landed on Brizks's head several times, but Brizks didn't let go. Instead, he lifted Ryder's body and threw him hard backward.
"Bugh!"
The back of Ryder's head slammed against the floor. Blood started to flow from his mouth.
Brizks finally released his grip. Ryder lay there, trying to get up while gasping for air. His vision began to blur, making it hard for his eyes to focus.
Brizks walked toward him with a wide grin.
"Let's see who's wearing diapers today," he mocked with a small laugh.
Brizks then threw a kick toward Ryder's body, but Ryder rolled backward to avoid it.
When Brizks was only a few steps away, Ryder launched a kick toward Brizks's ankle.
Brizks grimaced in pain, giving Ryder an opening to stand up and land a hard punch on Brizks's face.
The punch hit Brizks squarely in the face. But Brizks didn't step back; he retaliated with a punch to Ryder's face.
Both of them took each other's punches. Ryder then jumped forward, aiming a punch at Brizks's head.
But before the punch could land, Brizks jumped, driving his knee into Ryder's stomach.
"Argh..."
Ryder groaned, blood spurting from his mouth again, splattering on the floor. His body fell, and Brizks was immediately on top of him, ready to deliver the next punch.
Brizks smiled mockingly. "Don't forget your diaper after losing here."
A solid punch landed on Ryder's face.
Another punch.
Now Ryder's face was covered with bruises and blood, almost unrecognizable. Yet in the midst of the pain, he remembered his mother's smiling face.
Mom... I can't lose...
With ragged breaths, Ryder began searching for an opening to counter Brizks's attacks.
Ryder aimed a hard punch directly at Brizks's stomach.
"Argh...!"
Brizks immediately coughed up blood, the splatter hitting Ryder's hoodie. Brizks's body began to weaken from the punch.
Ryder didn't stop. He delivered another heavy punch.
Brizks winced in pain and staggered away from Ryder. Ryder quickly rolled his body to create some distance.
Both of them were now at their limits. Blood flowed from their mouths, dripping onto the floor.
"WHAT IS HAPPENING TO THESE TWO?! THIS FIGHT IS INTENSE!"
The commentator's voice boomed from the speakers in the corner of Club Harlem.
The cheers of the audience reached their peak, unable to wait for who would win tonight. Their bets hung on Ryder and Brizks.
Ryder stood, wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth, his eyes locked on Brizks.
'A troublesome opponent... If I get slammed again, I might lose,' Ryder thought.
Brizks also stood, blood still flowing from his head from Ryder's earlier kick.
'This guy is incredible... No one's ever survived my slam before. Usually, they pass out instantly,' Brizks thought, gritting his teeth.
They both ran toward each other again. Neither wanted to surrender.
As the distance closed, Brizks swung his leg, trying to sweep. Ryder jumped, dodging it with quick reflexes.
Ryder's body flew through the air. Using that momentum, he aimed his knee at Brizks's face. Brizks crossed his arms to block the attack.
Brizks pushed Ryder's knee away with his arms, forcing Ryder to stumble back a few steps before steadying himself.
Their breathing was ragged, uneven.
"TONIGHT IS THE MOST INTENSE NIGHT! BOTH OF THEM REFUSE TO LOSE!!"
The commentator continued shouting, making the atmosphere even tenser. The audience, who had been cheering, now held their breath, waiting to see who would fall first.
Ryder and Brizks ran toward each other once more. But this time, their steps slowed, their bodies weakening from blood loss.
Yet in their eyes, the determination to not surrender remained, until one fell and the other stood as the winner tonight.
The sound of their shoes pounding on the floor echoed faintly among the screams of the spectators.
Brizks, the larger man, tried to perform another sweep, but his movements were slower. Ryder blocked the leg with his knee, forcing his battered body to move forward despite the burning pain from the wounds on his head.
"Argh!!"
Ryder released a punch toward Brizks's jaw. Brizks tried to block with his elbow, but Ryder's strength still forced Brizks's head to whip to the side.
Blood splattered again from Brizks's lips, dripping onto the floor with a clear dripping sound that echoed in Ryder's ears.
If I stop now, I won't be able to pay for Mom's hospital bills... I can't stop.
Ryder advanced again, punching Brizks's stomach once, twice, three times. Brizks hunched over, but he still grabbed Ryder's shoulders tightly, pulling him and twisting his body to throw Ryder to the ground.
Ryder's body slammed onto the floor. His vision went dark instantly, the sound of the crowd disappearing, replaced by the sound of his own heavy breathing.
His body refused to get up, but Ryder clenched his teeth.
Mom... wait for me...
He slowly got up. His knees were trembling, but he forced himself to stand, staring at Brizks, who was also staggering.
Brizks snorted, blood dripping from his temple. His red eyes stared at Ryder with a bitter smile.
"You bastard... you're stubborn too," Brizks muttered before stepping forward, taking a deep breath to gather his remaining strength.
They both ran again.
The crowd shouted once more, "RYDER! RYDER!" while others screamed Brizks's name, their voices blending into a chaotic roar.
Brizks threw a hook punch toward Ryder, but Ryder ducked, then countered with an uppercut that landed on Brizks's chin.
Brizks's head snapped upward. His eyes went blank for a moment before his large body fell, crashing onto the floor.
The entire crowd went silent, then erupted in cheers.
"OOOOOOOOOOOOHHH!!!"
Ryder stood with ragged breaths, blood still dripping from his lips. His legs trembled, almost unable to support his body. His eyes stared at Brizks, who wasn't moving on the floor.
"...I won," Ryder muttered, his breath shaking.
"THE WINNER IS RYDER!!"
The commentator's voice boomed, sending the crowd into a frenzy. Coins from bets were tossed into the air, victory cheers filling Club Harlem that night.
Ryder slowly dropped to one knee, pressing a hand against his chest, which felt like it was being crushed.
I did it... the money for Mom... I got it tonight.
Tears almost fell from his eyes, but he quickly wiped them away, standing with a faint smile even though his entire body was covered in wounds and blood.
He looked up at the club's flickering lights, hearing the cheers, smelling the blood, sweat, and cigarette smoke that filled the air. But in his mind, all he could see was his mother's face, lying in the hospital bed, with the small smile he always missed.