The bell rang for Round 5. Both Karikalan and Elara stood tall, staring into each other's eyes. The arena was silent, heavy with tension. Fans leaned forward, waiting for the first strike.
Commentators (excited): "Look at this! Both fighters have lowered their guards — they're not going to defend anymore. This is going to be a battle of endurance, a clash until one of them collapses!"
Suddenly, fists flew. Both men exchanged a barrage of punches, each strike echoing like thunder. The shockwaves rattled the ring, the ropes trembling under the force.
Elara roared, landing a powerful punch across Karikalan's cheek. The crowd gasped at the impact.
But Karikalan didn't falter. His eyes sharpened, his body moved with instinct. He countered instantly — unleashing his Shadow Punch.
The strike landed with devastating precision, a blur of speed and power. The arena erupted in chaos.
Commentators (shouting): "Oh my god! Karikalan has countered with the Shadow Punch! The intensity of these blows is beyond imagination — this fight has reached a whole new level!"
The crowd stomped their feet in rhythm, the sound like rolling thunder. Fans screamed Karikalan's name, while Elara's supporters watched in fear, realizing the champion was being pushed to his limits.
The fighters locked eyes, the arena trembling with anticipation. Suddenly, Elara shifted — his body weaving in a zig zag motion so fast it blurred into multiple after images.
Karikalan (inner voice, tense): "What is this? An image displaying technique? There are so many Elaras dancing in front of me… If I don't move now, I'll become his prey."
Elara lifted his guard, then exploded forward — launching a barrage of punches so fast the crowd couldn't follow.
Crowd (shocked): "He's moving so fast… I can't see his punches!" "Can Karikalan even see these attacks? He's defending himself against a storm!"
Karikalan raised his arms, instinct guiding him as he blocked and absorbed the invisible barrage. Each strike echoed like thunder, shaking the ring.
Commentators (breathless): "These fighters are making this battle more intense than any sport entertainment we've ever seen! This is beyond boxing, beyond martial arts — this is a clash of wills!"
Celebrities, once mocking, now sat in awe.
Celebrities (astonished): "I thought fighting was just throwing punches… I thought cricket was the only sport that mattered. But this… this is underrated brilliance."
Pooja's eyes glistened, her voice trembling with excitement:
Pooja (mesmerized): "For the first time, I feel frenzy in my heart. These men are giving everything they've learned throughout their lives. Yet martial arts in India is still underrated compared to other leagues. Now… I want to learn martial arts myself. I think they are the future of martial arts."
The arena roared, stomping their feet in rhythm, the sound like a drumbeat of destiny. Karikalan's aura flared as he prepared to turn defense into offense.
Karikalan held his guard firm, absorbing Elara's blinding barrage. The arena shook with every strike, the crowd unable to follow the speed.
Suddenly, Elara lunged forward — his body twisting, his fist slicing through the air like a blade.
Commentators (shouting): "Wait! Elara's using the Chopper! That move targets the neck — the force alone is shaking the ring!"
The crowd gasped, unable to see clearly through the blur. Whispers spread like wildfire: "Is Karikalan down?" "Did Elara collapse?" "Or… did both fall?"
The truth silenced them all. The Chopper slammed against Karikalan's forehead. Blood trickled down, staining his face.
But Karikalan did not fall. He stood tall, his eyes locked on Elara, his aura blazing.
Arena (stunned): "He's still standing…!"
Elara's own eyes widened in disbelief. The champion had unleashed his deadliest strike, yet Karikalan remained upright — staring at him like a wounded tiger, bloodied but unbroken.
Commentators (breathless): "Unbelievable! Karikalan took the Chopper head on, and he's still on his feet! This is no ordinary fighter — this is a man who refuses to fall!"
The crowd erupted, stomping their feet in rhythm, the sound like thunder rolling across the arena.
Blood streamed down Karikalan's forehead, soaking his face, yet his body stood firm. His eyes burned with rage.
Karikalan (snarling): "Is this all you've got? Do you think I would fall for this so called Chopper? Uh… pathetic."
Elara froze, his fists trembling. His father's eyes widened, disbelief etched across his face.
Father (inner monologue, shaken): "What? How can he withstand the Chopper? That move was meant to end careers… How? How? How is it possible for someone to resist this force? Is he even human?"
Elara's voice cracked, his pride collapsing:
Elara (to himself): "No… this can't be. How can he still stand? How can he resist the Chopper?"
Fueled by desperation, Elara roared and launched another punch. But Karikalan leaned his body, twisted, and dodged with fluid instinct.
The arena trembled. Even Richard and Veera, who had believed in Karikalan from the start, now stood frozen, their faces pale with shock.
Elara (confused, panicked): "What's happening to everyone? Why do their faces look terrified?"
He turned his neck back — and what he saw made his blood run cold.
Karikalan stood there, blood dripping down his body, his lips curled into a chilling laugh.
Karikalan (laughing, defiant): "Hahaha…"
The sound echoed through the arena like the roar of a wounded tiger, terrifying yet majestic.
Karikalan surged forward, fists blazing, unleashing a barrage of punches that hammered against Elara's guard. Each strike carried such force that shockwaves rippled across the ring.
Elara (straining, inner voice): "His punches… they're creating shockwaves! Ahhh… I've never felt such power behind fists before. I can't hold much longer…"
Karikalan's feet moved in a blur, circling Elara so fast that his body created after images.
Commentators (shouting): "The challenger is moving in circles! He's creating an image illusion — proving why he's a powerful challenger to the champion!"
For the first time, Elara's eyes widened in awe.
Elara (smirking, defiant): "What? He created an image illusion of himself? Hmph… there's no way I'll be knocked down by silly tricks."
But Karikalan suddenly stopped, his aura surging. He channeled all the energy in his body into his fist.
Karikalan (roaring): "Aaaaaaaa…!"
He launched the upgraded Striking Flash Punch. The air itself trembled, the shockwave rattling the arena.
Elara's father's face turned pale.
Father (terrified): "Elara! Move away from that punch! That's the Striking Flash Punch — upgraded! If you face it head on, you'll be destroyed!"
Elara clenched his teeth, pride burning in his chest.
Elara (defiant): "What? It looks like a normal punch… I'll face it. I'll show him I'm the strongest here!"
Father (desperate): "No! Move away from that punch!"
But it was too late. Karikalan's fist roared forward, a shockwave exploding across the ring.
Elara dodged at the last second — but the punch grazed his forearm.
Elara (screaming): "Ahhhhhh! My forearm… it shattered!"
The bone cracked under the sheer force, blood spraying as Elara clutched his broken arm. The arena gasped, stunned by the shockwave that rippled through the air.
Commentators (breathless): "Unbelievable! The upgraded Striking Flash Punch shattered Elara's forearm even though he dodged! The power behind that fist is beyond imagination!"
Celebrities sat frozen, their arrogance gone, their faces pale with awe. The crowd trembled, realizing they had just witnessed a punch that could break bones with a mere graze.