Everyone knew about the Fist Tyrant Cho Il, a prodigy of the Heavenly Martial Academy tipped as a future Sect Leader of the Nine Sects One Gang and named a Dragon twice in the Dragon and Phoenix Tournament. To the crowd, his victory was a foregone conclusion.
This made Geo Sangwoong's proposal seem especially odd.
He simply cracked his neck and rolled his massive shoulders, his eyes never leaving Cho Il.
"Gold equal to his body weight? Is that even possible?"
"Look at that build. How much would that even come to?"
"Gold equal to his body weight? Is that even possible?"
"He's from the Golden Dragon Trading Company, so it can't be an empty bluff."
The crowd buzzed, and Cho Il's eyes narrowed. Geo Sangwoong had backed him into a corner in a single move. If he refused, he would look like a coward dodging the fight before all these watching eyes. Accept, and he would have to stake his hard-earned alias on it.
This impertinent little... Cho Il ground his teeth behind his smile. He had stepped onto the stage ready to crush Geo Sangwoong's pride, yet the boy had somehow seized the upper hand before he could land a single blow.
He pulled his fist back and unleashed a flurry of blows, each one aimed at Geo Sangwoong's guard, but the larger boy fended them all off with ease.
Still, he had no reason to refuse. He was confident in his martial arts skills, and the humiliation he would inflict only grew sweeter the greater the stakes.
"Fine. Let's do it," he agreed, nodding.
The crowd roared with excitement.
"WOOOOAH!"
The instant the announcer's shout rang out, Cho Il kicked off the ground.
"He accepted!"
"Gold equal to that giant's body weight against the alias of the Fist Tyrant!"
"This is the most interesting matchup yet!"
The unexpected wager whipped the audience into a frenzy. Bets were placed over who would win, and the odds overwhelmingly favored Cho Il.
Geo Sangwoong's eyes gleamed. Instead of dodging, he drew back his own fist and met the blow head-on.
Geo Sangwoong paid the noise no mind. He simply cracked his neck and rolled his massive shoulders, his eyes never leaving Cho Il.
Watch me, Sagon-hyung.
Each of his punches drove Cho Il further back, and the crowd's cheers gradually shifted in favor of the Azure Dragon Academy student.
Geo Sangwoong wasn't sure if his Senior Brother was watching the match, but he was determined to go through with this regardless. Whether Sagon was here or not changed nothing. This was a fight he had to win with his own hands, and a debt he had to collect himself.
Meanwhile, the Azure Dragon Academy instructors gazed at the stage worriedly.
"...That kid, will he be alright? His opponent is the Fist Tyrant," Jaegal Soyeong asked quietly. Baek Suryong had warned them that Cho Il was a Blood Cult spy known as the Blood Dragon. Though he confirmed that the kid was a low-tier operative, Cho Il was still a formidable prodigy.
Baek Suryong observed Geo Sangwoong with calm, sunken eyes. "This is a fight he has to finish himself. Besides, that kid's a lot stronger than you'd think."
He smirked, recalling how hard Geo Sangwoong had trained over the past year. Of the Five Young Azure Dragons, none had sweated more than he had.
Besides, no one understood the grudge that Geo Sangwoong carried better than he did. He would never take this chance at revenge away from the young man.
I can't lose... I won't lose to trash like him!
The announcer raised his voice. "Both fighters, take your positions!"
Geo Sangwoong and Cho Il faced each other and lowered into their stances. A dangerous energy crackled between them, sharp enough to draw blood.
The instant the announcer's shout rang out, Cho Il kicked off the ground.
"...I'll make you regret ever stepping onto this stage," Cho Il growled, his smile finally gone.
Geo Sangwoong grinned. "Funny. I was about to say the same thing."
"Begin!"
Geo Sangwoong's eyes gleamed. Instead of dodging, he drew back his own fist and met the blow head-on.
The instant the announcer's shout rang out, Cho Il kicked off the ground.
Geo Sangwoong taunted, "That's a pretty weak punch for a Fist Tyrant."
WHOOSH!
He closed the distance in a heartbeat, his fist rocketing toward Geo Sangwoong's face. This was the kind of speed that had earned him the name 'Fist Tyrant.' Ordinary eyes could barely follow his movements.
CRACK!
Geo Sangwoong caught the punch with his palm. A shockwave rippled out from the impact, kicking clouds of dust into the air.
"...!" Cho Il's eyes widened in shock. He had put all his power into that strike, yet Geo Sangwoong stopped it without giving an inch.
.* Cho Il ground his teeth behind his smile.
Geo Sangwoong taunted, "That's a pretty weak punch for a Fist Tyrant."