Winner Takes All

"I've been waiting for you!"

In the darkness, the person whose wrist was being grabbed by Brent was not startled but was actually pleased.

Jack frowned. Apart from the fighting cage which was brightly lit, the rest of the place was so dark that one can't see his hand even it was held in front of him. "Who are you?" Brent relaxed his hand as he was confident that the person will not do anything. He was equally confident of striking him down if he tried anything.

The man walked forward towards the lighted cage and revealed his centipede looking scar at the corner of his eye.

"Lone Wolf?!"

Jack was stunned and reacted, "Why did you sneak up on me just now?"

Jack held back his punches when he fought Lone Wolf the last time. At that time, he didn't think that Lone Wolf would bear a grudge from his reactions but did he try to sucker punch him a moment ago? "I, I just wanted to greet you."

Lone Wolf felt awkward, "It wouldn't be appropriate for me to call out to you when a competition was ongoing at Underground Fight Club."

Jack rubbed his nose and laughed awkwardly. "You can call out to me when you're nearer. By reaching out towards me in the dark, Brent would definitely think that you are up to no good."

"I didn't think it through carefully." Lone Wolf laughed.

Jack found that the current behavior of Lone Wolf was very different from their fight in the cage. When they were in the cage, Lone Wolf gave him a feeling that he was bloodthirsty like a wild beast. He was much warmer and friendly now. Hence, he was conflicted.

Roar!

Loud shouts and cheers roared in the darkness of Underground Fight Club.

Jack was startled and turned towards the cage. The fight was at a white-hot stage. The bloody gore and cruelty brought the arena's excitement to its climax. Every blow to the flesh and skillful violence easily conjured up a person's wild instinct.

"Very soon we'll know who the winner is." Lone Wolf said calmly, "The opponent cannot match Hippo's strength and body weight, we'll know who the winner is within a minute."

Being immersed at Underground Fight Club all year round, Lone Wolf was very professional and familiar with the fights and competitors.

Jack didn't react to his comment. A fight can turn fatal at any moment at Underground Fight Club. It could not be compared to those regulated fights that were categorized based on weight. But Brent suddenly asked Jack, "Master Hughes, what do you think?"

Jack was bewildered and then came to his senses. Brent was testing him. The Lone Wolf also frowned but remained silent. When he sneaked up to them, he was detected and stopped by Brent. With this simple encounter, he was clear that Brent's skills far surpassed his.

In the darkness, the screams and shouts came in waves. While it was bloody in the cage and exceedingly violent.

The person who Lone Wolf called Hippo had already taken control of the situation and proceeded to break the left arm of the opponent. What alarmed Jack was that the small fighter continued to dodge swiftly even with a broken arm. He even used his right arm to counter-attack. It was obvious that he didn't let his size disadvantage nor his injury get the better of him.

This captivated Jack's attention.

The seconds ticked by. The crowd erupted along with the white-hot fight. Jack's fixated on the fight and more accurately on the small fighter. Brent started to grin beside him.

Lone Wolf murmured, "Could he turn the fight around?"

As soon as he said, Jack suddenly spoke, "This small fighter's footwork is rather strange."

Lone Wolf was startled and quickly observed the footwork of the small fighter.

And Brent continued to question, "In what way is it strange?"

"The steps seem haphazard but yet organized. He seems to be able to dodge precarious situations."

Jack was fixated at the small fighter and said with disbelief, "His footwork gives me a feeling that he is a beast waiting for an opportunity to strike. He was waiting for the best opportunity for a fatal blow!" Brent's frown was replaced by a smile of surprise.

When he was a mercenary, the vicious fighting that he encountered was far more cruel than in this fighting cage. He also utilized all of his terrifying prowess which was nothing that Lone Wolf had ever experienced.

Even a professional like Lone Wolf didn't notice it. But Master Hughes who had fought only once actually... detected it!

Such a terrifying fighting instinct even tugged at Brent's heart.

As soon as he said that.

"Argh!"

Within the metal cage, the small fighter who endured all the punches suddenly erupted.

"Now!"

At the same moment, Jack's eyes lit up.

In the cage, the small fighter crouched down and dashed forward while using his right arm to brace himself along the floor. Then he rapidly sprung up and with a woosh, his right knee drove into Hippo's solar plexus.

Kaboom!

With an oomph, the towering Hippo's body stiffened up and fell over within the cage.

The roaring spectators became silent. Everyone was in disbelief. No one expected the all but certain ending to have such a different outcome!

It wasn't until the winner was announced did the arena erupt with roars and screams again.

"Wow... he really turned the tide and came from behind to win!" Lone Wolf said in awe with his eyes and mouth wide open and looked inside the cage in disbelief.

"Hoof..." Jack heaved a long sigh. All his attention was on the small fighter and he got all worked up along with the fight.

"Master Hughes, your improvement is alarming!" Brent praised Jack and patted his shoulders and smiled happily.

Part of the Hughes family training for the younger generation was physical fitness and fighting skills. After he started to serve at the Hughes family, he became acutely aware of all the physical and fighting abilities of the younger generation.

But no one advanced as quickly as Jack!

"Old master has a blazing foresight!" Brent praised as he sighed to himself.

"Stop it, you gave me a hint and that was why I looked closely. This was much easier than what Lone Wolf had to do." Jack replied to avoid embarrassing Lone Wolf.

Brent nodded and slowly said, "Master Hughes, please remember that fighting skills are the same as killing. Before the fight is over, you can be attacked a hundred times but as long as you are not knocked out and you can still grasp the opportunity and win with a blow. Similarly, killing a person only requires a well timed and positioned blow."

Jack nodded silently.

Standing on one side, Lone Wolf looked in awe and seemed to be deep in thoughts.

Brent laughed, "But, that small fighter was still foolish. He paid such a huge price in exchange for a life. He suffered a broken an arm to kill his opponent. Now he won't be able to fight for the next two months." "Close quarters combat requires killer instincts. Before the winner is determined, you must endeavor to balance the cost versus the benefits. Use the smallest price in exchange for the killing blow!" Jack pondered and pursed his lips in agreement.

"I'll go and register for Master Hughes to fight." Brent nodded and left.

At this moment, Lone Wolf came to his senses. His eyes looked respectfully at Brent and then towards Jack. In a matter of seconds, he was in doubt and then pondered again and his expression kept changing.

In the end, he braced himself and said with a deep tone, "Sir, please allow me to serve you!"