Next day,
Gin woke up early morning and trained in his Physique Stances. His limit improved a little, now he was able to maintain the stances for almost 3 minutes.
After practicing for 2 hours, he halted his training and relaxed his body, so that he can remain in his peak state for the battle.
Gin then freshened up, came out dressed in a full sleeve blue t-shirt, black pants, and a black coat. After having a small breakfast, he waited for the announcement of his battle.
"Mr. Ray, your battle with contestant Hank will commence in 10 minutes. Please reach the 'battle stage 3' as soon as possible." An announcement sounded in his room.
'Finally!' Gin left his room, hearing the announcement.
Gin reached the entryway of battle stage 3 where he was inspected by two guards. In the arena, fighting using a weapon is allowed but hidden and technological weapons are not allowed.
"You can enter the stage after you hear the announcement," A guard said.
"Ok," Gin responded and waited. Soon, an announcement reverberated in the arena
"Our battle at 'Stage 3' is going to start soon — between Ray and Hank. Spectators can place their bets now."
"Please welcome, Mr. Ray. He is new to our arena with a combat strength at Physique Enrichment stage level 4."
Gin entered the stage and stood at one side. From the other side, Hank entered as soon as the announcement welcomed him.
Hank is a 6-feet stocky man with short, messy blonde hair and transparent grey eyes. He wore a brown tank top, black pants, and fingerless gloves.
Shortly, a referee wearing a white robe with a battleborn arena symbol in it entered the stage and stood between them.
"All strikes and skills were allowed except for crippling and killing the opponent, which were banned."
"You have to say 'I admit defeat' if you want to surrender."
"Understood?" The referee asked while Gin and Hank nodded.
"Start" The referee loudly shouted and withdrew from the stage.
--
Unknown to Gin, Baste and Juvan were watching the battle from the far corner of the spectators stand.
"Senior Juvan, Gin won't have any mishap, right?" Baste asked.
"Haha. Baste, is it? I know your strength is not weaker than me so you don't have to call me senior." Juvan said.
"I am a person who respects the elderly!" Baste solemnly stated.
"Are you saying I am old?" Juvan squinted his eyes.
"haha, of course not." Baste scratched his head in embarrassment.
"Don't worry your junior won't have an accident with me here. You can leave by putting your heart at ease."
"Thanks, I will leave after the battle."
"As you wish"
--
"How many Elemental stones did you bet against me, newbie?" Hank asked.
"What?" Gin didn't understand Hank's words.
Noticing Gin's confusion, Hank screamed: "Uhh, this is why I hate facing newbies!"
"Forget it, let's battle," Hank said and his entire momentum changed.
Gin didn't bother about Hank's words. He somewhat sensed a faint killing intent from Hank's momentum.
'What the heck? did he want to kill me?' Gin didn't understand why Hank was emitting a murderous intent towards him.
In the next moment, he saw a shadow before him. Before Gin could react, he saw two fingers thrusting towards his eyes; attempting to pluck.
Gin knows if he doesn't evade, the two fingers will injure his eyes or even blind him.
At the last moment, Gin shifted his body sideways and dodged the attack; or so, he thought.
"Bang!"
The hand which he evaded pressed his head forward and a strong impact hit him in his chest. The impact shoved Gin two meters back, but it didn't hurt him that much.
The knee strike was strong, but it didn't have the power to injure Gin as his body was quite strong.
Even Hank was surprised noticing his opponent was not injured by his strike.
"I thought that one strike will finish you off. Looks like you are quite strong for a newbie!" Hank said.
From the last strike, Gin sensed his opponent's strength was slightly below him but he wasn't able to react which showed how lacking his experience was.
This time Gin didn't allow his opponent to strike first as he was already dashing forward utilizing his movement technique - Ray of the morning sun.
In the next second, Gin was standing before his opponent while throwing a punch towards his throat.
At the same time, Gin noticed Hank's hook-shaped hand aiming at his windpipe.
Unlike last time, Hank's fist was coated in blue metallic energy. Clearly, the opponent was utilizing his essence energy this time in his strike.
If he strikes, his opponent will also strike him. Gin retracted his punch and dodged the attack.
'Retracting the punch was a mistake!'
Out of nowhere, a punch struck his chest. 'Bang!' The strike was fast and strong, hurling Gin a few meters.
Gin felt like he was struck by the iron club; even with his strong physique, he sensed pain.
The injury didn't affect Gin much, as he rose up and faced the opponent's next attack.
Gin knows his opponent is strong, not in strength but by experience. The clash between them continued for another 5 minutes.
At first, Hank thought he would win the battle after some exchanges but only now he understood how wrong he was.
His opponent is like a cockroach, no matter the injuries he raised again and again. Moreover, his physique was also terrifying.
No matter the opponents, they would have a headache facing Gin's strong physique.
Only after 100 bouts of exchange, Hank sensed what kind of terrifying opponent he's facing.
Gin was like a sponge, absorbing everything. He learned, corrected and improved himself in the same battle.
'How could that be? Why am I feeling like I was battling a different person from a few minutes ago?"
'This won't do, I have to end the battle quick!' Hank thought.
Gin also sensed his opponent strikes have become more violent and powerful. He felt Hank was going to use his powerful offensive technique under his arsenal.
He also figured his opponent's style of fighting – striking the enemy's soft spots which would put pressure on any humans.
When faced with these kinds of attacks, you would feel that your opponent is trying to kill you.
Having no choice, you can either dodge or block the attack but only then you will face the enemy's true attack.
Gin was also under a lot of pressure facing Hank's killing blows but after figuring his pattern of attacks, he eased.
Blocking the vision with his hands, aiming his throat, neck, nether, and heart regions. These are the specialties of his opponent, Hank.
Moreover, his opponent is a Metal affinity user. So, both his offense and defense were strong.
After 5 minutes, Gin grasped his opponent's strength and weakness while his body relaxed.
As his body relaxed, his tense nerves also finally calmed down. Gin could feel his state of mind and body is in perfect condition for a counterattack.
'Swish'
An air piercing sound rang while Hank's fist traveled past Gin's ear. Gin calmly dodged the attack by tilting his head slightly.
At the same moment, he blocked his opponent's hidden kick aiming at his knee joint.
Gin could foresee his opponents every move, so he was easily able to block and evade. A sidestep to right, crouching his body a little Gin jabbed Hank in his stomach.
Even though Hank blocked the attack using hands, he was pushed ten or so steps back.
"Excellent!" A loud voice arose from the spectator stand.
Gin didn't notice the applaud he got from the spectator, he was surprised as it was his first attack that connected perfectly with his opponent.
--
"Why are you even shouting?" Juvan who was by his side asked.
'Oops!' Baste closed his mouth as the person who shouted is none other than himself.
Even so, Juvan was surprised by Gin's strike which he would answer in a single world – perfect.
Furthermore, Gin's growth in a single battle astonished both Baste and Juvan.
'He is good!' Both of them thought.
--
Gin also felt his combat skills are improving as he didn't feel any pressure facing his opponent's strikes anymore.
Gin and Hank stood face to face, waiting for the other to make the first move.
Some part of Gin's body is covered in bruises, even though none of them were deep, it was enough to collapse his mental barrier.
But, the notion of defeat terrified Gin as something in his innermost soul kept shrieking: 'You can't lose! You can't lose!'
Unlike Gin, who has limitless stamina Hank didn't have such a luxury. The 'essence energy' within his body is limited, and so, he has to finish the battle quickly.