Harland readied himself, adopting his karate-like stance once more but this time his expression seemed slightly shaken, in response to this change yelling was heard.
The voice, which sounded male, most likely belonged to his coach. It seemed like he shouted something, but the words couldn't be deciphered.
Harland's expression hardened. Clenching his fists—he once again shuffled towards Atkarsh.
"Even after the hard blow he took, Atkarsh is still not getting into a stance... hes just standing there," Joe stated, sounding incredulous.
"Why would he? The human just got lucky earlier since Atkarsh was going easy on him but now, Atkarsh is going to take things a bit more seriously—since a fly is buzzing annoyingly near his face after all."
Still smiling, Atkarsh raised his upper right hand upward and curled his index finger inward to him self.
"Bring it," he beckoned contemptuously.
However it like his words fell on deaf ears as Harland approached Atkarsh in a merticoulously purposeful manner.
"Another free attack? Or is he trying to goad him so he can counter him?" Joe thought aloud
Theodore's eyebrows furrowed.
'No. The air feels... heavy. This time won't be free.'
Just Like before, as Harland was a few feet from Atkarsh, his feet deftly executed a shuffle but paused. Atkarsh didn't even react instead his smile deepened as he continued taunting like he was encouraging a child. Nonetheless, Harland continued, his back leg kicking off of the ground, sending him forward like a whirlwind. This time however—his left shoulder whipped out and his left arm, moving with unprecedented speed, blurred towards Atkarsh's face.
*Whoosh*
*Thud*
Harland's fist struck an empty expanse of exoskeleton above Atkarsh's mouth, jolting his head before he could even process what happened. Feeling the sudden vibration, Atkarsh threw 2 vicious left hooks. One aiming for Harland's body, the other for his head.
*Voom*
Reacting to this, Harland swiftly took a back-step.
'I barely even saw the end of that jab and it's only bait?' Theodore marveled.
The air cleaved around Atkarsh's fists as they fell short of their targets. As a result, the momentum carried Atkarsh's body to Harland's right side. Seizing this opportunity, he twisted his hips clockwise and tensed his left arm muscles vigorously—releasing a powerful lead hook.
*Whack!*
Harland winced, but not as painfully as he did before. Atkarsh's face was moving somewhat, as small shards of exoskeleton rolled down the right side of his face, scarlet red filling the cracks.
'Oh!'
Without processing what had occurred. Atkarsh threw another set of wind cleaving punches. This time shooting from his right straight at Harland but he was already reflexively taking a back-step—resulting in Atkarsh's punches falling short once again but only by a hair.
"Another check right hook!" Joe exclaimed, far after it occurred.
Pushing off the ground with his back and front right jointed legs, Atkarsh arrived right in front of Harland. Harland's face was colored with shock. Atkarsh threw two left straight punches with equal intensity as the last. Harland's legs became lead knowing instinctually that he couldn't dodge in time—his front left leg shot up—planting on Atkarsh's approaching abdomen. As Atkarsh's fists neared dangerously close, he pushed off Atkarsh with his leg, using him as a foothold.
*Voom*
Atkarsh's fists barely grazed him as his body was launched a significant distance away.
Joe jumped from his seat.
"Unbelievable!! We are witnessing a firefight between two skilled fighters. I can't believe Harland used Atkarsh to create space, in order to dodge his fists… just phenomenal!"
"This coward! He keeps running away! He's only prolonging the natural result." Samir added stubbornly.
*KrrKrrKrr*
Atkarsh's back was slightly hunched an ugly expression painted on his face, as a guttural growl rumbled from deep within Atkarsh's chest, his exoskeleton vibrating with rage.
"Harland seems to have made him thoroughly lose his mind." Joe commented.
"…" Samir was mute.
Atkarsh bent his legs.
"AAHH!" Atkarsh yelled as he once again flew at Harland.
Harland bounced off his back leg, sidestepping to the left, whilst simultaneously crouching horizontally, by bending the right side of his torso to the left.
*Whoosh*
Atkarsh's body went barreling past Harland's right shoulder.
*Thud*
Atkarsh landed on the floor, his jointed legs sprawled along the canvas. His arms had slammed against the ground to break his fall.
"Oh! He Braced the landing but that still must have been pretty hard. Because of that heavy exoskeleton."
"…" Samir remained shockingly silent.
Atkarsh immediately tried standing up, using his arms he attempted to lift himself but his double-jointed legs needed more space to bend and that required time and Harland spared no effort pouncing onto Atkarsh's back with urgency, the impact knocking Atkarsh forward.
'Yes! Just keep him on the floor.' Theodore cheered.
Despite Harland on his back, Atkarsh used his arms to sharply twist two right elbows at Harland but Harland leaned slightly to the left, avoiding the elbows with ease. As the balance had shifted so violently, Harland gripped Atkarsh's shoulders with his hands and clamped onto his body with his knees, leaning to his right side to avoid failing off. As a result, Atkarsh was forced to support Harland's weight with his right arms. Continuing his offence, Harland stabilized himself with his right arm, using his left to throw a hook.
*Thud*
His knuckles land on Atkarsh's jaw. In a fit of rage, Atkarsh braced on his arms using them to roll rightwards onto his back, whilst swinging a wild back fist with his left arms. As Atkarsh's back dangerously neared the canvas—Harland pushed himself off of Atkarsh's back, back-rolling into the motion.
*Thump!*
Atkarsh's fist rattled the bare canvas.
"Oh a bit of a scramble there, but Harland stuck to Atkarsh's back and bailed at the last moment!"
"This irredeemable insect," Samir hissed venomously.
Joe raised his hands in a calming gesture.
"whoa, calm down man."
The vertex commentator looked at the him coldly.
"I am calm. Joe."
"Er…Okay"
Swiftly getting to his feet, Harland observed Atkarsh—who was frighteningly close to getting up. His body immediately dropped to his knees and thrust his hand to Atkarsh's foremost right leg then standing tall he pulled on it, violently dragging him off balance. Atkarsh quickly pulled his leg free. Harland took the opportunity to execute a leg kick with his back leg at Atkarsh's retracted knee, turning his hip into it.
*Whack*
Harland's shin landed on the knee joint, instantly whipping his leg back after the kick. Atkarsh flailed his right leg in response like a bug overturned, his facing grimacing, prompting Harland to throw a fast lead leg kick aimed at the same knee.
*Whack*
"Ugh!" Atkarsh grunted in pain, the indomitable air of confidence a rag of its former self.
He tried desperately to heave himself up for the second time but in turn Harland once again pulled his leg to prevent him from establishing balance.
"Oh wow, that's a good move—since it would be a death sentence to grapple with him. He's using a vertex's limited range of mobility to keep Atkarsh on the ground and then he keeps delivering devastating low kicks to the most vulnerable part of a vertex's exoskeleton. Which definitely seems to be hurting Atkarsh."
Samir stiffened.
"Don't spew rubbish. The vertex have no such weaknesses," he growled.
Harland continued his assault, switching fluidly from one front leg of Atkarsh to the next. The scuffle moving around the Octagon as a result of Atkarsh's persistent struggle to get up.
*Ding Ding Ding*
"That's the bell, what a dominant round for Harland," Joe asserted evenly.
"What nonsense do you speak of? That was a close round, but it would obviously go to Atkarsh, since he was the most aggressive and made the human scared for his life," Samir affirmed shamelessly.
"What? Come on dude, you can't say that was close," Joe blurted sentimentally.
"I would expect nothing from your inferior human intelligence."
*Thump!*
A thunderous sound came from the Octagon. Looking up at the screen—Theodore saw what appeared to be a vertex man of slightly shorter stature, wearing a bizarre, thin, inky-black garment. Whose fists were resting on the Octagon ring pole next to Atkarsh.
'Someones mad~,' Theodore expressed with amusement.
'Anyway. Since half the 4 judges are human and the rest are vertex, my bet of a split decision of the first round will come true. Now he just needs to be knocked out in the second round,' Theodore reasoned ominously.
Joe looked preemptively at Samir
"Harland did well this round but if he wants to beat Atkarsh, he might have to knock him out and not leave it to the judges."
"What do you mean by that," Samir questioned a hint of warning in his voice.
"A-all I'm saying is that vertex have basically limitless stamina—"
"—Not basically, they do," Samir interjected smugly.
"Yes, so Atkarsh will be able to keep the pressure all 5 rounds—"
"Ha! You think this will go past 2 rounds!" Samir snickered.
"—and although Harland has shown insane cardio levels. He's still just human. He can only afford to take so much damage, whereas Vertex have almost scary levels of regeneration and can put themselves through extreme punishment because they know it will not affect them at all. Putting this together with the Vertex's incredible strength, not to mention a genetically engineered Vertex like Atkarsh, whose strength is unparalleled even in the animal kingdom. Harland is fighting a very dangerous battle, a battle only he can win... To float like a butterfly and sting like a bee."
Theodore nodded in agreement.
'"The untouchable phantom sniper" Harland Cornders... Today... you need to lose,'
The two fighters got up from their corner and approached the center of the ring. Harland adopted his signature stance, looking hopeful. While Atkarsh still did not raise his hands, dark resentment swirling in his compound eyes. The referee looked at both of the fighters to confirm that they wanted to continue, then he motioned with his hand.
"FIGHT!"
Harland and Atkarsh approached each other. Harland abruptly took a sharp step with his lead foot then threw a low kick with his back leg, his body falling into the kick, feeding it more power.
*Thud*
Atkarsh's body shook. Harland ripped his leg back and took a back-step but Atkarsh pushed off of his back legs, lunging at Harland—his front legs lifted up. Twisting his hips clockwise, Atkarsh thrusted his left shoulder out, his fists following suit.
*Whoosh*
The air from Atkarsh's arms rustled Harland's hair, as he barely avoided the punches by ducking to his left side.
*Thump*
Atkarsh's raised front legs landed on the canvas—leaving no room for Harland to breathe. He followed up by stepping in with his right legs arriving right in front of Harland. Twisting more powerfully the opposite way Atkarsh threw two right hooks. Unable to dodge—Harland defended his head with his left arm.
*Bang*
Atkarsh's fist crashed into Harland's guarding arm—the force visibly rocking the consciousness in his eyes, while the other fist had crashed into his ribs making him also double over to one side. The impact of the attacks made Harland stumble to his right.
"Ugh," Harland grimaced mutely in pain.
He hobbled backwards feebly, attempting to create distance.
Theodore's face softened.
'What a fight... You floated like a butterfly and stung like a bee but against genetic perfection it's—not enough.'
Atkarsh advanced—a mocking look promptly fostering in his eyes.
"Harland tried to capitalize on leg kicks but Atkarsh took the hit and timed a devastating counterattack. Because of how much ground he was able to cover, Harland couldn't use his fluid movement to step out of reach. And as Atkarsh has four arms he can't even dodge the punches with minimal movements, as if he ducks under one fist the other fist still lands. So he was forced to block and even then his arm is only so long and a vertex's punch is nothing to scoff at. Despite managing to protect his head, he looks like he got rocked through his guard," Joe explained solemnly.
"This is what happens to humans who do not know their place," Samir announced pridefully.
A wisp of indignation flickered on Joe's face as he expressionlessly leaned forward.
"Is Atkarsh going to press the offensive?"
Atkarsh loaded onto his back legs, hurling himself at Harland whilst simultaneously throwing two left uppercuts. The movement inducing newfound fear for which Harland knew would be his end. In desperation—Harland ducked to his knees and lunged with as much strength as he could muster from his aching body.
*Voom*
Atkarsh's fists parted the air.
*Thump*
Harland's lead shoulder met with Atkarsh's abdomen, his arms shot out reaching for Atkarsh's front legs, gripping them tightly.
"What a beautifully timed takedown! He ducked right under the uppercuts and got a double leg takedown. It seems that Atkarsh wasn't expecting it but Harland's put himself in a bad spot."
"Ha, now can you see with your own eyes why he didn't have to care?"
"…" Joe remained silent.
Harland's muscles in his back, arms and legs strained explosively as he attempted to lift up the boulder-like Atkarsh. He managed to lift his front legs a foot off of the ground but it was futile, Atkarsh's back legs still pressed against the canvas, keeping him upright.
*Bang*
Harland drove Atkarsh into a octagon pillar. Atkarsh's two bottom arms braced against Harland's shoulder, then his two upper arms grabbed Harland's waist.
"Ugh," Harland made a pained expression.
Atkarsh pulled Harland up from his waist—his legs dangling powerlessly in the air.
"He's going to slam him," Theodore blurted, as sure as day.
Atkarsh abruptly crouched down, using his arms to drill Harland into the canvas.
*Bang!*
'Oo~' Theodore visibly flinched.
Harland's head smashed against the canvas.
*Bang!*
The slam having irradiated his neurons, he attempted to stop the impact by bracing his hands on the canvas—but the brutal force was simply too much, overwhelming his futile attempt at defense.
'Dammit'
*Bang!*
On the canvas, a vermilion rose bloomed, as it was voraciously consumed the splattered blood from Harland's head.
*********************************************************************************************************
A few seemingly never-ending moments later
*Bang!*
As Harland's head was retracted—his arms finally went limp. It was doubtless that the patch of blood had grown immensely.
'Why is the referee not calling off the fight?! Is he going to wait until he ****** dies!?' Theodore scowled internally, his face a stark juxtaposition to his inner emotional turmoil.
Joe unable to stomach it anymore sprang up in protest.
"What is the referee doing!!? He clearly cannot continue to fight!!" he voiced angrily.
*BANG!*
Harland's blood flew like parabolas in all directions. A small puddle of dark blood swirled in a cavity created by the cruel slams. His arms flailed about lifelessly because of the sheer force.
The referee rushed in, getting in between Harland and Atkarsh.
Joe sank into his chair.
"I think he might be…" he muttered.
'He's dead,' Theodore mused somberly.
"This is why a vertex champion cannot fight with a human. They're simply too… fragile." Samir declared disdainfully.
Contempt flashed in Joe's eyes.
"You…" his voice strained, audibly cracking.
Samir grinned knowingly.
"Hahaha, you can't blame Atkarsh. It was Harland's own decision. Let this be a lesson to you all."
Multiple people rushed into the Octagon and Harland was rushed out on a stretcher.
The announcer read the scorecards.
"The judges score this a knockout stoppage. And new KFC heavyweight champion of the wooorld! ATKARSH, 'THE UNSTOPPABLE ANNIHILATOR!!'"
'You didn't lose Harland, only you could have gotten this far. I owe you,' Theodore acknowledged earnestly.