Chapter 8 - CHAPTER 8

Watts strode confidently out of the dressing room, his red shorts and gloves making a bold statement against his perfectly sculpted physique. His abs, smooth skin, and well-defined chest glistened under the faint lights, drawing admiration from onlookers. As he moved into the waiting room, the energy in the air shifted. Organizers, participants, and vixen-like women filled the space, and the hum of anticipation was palpable.

Among the chatter and laughter, Pistil stood out. Or rather, he was in the middle of entertaining a small group of vixens, his boisterous laughter cutting through the noise. The moment Pistil caught sight of Watts, he abandoned his admirers and marched over, his tone half-joking but unmistakably firm.

"Money is in, bro. You better not get beaten. I've got my fortune riding on your ass. Don't mess this up," he said, the weight of his words hanging heavily between them.

"Relax, Pistil. I've got this," Watts replied with a grin, his confidence radiating.

As if on cue, the announcement echoed through the arena: "Now for the fight that brought us all here, the clash of two monsters, the undisputed titans... The One Punch and The Jury!"

The crowd erupted into wild cheers, the energy spilling into the waiting room. Watts smiled, unfazed by the intensity, and made his way toward the arena. He basked in the chaos, waving and throwing playful kisses at his female fans, whose fervent screams grew louder with each gesture.

Watts, a human deity in motion, was ready to command the night.

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05:00 PM - UNDERGROUND ARENA

The arena lights cast a harsh glow on the fighters as the bell rang. Watts took his stance, eyeing his opponent. The Jury, a bald, tattooed brute with a reputation for ruthlessness, charged forward with a primal yell. His fists moved like cannonballs, but Watts barely flinched.

The first punch sailed toward Watts' face, but he leaned casually to the side. The Jury followed with a wide swing aimed at his gut. Watts dodged effortlessly, his movements fluid and calculated. A kick came next, but Watts met it with his knee, the impact reverberating through the arena.

"Arrgh!" The Jury bellowed, clutching his leg and collapsing in pain. The crowd erupted, some chanting Watts' name while others screamed in frustration, their bets hanging in the balance.

Watts wasted no time. He advanced on The Jury, lifting his leg to deliver a decisive blow, but the man wasn't finished yet. From the ground, The Jury launched a desperate punch aimed at Watts' crotch. Watts pivoted, dodging just in time, but the move left his face exposed.

The Jury's next kick came swiftly, aiming for Watts' head. Watts blocked it with ease, his arms absorbing the force. Grabbing The Jury's leg, he yanked it with enough strength to send the man spinning like a helicopter blade. The crowd's roar reached a fever pitch.

For fifteen minutes, Watts toyed with The Jury, dismantling him piece by piece. Every punch, every block, every movement was precise, calculated. The Jury's supporters groaned as their champion faltered, while Watts' fans screamed for him to end it.

"Time to finish this," Watts thought, grabbing The Jury by his bald head. The man clawed at Watts' hand, but it was futile. Watts leapt three meters into the air, The Jury still in his grasp, and slammed him into the ground with a deafening thud.

The arena fell silent. Gasps rippled through the crowd as they stared at the unconscious form of The Jury, his face bloodied and his body motionless. The referee, snapping out of his stupor, began the count.

"One… two… three…"

The crowd erupted before the count even reached ten. Watts waved to his fans, his victory sealed. He had accomplished his goal—leaving the audience in awe and ensuring he wouldn't be forgotten. But as the adrenaline faded, Watts felt something unsettling: mental probes. Powerful, deliberate attempts to invade his mind.

"Five probes... no, six," he muttered under his breath, heading back to the locker room. His enhanced mind and soul resisted the intrusions, but the realization lingered. This fight had drawn attention—more than he had anticipated.

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In a VIP room above the arena, Evelyn watched the fight with bated breath. Her eyes never left Watts, her fascination growing with each move. His strength, his speed, his raw charisma—everything about him was intoxicating. When he lifted The Jury like a toy and slammed him to the ground, Evelyn's breath hitched.

"Three meters... with one hand," she whispered, her thoughts racing. No normal human could achieve such a feat.

Releasing her soul power, she attempted to gauge Watts' strength. But her energy hit an impenetrable wall. He was stronger than her—far stronger.

Her lips curved into a sly smile. "He must be a body enhancer. No matter what, I will have you, Watts. Even if it means sharing you with my sister, you'll be mine." The determination in her eyes was unrelenting.

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In another VIP suite, four men observed the fight. Three were young, in their twenties, while the fourth, a middle-aged man in a butler's suit, exuded authority. The Devas Clan, one of the world's most powerful families, had sent them to monitor the underground fights. Normally, these battles were trivial entertainment, but Watts' performance had captured their attention.

"He's different tonight," one of the younger men remarked. "Stronger, faster, sharper."

The butler, tasked with assessing Watts, activated his mind ability. But after a few moments, he shook his head. "I can't penetrate his defenses."

The room fell silent. The butler was among the strongest in the clan, and his failure spoke volumes. The leader of the group straightened, his expression grim. "This information must reach the family head immediately. We need him before anyone else does."

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In another corner of the arena, Rymond, an agent for the Government's Joint Organization for Superhumans, clutched a flashing device. Its red light blinked furiously, confirming what he already suspected.

"Sir, I've found him," he whispered into his earpiece.

"Good. Initiate Protocol Extraction or Annihilation if necessary," the voice on the other end replied.

"Yes, sir," Rymond said, his gaze fixed on Watts.