Chapter 9: Day 3 - Sparring Beyond Limits
------October 10th 2024 Tuesday
The gym was buzzing with activity, the sound of gloves thumping against bags and the rhythmic sound of feet pounding against the mats filling the air. Ain stood in the center of the ring, his body still sore from yesterday's training. But today was different. Today, Coach Vargas had promised him a sparring partner—someone who would push him past his limits.
The door swung open, and a figure stepped into the gym. A boy around Ain's age, taller and leaner than him, walked in with an aura of confidence that immediately made Ain feel uneasy. He had messy dark hair, sharp eyes, and a slight grin that seemed to say, I've got this.
"Hey, you must be Ain, huh?" The boy's voice was relaxed, but there was an edge to it. "Name's Lance."
Ain nodded, eyeing him with a measure of suspicion. This kid had that cocky, natural air about him—the kind that suggested he wasn't just talk. He looked like trouble.
"Coach said you're the guy to spar with," Lance continued, hopping into the ring. "Let's see what you've got."
Ain sized him up. Lance was clearly fit—muscles sharp, eyes glinting with that competitive edge. But what truly made Ain pause was the system. He pulled up the interface and checked Lance's stats, feeling a knot in his stomach as he processed the numbers.
---
System Window:
Lance
Class: Kick boxer
Combat Power: 10/15
Strength: 9/15
Speed: 9/15
Endurance: 9/15
Stamina: 9/15
Fighting Potential: 9/15
---
Lance's Combat Power was a full two points higher than his. Ain's gut twisted. Lance wasn't just some average guy—he was someone to be reckoned with.
The system beeped, adding to the tension.
---
System Note:
> "Lance's Combat Power exceeds yours. Task: Win the sparring match."
---
Ain glanced at the system and nodded. The task was clear. It wasn't going to be easy, but Ain wasn't the type to back down. I've got my tricks, he thought, his eyes narrowing as he faced Lance.
---
The Fight
The bell rang, and the room seemed to quiet, all attention now on the two fighters in the ring.
Lance didn't waste a second. He lunged forward with a straight punch aimed at Ain's head. Ain barely had time to react, but was fast enough to tilt his head avoiding the punch— however he was not fast enough to dodge the follow-up: a swift knee to the stomach. Ain grunted as the blow landed, the force enough to steal his breath.
Lance grinned. "You're slow."
Ain shook off the sting in his ribs. He was being tested—no question about that. Lance wasn't pulling any punches. The fight was already on.
Ain stepped back, raising his guard, trying to process the speed at which Lance moved. He threw some punches of his own, trying to land something solid, but Lance was too quick—slipping under the blows with ease, his footwork smooth as he moved around Ain like a predator circling its prey.
Then it happened.
Lance feinted left, and Ain took the bait, overcommitting to a right hook. Lance saw it coming a mile away. He ducked under the punch.Launched a powerful counterattack—a left hook to Ain's jaw, followed by a spinning kick that sent Ain crashing back into the ropes.
Ain's head spun, and he barely had time to shake it off before Lance was on him again. The boy's speed and power were overwhelming—every move calculated, every punch and kick landing with precision. Ain was losing ground.
---
System Note:
> "You getting clapped. Consider using Time's Embrace to gain an advantage."
---
Ain's heart raced. Damn, he thought. I can't keep up like this.
With no time to waste, Ain closed his eyes and activated his skill. The world around him slowed, the chaos of the fight transforming into slow motion. He could see the subtle shift in Lance's weight as the boy readied for another strike. His eyes darted to Lance's exposed side, the opening he needed.
Ain darted forward, moving with a precision he couldn't have managed in real time. As Lance's leg swung around for another devastating kick, Ain dove under it to avoid the blow. He then drove his shoulder into Lance's midsection, knocking the wind out of him as they both tumbled to the mat.
For a split second, Ain could feel Lance's resistance—a brief moment where it seemed like the fight could go either way. But Ain wasn't done. He scrambled on top of Lance, throwing a quick jab to his opponent's ribs, and an uppercut that caught Lance off guard.
Lance's eyes flashed with something—respect? Surprise? Either way, it wasn't enough to keep him down. With a growl, he twisted beneath Ain, using his superior strength to flip the fight. They were back on their feet in an instant, trading blows with a ferocity that reverberated throughout the gym.
Ain could feel his stamina draining. Time's Embrace was a powerful tool, but it wasn't without its cost. His movements were starting to slow, his body screaming for a break.
---
System Note:
> "Warning: Time's Embrace effect is nearing expiration. You must act quickly."
---
This was it. Ain knew he had to end it now, or risk being overpowered by Lance's superior stats. He could feel the weight of his own exhaustion, but there was a flicker of something else—an instinct, a strategy he hadn't even considered.
Ain took a deep breath, his eyes narrowing. He didn't need to be faster or stronger—he needed to be smarter.
With Lance charging toward him for a finishing blow, Ain sidestepped, just barely evading the punch. Then, in a split-second decision, he grabbed Lance's wrist, pulling him off balance and using his own momentum to flip Lance over his shoulder. The move was unorthodox, but effective. Lance hit the mat with a loud thud, stunned and momentarily disoriented.
Before Lance could recover, Ain pounced, locking him into a chokehold. It wasn't a clean submission—more of an improvisation born out of desperation. But it worked. Lance struggled, trying to break free, but Ain's grip tightened, and with his last burst of energy, he held on long enough for the ref to step in and call the match.
---
System Reward
Ain collapsed on the mat, gasping for breath, his muscles screaming from the strain. But despite the exhaustion, there was a sense of victory that washed over him. He had done it.
The system beeped in his ear.
---
System Note:
> "Victory achieved. Task complete. Rewards granted."
+3 Boxing Points
+1 Strength
+1 Stamina
Unlocks "Improvised Combat" skill: Increases effectiveness of unorthodox fighting techniques by 25%.
Unlocks "Last Stand" skill: Temporarily boosts all stats by 50% when health falls below 15%.
"Note: You have gained Lance's respect."
---
Lance lay there for a moment, catching his breath, before he let out a low laugh. "Alright, you got me. That was... unexpected."
Ain grinned, standing up slowly and wiping sweat from his brow. "I don't just rely on raw power, you know."
Coach Vargas clapped from the sidelines. "Good work, Ain. You showed real adaptability out there."
Lance pushed himself up, brushing dirt from his clothes. "Next time, though, I'm gonna get you back for that."
Ain laughed. "We'll see about that."
As the gym settled back into its usual rhythm, Ain's mind raced. He'd won—against someone stronger than him, no less. But this victory wasn't just about stats. It was about outsmarting the opponent, using every resource available, and doing the unexpected when it mattered most.
In the end, that's what made all the difference.