Kamogawa Gym was bustling from dawn. The repeated blows on the punching bags echoed in the room while Ryuu, sitting on a bench, watched the other boxers train. Although he is tired from yesterday's exercises, his smirk does not leave his lips. Kamogawa approaches, a notebook in hand.
Kamogawa : "Ryuu, you may be a prodigy, but talent alone is not enough. Today, you will learn to master your defense."
Ryuu narrows his eyes, a bit amused.
Ryuu: "The defense, huh? You saw me yesterday, right? I dodge everything. Why waste time on that?"
Kamogawa stares at him.
Kamogawa: "Against a boxer like Sendou, your dodge was enough. But against someone like Ricardo Martinez or Takamura, a simple mistake will cost you the fight. Now, get in the ring."
Ryuu sighs, but he obeys. He knows that, despite his arrogance, Kamogawa is right.
As Ryuu warms up, Kamogawa calls out Takamura.
Kamogawa: "Takamura, show him why he can't rely on his talent alone."
Ryuu, intrigued, watches the imposing champion enter the ring. The contrast between their build is striking. Ryuu, agile and slender, facing Takamura, a true titan of raw power.
Takamura: "Be careful, little genius,"
Takamura warns with a predatory smile.
Takamura : "I'm not going to spare you."
The sparring begins. Takamura immediately moves forward, combining hooks and jabs with speed and power Ryuu has never faced before. Although Ryuu dodges the first few blows, he quickly begins to realize his limits. Takamura's constant pressure reduces the available space, and Ryuu finds himself pinned against the ropes. A right hook comes within a hair's breadth of his face. Ryuu steps back, but his back is already touching the ropes.
Takamura : "Too slow,"
Takamura growls before delivering a devastating uppercut. The blow stops just before hitting Ryuu's chin. Takamura smiled, satisfied with his demonstration.
Takamura : "If this was a real fight, you'd already be down."
Ryuu, out of breath but not defeated, bursts out laughing.
Ryuu: "Not bad, big guy. But next time, I'll find a solution."
After training, Ryuu sat alone with a towel on his shoulders. He thought about Kamogawa's words and Takamura's demonstration.
Ryuu: "I can't always rely on my legs... If I'm stuck, I have to find a way to make my opponents ineffective."
He closes his eyes, visualizing the fight against Takamura. He replays each movement in his head, looking for a flaw. Then an idea germinates.
Ryuu: "What if, instead of moving all the time, I made my opponents believe that their attacks couldn't reach me? An invisible wall... a perfect defense."
Ryuu stands up abruptly, his eyes shining with excitement.
Ryuu::"Yes... The Void Wall. I will turn their power into weakness."
The next day, Ryuu asks for sparring with Ippo. Curious, Kamogawa accepts.
Ryuu: "Makunouchi, give it all you've got. "
Ippo: " Ryuu san, becarefull "
In the ring, Ippo immediately adopts his offensive posture. He advances with his powerful jabs, looking to open a gap. Ryuu, however, remains still, a slight smile on his lips.
Ippo: "Are you just going to stay here?"
Ippo asks, perplexed. When the first jab comes, Ryuu dodges it with a micro-move of his head, just enough for the fist to graze his face. Then he pivots slightly, letting the next blow slide down his shoulder. Each of Ippo's attacks seems to lack precision, as if an invisible barrier surrounds Ryuu. Outside the ring, Kamogawa narrows his eyes.
Ippo: "What's that…? He barely moves, but no blow hits him."
Ryuu, still smiling, whispers:
Ryuu: "Welcome to the Void Wall."
----
After letting Ippo tire out with his unsuccessful attacks, Ryuu went on the offensive. When Ippo threw a left hook, Ryuu pivoted on his back foot and delivered a blistering jab to his opponent's chin. Ippo wobbles but remains standing. However, it is clear that he can no longer keep up. Ryuu follows up with a precise uppercut, stopping the sparring before Ippo falls. Kamogawa intervenes immediately.
Kanogawa: "That's enough."
Ippo, out of breath, looks at Ryuu in admiration.
Ippo: "How did you do that? It was like my punches couldn't touch you."
Ryuu reaches out to help Ippo up.
Ryuu: "Simple. I made you believe I was vulnerable, but every movement was calculated to throw you off balance. My Void Wall is not a real defense... it's an illusion."
---
Kamogawa, although skeptical, is impressed by Ryuu's creativity.
Kamogawa: "Your idea is brilliant, but it has a weakness. If you face someone with greater reach or subtle feints, your Void Wall will collapse."
Ryuu nods, taking the advice seriously for once.
Ryuu: "I understand, old master. But this is only the beginning. I will perfect this technique and prove that it can outperform any style."