In an old boxing gym, where the bags were all roughed up, and the ring looked like it had been to war, there were sounds of labored breath. There, in the ring, stood one man looking over his defeated opponent. The one who stood on top was a young Johnny Lewis, while the one on the floor was his coach, a former professional boxer named Jerry Young. Jerry Young was an African-American heavyweight boxer who was known for his explosive power. When he retired from the sport, he was conned out of most of his money. The only thing he had left was a worn-down boxing ring.

  A few years prior to this event, Jerry found Johnny abandoned on the streets after the mugging incident. Despite barely being able to support himself, he took Johnny in. He raised him as if he was his own son, spending most of the money he earned through side jobs on him. He even cut his diet so that Johnny would be able to eat more, which is what allowed Johnny to reach his height and weight despite the state he was living in.

  Johnny helped Jerry get up after their sparring session. Jerry patted Johnny on his back.

  - “You’re ready, Johnny.”

  He said. Thus, at the very young age of 20, Johnny Lewis started his boxing career. He took the world by storm, and he became one of the youngest heavyweight boxing champions in the world. Despite his massive success, Jerry never took advantage of it. He never asked for any more than what he could provide for himself. He was just happy. Happy that he at least saved one other person from suffering the same fate as he did.

  Still, there was a part of him that felt bad for Johnny. He knew that he was a kind boy, and he knew that Johnny shook every time he got into the ring, even after becoming a world champion. Jerry wished that he could’ve provided Johnny with a better life, but boxing was all he knew. Despite this, Johnny is forever grateful.

  A few years before the Paraiso Grand Tournament, Jerry Young passed away peacefully in his sleep. Johnny, now even more motivated, continued to dominate the boxing scene and even dipped his toes into some underground rings where there were no rules. He stuck to his boxing style despite the disadvantages, all to honor the memory of his coach. He initially struggled, but his unwavering faith in his style kept him sharp, and it was what allowed him to reach the heights he is at now, with a perfect record to boot. That perfect record is about to be challenged, by the one and only, Katsuya “God Hand” Masamichi!

  The audience is filled to the brim with excitement, with many chanting the names of the fighters who are about to clash.

  - “Now that the final rest day has ended, it is time for us to start with round 3, match 1! Johnny “The Lion King” Lewis versus Katsuya “God Hand Masamichi!!!”

  Both fighters stare into each other’s eyes with the intent of winning. A bead of sweat drops from the referee’s face.

  - “What absolute monsters.”

  He thinks to himself as he trembles in their presence. He puts his hand up.

  - “Fighters are you ready!?

  The rest of the fighters, watching from either the stands or the infirmary, are shaking in anticipation. Two fighters, one who is a staple of the Western world, and the other who is a pillar of the Eastern world. These two great men are about to clash, and in their minds, it will likely be one of the greatest fights in unwritten history!

  Katsuya gets into the Heaven and Earth stance.

  - “I’m more than ready.”

  Johnny goes for a standard boxing stance.

  - “I concur.”

  - “Then…BEGIN!!!”

  Without a moment to spare, Johnny rushes in for a jab rush. With speeds faster than most people could see, he threw out a dozen jabs. The dust settles, and it appears that Katsuya had blocked all those punches with a Mawashi Uke!

  - “A jab rush to start, but Katsuya’s unfazed!”

  Katsuya quickly follows up with a roundhouse kick, which Johnny blocks. Katsuya clicks his tongue and steps back. Johnny throws a straight to the face, but Katsuya ducks under and throws his own straight to Johnny’s side.

  - “And Katsuya goes for a straight punch to counter Johnny!”

  Johnny pulls back and takes a deep breath before recomposing himself.

  - “And there it is! The endurance of a heavyweight boxer! Shrugging off that straight punch like it was nothing!”

  Katsuya lets out a shout before closing in with another straight. Johnny parries and counters with a massive uppercut. He follows up with another straight to the face.

  - “A nasty uppercut connects! And Johnny doesn’t hesitate to follow up!”

  Katsuya however slipped the straight, connecting an elbow strike to the middle of Johnny’s chest, causing him to grimace in pain.

  - “But goddamn! Katsuya recovers just in time to slip Johnny’s punch and deliver a devastating elbow to Johnny’s chest!”

  The two fighters back off to recompose.

  - “Damn, looks like Johnny’s really feeling it now! But Katsuya doesn’t look too hot either!”

  Johnny wipes the blood off his mouth and smiles, his confident side taking over.

  - “Damn it Karate man, you are hard to put down.”

  Katsuya smiles back.

  - “Thanks, you’re quite sturdy yourself.”

  He says, returning the compliment.

  Leonardo, intensely watching the match in the stands, pats Jack’s shoulder. Jack looks to the side, wondering what’s up.

  - “What do you think?”

  Leonardo asks. Jack goes back to watching the match.

  - “They’re playing. Neither of them has gone all out yet.”

  Jack replies. Leonardo leans back in his chair, fidgeting with excitement.

  - “You think they’re equal too?”

  He asks. Jack stays silent for a second.

  - “They’re dead equal. The winner of this fight would wish they were the ones knocked unconscious. And I feel like the bloodbath is about to begin.”

  Jack replies.

  Once again, Johnny goes for a jab rush, Katsuya blocks. Another Roundhouse kick, Johnny slips back and counters with another swift jab, to which Katsuya evades again. He goes for an elbow strike again, but Johnny parries and throws a straight. They keep throwing strikes in fast succession, but neither fighter lands any hits.

  - “What an incredible striking match! Neither fighter is budging an inch! And I can tell it’s really heating up now!”

  Katsuya parries another straight, and throws an overhand right to the jaw, to which Katsuya responds by throwing a high kick to Johnny’s head. Both strikes land, and the fighters disengage. They shake off the damage to the head, before getting back into position.

  - “What a magnificent display of power these two are showing once again!”

  The two fighters take a moment to talk.

  Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation.

  - “I hope you still got some energy left, because I’m about to start taking this seriously.”

  Katsuya says, with a wide smile on his face.

  - “Really? I guess it would be a nice change of pace.”

  Johnny says, returning the snark.

  Katsuya moves in for a front kick, Johnny slips and counters with a 1-2 combo to the face. Katsuya shakes it off and counters with a straight to the torso. Johnny brushes it off and pushes forward with his own straight. Katsuya ducks under and sweeps Johnny’s leg, throwing his balance off. He jumps in the air and hits Johnny with a jump kick to the face, sending him to the ground.

  - “A jump kick from Katsuya! Johnny’s on the floor for the first time this match!”

  Johnny attempts to get up, but he’s met with a knee to the face, knocking him back down. Katsuya attempts to stomp him, but Johnny rolls away. Johnny gets up and recomposes.

  - “Seems like Katsuya wants to end the match already! But Johnny has other plans!”

  Johnny goes in for a straight, but Katsuya slips and hits Johnny with an Ushiro-Geri, or a back kick, to his chest, pushing him back. Johnny tries to recover, but Katsuya hits him with a scissor punch to his upper chest, stunning him. He immediately follows up with a Yama zuki, hitting Johnny’s jaw and solar plexus, followed by two roundhouse kicks to the head, sending Johnny stumbling backwards.

  - “Yama zuki! But wait, I thought Katsuya’s school of Karate disallowed hand strikes to the head! Has he abandoned his way too!?”

  Katsuya gets back in his Heaven and Earth stance. He takes a deep breath and smiles.

  - “No. This is evolution! I’ve always wondered why father forbade us from using hand strikes to the head, but as I continued to train under that way over and over, I saw why. It allowed us to be more creative, and to find ways to deliver knockout power with the minimal range. I am forever grateful for the training, but I have started my own school of Karate, one where hand strikes to the head are allowed! Thank you for everything, father, but I shall evolve your style in my own way.”

  Katsuya shouts, going on a rant. They are words brimming with confidence and faith in both himself and the style he uses. Johnny gets back up and recomposes himself in the midst of his rant.

  - “Looks like we’re not too different.”

  Johnny says. Katsuya tilts his head, as if to substitute for a question.

  - “We both want to evolve our predecessor’s styles!”

  Johnny shouts back, as he gets into position once more. Katsuya smirks. He goes in for a side kick, Johnny steps to the side and counters with a body blow to the liver. Katsuya almost takes a knee but recovers and dashes back.

  - “Oh! A liver blow almost floors Katsuya, but he’s more resistant than that it seems!”

  Katsuya gets up and uses his arm to misdirect Johnny. He uses this to set up a Quadruple Median Line Strike, jumping up and kicking Johnny’s philtrum, throat, solar plexus, and torso. Johnny reels from the pain.

  - “Another Quadruple Median Line Strike from Katsuya!”

  Katsuya rushes in for a follow up, but with blinding speed Johnny hits him with an uppercut and overhand, to the jaw and to the temple respectively, temporarily knocking Katsuya’s lights out causing him to fall to the floor.

  - “HE’S FINALLY PULLED IT OUT! THE LION’S FANG!!!”

  The Lion Fang is the name of a combination of two attacks, the uppercut and an overhand, performed at high speeds. It is a technique Johnny devised. Why has he only pulled this technique out now? Johnny, despite his shaking fear of fighting, has been holding back the last few rounds. Katsuya is too strong of a fighter to hold back on.

  Katsuya gets back up and recomposes.

  - “What a technique, to think someone of your size could be so fast.”

  He says, praising Johnny. He shakes off the punches and gets into his stance again. Johnny rushes forth. Katsuya attempts a straight punch, but Johnny rolls it off his shoulder and counters with a heavy straight, followed up by a gut punch. Katsuya’s reeling.

  - “Katsuya’s starting to break now! His defense may be tough, but Johnny’s punches are no joke!”

  Katsuya recovers, and rushes in for a leg sweep. Johnny prepares, but it was a feint as Katsuya goes for a knifehand strike. Johnny quickly blocks, but this is what Katsuya was waiting for. They don’t call him the God Hand for nothing. Johnny’s radius cracks. He dashes back and tries to feel out the injury.

  - “Goddamn. That’s some insane conditioning.”

  Johnny thinks as he gets back into position. Katsuya goes in for a leg sweep. Johnny blocks, but Katsuya follows up with a side kick to the torso, and a reverse punch to his jaw, rattling him.

  - “Johnny’s taking massive damage as well!”

  Katsuya pushes forth with a spearhand strike to Johnny’s torso, stabbing him.

  - “WHAT!? KATSUYA’S JUST STABBED JOHNNY WITH HIS FINGERS!”

  Johnny reels in pain, before smiling. Katsuya notices and attempts to remove his fingers, but Johnny uses the close distance to his advantage and rocks Katsuya with a heavy overhand right to the jaw. Johnny takes a deep breath as he begins a massive punch combination. With jabs, straights, hooks, and uppercuts flying around Katsuya’s upper body, battering him with each hit.

  - “Johnny’s making the best out of a bad situation here as he lights up Katsuya with massive hits left and right!”

  Katsuya staggers back. Johnny runs in to finish the job.

  - “It looks like we’re nearing the end folks!”

  Johnny goes in for a final straight, but Katsuya slides to the side and pierces Johnny’s left forearm with another spearhand.

  - “GODDAMN!? ANOTHER SPEARHAND FROM KATSUYA! THIS TIME AIMED AT JOHNNY’S ARM!”

  Johnny pushes through the pain. He moves the pierced arm away, and rocks Katsuya with another massive hook to the temple. Katsuya trembles. He removes his spearhand, and he falls but takes Johnny’s legs out from beneath him with a sweep. Both fighters stumble backward. They dash back even further to try and recompose themselves.

  - “Katsuya looks worse for wear here, but Johnny now only has one of his arms at full strength! Katsuya has turned the tides of this match in the blink of an eye!”

  The two get back up. Johnny inspects his wounds. His torso wound isn’t too deep, but his forearm has been fully pierced through. As the announcer said, he’s unable to use it at full power, cutting his effectiveness in half. Still, he’s prepared to fight through it.

  Katsuya gets into a cat foot stance. He knows that he has limited Johnny’s options. He will fight accordingly. Katsuya goes for a straight, but Johnny counters by clashing his fist with Katsuya’s, pushing him back. Johnny pulls back and goes on the defensive. Katsuya’s too focused on knocking Johnny out, but Johnny’s got a plan. He baits out Katsuya’s hand strikes while throwing some of his own punches aimed at Katsuya’s fingers.

  - “Johnny’s still keeping up even with an inefficient left arm!”

  Johnny taunts Katsuya to keep going. Katsuya clicks his tongue and goes for a winded up straight right. Johnny smiles as the punch closes in. He grits his teeth, tightens his neck muscles and leans forward, causing Katsuya’s fist to clash with his forehead. The earlier hits against Katsuya’s fist were to crack it. Despite his endless conditioning, with enough hits his finger bones were starting to crack. Finally, with the forehead block, Katsuya’s fist shatters. Katsuya pulls back and feels out his hand.

  - “What’s this!? Did something happen to Katsuya’s hand!?”

  Katsuya tries to hide the pain. Johnny gets back into position.

  - “Of all the things I expected, that was not one of them.”

  Katsuya says, complimenting Johnny’s plan. Johnny smiles and nods in return.

  Jacques is sitting on the edge of his seat with his hand on his chin. He noticed what had just happened.

  - “Katsuya still has the advantage. Johnny definitely hits harder, but he effectively only has one limb he can use if he sticks by his boxing rules.”

  He thinks to himself, analyzing the fight. He sighs and leans back in his chair.

  - “…No, it’s not a matter of if. He will stick by his boxing rules.”

  He adds in thought.

  Katsuya goes in for a leg sweep, but Johnny blocks. He then goes for a high kick, Johnny parries and hits Katsuya with a blow to the liver. Katsuya once again trying not to take the knee, but Johnny’s not going to let him recover. He pushes forward with another body blow, this time to the chest, cracking a part of Katsuya’s sternum. Katsuya counters with a swift front kick, pushing Johnny away. Katsuya falls to his knees.

  - “Katsuya’s down! Those body shots are deadly!”

  Katsuya winces in pain. His body is battered all over, his defense is slowly breaking. Meanwhile, Johnny is getting dizzy from the loss of blood. While it’s not bleeding as much as before, it’s still dripping slowly. Katsuya takes a deep breath before getting back up. Johnny too takes a deep breath. It looks like this will be their final exchange, as both fighters are extremely spent. They knew this, and the fighters spectating knew this as well.

  Katsuya goes in for a diagonal knifehand strike, Johnny barely pulls back, and the tips of Katsuya’s fingers cuts through the surface of Johnny’s torso, creating a big bloody scar running from the top of his chest to the bottom of his abs. Johnny counters with an uppercut which Katsuya pulls back. Johnny moves forward with an overhand but misses as well.

  - “Katsuya slices Johnny up! Johnny tries for another Lion’s Fang but misses entirely!”

  Johnny pulls back, baiting Katsuya. He pushes forward with a high kick, Johnny parries. Katsuya follows up with a straight, Johnny blocks. Katsuya goes for another spearhand, but Johnny parries it away and hits him with a straight to the face, stunning Katsuya. In the heat of the moment, Katsuya throws another spearhand with his left, but Johnny throws a punch straight at it, shattering his other fingers. Katsuya reels in pain.

  - “Holy! Looks like Johnny just broke Katsuya’s fingers!”

  Johnny jabs with his left. Despite its weakness, it is still enough to stun Katsuya.

  - “Thank you, coach.”

  Johnny mutters under his breath, before shouting a loud battle cry. He unleashes a deadly flurry of punches aimed towards Katsuya’s face, looking to rattle his brain. Katsuya tries his hardest to stay conscious, but his eyes keep blacking out. His knees are shaking, his hands are trembling, and blood just keeps coming out from his mouth and nose. The combination ends with a hook to the jaw, dropping Katsuya. The referee steps in with his arm high, ready to call the match.

  - “And the winner is-“

  But he gets stopped by Katsuya who gets back up.

  He’s battered and bruised, he can no longer feel his fists, and he can barely see, but he still stands. He shakily gets back into position.

  - “Come on…I’m still standing.”

  He says with bated breath. Johnny takes a deep breath.

  - “You’re right.”

  He rushes in with a swift uppercut to the jaw and overhand to the temple. Katsuya finally falls unconscious.

  - “And the winner is…JOHNNY “THE LION KING” LEWIS!!!”

  Johnny too falls on one knee. The blood loss has gotten to him. The referee calls stretchers for both Katsuya and Johnny. The two get taken to the infirmary.

  Jack looks to Leonardo.

  - “From here on out, the fights are going to get even more intense. Are you prepared?”

  He asks. Leonardo smiles with excitement.

  - “Of course I am! Let’s get down there quickly, I can’t wait!”

  Leonardo says, before the two head down.