Transcript for:
Shinkawa's Rise: From Underdog to Champion

the protagonist opened his eyes to find himself in a massive coliseum filled with a roaring crowd all around him injured and bloodied fighters lay sprawled across the ground he looked down at his own hands stained with blood as he turned his head someone called out to him by name revealing that his name was Shinkawa a man urged him to snap out of it and pull himself together the crowd's chants grew louder this time rallying behind Shinkawa's opponent inside the MMA octagon the fighters touched gloves to begin the match the opponent tried to shake Shankawa's confidence by reminding him of his 10 consecutive losses the referee instructed both fighters to return to their corners and Shankawa's coach advised him to stick to what they'd practiced after a final reminder of the rules the referee signaled for the fight to begin the opponent advanced toward Shankawa who remained completely still the opponent hesitated puzzled by Shankawa's lack of movement and began to feel a twinge of guilt at that moment Shinkawa's surroundings began to shift in his mind transforming the arena into a grand coliseum his vacant lifeless eyes stared past his opponent further confusing the man sensing an opportunity to end the fight quickly the opponent charged forward and threw a powerful hook confident this would secure his victory but Shinkawa dodged the strike with a slight tilt of his body and countered with a precise uppercut the opponent dropped instantly knocked out cold shinkawa looked up to the emperor seated high above the emperor rose and gave a thumbs down gesture signaling for the defeated fighter to be executed shankawa took a step toward his fallen opponent leaned in and whispered for him to die he then began to savly beat the unconscious man shouting the word die repeatedly as the ancient Greek crowd cheered him on the referee rushed in to intervene but Shinkawa shoved him aside and continued the assault his coach leapt into the ring and managed to restrain him pulling him away from the battered opponent whose face was now bruised and swollen beyond recognition watching the chaotic scene unfold the president of the Fantastic Fighting Championship FFC remarked that things had just become far more interesting commentators quickly criticized Shinkawa for attacking a defenseless opponent who had already been knocked out unbothered the FFC president smirked as he observed the aftermath he noted that despite the knockout and subsequent disqualification Shingawa appeared completely indifferent he expressed a desire to meet Shinkawa in person the man beside him asked if the president saw something promising in the fighter the president explained that Shinkawa's opponent was incredibly strong and had never been knocked out before even by a counter yet somehow despite having poor punching form Shinkawa had dodged every attack with precision when asked whether an amateur could achieve such a feat the president replied that it was rare to see someone in the lightweight division display that kind of raw power he added that it would be fascinating to unleash a wild beast like Shinkawa in the ring a true villain consumed by battle someone no one could ever hope to tame in the dressing room Shankawa's coach scolded him for his actions during the fight he reminded Shingawa that he wasn't just facing disqualification he might be kicked out of the entire organization the coach asked if something had happened in Shingawa's life shinkawa apologized and the coach easing up slightly acknowledged his dedication despite 10 straight losses and countless injuries Shina had shown up at the gym every single day but a week before the fight he had suddenly vanished the coach asked what had happened during that missing week shinkawa recalled vivid memories visions of ancient coliseum battles where warriors tore each other apart as the memories consumed him sweat began to pour down his face the coach noticed his growing anxiety and the tremble in his hands kneeling beside him he examined Shinkawa more closely his face had turned pale his pupils were blown wide and his body shook violently acting quickly the coach took a cup from the ice bucket and held it to Shinawa's mouth trying to regulate his breathing and calm the panic just then the door opened the coach turned to see the president of the FFC entering they greeted one another and the coach immediately began apologizing assuring the president they intended to apologize to the opponent right away the president waved off the apology stating that such matters should be settled between fighters however he made it clear that the incident couldn't simply be overlooked this was a martial arts organization not a volunteer charity and allowing a fighter who couldn't control his emotions posed too great a risk despite the criticism the president admitted that the match itself had been incredibly impressive because of that he was willing to offer them a chance in one week FFC7 was set to take place one of the underdog fighters had suddenly backed out possibly due to nerves and the president was looking for a replacement he asked if Shinkawa would step into the ring the coach immediately realized what that meant if the other fighter backed out the opponent must be incredibly strong the president then revealed the name oji Tas known as the lightweight prince ranked third in the FFC's lightweight division the coach was stunned not only was Tay a top tier fighter but Shinkawa was a welterweight dropping enough weight in just one week would be nearly impossible still the president presented them with two options refuse and all future contracts with the FFC would be off the table or accept and if Shingawa put up a good fight he would be guaranteed a professional debut the president then turned to Shinkawa before the coach could negotiate on his behalf Shinkawa agreed without hesitation both the coach and the president were surprised by his decisiveness shinkawa reaffirmed his choice once more the coach warned him that what he did today had taken real guts and the president told him this was his moment his chance to make it count thanking them for their time the president reminded them that the match was in one week as the door closed the coach turned to Shinkawa explaining that he would need to drop 10 kg in just 7 days by then he'd be little more than a walking corpse the coach cautioned him that while this might seem like an exciting opportunity the truth was that the organization was simply using him to keep the match from falling apart the odds of winning were practically non-existent he asked if Shinkawa still planned to go through with it shankawa answered without hesitation "Yes he would do it." The coach saw the determination in his eyes and noticed something else his hands had stopped shaking reluctantly the coach agreed but made Shinkawa promise one thing if anything like today ever happened again he would be banned from the gym for life he reminded him of the values they upheld at the gym they were a team brought together to fight but what happened in the ring today wasn't a fight it was a street brawl shinawa had ignored the rules disrespected the match the referee and his opponent there hadn't been a shred of respect in his actions jawa promised it wouldn't happen again the coach smiled asked how he was feeling and suggested they go apologize to the other team finally he congratulated Shinkawa on his first knockout meanwhile somewhere else a phone rang the name flashing on the screen was the FFC president a man answered informing the president that Tay was a bit tied up at the moment tay hearing this asked who was on the line when told it was the chairman and about the upcoming match he slammed his drink down violently startling the girl beside him with a glare he angrily demanded to know who his challenger was this time a formidable army amassed near an ancient medieval castle through the visor of a helmet the protagonist watched as the enemy charged stealing himself he prepared for battle and rushed forward only to suddenly jolt awake in the present Shingawa sat in a medical room as a doctor asked if he was feeling all right regaining his composure he resumed the conversation the doctor reviewed his symptoms confirming they were recurring hallucinations that began after a specific dream shinkawa agreed she prescribed anxolytics and sleeping pills cautioning that while the medication could be habit forming it wasn't addictive if one pill wasn't effective an extra dose could be taken she advised that the medication could be consumed on an empty stomach but warned never to mix it with alcohol handing him a oneweek supply she instructed him to return after finishing the course shinkawa headed to the front desk for his prescription silently hopping it was all just a dream at the very least he felt relieved that no one was treating him like a lunatic from her office the doctor observed him and began recording notes according to the file Shinga was a 20-year-old amateur mixed martial arts fighter he claimed to experience out-of- body episodes during sleep vividly reliving 5 years as a slave forced to fight in ancient Greece the dreams were so intense that he could no longer distinguish reality from illusion symptoms of insomnia and panic attacks had emerged prompting the prescription of sleeping pills and anti-anxiety medication he had also reported frequent deja vu and intense flashbacks of ancient battles which had begun to interfere with his daily life shinkawa stared at his reflection in the mirror every time those memories resurfaced he reacted violently to even minor stimuli overwhelmed by uncontrollable rage hyperarousal symptoms were becoming more evident removing his shirt he revealed fresh bruises across his torso the doctor analyzing the accumulated evidence concluded that Shinkawa was exhibiting classic symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder PTSD she recalled that he had described being trapped in relentless nightmarish battles for 5 years she noted that this condition often developed when someone was repeatedly exposed to traumatic environments but still she wondered could a single night of nightmares really change someone so completely at that moment Shingawa was watching footage of Oji Tas's fights og was brutal and aggressive finishing his most recent match in just 7 seconds his record stood at 13 matches and nine wins at the gym the coach commented that OG was after all a national wrestling gold medalist og's stats were imposing he stood 7 cm taller than most in his division and weighed in at 80 kg after weigh-ins he typically recovered to 100 kg the coach noted that although Shingawa matched Oji in height the weight difference was a major disadvantage unlike Oji who cut weight strategically Shinkawa had just one week to lose 10 kg the plan was brutal stop eating and shed the weight that way it would be painful and his condition would deteriorate rapidly since it wasn't a proper weight cut there would be little time to recover between weigh-ins and the fight shinkawa would enter the ring as a walking corpse fighting to return to peak condition under 5-minute three round rules this would also be his first fight using 5-minute rounds unlike the three-minute rounds he was used to in amateur matches the coach gave him one final opportunity to back out admitting he hadn't yet contacted the chairman this was the last moment to walk away jinkawa resolute said he would do it after seeing the determination in his eyes the coach gave in and told him not to even consider losing the only goal was victory and the strategy was simple finish it in the first round with a knockout shinkawa expressed concern that Oji would have prepared a countermeasure especially since his previous win had come from a counter-strike the coach agreed stating that OG's team would likely try to drag out the match and avoid a knockout to prepare the coach told Shinkawa to start sparring for a warm-up once the warm-up ended he was to put on a glove and begin visualizing OG as his opponent imagine being in a terrible physical state from rapid weight cutting and conserve energy the coach emphasized that Oji would be aware of this and would likely avoid direct confrontation shankawa asked about the strategy the coach replied firmly "Continue pushing forward." When Oji refused to engage bait him into throwing the first punch then land a devastating counter the coach raised his glove and told Shinkawa to imagine he was Oji the moment he moved Shinkawa was to strike with all his might shinkawa did exactly that he delivered a powerful punch straight into the coach's glove startling him with the sheer force without pause he followed with another strike even more powerful than the first the coach was surprised to see that Shinkawa hadn't lost any punching strength despite the weight loss shinkawa struck again this time with such impact that the coach's training glove was flung from his hand the coach smirked now starting to believe that Shingawa just might be able to win with renewed energy he shouted for Shankawa to come at him again shinkawa didn't hold back his next punch blasted forward with enough power to send the coach stumbling the glove flying across the gym at the gym one of the fighters approached the coach with concern he couldn't stay quiet any longer shinkawa shouldn't be doing this he insisted the weight cut was killing him he reminded the coach of that tragic case in 1 FC a fighter who died during a similar cut dropping 10 kg in just one week it was reckless he begged the coach to stop Shinkawa before it was too late the coach responded calmly reminding him of Shinkawa's strict control over his diet and salt intake under these specific circumstances it wasn't impossible it all came down to whether Shinkawa could endure it but the fighter pushed back even if Shinkawa did succeed in cutting weight his opponent was Ojs ranked third in the lightweight division he didn't stand a chance not in this condition most fighters who go through something like this end up quitting the sport entirely traumatized by the experience and even if he kept going it wasn't like fighters made real money all it did was worry their families the coach cut in acknowledging that point to most this path was just self-satisfaction it didn't put food on the table maybe it was better to quit while he still could the fighter hesitated then turned to Shinkawa directly he told him no one would blame him if he withdrew if he just asked the coach right now it would be over he pleaded with him to reconsider but Shinawa ended the debate he said he was fine the coach nodded in agreement and shifted focus he turned to the concerned fighter and told him to get ready for sparring after his warm-up it was going to be a brutal fight no doubt but they were all in this together now then the coach turned back to Shinkawa and outlined his diet for the week one banana then train one avocado then train again that was it minimal fuel for maximum exertion on sleepless nights he could nibble on raw broccoli or bell peppers the coach warned him by the end he would barely be able to speak from calorie deficiency was he ready jinkawa nodded with unwavering resolve the concerned fighter tried to speak again but the coach cut him off he reminded him that he'd been through this kind of camp before then he addressed the sparring match he told the fighter to take it seriously the man scoffed refusing the headgear clearly annoyed in his mind he thought the coach was trying to push Shinkawa until he gave up but he didn't object further they touched fists shinkawa immediately slipped into a fierce fighting stance eyes burning with intensity in his mind the gym vanished replaced by a roaring coliseum ancient and blood soaked the fighter threw a heavy punch but Shinkawa evaded with barely emotion a second strike came shinkawa dodged again leaning just out of range then he adjusted his footing and surged forward with a clean explosive punch Shinkawa struck the blow sent the fighter's mouthpiece flying as he crumpled to the floor silence swept the gym one of the gym members recognized the down man he was ranked fifth in the FFC welterweight division shinkawa's expression darkened a surge of violent instinct threatened to overtake him he felt the urge to finish the downed fighter to kill the coach rushed to check the fallen man's condition thankfully he was all right turning to Shinkawa the coach reminded him this was exactly why he told him to wear headgear the fighter made excuses saying he just let his guard down and asked for a rematch but the coach wasn't having it he asked if those same excuses would fly in a real match he warned that while the guy might feel fine his body might tell a different story the intensity of Shinkawa's aura bore down on the fighter like a storm he stood there silent glaring the coach asked if he was all right shinkawa looked down at his fist slowly relaxed it then extended his hand to the fighter in sportsmanship he thanked him for the match the fighter admitted his defeat he now understood Shinkawa's strength he hadn't even had time to react the coach now more confident in Shinkawa's resolve gave him the next instruction takes the fighter he just defeated would be teaching Shinkawa wrestling his biggest weakness while Tshi rested the other gym members would take turns sparring Shinkawa in a relay style session each fighter would go one round one after the other the coach called out the first opponent the man hesitated cautiously securing his headgear the coach looked back at Shinkawa and gave one final directive backing up equals losing he told him to inch forward apply pressure conserve energy while slowly draining his opponent's stamina that was the strategy later that night in a cozy restaurant waiters bustled between tables serving plates of sizzling food customers chatted and laughed as they enjoyed their meals suddenly a figure dashed past the window a hooded person wearing all black one of the girls seated by the glass caught a glimpse of the runner she murmured under her breath barely audible it is that person back in the gym Shinkawa was deep in sparring his eyes locked onto his opponent with unwavering focus around him the atmosphere buzzed with intensity two fighters Tshi and another gym member were off to the side caught in a heated argument though their voices were hushed their frustration was clear tshi insisted he wasn't the only one who got messed up sparring with Shinkawa the other fighter shot back reminding him he was completely knocked out cold meanwhile Tekshi turned his eyes toward the ring he was watching the sparring match unfold already looking forward to stepping in next behind them the coach observed quietly arms crossed the weight cut was becoming a serious issue with the limited time left it was going to be rough on the first day Shinkawa's punches were so powerful that the coach's hands had swelled even through the mits but now on the third day there was a clear drop in his striking force his body was breaking down along with the weight the coach muttered under his breath wondering whether Shinkawa would even be able to land a single meaningful hit by fight night with only one day left to recover it was becoming a dangerous gamble elsewhere in the desolate sunscorched land of memory an army of ancient soldiers trained under a clouded sky shields were raised in unison the sound of armor clanking in rhythm among them stood Shingawa gripping his own shield tightly a commanding voice echoed through the ranks ready your spears he braced himself heart racing then suddenly he awoke lying in bed he looked nothing like the fighter from that battlefield shankawa was now skinny pale and miserable he moved with a sluggish stiffness took a pill from his nightstand peeled a banana and forced it down then without a word he threw on his hoodie and left for another training session at the sauna other gym members were preparing to step in for a steam session when Shinkawa pulled off his hoodie silence fell the bruises on his torso were dark and severe one of the men assumed he must have pulled a muscle possibly even torn it given its location they speculated it could be the latisimus dorsy a muscle directly linked to punching power shinkawa stepped onto the scale the digital numbers blinked 75 kg the guys encouraged him telling him he could easily sweat out the last half kilo the realization hit them he had lost 10 full kilograms in just one week impressed and slightly worried they all entered the sauna together inside the heat enveloped them shinkawa sat in silence enduring it with gritted teeth in his mind the battlefield returned circling overhead vultures screamed across the red skis one of them locked eyes with him in Dove without hesitation he raised a spear and impaled the bird midair back in the present soaked in sweat Shinkawa stepped onto the scale again 72 kg "just a few more grams," someone said everyone tensed up for the final stretch they held out five more minutes at the official weigh-in Shingawa stepped onto the stage his face was gaunt his frame depleted but the digital screen lit up 70 kg he made weight cleared and passed the team erupted in celebration congratulating him on pulling off the impossible then came Ojas the moment he walked in the contrast was staggering og looked massive like a completely different weight class even at a glance it was obvious he hadn't even tried to cut weight as the two fighters passed each other the size difference was almost comical shankawa looked like a shadow of himself while Oji smirked with a quiet arrogance the way an announcer hesitated then read out the number 77.4 kg the crowd gasped the president's face twisted in fury he cursed under his breath oji was disqualified on the spot gasps rippled through the audience murmurss filled the air the match was now in jeopardy the president stormed toward Oji clearly fuming demanding to know what the hell he was thinking oji's coach stepped in explaining that due to severe muscle cramps and non-stop vomiting the doctor had ordered Oji to stop all activity the president wasn't buying it he reminded them that OG normally weighed 80 kg and was only 7 kg over which meant what he barely even tried to cut weight and this was supposed to be the main event og calm but clearly not happy explained that the fight had only been confirmed a few days ago he didn't have time to fully prepare he apologized but that just made the president even more irritated an apology that wasn't going to cut it then OJI dropped a legal bomb since he hadn't received his fight money technically he wasn't obligated to fight oh and by the way his contract with the FFC just ended mic drop the president shot back questioning why none of this was mentioned earlier he accused OG of just trying to protect his image maybe even hinting that OG had already signed with someone else that accusation hit hard oji thought it was unfair and honestly kind of dirty but then the president shifted gears he dangled a tempting deal 3 million yen total split between a base payment and a win bonus that definitely caught OG's attention of course there was a twist if OG lost he'd walk away with nothing and if the fight went to decision there'd be a deduction for failing the weight cut oh and the president couldn't help but throw in a little taunt classic at this point OG couldn't refuse the conditions were harsh but the money and maybe his pride forced his hand he agreed midway through the chaos Shina was asked what he was supposed to do now but before he got a proper answer OG's coach stepped in saying there was no point fighting someone who failed to make weight he even questioned OG's professionalism calling his stunt straight up embarrassing that lit a fuse oji lost it and snapped back at the coach the tension thick and if you're ready to feel that same electric intensity every time the action escalates go ahead and hit that subscribe button to stay right in the heart of it all the president cut through the noise he told OG they'd find a more suitable opponent for Shinkawa someone in the right weight class shinkawa would still get the 100,000 yen as promised not bad but then came plan B if Shinkawa was still down to fight in the main event the president sweetened the pot he'd toss in OG's 1.5 million win bonus that meant Shinkawa could walk away with 1.6 million yen if he won the other fighters pretty sure they all did a double take shinkawa was in no hesitation his coach not thrilled he warned there were only 24 hours until the fight and Shinkawas wasn't in top shape but Shinkawa wasn't backing down he said he'd recover in time and he meant it og of course had to get the last word he taunted Shinkawas saying he should use this chance to make a name for himself though all that prize money would probably end up going to hospital bills not cool shinka was fired back calling Oji trash for not even being able to make weight that one hit a nerve og was about to go off again but the president stepped in just in time and told them to save it for the cameras then came weigh in time shinawa stepped on the scale 70 kg nailed it og followed 774 kg disqualified not even close the reporters were stunned one of them asked the question on everyone's mind "How did he miss weight that badly?" A 7 kg gap basically screamed "I didn't cut anything." A female reporter chimed in guessing that the rumors about OG getting a contract offer from 1 FC were probably true she continued pointing out how wild it was to accept a new contract mid cut and just bail she figured he probably didn't bother cutting to save energy since the fight money now meant nothing then the president took the mic he announced that although Oji failed to make weight Shinkawas had agreed to move forward with the fight but he added "None of it mattered if Oji had no motivation to compete." He glanced at Oji and laid out the deal "no pay if he lost double pay if he won high risk high reward." The female reporter commented that the president was clearly desperate throwing everything at the wall to keep the show alive she even wondered if Shingawas would make it out alive another reporter joked that with a 7 kg difference this might be less of a fight and more of a beatdown both fighters stood on stage locked eyes while the cameras clicked tension maxed out og smirked and tossed a taunt at Shinkawa's the president handed Shinkawa the mic giving him a chance to respond with a sharp glare and zero hesitation Shinkawa said he'd finish it in the first round bold the crowd loved it not to be outdone OG grabbed the mic and fired back with the same threats round one game over as they walked off stage the president turned to his assistant and quietly ordered her to investigate OG he wanted her to spin the situation in a way that would hurt OG's image and send the footage to 1 FC make them really think twice about that contract she asked if having Shinkawas as the opponent was a good move wouldn't it look worse if the fight ended instantly the president shrugged combat sports weren't about guaranteed outcomes they were about the possibility that anything could happen and was he hoping Shinkawa would win not exactly as long as the kid put up a decent fight that was enough late at night a car rolled through the quiet streets carrying Shinkawa and his team inside the mood was tense as they discussed a change in strategy the coach explained that OG had been penalized for failing to make weight if the match went to a decision then Shinkawa's victory would be secured the coach instructed Shinkawa to rely on faints and frontal attacks just enough to score with jabs and low kicks he warned against starting an aggressive offense and advised Shinkawa to throw punches only when he could time counters if that wasn't possible he was told to evade using footwork shankawa pointed out that this approach was the opposite of their usual strategy the coach acknowledged it explaining that their previous plan had been more of a gamble this however was a real strategy still Shinkawa expressed doubt nodding that no one wanted to see a fight like that but the coach reminded him that he was already at a disadvantage stalling for time wasn't an option the focus now had to be on holding his ground the coach continued telling him that if he didn't want to prove the doubters right those who expected him to lose he had to commit fully shankawa determined stated that he intended to finish the fight in the first round he had made a promise and he planned to keep it the coach then offered a final piece of advice in the world of fighting effort meant nothing there was only winning or losing no in between with fierce resolve Shingawa declared that he would win the fire in his eyes said it all everyone in the car smirked a quiet but clear sign of pride the coach said no more offering just a nod of encouragement shinkawa continued eating focused on recovering everything he had lost 30 hours later the arena lights blazed it was time for the main event the announcer's voice echoed through the crowd as he called out Shankawa's name stepping into the octagon Shankawa was met with cheers this time there were fans in his corner among the crowd were the two reporters who had covered the weigh-in one of them noted that Shinkawa had recovered quite a bit in just a day the female reporter watching intently couldn't help but think that it would be painful to see someone so handsome take a beating then came the opponent ranked third in the lightweight division Oji Tasa the crowd erupted as OG entered the arena hand raised high his pride annoyed the organization's president who sat nearby a woman next to the president took a video possibly to send to 1FC oji entered the octagon striking a pose for the crowd before turning to taunt Shinkawa suggesting he'd be eating hospital food by the end of the night the referee gave the signal the fighters touched gloves the bell rang and both dropped into their stances oji was quick to act he raised his leg and landed a powerful strike on Shankawa's as Oji stared at him expecting a reaction Shinkawa didn't move this unsettled Oji was Shingawa really planning to take the kicks headon if so Oji was more than willing to oblige he delivered another kick from the sidelines the coach shouted for Shingawa to initiate sequence number six but still Shingawa didn't move oji threatened again claiming Shinkawa would be crawling home and continued hammering his leg with kicks blood began to drip from the impact points in Shinawa's mind he wasn't just a fighter he was an ancient warrior shield raised weathering a storm of arrows he waited patient knowing that once the barrage ended it would be his turn to strike another kick landed and this time Shinkawa lost his balance oji saw his chance and launched another attack the gym members and coach watched with concern but Shinkawa remained laser focused like a lion waiting for the perfect moment to pounce before falling he grounded his leg in just the right position regaining his balance and using it to dodge Oji's incoming strike oji attacked again but Shinkawa slipped past it once more then came the counter shinkawa planted his leg firmly and threw a powerful punch straight into Oji's face the crowd froze even the reporters were stunned but Oji hadn't gone down yet he was still conscious in desperation Oji threw another punch shinkawa ducked dodged and wound up his final strike with every ounce of energy he had left he launched a crushing uppercut straight to Oji's chin oji's body went limp as he collapsed into Shinkawa to seal the victory Shinkawa landed one last uppercut ensuring the job was finished the president the reporters and everyone else watching stood in silence their faces frozen in disbelief the referee stepped in and stopped the match outside the octagon the crowd was left dumbfounded shinkawa had just defeated the third ranked fighter OG caught in the heat of the moment Shingawa was overwhelmed by a strange sensation in his mind he heard a chant something ancient primal a cry to finish off his opponent in his hallucination it felt like the entire building was urging him to end OG but the illusion shattered when his coach called out to him his teammates rushed into the cage embracing him with joy and pride the coach praised him saying everything had gone exactly according to plan as Shankawa glanced at the audience he noticed how frozen everyone appeared no one had expected this outcome the match result had stunned them into silence meanwhile the commentators began analyzing the fight they remarked on how Shinkawa had lost his balance after repeated strikes to the leg making it seem as if he was defenseless in reality he had deceived everyone his calm composure had masked his true intent the rookie had just knocked out the third ranked fighter and no one had seen it coming the president looked over to where Oji was receiving treatment from his team there was a quiet satisfaction in his eyes shinkawa had made good on his promise delivering a firstround knockout the result had exceeded all expectations eventually Oji regained consciousness the president watching silently smirked to himself this outcome had gone even better than he'd imagined the announcer approached Shinkawa and asked for his thoughts shinkawa responded with unexpected indifference stating that the fight had been disappointing the commentator followed up asking about the 10 kg he had lost in just one week and what challenges he had faced especially considering Oji hadn't even made weight with unwavering confidence Shinkawa replied that there was nothing challenging about beating Oji then he took the microphone and made a bold declaration he wanted to fight the champion if the champion wasn't too scared to face him he should step up now the entire crowd gasped the atmosphere shifted in the VIP section the president made a dramatic pose one reminiscent of Leluch from Code Geese he had thought OG was the villain in this story but now it seemed another had taken that role shankawa left the octagon with the spotlight following him the crowd's attention was still locked on him on social media the comment sections exploded everyone was talking about Shinkawa the match and the shocking outcome people were blown away elsewhere inside a locker room a man watched the fight replay on his phone another entered the room sensing that a new wind was about to blow through the world of fighting however he also pointed out that such a wind could die down in an instant he then addressed the man watching the video who turned out to be the reigning champion he admitted that after seeing Shankawa defeat the third ranked fighter in his debut some might get the wrong idea still he gave credit where it was due shankawa had impressive punching sense strong expressions and a level of composure that didn't match his rookie status it felt as though he had survived countless real battles if OG had prepared more seriously the champion noted the fight could have been far more interesting oji hadn't been motivated from the beginning and never got to show his full potential a shame really the other man informed the champion that the organizers wanted to schedule a match between him and Shinkawa while the hype was still hot the champion didn't hesitate he put on a gas mask accepted the proposal and approached a massive tire for training as he began his workout he simply stated that the fever would die out once Shankawa lost his next fight a week later inside a university hospital Shinkawa sat across from a doctor she asked about his dreams he explained that these dreams weren't ordinary they were lucid yes but different normally he wouldn't feel pain in dreams yet in these the pain was vivid bones breaking swords cutting arrows piercing he felt at all it wasn't reality but it wasn't just a nightmare either no matter how much he struggled he couldn't wake up not after a week not after a month there had been a moment just one when he believed he'd finally return to the real world he remembered the joy thinking it was all over but that too had been a dream he had only fallen asleep again exhausted from fighting within the dream five long years passed in that dream world before he finally returned even now he admitted there was fear fear that it might all happen again that he might be pulled back he couldn't tell if this life was real or just another illusion he wasn't even sure if he was truly alive but there was one thing he knew for certain to find the answer he had to keep fighting at the Corner Man MMA training center the coach stepped inside expecting a quiet morning but what he found was a surprise shinkawa was already there cleaning the gym shinkawa greeted him casually but the coach was having none of it he reminded Shinkawa that rest is also part of training especially when preparing for the next match apparently Shinawa hadn't heard the news curious he asked about the next fight the coach gave a rice smile the organizers had already contacted him about a title match with the champion then in a not so subtle jab the coach added that some bastard went and issued a challenge on his own clearly referring to Shinkawa the coach then shifted into a serious tone he warned Shingawa that Harayyama the reigning champion had never lost a fight unlike Oji Harayama wasn't a wild beast he was a cool-headed robot a master tactician who specialized in mental warfare aryama's technique was extensive he could adapt to nearly any situation and proficient in jiu-jitsu kickboxing shoot wrestling and boxing and what made things even more troublesome were his physical stats though only 1 centime shorter than Shinkawa considered small for the lightweight division Aryama had an absurd reach of 190 cm even worse he was a southpaw a left-handed striker with freakish reach was a nightmare for any opponent his muscle tobone ratio was high his low center of gravity made him stable durable and hard to knock down not that Shinkawa would be taking him to the ground anyway to summarize he was a southpaw so his attacks would be hard to read he was short so he'd be harder to land clean punches on and with that long reach his strikes could come from unexpected angles if Shinkawa couldn't close the distance and started eating shots from afar then panicked and rushed in recklessly that would be the end of the match shinkawa calmly asked if the coach was trying to scare him the coach responded that he wasn't trying to scare him just making sure he understood everything before accepting the fight without even blinking Shinkawa accepted the match they bumped fists sealing the decision then the coach informed him that an interview was scheduled for the afternoon and told him to just answer freely later that day the familiar female reporter from the last match entered the gym she commented on the good atmosphere and the coach greeted her saying everyone had been full of energy since their rookie fighter's explosive debut from across the gym they saw Shinkawa training doing pull-ups with a heavy weight tied to his waist takashi raised an eyebrow he's still doing that shinkawa responded without looking back if he imagined he would die if he let go then he could keep going the coach introduced the reporter to Shingawa and suggested he consider streaming his training in the future she introduced herself as Tsuji SOA from rank seven they moved into a side room to conduct the interview she began by expressing her curiosity about his previous match given that Harayyama remained undefeated many believed Shingawa had no real chance she asked for his thoughts on that shinkawa simply said he didn't think much of it to him this was no different from facing Oji she followed up asking if that meant he was confident he could defeat Harayyama with calm determination Shinkawa answered that no matter how the match went he had made a promise to win and he intended to keep it she then asked how he had changed since his amateur days shinkawa replied that back then he didn't have much luck but now it seemed like luck had finally caught up with him she smiled commenting that luck was a kind of skill too next she asked what got him into martial arts in the first place shinkawa's expression darkened slightly as he remembered he had been bullied as a kid beaten down by delinquents the memory of being punched and unable to fight back lingered clearly in his mind the reporter was surprised shinkawa had been bullied in high school he confirmed it though he added there were various other reasons why he eventually dropped out still she concluded that martial arts had become his way of fighting back a response to a past where he felt powerless meanwhile outside the room a few gym members peeked through the slightly open door one of them whispered that Shinkawa was surprisingly good at interviews but then they noticed something else someone in the gym had started a live stream the streamer grinned at the camera and declared that he was about to show the world what happens when an extremely strong regular person fights an amateur martial artist right here live the reporter concluded the interview thanking Shinkawa for his time and assuring him they'd be cautious with the information they shared she then asked if they could capture some footage of him training shinkawa gave a brief nod granting permission takashi entered the room shortly after he asked if Shinkawa remembered a guy named Okitsuoshi from high school without waiting for a response he answered his own question mentioning that he would allow the man to observe for now since Shingawa was being interviewed he added that the guy seemed to be a YouTuber but had no manners whatsoever takashi questioned whether the man was really Shinawa's friend then commented that the guy hadn't even known Kento had gone pro shankawa clarified that Oki wasn't a friend just a former classmate meanwhile the reporter instructed the cameraman to keep recording as Shinkawa and Takashi observed the YouTuber from across the room Takashi offered to create an excuse and send him away shinkawa declined saying he would handle it personally takashi reminded him that this was a critical time but Shinkawa reassured him that everything was fine shinkawa approached the YouTuber calmly the YouTuber greeted him with exaggerated friendliness pretending they were long-lost friends he remarked that he'd heard Shinkawa had been training and claimed he had found the gym through some amateur friends shankawa asked directly what he was there for the YouTuber smiled still putting on a show for his stream and said he was just visiting an old friend he explained that his viewers were curious to see what would happen if an extremely tough civilian fought a former wimp turned amateur fighter shinkawa unfazed told him to ask one of his amateur friends instead the YouTuber dismissed the idea stating that his friend had always been strong and that a fight between the two wouldn't make for good content shinkawa he said was perfect for this kind of video the YouTuber then pleaded for the match revealing that he had already hinted to his audience about Shinkawa he asked once more framing it as a favor between friends shinkawa his expression unchanging responded coldly what he remembered from back then wasn't friendship only being used as a punching bag the YouTuber laughed awkwardly brushing it off as youthful aggression he insisted they were just hot-blooded kids and suggested they settle it with a serious sparring match to make up like real men shinkawa replied that professional fighters weren't supposed to spar seriously with civilians the YouTuber mocked him in return pointing out that an amateur with a 10-fight losing streak had no right to call himself a pro smirking he added that if Shankawa was embarrassed he'd blur his face in the footage shinkawa calmly told him there was already a scheduled three round sparring match coming up he advised the YouTuber to stretch for 20 minutes and wait the YouTuber grinned seemingly pleased he told his viewers to stay tuned promising them a live stream where a civilian would completely destroy an amateur fighter everyone in the gym heard the comment annoyance rippled through the room the YouTuber set up his camera pretending to stretch while deliberately angling it to capture Shinkawa's sparring match in the background elsewhere Shinkawa stood beside his coach the coach mentioned that he had heard everything from Takashi and warned that the situation wasn't ideal harayyama the reigning champion was likely watching and analyzing every bit of footage available still the coach saw an opportunity if they played it right they could use this moment to make the champion lower his guard the coach instructed Shinkawa to stick to his usual striking flow when Takashi attempted a takedown he was to defend and then loosen up give the champion something to overanalyze both Shinkawa and Takashi changed into their training gear as the cameras rolled the two fighters touched gloves and began their sparring match shinkawa struck first delivering a swift kick that Takashi blocked just in time the force was intense enough to draw a reaction from the YouTuber who watched wideeyed from across the room takashi fired back with a straight punch aimed at Shinkawa's face shinkawa blocked it cleanly with his gloves then countered with a sharp jab of his own takashi leaned back and avoided the hit with precision shinkawa moved forward again launching another attack takashi remained composed dodging the incoming strike he retaliated quickly but Shinkawa blocked once more with tight defense both fighters threw punches at the same time shinkawa's fist connected with Takashi's jaw while Takashi's punch sailed past its mark as Takashi staggered slightly to regain balance Shinkawa seized the moment with perfect timing he stepped in and unleashed a brutal uppercut that landed squarely on Takashi's chin the YouTuber's jaw dropped his live stream chat exploded it was at this moment that he knew he [ __ ] up if you don't want to be caught slipping like that clueless streamer hit subscribe and ring that bell join the squad and stay in the loop shankawa and Takashi clashed with relentless intensity fists flying in a blur of motion each blow echoed through the gym as the two fighters exchanged strikes without pause their bodies moving like machines trained for war meanwhile the comment section online erupted with chatter about Shinkawa viewers were in awe of how he had taken down the third ranked lightweight in just 27 seconds some recounted how he boldly declared war on the reigning champion while others joked about how the YouTuber was about to get destroyed watching the sparring match unfold the YouTuber finally grasped the reality of Shinkawa's strength it was far beyond what he had anticipated around him the gym members murmured about Shinkawa's potential speculating that he might be the one to take the belt soon hearing this the YouTuber quickly made an excuse claiming the camera had suddenly stopped working and the battery was almost dead as he tried to sneak out of the situation a reporter approached and asked him why Shingawa had said the two were not friends just former classmates before he could respond Shinkawa appeared right in front of him and asked if he was ready the YouTuber immediately tried to backpedal insisting there had been a misunderstanding and suggesting they just forget the whole thing shankawa simply asked whether he didn't want to spar anymore then letting out a sigh Shinkawa told him to leave if he wasn't going to follow through as the YouTuber began packing up his camera clearly trying to exit Takashi stepped in and grabbed him questioning whether he really planned to leave without even apologizing the YouTuber visibly shaken muttered that it was none of Takashi's business shankawa intervened again telling the others to let him go he remarked that an apology wouldn't rewind time anyway however another member of Shinawa's team cut in pointing out that the YouTuber had barged in and caused a scene he should at least try to make amends soon more gym members surrounded him their presence pressuring him to act cornered and humiliated the YouTuber finally bowed his head and apologized to Shinkawa the comment section always unforgiving exploded once again users mocked the moment joking that this was the biggest boomerang effect they'd ever seen while others compared it to an anger management session but as he bowed the YouTuber's expression shifted beneath the act of submission a sinister glint appeared in his eyes an ominous hint that he had something else in mind the scene shifted to a quiet office tucked away inside a university hospital shinkawa sat across from a doctor the atmosphere calm but weighed down by something unspoken she studied him for a moment her expression a careful mix of curiosity and concern then gently she asked how he had felt when the YouTuber bowed and apologized he told her as much the apology hadn't meant anything not really that single act of remorse couldn't erase the past it couldn't undo the damage in that silence he found himself walking through the doors of a martial arts gym not because he was chasing a dream but because there was nowhere else to go he needed to feel something anything that would remind him he was still alive the doctor listened saying nothing at first when she finally spoke her voice was soft but steady she said that in life pain was unavoidable everyone gets hurt it's part of living part of growing some wounds are visible others are buried deeper but the ones that don't heal the ones that linger far longer than they should those become something else entirely a deeper wound a wound of the heart that's what trauma is she offered a quiet suggestion one way to begin healing it involved recognizing the present self realizing that who he is now is not the same person he was back then growth doesn't erase the past but it changes who carries it then she asked if he could meet his past self what would he say in his mind Shinkawa saw it clearly a version of himself lying on the floor bruised defeated empty that version of him had no strength left to stand no fire no direction he looked down at that old self and thought "If I can overcome this pain I'll become even stronger." The doctor raised an eyebrow and remarked that it sounded familiar she asked if he knew where the words came from jinawa shook his head she told him it was from a German philosopher a reminder that strength is often forged through suffering he didn't care who said it back then during those hellish nights it was the only thing that kept him going later that evening Shinkawa stepped out of the hospital in his hand was a small white bag the prescription the doctor had written for him the city lights shimmerred in puddles on the sidewalk as he walked everything felt oddly quiet eventually he reached his apartment building the stairwell was dim lit only by a flickering bulb as he began descending the steps a strange feeling crept in a gut instinct someone was waiting at the bottom of the stairs the YouTuber stood no longer alone several delinquents flanked him their eyes cold posture aggressive with a sneer the YouTuber mocked the place asking if Shingawa was still living in this filthy dump his voice dripped with resentment as he ranted about how Shinkawa had ruined his channel how he was going to pay for it in his hand he gripped an electric taser but Shankawa didn't flinch he didn't move he didn't even blink then slowly Shinkawa's lips curled into a smirk calm and unreadable the same expression that said more than words ever could at the same time the reigning champion was watching Shinkawa's sparring which had been uploaded to the delinquent YouTuber's channel and his coach commented that he had no idea how the footage had been recorded however judging from the comments it clearly didn't seem staged the scene shifted back to the alleyway shinkawas took quick action he moved first delivering a sharp kick to the man in the blue shirt as that played out the champion and his coach continued their conversation the champion analyzed that Shinkawa's debut match against Oji had ended so quickly he hadn't realized just how much power Shankawa packed into his punches the scene shifted back again shinkawa swiftly ducked and dodged as the attackers swung at him with bats the champion observed that Shinkawa's defense wasn't bad most of the blows failed to land and his quick judgment allowed him to evade even under pressure while Shankawa continued to dodge the wild swings the coach pointed out that some of Shankawa's flaws were becoming visible especially his wrestling defense right then one of the delinquents charged at Shinkawa aiming for a takedown by grabbing his legs but Shinkawa stepped forward and drove his knee into the man's face delivering a devastating counterattack the champion remarked that Shinkawa's distance control was a bit off except when it came to punches the coach added that it was no surprise Shingawa had taken so many leg kicks in his earlier alleyway fight against Oji now only the YouTuber remained standing all the other delinquents were lying on the ground after being beaten down by Shinkawa shinkawa told the YouTuber that he hadn't grown at all in a panic the YouTuber pulled out a knife shankawa grabbed his hand and stepped in close a scream echoed through the alleyway back in the gym the coach asked the champion what he planned to do next the champion replied that as long as he was cautious of Shinkawa's punches the match should be simple the coach warned that Shinkawa would likely sharpen his wrestling and sprawl defense as well but the champion full of confidence claimed that no matter how much Shinkawa trained it wouldn't be enough to stop his tackles he doubted Shinkawa would even be able to react still the coach advised him not to get overconfident he reminded the champion that they couldn't afford to make mistakes especially if they wanted to reach the UUFC the champion agreed he acknowledged that he would soon turn 37 and only had 3 years left in the sport after that he planned to retire he also had to consider his family mika had told him she didn't want to see her father getting hit in the ring he had promised his wife that if he lost even once he would walk away from fighting looking at a family photo he admitted he had started this journey for them in the first place the weight he carried was different from that of a young punk like Shinkawa that was exactly why he couldn't afford to lose the scene transitioned back to Shinkawa he stood in silence starring at his bloodied hand after a moment of reflection he began washing it clean time passed the day of the fight arrived both fighters stood face to face the champion held his MMA belt raising it to taunt Shingawa he told him outright that the belt wasn't his to take and he should give up during a press event the announcer turned to Shinkawa with the fight just a day away he asked how Shinkawa felt about receiving an offer from the undefeated champion Harayyama who held a perfect record of nine wins in nine fights without any visible emotion Shinkawa simply stated that he wanted to get in the ring as soon as possible the announcer noted that in his last match Shinkawa had made good on his promise of a firstround knockout he asked what kind of fight fans could expect this time shankawa now filled with determination declared that he would put his life on the line to win the announcer then turned to the champion and asked for his thoughts on Shinkawa's bold statement the champion expressed doubt questioning whether someone so young truly understood what it meant to risk everything in the ring he said he intended to teach Shinqawa the true meaning of life and death when asked whether he too was staking his life in this fight the champion answered that there had never been a match where he hadn't put everything on the line as always he would fight and win for his family turning to Shinkawa the champion added that the higher his expectations the greater the disappointment would be when he failed but even if he lost he hoped the young fighter wouldn't let it break him after all he still had his whole life ahead of him shinkawa unexpectedly remembered the champion on television noticed how much the man genuinely cared about his daughter it struck him "Was the champion truly putting his life on the line for his family?" The champion meanwhile was confused why was Shinkawa provoking him with irrelevant comments but Shinkawa pressed on saying that he understood the meaning behind it all the two fighters locked eyes their gazes intense and unwavering neither gave an inch as they faced off eventually taking their fighting stances the scene shifted to an office where a lady reporter was typing her article previewed the upcoming FFC lightweight championship a rising star who shot up the rankings on debut would face the undefeated champion with a 9- win zero loss record never in MMA history had an amateur with 11 straight losses become champion after just two pro fights if Shankawa won he'd also become the youngest champion in FFC history the scene changed once more shinkawa walked into the arena accompanied by his coach the story was far from over would Shinkawa be able to deliver another overwhelming performance like last time the coach offered Shinkawa one final piece of advice before the match began he told him to take control of the fight's rhythm to stay calm and to trust the strategy they had meticulously prepared with that Shinkawa stepped into the octagon his expression focused and his body tense with anticipation as he turned his eyes caught sight of the FFC president seated near the cage this time the crowd was larger louder and more animated than ever before their voices rose together chanting the name of the undefeated champion Harayyama inside the cage Harayama stood composed and motionless his calm presence sharply contrasting the frenzy of the audience he looked every bit the reigning champion relaxed unreadable and dangerous just outside the octagon the president's assistant noticed a sharp-eyed man observing the match with careful attention she leaned toward the president and quietly informed him that the man was from the UFC the president responded explaining that he had been sent by John Shalby himself to witness Harayyama's performance firsthand the assistant intrigued remarked on Harayyama's unbeaten record she assumed he had the potential to compete abroad and wondered why the UFC hadn't shown interest earlier the president explained that dominance alone didn't tell the full story in fighting it mattered not just how a fighter won but how they handled defeat even the UUFC couldn't yet judge whether Harayyama was the kind of fighter who would collapse after a single loss or one who would grit his teeth rise and claw his way back that uncertainty was what held them back back inside the cage both fighters stood still as a cameraman slowly circled them capturing every tenth second the referee held the championship belt high in the air a silent declaration of what was at stake the audience held its breath positioned between the fighters the referee glanced at each of them and confirmed their readiness with a swift hand signal the match officially began without hesitation Haryama exploded forward like a predator closing in on its prey to Shinawa the motion felt less like a charge and more like a wild beast breaking loose haryyama's punch extended with his long reach came fast shankawa raised his arm to block and instantly recognized a problem harayyama's reach was immense almost unnatural it felt like facing a spearman while holding only a sword in his mind he visualized it clearly harayyama wielding a spear with ease while he clutched a short blade jawa retaliated quickly aiming a counter punch but Harayyama intercepted midair with a clean hook the timing was perfect immediately Harayyama followed with a sharp strike aimed directly at Shankawa's face the blow landed flush forcing Shinkawa to step back and reassess he realized that even when he tried to jab Haryama's lead hand was always there constantly disrupting his rhythm and breaking his timing tried again jabbing toward his opponent but Haryama used his palm to push and redirect the punch each of Shingawa's attempts meant the same fate whenever he launched an attack a swift counterattack came flying back frustration built as his punches were blocked or slipped and his defense was constantly tested then came a sudden kick unexpected and forceful it slipped through his guard and landed against his ribs the impact jarring shinkawa gritted his teeth and felt the pain surge through his side from outside the cage the coach called out urging him to maintain his rhythm to endure the pain and to resist the urge to flinch shinkawa nodded slightly regaining his focus the president still watching with a keen eye made a quiet observation in his mind a southpaw with a long reach posed a unique challenge for someone like Shinkawa who relied heavily on clean punches and fast counters the assistant asked why such an advantage existed why being left-handed made such a difference the president clarified that most fighters were orthodox meaning they fought with their right hand forward as a result they rarely faced southpaws but southpaw fighters by contrast had to face orthodox opponents regularly this constant exposure gave them a subtle yet powerful edge in timing distance and angles the fight continued with Harayyama firmly in control another strike caught Shinkawa in the face the sting brought with it a memory one of countless dreamlike battles he had fought within his mind in those dreams there were no weight classes he had faced warriors of all shapes and sizes but not once had he ever fought a left-handed opponent the realization hit with a quiet weight this was unfamiliar territory aryama pressed the attack delivering a relentless stream of strikes that kept Shinkawa on the defensive in the midst of it Shankawa's thoughts turned again this time to the ancient failins formation in that tactic soldiers would line up with shields on their left arms and spears in their right hands forming an impenetrable wall the left hand was essential every soldier needed to follow that design left-handed warriors had no place in that order he connected the thought to the present moment this truly was his first encounter with a southpaw the difference was undeniable outside the cage both the president and the UFC observer continued to study the match carefully harayyama still composed began to taunt Shinkawa he questioned the confidence in Shinkawa's fists mocked his ambition for the championship belt and declared that he didn't have what it took then with brutal intent Harayyama charged again launching another powerful punch this time Shinkawa leaned to the right and narrowly avoided the blow as Haryama's punch passed by Shinkawa mimicked his opponent's earlier movements with precision using his left hand he threw a punch one that mirrored Harayyama's technique exactly in that moment the crowd gasped it was not just a punch it was a statement shinkawa had seen the shape of his opponent's style and he had begun to adapt aryama flinched in pain his face contorting from the unexpected strike his head jerked slightly to the side clearly stunned by Shinawa's sudden switch in stance the sharp southpaw punch had landed cleanly outside the octagon Shankawa's coach shouted with excitement realizing immediately what had just happened shinkawa had begun utilizing a southpaw approach mirroring the champion's techniques the president observing from the stands narrowed his eyes as he noticed the subtle yet significant change the UUFC observer seated beside him continued watching silently his gaze never leaving the fighters unlike the others he showed no reaction only silent calculation shankawa now fought with his left hand forward adapting to the southpaw style with growing control he maintained his distance and tested Harayyama with measured attacks haryama ducked under a wide hook and smoothly dodged a follow-up jab leaning his torso backward with calculated precision the punch missed by inches suddenly Harayyama lunged forward with a powerful punch aiming directly for Shinawa's head but Shinkawa shifted to the side just in time the fist grazed him but failed to land cleanly a tense moment followed the two stood in the center of the octagon their gazes locked a mutual silence filled the air each studied the others movement waiting for the smallest mistake to exploit it was a stalemate a brief pause before the next storm in that stillness memories resurfaced in Shinkawa's mind his thoughts drifted back into the recurring dream that had haunted him throughout his training in that world countless soldiers stood shoulderto-shoulder most of them civilians with families these were not warriors by nature they had no desire for bloodshed no hunger for glory but to survive they had formed ranks lifted their shields and held the line they fought not to conquer but to protect yet among them were those who had no choice slaves unarmed unnamed and unseen they were thrown to the front where arrows rained down and spears tore through the flesh they couldn't rely on ranks or shields instead they charged blindly risking their lives to scatter the enemy's formation in those dreams Shingawa had always been one of them one of the expendables surviving through instinct grit and pain back in the present Haryama extended his long arm and launched a powerful jab shina dodged once more stepping out of range as the blow passed harmlessly by Shina remembered the words Harayyama had spoken during their faceoff the champion had claimed that Shinkawa didn't understand what it meant to risk everything but he did he knew it deeply intimately victory wasn't a choice it was survival and if he couldn't win now there would be no second chance only defeat only death he pressed forward willingly stepping into Harayama's range despite the blows harayyama analyzed the aggression concluding that Shankawa had abandoned all form it looked like desperation from Harayama's perspective Shinkawa was simply swinging with everything he had attempting to overwhelm him with brute force and reckless courage trying to turn this match into a chaotic brawl harayyama's coach called out urging him to push Shankawa back haryama responded instantly unleashing a sharp kick that cracked against Shinawa's side despite the pain Shankawa continued forward his body absorbed the strike but his eyes never wavered he charged again harayyama retaliated with another punch missed a second punch also dodged realizing his strikes weren't landing Harayyama adjusted his tactics and delivered a brutal leg kick the impact landed cleanly pain surged through Shinkawa's leg his balance faltered slightly and a grimace crossed his face the audience could see it shankawa was hurting seizing the opportunity Harayyama lowered his level and drove forward with a takedown attempt but Shinkawa anticipating the move sprawled with perfect timing his hips dropped denying the takedown and yet it was a ruse harayyama had fainted the tackle as he closed in he switched tactics again throwing a heavy punch at point blank range it connected shinkawa's body jolted from the hit without pause Harayyama resumed the takedown wrapping his arms around Shinkawa and driving him to the canvas now Haryama was on top pressing Shinkawa against the mat from the outside his coach yelled for a counter shinkawa responded using his hips to shift attempting to throw Harayyama off haryama tightened his position and unleashed a flurry of punches he was trying to end the match strike after strike rained down as he capitalized on his dominant position shinkawa's body took the punishment but his mind remained focused haryama lifted his arm for a final decisive blow but before it could land Shinkawa acted with one foot braced against the cage he pushed with all his strength twisting his body in a fluid motion harayyama was thrown off flipped over by the sudden reversal the crowd gasped even the president and Yuyu UFC observer leaned forward surprised by the maneuver shinkawa didn't hesitate he quickly latched onto Harayyama's arm and secured an arm lock the hold was tight harayyama's face tensed as the pain registered he tried to twist free but the position was solid shinkawa had control now as Shankawa applied pressure to the lock something deeper stirred within him his vision blurred once again in his mind he stood not in a modern cage but within the walls of an ancient coliseum the crowds were no longer chanting his name they screamed for blood they demanded a kill his opponent lay beneath him and his own hands gripped the imaginary neck of a fallen warrior in that moment his kindling urge surged he could feel it the beast inside him whispering for him to finish it he imagined himself twisting Harayyama's neck ending it right there in front of the roaring crowd in reality both the referee and Shinkawa's coach were shouting at him to stop their voices pierced through the noise of the crowd but Shinkawa didn't register them not right away his mind was still lost in the echoing arena of his imagination locked in a trance born from instinct and adrenaline what finally pulled him back was a different voice soft yet cutting through the chaos like a blade it was Harayyama's wife calling out from the stands her voice filled with fear and concern at once Shinkawa's eyes widened awareness returned to him he snapped out of the violent haze and released the armbar without hesitation he sprang backward landing on his feet in a stance that looked almost like Spider-Man crouched on a rooftop the referee rushed to Harayyama's side quickly checking the condition of the former champion medical staff moved in but Haryama raised a hand signaling he was fine if shaken shinkawa stood still watching in silence his chest rising and falling with heavy breaths as the last traces of fury faded from his eyes meanwhile the president's assistant noticed something odd the UUFC observer had already left his seat and was heading toward the exit with curiosity peaked she quickly followed trying to catch up inside the octagon Shinkawa's teammates flooded in cheering and congratulating him with wide grins and pounding fists it was a celebration raw chaotic and earned one of them jokingly remarked how they'd only drilled grappling defense and taught him a single offensive technique and yet somehow Shina had pulled off a reverse armbar using the cage in a way that shocked even the coaching staff the comment came with laughter and awe did Ronda Rousey possess him or something rousey the first female UyUFC champion had famously finished nine of her 13 fights using an armbar now Shinkawa had pulled off a similar feat his first ever offensive grappling move executed in the heat of the moment under unimaginable pressure the coach still catching his breath shook his head and muttered that Shankawa had become a monster inside the ring shankawa stood nearby letting the words sink in for a moment his mind drifted back to the dream the battlefield the helpless soldiers the endless fight kill or be killed that's what it had always been that was the truth behind his strength across from them Haryama slowly rose to his feet sore but composed he approached Shinkawa and nodded respectfully he hadn't expected the rookie to refine his grappling so well but he acknowledged the outcome he called him champion and it wasn't sarcasm it was sincere the commentary team continued their broadcast their voices excited as they analyzed the fight they announced that Harayyama the undefeated lightweight champion had passed on the belt a new king had risen shankawa had just become the youngest champion in FC history and the entire match had lasted just 2 minutes and 49 seconds the experts had all been proven wrong he had won against every prediction with raw talent and sheer will one of the commentators mentioned that there had been an offer from the Yuyu FC for Harayyama this was supposed to be the proving ground but instead of showing his dominance the champion had fallen to a rookie the tides had turned backstage the assistant returned to the president and shared what she had overheard the UUFC observer was already on the phone with John Shalby their number two executive she couldn't hear the full conversation but she was certain they were talking about Shinkawa the president clenched his jaw in his mind the pieces were falling into place "shelby was after Shinkawa now," his grip tightened and with a scowl he muttered that he absolutely wouldn't let him go "shinkawa is mine," he thought bitterly then the spotlight turned again to Harayyama holding the microphone in the center of the octagon his face still bruised he shocked the arena by announcing his retirement from active competition the crowd gasped the president's face twisted in disbelief and frustration but Harayyama remained calm he admitted his disappointment but acknowledged that Shinkawa had won fair and square there was no shame in this loss he explained that he didn't have much time left to grow as a fighter and this was a clear sign that the new generation had arrived looking toward his wife in the crowd he said the decision was for his family he handed the microphone back bowed his head slightly and walked away graceful in defeat then the spotlight turned to Shinkawa the announcer handed him the mic and asked how he felt after becoming champion shankawa raised the belt above his head and said that he wanted to fight again as soon as possible he believed the ring was where he truly belonged with fierce conviction he stated that depending on the situation he'd fight twice in a single day if needed he looked into the crowd eyes burning with passion and challenged every fighter watching he told them not to be afraid to keep challenging him he would take on all comers then without another word Shinkawa handed the mic back and exited the octagon the championship belt on his shoulder and his coach walking beside him quick correction earlier I said southpaw means left-handed and orthodox means right-handed to be clear orthodox stance and orthodox stance a fighter has their left foot forward and their right hand is the nearest to their face southpaw stance the southpaw stance is the opposite to an orthodox as your right foot is forward and your left hand is back nearest to your face big thanks to at zverhill 6,638 and at blx cck kxge and at nathan Kushimal 3,477 for the correction appreciate you all make sure to subscribe for more mana recap content as the coach and Shinkawa stepped into the backstage corridor they were immediately greeted by the FFC president who was practically bursting with excitement he congratulated them warmly proclaiming that Shinkawa had not only seized the championship but had now become the very face of the FFC organization then turning to the coach and at long last putting a name to the figure who had stood silently behind the scenes he addressed him as Shereesi with a steady nod Shereesi accepted the praise simply replying that it was all the result of Shinkawa's relentless hard work until the very end the president shifted to business nodding that Shinqawa's champion status made it imperative to sign an exclusive contract with the FFC he explained that without affiliation Shinkawa would miss out on high-profile bouts but under contract the organization could arrange as many fights as he desired against top tier opponents and secure significantly higher purses jaresi requested time to consider the offer stressing the need for careful deliberation the president cautioned that the opportunity was fleeting and urged them to strike while the iron was hot shereeshi respectfully assured him they would confer and respond promptly as the president departed Shinkawa turned to his coach questioning the decision to delay acceptance he explained that money and conditions mattered little to him compared to the chance to keep fighting sharesi revealed that John Shalby the UUFC's number two executive had already contacted them to express interest in Shinkawa after scouting the recent match outside the changing rooms the president's assistant approached and asked how the meeting had gone the president visibly irritated explained that the very fact they had put everything on hold without even hearing the conditions meant that UUFC had already made their move he guessed they wouldn't jump into contract negotiations immediately but were likely planning to decide based on a test match he stressed that Shinkawa was a fighter he had personally discovered and pushed all the way to becoming a champion and he wasn't about to let him go so easily when the assistant cautiously asked what he planned to do about it the president replied with a cold resolve he would stop it by any means necessary the scene shifted to a university hospital the doctor asked about the hallucinations and the intense urge to kill that had surfaced during the match shankawa confirmed and described how the killing instinct took over him he imagined breaking his opponent's arm and twisting his neck he explained that instinctively he saw his opponent as an enemy who should be killed the doctor asked how he managed to suppress those feelings shinkawa recalled hearing a voice but when the doctor suggested it might be an auditory hallucination Shinkawa denied it he explained that it was the opponent's wife screaming and that was when he snapped back to his senses he admitted that in the moment his family from his dreams came to mind the doctor asked if he had a family in his dreams to which he confirmed though he had lost them in the war even though it was just a dream he still felt deep love for them and couldn't forget the sadness of losing them the doctor decided to add one more medication and he asked what kind of medicine it was she explained that it was an atypical antiscychotic a medication designed to suppress hallucinations and delusions he inquired whether the medication would show up in doping tests to which she confirmed it would not she reassured him that it had no effects that would enhance athletic performance when he asked about potential side effects she explained that at first he might feel slightly heavy or his tongue might become numb there was also the possibility of drowsiness he concluded that his movements might become dull however she advised that the medication had recently been improved and she did not believe the side effects would be as severe afterward Shankawa left the doctor's office and retrieved his medication from the front desk meanwhile the doctor in her office began analyzing Shingawa's case his ongoing struggles with fighting and the persistent hallucinations and delusions which had lasted over a month led her to consider the possibility of schizophrenia she thought of the former UFC inaugural lightweight champion Tony Ferguson a fighter who had achieved 100 consecutive wins and risen to become the UFC's first interim lightweight champion at the peak of his career Ferguson was struck by schizophrenia as his hallucinations and delusions worsened he began to harm those around him at the urging of his family he sought psychiatric help where he was prescribed respirone an antiscychotic medication for schizophrenia however the side effects of the drug made weight cutting difficult leading to losses in his fights as a result he lost his champion title at this rate Shinkawa might be facing the same outcome before the doctor could finish her thoughts the scene shifted shinkawa having left the university hospital glanced at his medication before tossing it into the trash his expression was grim as he left the building running in the gym Shankawa was wrapping his hands getting ready for his training session once finished he stepped into the ring to start his workout with his coach Shereeshi meanwhile one of Shinawa's friends holding his phone sees on social media everyone was talking about Shinkawa he was confused wondering how Shina had suddenly become so strong takashi overhearing replied that Shinqawa had put in a lot of hard work to get to this point the guy responded saying that Shinqawa had been working hard before too but hadn't made any progress and he couldn't understand what had changed takashi explained that perhaps Shinkawa had been dealing with mental struggles in the past the guy then commented that Shinkawa now appeared almost emotionless the training session between Shinawa and his coach continued shinkawa charged forward but the coach swiftly leaned back narrowly avoiding the strike the coach then countered with a leg kick after a quick tackle he pushed Shankawa to the ground shinawa resisted remaining on his feet in response Shankawa swept the coach's leg tripping him and making him fall the coach reacted quickly locking Shinkawa in an arm lock unable to bear the pain Shinawa tapped out the guys watching the match praised the coach saying he was in his prime the coach then advised Shinawa acknowledging his talent but explaining that he needed to learn how to lose a battle in order to win the war shankawa was confused by the advice one of the guys then gave a phone to the coach the call was from the president of the FFC the president expressed concern that he hadn't heard back from the coach and mentioned rumors about a UFC test match the coach confirmed that a test match was scheduled but the president warned that such a match didn't guarantee Shinqawa would make it into the UFC even if Shankawa won the UFC would decide when to call him up the president also pointed out that Shinkawa's name recognition was still too low with only two fights under his belt instead of a test match that wouldn't bring any earnings the president proposed an alternative a title match against Big Thunder where Shinawa would fight as the FFC representative the coach and Shinawa exchanged glances and the coach replied that a match with a well-known organization would certainly generate buzz if Shina could fight their champion he would surely be happy to accept the president said he would contact them once the schedule was set the president closed the phone and the assistant quietly stated that everything was going as planned she then added that if Shinawa were defeated by their champion the UFC might withdraw their interest the president responded that it would be ideal however he also pointed out that even if Shingawa won an injury during the fight would prevent him from showcasing his true potential in the test match a sinister look crossed his face meanwhile in the gym Shankawa continued his training later in the gym Shinkawa and his coach sat down to talk the coach informed Shinkawa that he had transferred 300,000 yen to him while it wasn't as much as the OG fight it was still a significant amount for fighters the coach explained that if a fighter got injured they were essentially unemployed until they recovered and if their mental state was affected it would be even more difficult to continue fighting he advised Shankawa to make money while he could and suggested that he could even teach private lessons as a part-time job the coach added that the gym had been flooded with requests from people wanting private lessons from the champion most of whom probably just wanted him to teach them gently two days later on the day of the private lesson a young boy named Jun was waiting in the gym shinkawa watched him for a moment before asking one of the members about the kid the member explained that Jun had been bullied at school and had joined the gym after reading an article the member confirmed that the kid's name was Janikani jun bowing his head expressed how glad he was to meet Shinkawa shinkawa looked at him with a serious intimidating expression shinqawa bluntly asked Jun if he was being bullied at school jun confirmed it with a nod shankawa continued questioning why Jun did not fight back jun hesitated trying to explain but Shinawa interrupted and called it admirable shankawa stated that it was proof Jun had been raised well emphasizing that it was normal not to enjoy hurting others shinkawa then addressed Jun<unk>'s curiosity about his own feelings toward fighting he explained that he once felt the same way but had since stopped running from fights shankawa decided to teach Jun immediately choosing boxing as the first martial art not because it was the strongest but because it involved the part of the body most resistant to causing harm training began with light jump rope exercises shinkawa handed Jun a jump rope and supervised him as he started skipping afterward Shinkawa taught Jun the basic forms carefully correcting his posture and movement members of the gym observed the session quietly remarking that Shinkawa contrary to expectations demonstrated a natural talent for teaching some speculated that Shinkawa saw a reflection of his younger self in Jan after the session Jun expressed gratitude marking the conclusion of his first day later the coach approached Shinkawa and confirmed that Jun was indeed being bullied shankawa stated that was why he had decided to teach him boxing the coach noted that with two to three months of consistent training Jun would be able to defend himself in most situations shinawa suggested that it might happen even sooner believing Jun showed natural ability the coach then shifted the conversation to Shankawa's upcoming match scheduled for the fourth of next month Shankawa would face Uyu Tenshin the lightweight champion from another organization the coach explained that Uyu was regarded as one of the top fighters in the country and would be a formidable opponent at a level Shankawa had not yet faced he warned Shankawa to be cautious and advised that if he took too much damage he should consider forfeiting despite his reluctance to forfeit Shinkawa listened as the coach emphasized the importance of preserving himself for the upcoming UFC test match scheduled just two weeks after the UYU fight in that match Shankawa would face Rose and Conan an unranked but highly promising fighter from Africa the coach acknowledged the difficulty of preparing for two fighters with completely different styles in such a short period shinkawa responded firmly stating that he would handle both matches both were critical opportunities for his career the coach mentioned that the president had no intention of losing Shinqawa and had arranged a substantial fight purse to keep him motivated when Shingawa asked about the amount the coach replied that it was 30 a respectable sum for a domestic event match 30 what exactly look guys I have no idea he just said 30 and moved on like we were all supposed to understand hopefully we'll find out later the coach then reminded Shinkawa not to become complacent just because of the money time passed and Shankawa continued Jun<unk>'s training since Jun was left-handed Shingawa taught him to use his left hand for attacks unless he was certain he could finish an opponent he instructed Jun to always guard his chin and maintain a stable center of gravity shinawa demonstrated steady upper body movement and strategic stepping explaining that landing two or three precise hits with proper form would be more effective than seeking a single powerful strike he emphasized that this was the way to defeat larger and stronger opponents the coach observed the training sessions quietly nodding the steady progress the day of departure for the match against Uyu arrived the coach went to Shinkawa's apartment to pick him up when the door opened the coach was shocked by the mess inside and asked if Shingawa had been robbed or attacked shinkawa responded that he was simply not good at cleaning the coach commented that if Shinkawa had caused the mess himself they had bigger problems than the match shinqawa shrugged off the comment saying he would clean after returning from the match as they prepared to leave the coach stopped and asked again if Shingawa was truly okay shinkawa with a cold and distant stare assured him that this situation was nothing new and that he was fine reluctantly accepting the answer the coach followed Shingawa outside where Tekashi picked them up in a car during the drive the coach told Shinkawa that he would not ask any more questions until after the match he urged Shinawa to speak to him once he had sorted out his thoughts reminding him that his problems were the team's problems too shinqawa acknowledged the words with a brief confirmation though the coach's worried gaze lingered as they traveled toward the upcoming fight on the plane Shinawa and the coach prepared for their arrival shankawa watched a video of Uyu<unk>s past matches while the coach observed that the momentum of MMA was quite remarkable these days u was rated even higher than fighters who had already advanced to the UFC and it was said that Uyu himself was close to joining the UFC as well shankawa shared his observation that he could not find any particular weaknesses in Uyu<unk>s fights the coach confirmed this analysis the flight attendant instructed them to turn off their phones and the airplane took off as the plane ascended Shinkawa's recurring dream reappeared in his mind he sat alone waiting at the entrance of the coliseum immense anxiety oozing out of him the real cause of his anxiety became clear as the plane climbed higher shinkawa was terrified of flying shortly after takeoff he passed out after some time Shinawa regained consciousness the coach explained that he had fainted as soon as the plane took off and there was brief concern that they might have had to turn back the coach had explained about Shinawa's upcoming match so the airline staff prepared a business class seat for him the coach advised him to visit a hospital once they arrived shinawa theorized that it was just due to his recent weight cut the coach skeptical suggested that Shinkawa might be lying out of fear that he would not be allowed to fight shinkawa affirmed that he was feeling good conditionwise the coach reminded him of their gym's motto shinkawa recited it back everyone becomes a corner man for their teammates the coach confirmed that they were one team and warned him not to forget it he handed Shinkawa a pair of sunglasses he had brought instructing him to wear them when they arrived at the lobby shankawa confused asked why but the coach told him to wait and see at the airport both Shinawa and the coach wore their sunglasses as they exited they were immediately met with a barrage of camera flashes from reporters justifying the coach's precaution amidst the crowd they noticed a girl holding a sign for them the coach approached her thanked her for coming all the way and introduced her as the CEO who was providing their accommodation she had been a big fan of martial arts for a long time and had helped the coach back in the day the girl welcomed them warmly after their long journey they boarded a van and drove together during the ride she commented that it had been a long time since Shereeshi had been there shereeshi confirmed feeling rather embarrassed recalling how he had made a fuss after losing to a fixed decision and vowed never to set foot there again she reassured him that a fighter's life had its ups and downs and advised Shingawa to ignore harsh comments as they were all mind games shinkawa joined the conversation stating that he was not someone who worried about such things later they arrived at a building where both Shankawa and the coach stood by shinawa stepped onto the scale weighing himself in front of the reporters they seemed a little too impressed by his muscles and honestly it was kind of suspicious considering most of them were men one reporter even blurted out that Shinkawa's muscles were so well- definined all right we get it buddy no need to go full fan another reporter chimed in saying his handsome face was almost overshadowed by them really his face is getting overshadowed sure let's all just focus on his muscles totally not weird all these guys and that's the takeaway yeah something's definitely off here just then Uyu made his entrance looking like he was about to walk a runway he shrugged off his robe and stepped onto the scale like it was his personal stage after both fighters passed the way and without breaking a sweat Uyu extended a hand for a handshake shinqawa ever the professional accepted and they shared a firm handshake at Big Thunder Arena sometime later Shingawa and his coach waited in the gym changing room the coach asked about Shinkawa's condition to which Shinkawa replied he was feeling perfect the coach continued by warning him that if he got injured during this match his UFC test match scheduled in two weeks would be cancelled he strictly instructed Shinkawa to prioritize avoiding injury above all else emphasizing that winning was secondary an exciting match was good but it was not the most important thing right now shinkawa confirmed his understanding reporter Tsuji approached and asked Shinkawa if he had a moment for an interview she asked how he was feeling and if he could say a few words to his fans shankawa replied that he was feeling good and promised to make it an exciting match for her in the arena the match began shinqawa entered wearing a robe that looked like it came straight from a Wish.com superhero costume collection it wasn't quite capew worthy but it sure had something the crowd chanted enthusiastically for him then Uyu made his entrance and the fans erupted into a frenzy chanting his name with wild enthusiasm he soaked it all in flashing a confident grin as he waved to the crowd clearly enjoying the attention shinkawa standing quietly off to the side watched silently his expression unreadable the two fighters locked eyes their gaze intense and unwavering as if daring each other to make the first move the tension between them was palpable the silent showdown speaking louder than any words could uyu<unk>s smirk barely flickered while Shinkawa stood motionless his eyes burning with quiet determination then the announcer's voice cut through the silence breaking the fierce stare off he began with the blue corner introducing Shinkawa Kento as the youngest and fastest fighter to claim the FFC lightweight championship title in the red corner the announcer introduced Uyu Tenshin as the strongest and greatest fighter in history he was the big thunder lightweight champion having successfully defended his title a record eight times undefeated and undisputed king of the ring yeah the bias in the announcer's tone was definitely noticeable the man was practically worshiping Uyu the referee brought both fighters to the center uu began his mind games telling Shinqawa that he probably had never faced a proper opponent before and hoped he would not disappoint him exuding a menacing presence before returning to his corner shanka replied that he too was expecting a lot from the fight reporter Suji commented that Uyu<unk>s aura was completely different from yesterday's weigh-in where he had appeared calm today he resembled a beast the referee signaled the start of round one both fighters swiftly charged toward each other uyu threw the first punch but Shinqawa guarded himself raising his arms and not moving uu quickly transitioned into a leg kick but Shankawa lifted his leg at the right moment dodging it perfectly uu immediately noticed that Shinkawa was completely different from the match footage he had seen before adjusting his tactics Uyu launched another punch but Shinkawa slightly shifted and dodged it with ease uuyu was thrown into confusion upon realizing Shinawa was fighting from a southpaw stance coach Shereeshi noticed that Shinkawa was using switch boxing alternating between orthodox and southpaw stances during the match shereeshi thought that unless Shankawa had highly practiced switch boxing doing so would normally be suicide shinkawa continued fighting in the southpaw style dominating Uyu with a relentless barrage of punches u was getting overwhelmed and cooked under Shingawa's assault finally Uyu retaliated with a punch but Shinkawa ducked and dodged it effortlessly both the coach and reporter Tsuji were baffled wondering when Shingawa had learned perfect switch boxing the coach then realized that Shingqawa must have picked up the Southpaw stance while helping teach Jun another Southpaw fighter even so he questioned whether it was even possible to learn it to such perfection so quickly meanwhile in the ring Shingawa continued to destroy Uyu u contemplated how a simple switch it could fool him so easily frustrated he charged at Shankawa with full force however Shinkawa stopped him cold with a powerful punch uu refused to back down and immediately retaliated with a leg kick but Shinkawa once again raised his leg at the perfect moment dodging it with ease the crowd watched in stunned silence as Uyu the undefeated champion was being tossed around the fierce battle continued shinkawa pressed the offensive pushing Uyu to his limits in desperation Uyu used his leg to pivot and launched a spinning back fist aimed at Shinkawa yet Shinawa tackled Uyu halting the attack and shoving him backward uuyu amazed by Shinqawa's strength adapted quickly he grappled for Shinqawa's hips attempting to break the tackle uyu succeeded in separating himself from Shinkawa uyu threw a punch without hesitation but Shingawa was already prepared with devastating force Shankawa landed a blow squarely on Uyu<unk>s face brutally damaging him and honestly that looked like it hurts realizing the danger he was in Uu acknowledged that unless he stopped this relentless attack he would be finished u tried to push Shingo away but Shinawa relentlessly pressed forward striking U again with another devastating punch to the face bruised and battered U somehow found the will to keep going but with each blow his face looked like it was having a very rough day shinawa calmly parried each attack deflecting Uyu<unk>s blows with precise movements then counterattacking mercilessly always aiming for Uyu's face because really why not hit the same spot again right under Shinawa's endless pressure Uyu found himself trapped shinawa's fists never gave him a moment to breathe desperately Uyu used his leg to push Shankawa away once more but Shingawa grabbed hold of his leg mid-motion from the sidelines coach Sherei and reporter Tsuji shouted in excitement fully immersed in the chaos unfolding before them without hesitation Shinkawa punched Uyu<unk>s face yet again seriously at this point Uyu might want to invest in some facial protection he then released Uyu<unk>s leg and instantly shifted his stance ready to attack once more uuyu however retaliated by injuring Shingawa's right eye blood streamed down from the wound impairing Shinawa's vision despite the injury Shinkawa stood firm with an unyielding presence blood dripping from his eye he charged at Uu throwing a barrage of punches without pause uuyu overwhelmed and terrified wondered if Shinawa was trying to kill him each punch came harder and faster leaving no room for escape honestly it was starting to feel like U was just too familiar with the inside of a punching bag when the flurry of blows finally paused Uyu tried to reposition himself but Shinkawa struck him once more in the face oh look another punch to the face what a surprise uuyu<unk>s consciousness slipped away shinkawa remained standing beside the defeated Uyu his expression dark and menacing the referee quickly intervened stopping the fight and declaring it over shankawa glanced at his own hand now soaked in blood slowly he looked around the arena his body trembling with pain and exhaustion in that moment as the weight of the battle sank into him Shinkawa recognized the blood and pain for what they were proof that he was alive lifting his gaze upward Shinkawa allowed himself a faint weary smile the moment the fight ended Shinkawa's coach and team rushed into the cage without hesitation the coach scolded Shingawa harshly upset that he had sustained an injury shankawa explained bluntly that this was precisely why he had finished the match quickly after checking his condition carefully the coach's anger subsided and he praised Shinkawa for a job well done in the opposite corner Uyu sat quietly while being treated his thoughts churned bitterly he realized he had been genuinely afraid of Shinkawa during the fight even though he had worn a brave face to avoid being overwhelmed by the man's fighting spirit deep down he knew he had been completely outmatched elsewhere Jun watched the replay of the match with excitement he celebrated with a loud cheer catching the attention of a girl sitting next to him the girl clearly disturbed by the brutality of what she had just seen commented that it was barbaric upon learning that Jun was actually learning this very sport she looked at him with even greater disbelief jun however remained proud declaring that the fighter she had just watched was his coach back at the arena U approached Shinkawa after the fight he extended his hand acknowledging Shinkawa's strength and offering his congratulations shankawa accepted and Uyu raised Shinkawa's hand high into the air to signal the rightful victor the crowd erupted into cheers so loud it seemed to shake the entire arena the announcer handed the microphone to Uyu to share his thoughts about the match uyu stated that he had poured everything he had into his training but Shankawa's overwhelming strength made it feel as though he had been fighting someone from another world entirely although the result had not been in his favor he promised that he would come back stronger he bowed his head deeply to the crowd earning a wave of supportive applause the scene shifted to the changing room shinkawa sat while being treated his coach still fuming the coach grumbled that the organizers were cheapkates for not even handing the microphone to the winner according to the reporter the event organizers were frustrated because they had spent so much money promoting the event only for Shinkawa to win and upset their plans the reporter noted that it was fortunate Shinawa had secured a TKO victory in the first round judging by the atmosphere if the fight had gone to decision the judges might have leaned heavily in favor of the promoted fighter she further praised Shankawa's ability to study his opponents habits and movements in detail and apply that analysis perfectly during the match shinqawa ever modest simply commented that he had done what his coach instructed him to do in the days that followed the internet exploded with speculation admiration and wild theories is it true he easily defeated Ouyo when Shinkawa won it was so thrilling was Uyu even that strong to begin with no way uyu is the strongest shinkawa is just on another level mma fans have been unusually quiet since the match lol i think Shankawa could handle ranked UFC fighters even I with zero knowledge of combat sports know about Shinkawa now i became a fan of Shinkawa after this match his face body and fighting style are all perfect total dream watching Shinkawa reminds me of Sherei Khan in his prime who would win between prime Sherei Kan and current Shinkawa while the online world buzzed Shinkawa was already back in the gym training hard despite his injuries a short promotional video was being filmed by the reporter capturing his relentless dedication his coach concerned for his recovery advised him to manage his injuries and take care with his stitches during training Uyu arrived at the gym he greeted Shankawa and his coach respectfully and presented a replica of the Big Thunder Championship belt as a congratulatory gift to Shinkawa the coach accepted the belt with appreciation uyu then conveyed an invitation from Big Thunder's organization offering Shankawa a place among their ranks the coach surprised pointed out that if Shankawa joined it would mean Uyu would have to give up his champion title uuyu humbled despite everything admitted that although he believed no fighter in Big Thunder currently surpassed his skill if Shankawa joined he would naturally step down the coach remarked that Big Thunder's organization must be truly ruthless to send such a heavy message through their current champion he clarified that he had chosen to deliver the message personally after fighting Shankawa firsthand he understood the difference clearly in his weight class there were no opponents strong enough for either of them anymore uyu confessed that during the match Shankawa's punches were so fierce that he felt actual relief when the fight ended he continued by stating that Mr sharesi Shinkawa's coach was a former UUFC ranked fighter the pride that radiated from coach Shereeshi after hearing this was impossible to miss shinkawa watching his coach bask in glory could only feel a sense of bewilderment at seeing him in such a light u went on to explain that although he could not express it during the match he held deep respect for Shereeshi after their fight Uyu realized the true importance of facing stronger opponents to improve he lamented that many fighters in Asia stagnated because they stayed in smaller leagues without challenging themselves globally when Shinkawa asked if that was why he had come in person Uyu confirmed it he expressed that he wished to be more than just a champion of an organization he wanted to become a true champion aiming for the pinnacle of combat sports in UUFC if Shinkawa joined Big Thunder they could become rivals and comrades pushing each other to new heights shankawa responded firmly stating that he could not stop moving forward the meaning behind his words was clear he would not be tied down u understanding and respectful accepted this at the very least he insisted Shinqawa accept the gift they shook hands with a mutual understanding and respect between them wishing each other success on their respective paths at that moment a woman appeared commenting loudly about how beautiful the scene was both fighters turned their faces marked with the same expression confusion over who this new overly familiar stranger could possibly be