EX-istential Crisis

Chapter 8: The Fist and Heartbeat

As the group settled around the gym's worn-out mat, anticipation hung in the air. Nelly stood opposite Ran, who was bouncing lightly on her toes, grinning with excitement. She cracked her knuckles, her chaotic energy filling the room.

"Come on, Nelly! Show me what you've got!" Ran taunted, launching forward with impressive speed.

Nelly barely had time to blink before her first punch grazed his cheek, followed by a rapid kick to his ribs. The impact made him wince, and he stumbled backward, trying to regain his footing. But Ran was relentless, her movements swift and unpredictable, like a storm of fists and kicks.

"C'mon, is that all?!" Ran laughed, landing another quick jab to Nelly's shoulder.

Mira, watching from the sidelines, furrowed her brow. "Why isn't he countering? He's just taking the hits..."

Before anyone could respond, the gym doors creaked open, and in walked Hiro and Amadeus, arriving late to the spectacle.

Amadeus glanced at the scene with a knowing smirk. "Ah, Nelly's fighting style. You're about to see why he's not attacking yet."

Hiro, with his usual deadpan expression, nodded. "Nelly's got high tenacity and adaptability. He takes hits to learn his opponent's rhythm. It's how he fights."

Mira blinked, confused but intrigued. "So he's...letting her hit him on purpose?"

Hiro sighed. "Pretty much. He's never fought a woman before, though. He's trying to figure out how to beat her without hurting her."

Amadeus crossed his arms. "It's a pretty hard way to fight, if you ask me."

Meanwhile, on the mat, Nelly was still on the receiving end of Ran's furious strikes. Her kicks and punches were relentless, and though Nelly blocked some, many slipped through, leaving him with stinging pain in his ribs, arms, and shoulders. Yet, his mind was working overtime, analyzing her style—wild, fast, unpredictable.

Ran's confidence was growing, and she landed a sharp kick to his side, causing him to stagger. "You're not even trying, Nelly! I thought you were the Punch King?"

Nelly's eyes narrowed, but he remained silent, his mind still focused. He couldn't just overpower Ran; she was too quick, and he didn't want to risk hurting her. He needed a way to defeat her cleanly, without causing harm—but in a way she'd accept as a genuine loss.

From the sidelines, Gramps watched with a critical eye, arms crossed. "Pfft, what a weak way to fight," he muttered, loud enough for Nelly to hear.

Just as the words left Gramps' mouth, Ran spun into a powerful turning kick aimed straight at Nelly's face. It came fast, but in that split second, something shifted in Nelly. His eyes glinted with a newfound focus, a slight grin forming on his face as he locked onto Ran's leg.

In a fluid motion, he moved with the kick, dodging just enough to avoid full impact. His hand shot up, catching Ran's leg mid-air, freezing her in place. For a split second, Ran's eyes widened in surprise, her usual chaos halted.

With a swift, controlled movement, Nelly pivoted, pulling Ran's leg gently but firmly, using her momentum against her. He twisted her body in the air, flipping her down toward the mat. Ran's back hit the ground with a solid thud, and before she could react, Nelly pinned her down, one knee pressing into her side, his hand gripping her wrist firmly to keep her from moving.

Ran gasped, but her shock quickly turned to determination as she tried to wriggle free. Nelly's grip was strong but careful, ensuring she wouldn't be hurt. He wasn't done yet, though. His free hand clenched into a fist, and in one smooth motion, he brought it to hover just inches from her face, his knuckles poised for a finishing blow.