My Fists Were Itching for a Fight

Late at night, in the "World" training ground.

Luo Ya stood on his toes, rapidly swinging a jump rope with both hands. The rope spun so fast that it vanished from sight, even forming a circular field around his body.

Anyone who carelessly approached would surely be lashed by the invisible rope.

Half an hour later.

Luo Ya slowed down and came to a stop. After gulping down a mouthful of water, he picked up a towel and wiped the beads of sweat from his body.

"My current training volume should be about three times that of an ordinary Marine."

Luo Ya made a rough estimate.

As his physique improved, the amount of time "World" could be maintained each day had reached five hours, and both his training volume and intensity had continued to rise.

He was another step closer to the goal of 200 times.

For the final half hour.

Luo Ya put on Boxing Gloves and strode toward the fighting ring, brimming with fighting spirit.

He could tell that his physical abilities were not much different from Fullbody's. The gap between them was purely combat experience.

That guy's parents were Marines too, and he had received professional physical-combat instruction from childhood. If he had not been so lazy, he would never have been thrown into the 153rd Branch.

Luo Ya stood before Fullbody and took a deep breath. So he was Hao You Gen, was he? Now was the time to wipe away his humiliation!

"Damn it, come at me head-on!"

"Hao You Gen!!!"

The days passed one by one.

In a corner of the training ground, Luo Ya and Fullbody viciously traded blows. Both were covered in bruises, and their faces were swollen like pig heads.

"Bang!"

Their fists crossed in midair and struck each other's jaws at the same time. The skin on their faces rippled like waves from the impact.

"Mm~~ Ptooey!"

Two molars flew into the air.

"Stop!"

Fullbody staggered back, clutching the swollen corner of his mouth as he hurriedly called for a halt. His eyes were filled with disbelief as he looked at Luo Ya.

How long had it been? Just one week, right?

Why had Luo Ya improved so quickly?

No, he could understand rapid improvement. Luo Ya had always learned quickly. But why had this kid completely figured out his attack patterns, as if he had fought him countless times before?

They might sleep in bunk beds, eat together, bathe together, use the bathroom together, take breaks to smoke together, and discuss which women in Shells Town were pretty together.

But he should not have been seen through so completely!

Some attack moves worked wonderfully the first time he used them, yet became useless the very next day. Sometimes Luo Ya even caught the openings and counterattacked him.

This was not scientific.

And what exactly was this kid's body made of? Every time, Fullbody beat him until he could not get back up, yet the next day Luo Ya was still lively and energetic, with terrifying stamina.

At this rate, it would only take a few more days before he could no longer beat the little brother he had raised with his own hands. How would he keep up his big-brother image then?

They could not keep fighting!

"Luo Ya!"

Fullbody wore a solemn expression. "Let's end the sparring training here. I have nothing left to teach you."

"Hm?"

A question mark seemed to appear over Luo Ya's head.

What had he taught him?

How to take a beating?

He had enjoyed beating him up so much these past few days. Just when Luo Ya was about to turn things around, he suddenly said he did not want to fight anymore?

What kind of joke was this? Did he know how Luo Ya had spent these days? Did he know how badly he had been beaten in "World"?

His front teeth had been knocked out hundreds of times!

Did he know? Did he?!

He fucking didn't know!

Luo Ya gave him a dark look. "Di Ge, that's not very fair of you."

"Ahem!"

Fullbody shrank his neck and gave an awkward cough. With a sheepish smile, he said, "I'll cover all your Cigarettes for the next month?"

"Deal!"

At least the guy knew what was good for him!

Luo Ya's resentment vanished.

Just as the two were about to leave, three Marines blocked their path. The Crew Cut Marine at the lead stood over two meters tall and had a remarkably muscular build.

"Yo, New Recruit!"

"You are?"

Luo Ya did not recognize him.

"Linus. Iron Hand Linus!"

Veins bulged on Linus's forehead. He was fairly well known around the branch, yet Luo Ya did not recognize him at all.

"Bastard, are you looking down on me?"

"No."

Luo Ya shook his head. He genuinely did not know who the man was.

Among all the Marines, he could count the names he remembered on one hand, and even those he would forget the moment he turned around.

His gaze drifted to the man's shoulder. Three stripes—he should be a Veteran. Luo Ya had no idea how strong he was.

"Senior Linus, what do you need?"

"It's nothing major."

Linus clenched his fists, making his knuckles crackle. With ill intent, he said, "New Recruit, I see you've been doing sparring training lately. Want to try something different? How about I be your opponent?"

"Huh?"

Luo Ya froze for a moment, then brightened with delight.

He had been worrying over Fullbody no longer wanting to play with him and his lack of a suitable opponent. None of the Marines from his batch were willing to train with him.

"Luo Ya, don't agree to it."

Fullbody stopped Luo Ya.

Sparring was an important part of training, and the branch had always encouraged it as a way for Marines to hone their combat skills.

However, for fairness and to prevent Veterans from bullying New Recruits, the Marine Regulations strictly prohibited Veterans from challenging New Recruits without authorization.

Even if they truly wanted to spar, it had to be arranged and supervised by an Instructor. But if both sides agreed, those restrictions did not apply.

There was one more point: New Recruits were allowed to challenge Veterans.

Fullbody put on his Iron Fist Gauntlets, his expression darkening. "Linus, if you want a fight, I'll be your opponent."

"Fullbody."

Linus looked at Fullbody, his expression becoming much more serious. It was not that he feared Fullbody, but that he was wary of his background.

He had heard some rumors that Fullbody's parents were Captains at Marine Headquarters. They were not people he could afford to provoke.

His target was Luo Ya.

It was not just him. Quite a few Veterans wanted an opportunity to teach Luo Ya a lesson. The nail that stuck out got hammered down, and Luo Ya's outstanding performance, along with the Instructor's preferential treatment, had made them very unhappy.

Luo Ya's recent sparring after training had given the Veterans an opportunity, and Linus had come to lead the charge.

"Di Ge, move aside."

As the two faced off, Luo Ya grabbed Fullbody by the shoulder and yanked him behind himself.

How could he hand over an opponent who had come right to his door? Besides, he still had nowhere to vent the frustration from earlier.

His fists were already itching for a fight!

Luo Ya pointed at the crude fighting ring and eagerly gestured. "Senior Linus, let's begin!"

"Ah, uh, all right."

Luo Ya's enthusiasm left Linus somewhat at a loss. Could this kid really not see what he was up to? Or did Luo Ya simply not take him seriously?

Looking at the excited New Recruit in front of him, warming up with punches and constantly muttering "hmph, hmph, ha, hey," Linus suddenly felt that his decision to pick a fight might have been a mistake.

No, impossible!

This kid was just a rookie who had never been on a battlefield. No matter how talented he was, he could not possibly defeat Linus. He was an elite of the 153rd Branch who had taken down Pirates!

He would show him the terror of "Iron Hand"!