Stand Up! Even a Shut-in Has the Heart of a Strongman

The female Succubus accepted the Black Crystal Coin and flashed a professional, seductive smile. "Since number sixty-four is a newcomer, I will first announce the rules. Barring any special circumstances, the match is required to end within two hours. If no life or death has been decided by the time limit, Lord Alaux will determine the winner. According to the rules, whether this match is fought bare-handed or with weapons is decided by the reigning champion, Blood Hand Langke."

After Chen Rui placed his bet, the malevolence on Langke's face intensified. He grinned hideously, "I love the feeling of snapping an opponent's bones with my bare hands!"

"Very well, then it is decided: a bare-handed fight! No weapons of any kind are allowed, aside from your own body!" The Succubus retreated several meters cautiously and shouted, "Then I declare, the match begins!"

The moment the Succubus said "begin," Langke erupted with a violent strike. Chen Rui had grown accustomed to the sneak attacks of the Poison Dragon during his special training and was already on guard; he tilted his body and dodged. Langke's moves were even more ruthless, frequently targeting vital points. Chen Rui blocked a few punches, only to feel that his opponent's blows were heavy and powerful, and he was slightly inferior in terms of raw strength.

Langke's ability to win three consecutive matches in the arena was by no means a fluke. Although he had been arrogant with his words, he displayed seasoned experience during the fight. After a round of probing, rapid-fire attacks proved ineffective, he did not rush to press the assault. Instead, he began to control the tempo of the battle, keeping Chen Rui suppressed and leaving him almost no opportunity to counterattack.

Chen Rui felt very uncomfortable fighting while wearing the mask, especially regarding his field of vision, which he couldn't quite adjust to. Although he remained careful in his defense, there were inevitably moments where he left an opening. Langke feinted with a kick, and as he brushed past, he swiped a claw across Chen Rui's waist. Blood immediately gushed out, staining a large portion of his clothes red. Seeing Langke's razor-sharp claws, Chen Rui finally understood why this guy was called "Blood Hand." No wonder he didn't use weapons; his hands were his most powerful weapons.

Once Langke landed a hit, his attacks became increasingly fierce, and the bloody gashes on Chen Rui's body gradually multiplied. With a "thud," he took a heavy punch to the back that sent pain deep into his heart and lungs. Langke would not be like Pagliu, who would wait for Chen Rui to rest and get back up before continuing; he took advantage of Chen Rui's instability to launch a Berserk assault.

Under Langke's violent onslaught, Chen Rui was left scrambling to defend, struggling to hold his ground. A sliver of hesitation finally appeared in his heart: Was he too impatient this time? In a situation where he couldn't use the Aurora Blast, he had run into such a terrifying enemy in his very first real combat!

This wasn't training, where he could fail and try again! It wasn't a game where he could replenish his health at a respawn point! This was a true life-or-death battle; the price of losing was his life!

In his past life, he was just a shut-in, not some martial artist or special forces operative. Perhaps the time for special training had been too short, and he shouldn't have been so eager to participate in such a death match.

His psychological hesitation was directly reflected in his movements. Langke immediately sensed his opponent's cowardice and naturally didn't hold back. He added a deep wound to Chen Rui's thigh with a claw, and seizing the moment when Chen Rui's guard was wide open, he exerted force and kicked him in the ribs. Chen Rui was sent flying over ten meters by the immense force. A sharp pain flared where he was struck, and it felt as if two ribs had broken, leaving him unable to rise for a moment.

Langke walked over with long strides while using words to continue dismantling his opponent's fighting spirit; this was his usual tactic.

"I said I would break your hands and feet, but now I've changed my mind. Before you die, I'm going to crush your bones one by one!"

Chen Rui's heart trembled, and his mind tightened. Suddenly, the roar from Pagliu's usual special training echoed in his head.

"The more you fear, the faster you will die!"

"Find your courage, otherwise you will never be a true powerhouse in your entire life!"

At this life-or-death juncture, Chen Rui suddenly awakened.

Why did he undergo special training?

Why did he come for real combat?

Why not cower in the laboratory?

Why not seek shelter under the protection of Shea or Aldas?

Why did he not retreat when he had no power before, but now he was afraid to move forward?

Even if he didn't come to the arena today, he would have to face this hurdle sooner or later. If he chose to escape, he would only be able to rely on petty tricks for the rest of his life, living as an opportunist in the cracks.

"When I can't hold on anymore, what will I do?" Chen Rui suddenly said loudly to himself, "The more you feel like you can't hold on, the more you must tell yourself: keep going!"

Langke's figure paused because he didn't understand what his opponent was saying—what Chen Rui said was in Chinese.

Could it be some kind of incantation? This guy could also use magic?

Langke was experienced and knew that his opponent still had strength left; often, a desperate counterattack was the most terrifying. He cautiously slowed his pace.

"Do you remember the words posted on your headboard?" Chen Rui suddenly clenched his fists: "The reason a person can is because they believe they can!"

"Only those who are not afraid have a path ahead!"

He gritted his teeth, endured the sharp pain in his ribs, and used his hands to prop up his body.

"Chen Rui, tell yourself, what is written on the largest sign?" Chen Rui roared, as if telling himself, and as if declaring to the entire arena, to the entire Demon Realm, "Grab fate by the throat and make it sing in submission!"

After this shout, Chen Rui, who had just been unable to rise, leaped up, just as he had stood up time and time again after experiencing setbacks in life.

Regardless of the outcome of this death match, from this moment on, he had taken a crucial step and successfully transcended himself.

Although Langke was suspicious, the opponent's strange incantation seemed to have no effect, and he felt relieved, quickening his pace. When he locked eyes with the pair of eyes revealed by the mask, he suddenly discovered that the gaze no longer held a shred of fear, and his whole body seemed to radiate an intimidating aura.

Langke dared not underestimate him and threw a probing punch. Chen Rui dodged to the side. Langke flicked his fist, and his extended claws grazed Chen Rui's chest, sending blood splattering. Chen Rui showed no fear; he turned and swept his leg, hitting the back of Langke's knee and knocking him to the ground.

When Langke flipped and leaped up, Chen Rui did not choose to defend again. Instead, he risked closing the distance, twisted his body to dodge a claw, appeared at Langke's side, grabbed his waist, and pulled with all his might!

Langke felt his center of gravity instantly shift, leaving him head-down. Knowing something was wrong, before he could protect his head, he was slammed hard into the ground by Chen Rui's back-bridge throw, a move learned from Athena. The stone floor actually cracked.

By now, Chen Rui's mental state had undergone a complete transformation. All fear and hesitation were cast to the back of his mind. No more hoping for luck, no more fear, no more hesitation. Fighting meant throwing his entire heart and soul into the battle!

His strength might not yet qualify him as a powerhouse, but this was already the heart of one.

Langke felt a sharp pain in his head and neck, but fortunately, the Horned Demon's physique was sturdy, and he stood up shakily. Chen Rui followed him like a shadow, launching a fierce counterattack. His hands, feet, and even his head became lethal weapons—this was the ferocious fighting style learned from Pagliu.

The audience, who had seen Langke with victory in his grasp, did not expect such a sudden reversal. They desperately cheered for Langke, and those who had originally bet on number fifty-two were the happiest, beginning to chant the name of number sixty-four.

Langke took several hits in a row, but after all, his strength was not to be trifled with. He let out a roar, risked taking a heavy punch, and kicked Chen Rui in his injured ribs, creating distance and finally escaping the danger of being suppressed.

Langke's previous winning streak relied on two things: his outstanding strength for a Mid-tier Demon at the initial stage and a talent for boosting his power in a short time, and his use of cruel methods to intimidate opponents. Now that number sixty-four was unmoved, that oppressive aura actually overwhelmed him. Although Chen Rui's wounds were agonizing, his mind was exceptionally calm. His remaining Star Power circulated slowly, adjusting his body to the most suitable state for offense and defense. His eyes glowed with a faint, sharp light, like a beast staring down its dying prey.

This gaze made the usually cruel "Blood Hand" feel an inexplicable chill in his heart.

"An interesting fellow!" Alaux, in the VIP box, suddenly spoke up.

How sharp was the gaze of a Greater Devil? He could see at a glance that Langke's spirit had been captured by his opponent's aura; even if his strength increased, it would be difficult to win.

Qidun, the confidant beside Alaux, read the situation and asked in cooperation: "Is the Lord referring to number sixty-four?"

The Greater Devil's gaze fell on Chen Rui, and he said indifferently: "I misjudged him earlier. Number sixty-four is capable of obtaining that sculpture."

Qidun asked curiously: "But the current situation is evenly matched, and Langke hasn't even used his Berserk talent yet. Could there be any changes?"

Alaux sneered without answering. Qidun wisely didn't ask further and continued to watch the match.

Langke grew more alarmed as the fight progressed. Number 64 was supposed to be an inexperienced novice, someone whose flaws would be easy to exploit, but as the battle continued, his skills became increasingly refined and complete. Furthermore, his openings were gradually disappearing, and the few that did appear turned out to be traps. This ability to learn and adapt was simply terrifying!

What was even more frightening was that his opponent, who should have been severely wounded and significantly weakened, possessed astonishing stamina. There had been no obvious decline in his physical strength or offensive and defensive capabilities, whereas Langke himself, hampered by his injuries and the psychological toll, was beginning to falter.

"ROAR!" Knowing that he would surely lose if this continued, Langke steeled his heart and let out a violent shout. His muscles suddenly swelled to twice their size, and his strength surged abruptly.

"It's Berserk! Langke is using Berserk!"

"This is the mutated talent of a Horned Demon!"

"Quick, kill that masked man!"

The spectators supporting Langke saw hope for a comeback and began to clamor loudly.

Chen Rui immediately felt the pressure, but he did not panic as he had before. This enhancement of Langke's should not be sustainable; otherwise, he would have used it from the start. He immediately shifted his tactics, focusing on hit-and-run maneuvers to control the tempo and slowly drain his opponent's strength.

"Keep your center of gravity steady!"

"Don't just rely on your eyes! Use your senses to judge!"

"..."

Chen Rui silently recited the essentials that Poison Dragon usually imparted to him. In this state of high concentration, some of the flaws from his special training that had been difficult to correct were now being actively adjusted one by one. His grasp of timing and judgment became increasingly accurate, and his control over his Star Power grew more sophisticated.

Just like a dull blade, after being honed by the whetstone that was Langke, his edge was gradually beginning to show.