Regardless of Gender, Getting Elbowed There Would Be Agonizing

The moment Fire Fox dove into the large crater, Russell also quickly took cover behind a massive boulder. Fire Fox was running low on ammo, but he had no such problem—he suffered from a fear of insufficient firepower, so he always carried three spare magazines.

Smith's Character Card was incredibly powerful, especially his ability to stay calm under pressure. Even during the tense exchange with Fire Fox, Russell's heartbeat remained perfectly steady.

Steady heartbeat, normal breathing, clear mind—Russell wasn't worried about Fire Fox sensing his position under Bullet Time. He pulled the last grenade from his back pocket, yanked the pin, and hurled it over the rock.

Fire Fox was lying prone in the crater, on high alert, when she heard a faint whistling sound. She looked up to see the grenade arcing toward her.

Cursing Russell's family under her breath, she raised her gun and fired. Under Bullet Time, the grenade seemed to crawl through the air. The bullet pierced it, hitting the explosive charge. A deafening roar erupted as the grenade detonated midair, the flash fading as a cloud of dust billowed outward.

Russell ejected the empty magazine, slapped in a fresh one, and stepped out from behind the rock. He opened fire on the crater where Fire Fox was hiding—having plenty of ammo meant he could afford to be reckless.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Fire Fox was pinned down, unable to lift her head. She flicked her wrist, firing a curving bullet. But the explosion had left her dazed, and she couldn't pinpoint Russell's position—the shot went wide.

"Fuck down!"

She spat another curse, fired two more shots, and heard Russell dive to the ground. She sprang up and vaulted out of the crater—that hole was about to get her killed.

Russell lay flat on the ground. Those last two bullets had nearly hit him, but Smith's Character Card came through, and his own Sixth Sense gave him an early warning. He dodged just in time.

Seeing Fire Fox burst out of the crater, he didn't hesitate—pulled the trigger, aiming for lethal spots.

As Fire Fox charged out, her heart rate spiked to over 400 beats per minute, and she intercepted every bullet Russell fired. The M1911's rounds dwindled one by one, and when she was just a step away from him, the gun clicked empty. Realizing she couldn't dodge the next shot about to leave the barrel, she hurled her beloved pistol at him.

Clang!

A sharp ring—the M1911 was knocked away, and the bullet aimed at her heart grazed her arm instead. Fire Fox gritted through the pain, and under Bullet Time, she closed the distance, kicking his hand.

The M9 flew from his grip. Fire Fox and Russell locked eyes, both radiating killing intent.

Russell's physique was no joke. With the Character Card boosting him, his reflexes far exceeded normal. He clamped his left arm under her extended leg, trapping it. His right fist clenched, muscles taut, and he drove a punch into her stomach.

Fire Fox crossed her arms to block, but the force sent her reeling backward. Seeing the M9 falling, about to land in Russell's hand, she arched her back and swung her other leg up, kicking the M9 away before he could grab it.

The M9 spun through the air and landed in the middle of the train tracks!

Russell's eyes flashed. Without a second thought, he drove an elbow into her.

A dull thud—Fire Fox let out a stifled cry of pain. It turned out, man or woman, an elbow to the gut hurt like hell.

Russell kept her leg locked tight, feeling her muscles go slack from the agony. He twisted her leg, forcing her face-down, then grabbed her calf with both hands and locked in a submission hold.

Fire Fox caught on to his move. Ignoring the tearing pain, she kicked back with her free leg. Her high heel slashed across Russell's hand. He winced, loosened his grip, and she slipped free.

Once clear, Fire Fox glanced at the M9 on the tracks, then squared up in a fighting stance, fists clenched, glaring at Russell.

Russell sneered and drew a finger across his throat. Watching her long legs shift and cross, his Poison Tongue kicked in: "Beautiful, if it hurts, just say so. I'll rub it better for you."

Fire Fox spat on the ground. "Try it. But before that, I'll kick your balls off!"

"Try it, then!"

Russell lunged forward two steps, feinting a left hook at her face.

It was a fake-out. Once the punch drew her attention, he pulled it back faster. The real attack was his right fist—a brutal blow aimed at her temple, with no mercy.

Fire Fox's heart pounded. Under Bullet Time, Russell's fist slowed. She didn't block—instead, she lunged into his chest, driving a knee up at his groin.

In a flash, Fire Fox saw the panic in Russell's eyes, and he saw the fierce twist of her brow from the effort.

Bang!!

"Ahhh—"

With a scream, Fire Fox dropped out of Bullet Time, clutching her knee as she crumpled to the ground. Russell's face went pale, his legs trembling. Under Fire Fox's horrified stare, he tapped his crotch.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

A crisp, metallic sound—he was wearing iron underwear!

"Sorry, forgot to mention—I'm wearing armor."

Russell explained with a smug grin, still shaken. Fire Fox's knee strike had been brutal; even through the iron shorts, the impact was intense. If he hadn't been prepared, he'd have ended up like Big Slick.

Still, even so, he felt a faint ache of sorrow!

Fire Fox staggered to her feet, her knee screaming in pain, making it hard to move fast. As Russell swaggered toward her with an arrogant gait, she steeled herself and bolted for the M9.

She wasn't fast. Russell caught up in two big strides—but it was a trap. Fire Fox spun around, kicked up dirt and gravel, and as Russell raised his hand to shield his eyes, she threw an uppercut at his chin.

Russell stepped back, dodging the powerful hook, but Fire Fox tackled him to the ground.

She straddled him, reactivating Bullet Time, and started hammering his head with both fists.

No time to appreciate the firm, toned legs wrapped around him—Russell threw his arms up to block the rain of blows. A few got through, smacking his cheek. The pain sparked his aggression, and he stopped blocking altogether.

Fire Fox's face twisted in agony, her punches slowing. Her strength drained as Russell drove a knee into her back, sending her tumbling forward.

Russell scrambled up, rubbing his sore cheek. Just as Fire Fox rolled over to get up, he kicked her in the chest, pinned her arms with his legs, and sat down on her stomach.

Fire Fox gasped, nearly blacking out, and then Russell's fists came down in a relentless barrage.

Arms pinned, a man sitting on her gut, Fire Fox couldn't move—she could only take the beating. Every time she tried to enter Bullet Time, the pain shattered her focus. Soon, her beautiful face swelled into a bruised mess.

Russell sat on her, feeling her resistance weaken. He slammed one last punch into her nose, twisted his fist twice, then lifted his bloodied hand.

"First time I've realized—fighting a woman can be this exhausting..."

Ding!

The host has come into contact with the storyline character Fire Fox, triggering the lottery segment. You have received two lottery chances. Draw now?

Russell raised an eyebrow. A bit more effort was worth it—triggering the lottery meant it wasn't a loss. He silently chanted the draw in his mind and obtained a Skill Card.

Skill Card: Bullet Time (From a scientific perspective, all objectively existing things can be explained.)

Russell shook the blood off his hands and muttered to himself, "If I pull this card a few more times, maybe I can actually learn this skill... Seems like there's some potential..."

Failure Diary

Every time this failure stays up late typing away, he can't help but wonder how his editor's been doing lately—whether it's cold enough for long johns, whether the instant noodles came with a seasoning packet, and whether he should set him up with a girlfriend.

Stop daydreaming and get back to typing. The editor's living the good life!