Huh, wha, where?

Lifting myself up off my back and onto my elbows, I see the vacant stands that surround the platform. The platform?

I'm in the middle of the platform in the arena. Looking around I find a large man with long hair standing in the distance, but not too far from me. Looking past him and in the stands behind him, there was a group of people who were clearly doing some renovations but had stopped and were watching us.

That's right, I challenged him to a match. Did he drag me straight here while I was unconscious, or was I unconscious so long that now it's time for our match? Fuck it I got what I wanted, now I just have to give it my all and prove to him that I'm worth the time to train. Giving him a run for his money should be enough to do it, but if that doesn't work then I'll just have to beat him and make a deal with his girl afterward. Getting my hands on something that can recover me instantly will be enough of a win by itself.

Making my way up to my feet I look at him, he seems just as angry as before. Guess he didn't like me bringing up his girl, figures, but I had to get him motivated. I need to see what he's capable of, so he knows what I am.

The mechanical voice of that bitch fills the room, "BEGIN."

He doesn't move. Looks like I'll have to take the lead, fine by me! I charged at him while at the same time activating my perception, it may have been a coincidence but when I did he winced as if in pain. As soon as I get within his reach his left arm shoots out. I'm not falling for this again, I'm gonna keep an eye on your other arm and make sure you don't box me in like last time.

----------------------------------------

"Tom. TOM!"

"What do you want? I was sleeping!"

"Tom, do you know where you are?"

"What are you talking about?"

"Tom you're in the arena right now. You just had a match."

"That's right, did I win?"

"You got knocked out man, within the first couple seconds of the round."

As I feel around I realize that I am indeed still on the platform. Did he really knock me out? I don't remember him hitting me at all.

"How? What happened, did he use an ability?"

"No, not unless you call kicking someone in the head an ability. I guess it's impressive someone built like him has that kind of flexibility."

"When did he kick me? I only remember him throwing a punch and that missed."

"Yep, that's when he kicked you. That punch was a feint for the kick that was coming up beside it. Don't feel too bad though, this is how most of his fights go."

"But I hit him in the training room. I thought I could go toe-to-toe with him."

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"I was amazed by it too, but it must have been a fluke."

Wayne helped me to my feet and I walked off the platform, bewildered. This doesn't make any sense, how could I go from being the first to land a hit on him, to not even lasting thirty seconds! Was the hit really just a fluke? It did seem like he was in a lot of pain at the time, but wait, that shouldn't have been that long ago from now. So why isn't he still in pain?

"Wayne, did he come straight here or did he meet up with Veronica in between?"

"I couldn't really keep up with his walking speed but as far as I know, he dragged you straight here. If he did meet up with Veronica it would have been extremely fast."

"Did you say he dragged me here?"

"Well, I couldn't really carry you, not that he gave me the option. I was worried when he first dragged you off, but then I realized the direction he was going in."

So he most likely didn't meet up with Veronica, they would have had to plan it in advance and nothing about him dragging me straight to the arena seems like it was planned. More than likely he was either really pissed or just didn't want to waste more time on me than he had to.

I make my way back to my room and by that time I'm fully recuperated from my knockout. Sitting down on my bed I let myself fall to the side and close my eyes to think.

Whatever changed from our fight in the training room to the match is the reason the outcomes are so different. I have to figure out what it is before I fight him again. My original plan was to just keep fighting him until I beat him, but if I get knocked out so fast I can't study his movements and grow, then there's no point in fighting him until I can last longer.

It really didn't feel like his movements were superhuman either, maybe elite human, but not super. I don't know why but it kinda reminds me of my fight with that agent, the one those people called 'John.' The same bastard who killed my Ma. Neither of their movements were extraordinary, yet they both beat me.

I have to think back, when did he start to look like he was in pain? It wasn't when he first turned around, he just looked annoyed. It wasn't when I hit him, so it's before that. Was it when I brought up Veronica? I remember the veins of rage popping out of his head that caused my perception to activate automatically.

Thinking about it, he seemed to be in pain the instant after my perception activated, he even flinched after I did it in our match. How could that cause anyone pain though? No, I guess that doesn't really matter. If it causes him pain that's all I need to know. Let's test my theory!

I open my eyes and I feel the bed hit my side as I fall into it.

"Hey, bitch!"

"(Click) I would prefer it if you did not address me that way."

"Tell Jason that I want another match."

"Are you sure that is wise, you just came back from your last?"

"What? Don't try and convince me you're worried about me, it would just be a waste of your time."

"The safety of everyone here is of my concern, it is my job after all. For this reason, I will make you wait until tomorrow."

What the fuck is one day going to do! Damn bitch is either trying to prove a point or just flex her authority on me. One day I'm going to get back at her.

"Do whatever you want, I'm your prisoner after all!"