Wow! The item-dropping rate is really high!

Within the coarse iron mesh, only two beasts remained, sizing each other up.

Both moved cautiously toward the center of the ring, the arena was large, but strategies like running around to exhaust stamina didn\'t come into play until after testing hands and ascertaining the opponent\'s true strength.

Tornado had made a significant name for himself in such an arena, naturally, he had his tricks.

No matter how angry one must remain rational, that\'s the first principle of underground boxing.

Boos from the crowd, the mockery of the opponent... if one can\'t block out these distractions, they won\'t even make it out of the rookie pool.

Facing that stranger with a face that screamed trouble, one had to be careful, then more careful.

When facing an unfamiliar opponent, the first thought shouldn\'t be how to take them down instantly, but rather... to observe.

Observe their habits, their weaknesses, by... probing.

Bai E\'s breathing was calm, his gaze fixed on the other, his body seemingly relaxed yet ready to mobilize every muscle in response to any incoming attacks.

These outsiders would likely have a hard time getting their hands on something boundary-breaking like Gene Optimization Solution, so their physical limit was probably around 15, with his own 14.5 physical strength plus the burst from Overlimit Drive, he was sure to outmatch his opponent.

However, reflexes were his weak point, and these people, accustomed to close-quarters combat, might very well surpass him in that regard. Then there was the application of technique.

These were the goals he had set for himself when he came to this place; facing opponents likely superior in skill and reflexes, he could only opt to counter stillness with stillness.

"Whoosh!"

The distance was still enough, the other side threw a testing punch straight at his face.

Bai E, ever attentive to his opponent\'s movements, simply tilted his head and dodged with ease.

Neck movements in a dodge always covered less distance than a punch, making such prepared evasions extremely easy.

And just as his opponent threw that punch, Bai E\'s eyes gleamed with a sharper intent—by his ear, he heard an unexpectedly familiar voice:

[Triggered sparring quest—Underground Boxing.]

[Underground Boxing: You have entered a \'fatal\' underground fighting match filled with lethal intent. You must be exceedingly cautious under the watchful eyes of your opponent. Each adversary possesses their unique fighting style. Adapt to their rhythm of attack and learn from their combat experience to secure victory in every fight. The brave may not always win, but the observer never truly loses!

Quest requirement: Learn the combat philosophy of your opponents in the sparring matches and achieve victory 0/? Reward for completion: After each fight, you may unlock a proficiency—???]

[Sparring Mode: Observing that your opponent\'s technique exceeds yours, you resolve to pay a certain price (combat experience/general experience) in order to learn their fighting style.

You can initiate a learning process by spending: 20 experience points/min, with a chance to learn the opponent\'s unique fighting style, and expend 2 combat/general experience points to receive 1 point of corresponding specialized experience (to enhance your own specialty level abilities). Both transactions must happen simultaneously; otherwise, the current mode cannot be activated.]

...

Yet another mode he had never encountered before.

Sparring? The final combat competition in the military camp counted as sparring, right? Or was it that the sparring there wasn\'t lethal enough? No matter how realistic the military competitions were, they still lacked the desperate, no-holds-barred hysteria of fighting in the mire of the outside world.

The emphasis on "fatality" in the description of the sparring quest—Underground Boxing might explain why it was triggered.

Bai E clenched his fists, his gaze at the gladiator before him becoming even more fervent.

Acquiring combat ability through triggered tutorials was difficult; after all, real combat hinged on rapid, life-or-death reactions. Bai E couldn\'t imagine what a tutorial needed for learning advanced combat techniques would look like.

Previous learning in shooting, including archery, allowed space for continuous teaching, whereas the combat tutorial once triggered from Dan was merely a fleeting glimpse and at best could only provide basic teaching in simple force application, movement, and such. His proficiency, already over level 1, could not be developed through such low-quality teaching.

Now... real combat was the best teacher!

This sudden prompt didn\'t distract Bai E, instead, making him more focused once realizing what was happening.

Learning an opponent\'s fighting style? First, the opponent had to show his style.

Each specialty had its unique features, with combat having its natural limitations. It seemed only logical that learning and training would require spending more experience.

Bai E\'s lips curled beneath his mask, and he threw back a punch in the same manner towards his opponent.

[You are paying combat experience to observe and learn your opponent\'s combat philosophy… (Cost: 20 experience points/min)]

[You have spent 10 combat experience points in your learning process, converted into 5 points of "Combat Master" experience. (A very small chance to awaken a special attribute.)]

[Current Combat Master experience 124/300, reach 300 points to master "Level 2 Combat Specialization."]

Burn it! After all, he had plenty of experience reserved, and training reflexes from real combat needed to be at its peak.

Bai E\'s gaze was fiery, his movements large and uninhibited.

Let go of design, let go of thought.

Dodge attacks with reflexes, seek opportunities by instinct.

Use the body to record every attack, feel each impact with the flesh.

Every blow taken would be a heavy punch returned to the opponent.

...

A blank sheet of paper.

Tornado could feel the combat style of his opponent.

It was like a blank sheet with no sketches, devoid of any attacking patterns or schemes except for the responsive evasive maneuvers.

An opponent who was best to deal with! On the surface, that flamboyant strength seemed to be just laughable gold foil, easily pierced and broken.

The audience outside also erupted in jeers, "Tsk!"

"That\'s it? Looked like a pro, but ends up just getting hit all the time."

"I could do the same if I were up there."

"Tornado, go for it! Use your best Storm Combo and finish him off!"

"Are the organizers idiots? This newbie is no match for Tornado?"

...

[You have spent 90 points of combat experience in learning, which is converted into 45 points of "Fighting Mastery" experience. (Small chance of awakening special attributes.)] (Accumulated)

...

A bit troublesome.

This seemingly unimpressive opponent unexpectedly had a resilience that was somewhat prickly to deal with.

Tornado was slightly out of breath, swaying as he tried to find an opening to launch an attack.

There seemed to be openings everywhere, inviting attack, but... no decisive blow could be landed.

The opponent highly valued the protection of his vital areas, as if a complete defense could win the match.

But... that\'s not how you fight in an arena!

...

[You have spent 80 points of combat experience in learning, which is converted into 40 points of "Fighting Mastery" experience. (Moderate chance of awakening special attributes.)] (Accumulated)

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[In the fight, you discerned the opponent\'s attacking intent and quickly reacted, Insight +0.1, Reflex +0.1.]

...

"Huff~ Huff~" Tornado was gasping for air; offense was far more draining than defense, especially when his attack style required constant changes in positioning.

Although he maintained the offensive rhythm, he always felt like he was the one being suppressed, a frustration that was driving him mad inside.

He had realized it!

His opponent was not weak... He, he was just observing his line of attack, making occasional counterattacks within a mostly defensive fight, attacks that tasted all too familiar to him.

The opponent was learning the combat strategy he had honed through countless real battles!

And moreover, learning quickly!

This was no rookie! Absolutely not!

Arrogant! Too arrogant!

Tornado could hear the waves of jeering from the crowd, as if they were blaming him for not yet having disposed of this only defensive and evasive person.

That was trust, that was support, that was the deep admiration the audience had for him!

But at this moment, he just wanted those sounds that would usually cheer him to shut up!

All he wanted was to shout out loud for everyone to hear—

"Shut up! You! No one knows what kind of monster this is!"

He was learning, he was imitating!

His abilities were far beyond mine, yet he was trying to use the fighting style I had developed to defeat me, his master!

How arrogant is that? How presumptuous!

Even if your strength surpasses mine, such arrogant presumption is the only reason for your failure!

Arrogance always comes with a price!

I... am not to be trifled with either!