OPM

Chapter 16 - One Punch

Mike climbed into the ring and took his corner. Across from him, the lackey stepped through the ropes and loosened his shoulders with a few rolls.

The gym fell silent. Every eye stayed fixed on the ring.

Sam stood just outside the lackey's corner, a towel draped over his shoulder as he leaned against the ropes and murmured instructions too low for anyone else to catch. Across the ring, Mia waited beside Mike's corner with a water bottle in hand, her eyes never leaving him. A few boxers exchanged glances at the sight of her standing there, but she didn't notice—or didn't care. Her gaze stayed locked on Mike, steady and unwavering.

Coach Darren stepped into the center of the ring, his eyes moving from one fighter to the other before he lifted a hand.

"Keep it clean. Listen when I call break. Protect yourselves." He looked at Ryan first. "Don't get reckless." Then his gaze shifted to Mike. "Stay sharp."

The two stepped forward and tapped gloves before backing away.

Ryan immediately began bouncing on the balls of his feet, shoulders loose and gloves twitching as if he couldn't wait to throw the first punch. Mike barely moved. His guard stayed relaxed, his breathing even, his eyes fixed on the man's shoulders and hips, waiting for the first tell.

The coach dropped his hand.

Mike edged forward.

Ryan fired a jab the instant he stepped into range.

Pop.

The glove cracked against Mike's nose, snapping his head back. A sharp sting shot across his face, and his eyes watered for a split second. A few people around the ring sucked in a breath.

Ryan grinned.

He let his lead hand drift lower, his guard opening as confidence took over. His shoulders loosened, and he spread his arms just enough to invite another attack.

"That all you got, Wild Card?" he taunted.

Mike didn't answer.

Instead, he reached inward.

Iron Core.

A solid weight settled through his chest, stomach, and legs, rooting him to the canvas.

Predator's Focus.

The world seemed to sharpen. Every twitch of Ryan's shoulders, every shift of his feet, every rise and fall of his breathing stood out with crystal clarity.

A quiet warmth spread through Mike's arms as he exhaled once, his gaze never leaving the man in front of him.

Ryan smirked and came forward again, convinced the first punch had already told him everything he needed to know.

He flicked out another jab, fast and straight, aiming for Mike's nose just like before.

But this time, Mike was already moving.

He gave a small step to the outside, turning his shoulders just enough for the glove to slice through empty air. The punch brushed past his cheek, close enough for him to feel the rush of wind.

Ryan's arm was still stretched out.

His chin was up.

His weight was still moving forward.

Mike didn't hesitate.

He sank his hips, drove off his back foot, and exploded upward. His right fist traveled only a few inches before crashing up beneath Ryan's chin in a tight, compact uppercut, the kind of punch that carried power from the legs instead of the arm alone.

Thud.

The uppercut landed clean beneath Ryan's chin.

His head snapped back, and the grin vanished from his face as if someone had wiped it away. His eyes lost focus, rolling upward for a split second before the strength drained from his body.

His knees buckled.

There was no attempt to catch himself.

He crumpled where he stood, hitting the canvas with a heavy bang. His head bounced once off the mat before the rest of his body went limp, one glove twitching slightly before everything went still.

Coach Darren moved in at once and waved both arms.

"That's enough. Fight's over."

For a full second, no one spoke.

The only sound was Ryan's unsteady breathing as he lay flat on the canvas, staring at nothing.

Then whispers rippled through the crowd.

"...Did that just happen?"

"...One punch..."

Sam never took his eyes off his fighter. His mouth hung open, the towel slipping from his shoulder to the floor unnoticed. He had expected Ryan to teach Mike a lesson. Instead, Ryan hadn't even made it past his second punch.

Behind him, Claire stood with her arms locked across her chest. The smug smile she'd worn earlier was gone. Her jaw tightened as she stared at Ryan sprawled on the mat, then slowly shifted her gaze to Mike. For the first time that day, there wasn't a trace of amusement in her eyes—only disbelief.

Before anyone else could move, Mia was already climbing onto the ring apron.

She slipped through the ropes, crossed the ring in three quick strides, and threw her arms around Mike. The force of it made him rock back half a step.

"You dropped him with one punch!" she laughed, unable to hide the excitement in her voice. "That was amazing!"

For a moment, the entire gym just stared.

Then Coach Darren cleared his throat.

It wasn't loud, but in the dead silence it echoed through the ring.

Mia froze.

Realizing what she'd just done—and that dozens of people were watching—her cheeks flared bright red. She let go of Mike so quickly it was almost a jump, took an awkward step back, and mumbled a quiet, "S-Sorry..."

Without waiting for anyone to answer, she ducked through the ropes and hurried across the gym, keeping her head down and refusing to look back as a few amused chuckles followed behind her.

Sam's jaw tightened.

Without a word, he lashed out and kicked the bottom of the ring before turning his back. Claire shot Mike one last long look, her expression unreadable, then followed after him.

The three remaining lackeys climbed into the ring and gathered around Ryan. He was awake now, but his legs still wobbled. One of them hooked an arm around his shoulder while another steadied him from the other side. Together, they helped him down from the ring.

No one said a word.

The group walked straight out of the gym, and a moment later the door slammed shut behind them with a heavy bang.

Coach Darren finally broke the silence. He walked over to Mike, gave him a slow look from head to toe, then gave a single nod.

"Good, Mike," he said. "Take the gloves off and come with me. Vanessa's waiting in the weight room. Now we start the real work."

Mike peeled off his gloves and left them in the corner before climbing through the ropes.

As he followed Coach Darren toward the doors leading to the strength room, conversations slowly returned to the gym. Gloves started hitting bags again, but now and then someone stopped to glance in his direction.

One punch.

That was all it had taken.

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