Neither Adam nor Osric approached the betting table this time.
Money was important to both, but neither of them liked taking unnecessary risks.
Adam closely observed Osric.
'I don't think I'll lose, but he is skilled and somewhat unpredictable.'
'I'll need to be careful.'
Meanwhile, Osric looked just as calm, but was inwardly excited.
'This is going to be tough. But I have something in mind.'
"Adam, it's good to meet you. This won't be an easy fight. How about we make a personal wager on who wins?"
Adam didn't give a big reaction.
'Does he have something planned or is he just arrogant?'
But he was a pretty good judge of character, so he didn't see Osric as someone arrogant.
"What wager?" He asked.
"The loser owes the winner one favour."
"You can of course refuse if it's too unreasonable, but I don't plan to ask for anything big."
Adam was intrigued.
"I don't mind, but we aren't really in a place to form a contract on the spot."
Osric smiled faintly.
"No need for that. We will just have to trust that we keep our word."
He reached out his hand to Adam.
"Do you agree?"
'What's with this guy?'
'He doesn't seem like someone who would trust others so easily. Does he actually believe that I will keep my word or is it something else?'
Adam sighed with the same calm expression.
"Alright. I agree." He said as he grabbed Osric's hand firmly.
"Good. Let's do our best."
Adam just nodded and walked back into position.
Osric wasn't completely confident in winning this one, but that didn't matter.
'This is a win-win. Even if I lose, by doing him a favour, I can get closer to him.'
'Of course, I don't intend on losing though.'
The referee stepped back.
"Fight!"
Neither of them rushed.
For a brief moment, the pit felt quieter than before.
Adam moved first—but not forward.
A small shift of his foot.
A slight adjustment of his stance.
Osric mirrored him.
Both of them circled slowly.
Watching.
Measuring.
The distance between them remained just out of reach.
No reckless movement.
No wasted motion.
The crowd began to quiet down as well.
They could feel it.
This wasn't going to start like the others.
Osric stepped in first.
A controlled advance.
His hand moved—quick, direct.
A testing strike toward Adam's guard.
Adam reacted instantly.
His arm rose, deflecting the blow rather than blocking it head-on.
At the same time, his body shifted slightly to the side.
The movement was small.
Efficient.
His counter came immediately.
A short strike toward Osric's torso.
Osric turned his body just enough.
The hit grazed him.
Not clean.
But close.
They separated again.
No follow-up.
No rush.
Just distance.
Osric's eyes narrowed slightly.
'Clean.'
Across from him, Adam's expression didn't change.
But his gaze sharpened.
'Fast.'
Another step.
This time Adam moved forward.
A quick jab—not meant to land.
Osric didn't take the bait.
He held his ground.
Adam's second movement came faster.
A low kick toward Osric's leg.
Osric shifted his weight just in time.
The impact was reduced, but not avoided completely.
A dull force traveled up his leg.
He stepped back half a pace.
Reset.
They circled again.
The space between them remained tight.
Controlled.
Measured.
Neither of them spoke.
Neither of them rushed.
But both had already understood something important.
This wouldn't end quickly.
The next exchange came without warning.
Adam stepped in.
Not a feint this time.
A real strike.
His fist drove forward toward Osric's head—direct, controlled.
Osric raised his guard.
The impact landed solidly against his forearm.
He felt the difference immediately.
'Heavy.'
Adam didn't stop.
A second strike followed, angled lower.
Osric shifted his stance and blocked again, but the force pushed him back a fraction.
Not enough to break him.
But enough to feel.
Osric answered.
His counter came sharp.
A quick strike toward Adam's ribs.
Adam didn't retreat.
His arm dropped just enough to absorb the blow while turning his body with it.
The impact landed.
But it wasn't clean.
At the same time, Adam stepped forward.
Closing the distance.
Osric reacted instantly.
Their shoulders collided.
Close range.
Adam's elbow moved first.
A tight, efficient motion toward Osric's jaw.
Osric pulled his head back just in time.
The strike grazed past.
His own response came immediately.
A short punch toward Adam's side.
This time it landed.
Solid.
Adam's body tightened for a brief moment.
But he didn't step back.
Instead, his knee drove upward.
Fast.
Osric braced.
The strike hit his side.
A dull, heavy impact that forced the air from his lungs.
He pushed forward regardless.
Refusing to give space.
The two separated again.
But this time—
It wasn't clean.
Both had felt the exchange.
Around them, the crowd reacted louder.
"They're actually trading!"
"That guy's holding his ground!"
"Osric's not overwhelming him this time!"
Osric steadied his breathing.
His body ached slightly where the knee had landed.
Across from him, Adam rolled his shoulder once.
His expression remained calm.
But his eyes had changed.
More focused now.
More serious.
Osric noticed it immediately.
'He's not holding back anymore.'
He adjusted his stance.
Slightly lower.
More grounded.
'Good.'
This was exactly what he wanted.
Not an easy fight.
A real one.