They moved again.
This time, Adam didn't wait.
He stepped forward with intent.
Not probing.
Not testing.
Pressure.
His first strike came fast.
A direct punch toward Osric's guard.
Osric blocked.
But the impact was heavier than before.
Adam followed immediately.
A second strike.
Then a third.
No pause between them.
Each movement was controlled.
Efficient.
Osric held his ground.
Blocking, shifting, absorbing.
But he felt it.
The weight behind every hit.
'He's increasing the pressure.'
Adam didn't give him space.
He stepped in closer.
Closing the distance deliberately.
Osric tried to counter.
A short strike toward Adam's side.
Adam adjusted.
His arm dropped just enough to take the hit while his shoulder drove forward.
The collision forced Osric back a step.
Not far.
But enough.
The crowd reacted instantly.
"He's pushing him!"
"That's the first time!"
Osric steadied himself.
But Adam was already moving again.
Another step forward.
Another strike.
Osric blocked high—
Adam's knee came up low.
The impact struck his thigh.
Hard.
His leg shifted slightly.
Adam didn't chase wildly.
He stayed close.
Maintaining pressure.
Forcing Osric to react.
Another exchange.
Adam's fist drove toward Osric's head.
Osric slipped it this time.
Finally finding space to move.
But Adam followed.
Not faster.
Not sharper.
Just constant.
Osric stepped back again.
This time by choice.
Creating distance.
Resetting.
His breathing had changed.
Slightly heavier now.
His body felt the accumulated impacts.
Nothing decisive.
But enough.
Across from him, Adam stood firm.
Calm.
Unshaken.
Waiting.
Watching.
Osric's eyes narrowed.
'He's controlling the pace now.'
That realization settled in clearly.
Adam wasn't overwhelming him.
But he was dictating the fight.
Forcing Osric to react.
Forcing him to defend.
Osric adjusted his stance again.
Lower.
More stable.
His focus sharpened.
'Good.'
This was exactly the kind of fight he needed.
But if he let it continue like this—
He would lose control.
And that wasn't an option.
Osric moved first this time.
Not forward.
Sideways.
A small step.
Then another.
Changing the angle.
Adam noticed immediately.
His stance shifted to follow.
But for the first time since the pressure began—
He had to adjust.
Osric stepped in.
Not with a wide strike.
Not with force.
A short movement.
Direct.
His fist shot toward Adam's center.
Adam reacted.
His guard moved to intercept—
But Osric didn't commit.
The strike stopped halfway.
A feint.
Adam's eyes narrowed.
'He changed.'
Too late.
Osric's real attack came from the side.
A quick step.
A sharp strike toward Adam's ribs.
This time—
It landed cleanly.
A solid impact.
Adam's body tightened.
Not enough to break him.
But enough to slow him.
Osric didn't retreat.
He stayed inside.
Close.
Adam responded instantly.
His elbow moved again.
But Osric was ready.
He shifted his weight.
The strike passed just short.
His counter came faster.
A short, compact punch toward Adam's torso.
Another clean hit.
The difference was immediate.
The rhythm had changed.
The crowd reacted.
"He got through!"
"He's turning it!"
Adam stepped back for the first time.
Only a single step.
But it was enough.
Reset.
His expression didn't change.
But his eyes sharpened further.
More focused now.
More precise.
Across from him, Osric steadied himself.
His breathing was heavier.
His side still ached.
But his movements felt clearer.
More fluid.
'This works.'
He had stopped reacting.
Started dictating.
Adam moved again.
But this time—
Osric met him.
Not defensively.
Not passively.
Forward.
The next clash came harder.
Faster.
Adam struck.
Osric slipped.
A tight movement.
His counter came immediately.
A clean hit to the body.
Adam answered.
A heavy strike to Osric's shoulder.
The impact forced him back half a step.
But he didn't lose balance.
Didn't lose control.
They stayed in range.
Trading.
Short.
Efficient.
No wasted movement.
Both landing.
Both enduring.
But the difference was clear now.
Adam was no longer setting the pace.
Osric had taken it.
And he wasn't giving it back.
The next clash didn't last long.
Adam stepped in again.
Still composed.
Still controlled.
But this time—
Osric was already there.
His movement came first.
A sudden shift forward.
Faster than before.
Adam reacted immediately.
His guard rose.
Expecting the same pattern.
A strike to the body.
A follow-up.
But Osric didn't repeat it.
His first motion stopped short.
Just enough to draw the guard down.
Adam adjusted.
Too late.
Osric's second strike came from above.
A sharp, direct blow toward his head.
Adam tried to turn with it—
The impact still landed.
Clean.
His balance shifted.
Only slightly.
But it was enough.
Osric stepped in without hesitation.
Closing the space completely.
No distance left.
No room to reset.
Adam's response came instantly.
A short strike toward Osric's side.
It landed.
Heavy.
But Osric didn't stop.
His body pushed through the impact.
One more step.
One more motion.
His final strike came at close range.
Compact.
Direct.
It connected solidly with Adam's jaw.
The force snapped his head to the side.
His stance broke.
For the first time in the fight—
Completely.
Adam tried to recover.
His foot shifted.
His body tensed.
But it wasn't enough.
Osric followed through.
One last movement.
Precise.
Unavoidable.
The final hit landed cleanly.
Adam's body gave out.
He collapsed onto the stone floor.
The arena went silent.
Then—
It erupted.
"He actually did it!"
"No way!"
"He beat Adam!"
Osric stood still.
His chest rose and fell heavily now.
His body ached.
More than before.
More than any fight tonight.
But his gaze remained steady.
Locked on the man on the ground.
'That… was close.'
He looked down at his hands—
His bandages were covered in blood.
Osric's body was also starting to feel the pain that his body had ignored with the help of his Pain Resistance skill.
'It hurts like shit.'
'Time to get out, Adam probably won't wake up for a while—'
But to his surprise, Adam was already regaining consciousness and tried to stand up.
'Already?'
'He really is tough. I'm glad I managed to get back the momentum, or else I would've been on the ground.'
"I guess I owe you a favour now." Adam said as he stood up.
He was holding his head with the same calm expression, just slightly battered up.
"Yes. I will tell you another time. See you around."
Osric turned and left.
'What a strange guy.' Adam thought.
'He's the youngest guy I have lost against—
If you don't count that monster among the champions of this place.