The Unshackled King (by David Wu) novel Chapter 12

"No doubt about it, I'm betting on Battleaxe. A challenger finally shows up—gotta seize the chance to make some money."

From the spectator stands below, various comments drifted up.

On the sixth floor of the tower, inside a spacious office, a powerfully built man with broad shoulders and a thick waist sat on a sofa. A cigar was held between the fingers of his right hand. His eyes were fixed on a massive projection screen on the wall ahead.

The screen displayed the entire underground fighting arena. The newly arrived, white-masked Stefan stood out starkly.

"Korbin, this guy must be desperate for money, right? Challenging Battleaxe is practically asking to die!" one of the men standing in a line behind the burly man spoke up.

The burly man was indeed Korbin Chapman, a hall master within the Tiger Head Society, responsible for the underground fights.

"Battleaxe has a 65-fight win streak. The bounty for beating him is up to 3.5 million now. It's no wonder someone would get greedy." Korbin's tone was casual.

"Korbin, what if this guy is playing the fool? Could he actually beat Battleaxe?" another subordinate asked.

"Given Battleaxe's strength and his lethal skills, unless a Grandmaster shows up, no one can beat him." Korbin sneered, then added, "And even if he does win, so what? If he wins, we make even more. The crowd is almost exclusively betting on Battleaxe. I'd actually love to see this kid pull it off."

"Has the betting summary come in? Report it to me," Korbin continued.

"Korbin, most money is on the 'five-minute win' slot, totaling 75 million. Next is the 'three-minute win' slot, with 53 million."

"Tell Battleaxe to end the fight after five minutes. I'm taking all the money bet on those first five minutes." Korbin exhaled a cloud of smoke, a cruel smile playing on his lips.

*****

Underground Fighting Arena.

Amid the host's energetic announcement, Stefan's opponent, Battleaxe, made his entrance.

He had a crew cut, fierce eyes that seemed to hold a faint red tinge, and an air of complete indifference towards life.

His physique was powerful, muscles knotted and coiled. His legs, in particular, were thick and rigid, the bulging muscles looking as if cast from iron.

Stefan could tell at a glance that Battleaxe's leg techniques were formidable.

In fact, Battleaxe's name came from his legs. When they swept out, they were like twin axes, capable of cleaving through anything.

Many of his opponents had had their heads kicked in or their spines shattered by those axe-like legs. A single direct hit was often fatal.

The female host was about to leave the ring, leaving it to Stefan and Battleaxe.

Stefan glanced at her and suddenly spoke, "Hold on, miss. Hand me the mic. I have something to say."

The host was momentarily stunned—this had never happened before.

"A Grandmaster? Don't be ridiculous! Grandmasters hold an exalted status. At the very least, they become honored guests of major families. Who would lower themselves to fight in an underground ring?"

Spectators argued back and forth. No one was betting on Stefan. Many called over attendants to ask about the new odds.

On the sixth floor of Seabar Tower, Korbin abruptly stood up, his eyes fixed on the large screen.

As for the line of subordinates behind him, they were all dumbfounded.

This guy... actually declared he'd challenge Shark and Battleaxe simultaneously?

Was he in that much of a hurry to die?

"Interesting..." Korbin narrowed his eyes, a cold laugh escaping him. He took a deep breath and said in a low voice, "Pass the order. I approve this fight. Let Shark and Battleaxe both enter the ring. Let's see what kind of surprise this kid can deliver."

Korbin's orders were quickly relayed to the relevant personnel in the fighting arena.

Soon, the massive, dark-skinned Shark, who moved like a walking mountain, took heavy, deliberate steps up into the ring.

Each step seemed to land with a thud that reverberated in the spectators' chests, radiating immense pressure.

Seeing Shark enter the ring, the audience below erupted into a frenzy. They eagerly grabbed the latest betting sheets, ready to place their wagers.