Evenly Matched

The rainstorm finally stopped. As the dark clouds dispersed, Raymond continued his rampage through the streets, shattering one glass window after another. His eyes were vacant, clouded by a vengeance that consumed his very soul. The quiet echo of breaking glass filled the air, and the city trembled in the aftermath of his violent spree. The damage was catastrophic, with the loss toll estimated to exceed millions of dollars, leaving storefronts in ruins and citizens in fear.

Michael’s Mission:

Before stepping into the midday heat, Michael turned to his four remaining underlings. “This task is way beyond anything you idiots can handle,” he said firmly. “Raymond’s far too dangerous. Weaklings like you would just get in my way and become a liability.” The team had already lost their newest member, Sausage-Lips, just days ago, and he simply couldn’t afford to risk losing any more lives.

Beneath the blazing midday sun, Michael followed Raymond at a cautious distance, observing in silence. Raymond walked down the street, smashing storefronts with powerful punches infused with violent vibrations. But Michael remained patient, calculating—he was in search of the ideal setup, a place where the odds would tilt in his favor.

Raymond’s fists pounded into the concrete, each impact sending shockwaves that rippled outward and traveled through the solid pavement. Even from a distance, Michael felt the earthquake—a brutal reminder of how deadly an open confrontation could be. His eyes shifted upward, searching for any solid, stable structure to cling to—a roof beam, a suspended banner, or a hanging art piece—that could lift him off the ground and keep him safely out of reach of those bone-crushing vibrations.

As he followed his target, memories flooded Michael’s mind. He recalled the scene from the skyscraper where he and Colin overlooked a previous encounter between Raymond and the police. With his Golden Eyes activated, Colin scanned the battlefield with an analytical gaze. “What do your eyes reveal, boss? Please share your vision with me,” Michael asked, curiosity on his face.

Colin responded, his tone steady and insightful. “Captain Lam, you and Raymond are likely evenly matched. To defeat him, you’ll need a split second of opportunity.” He paused, gently touching his chin. “But bear in mind, your mission isn’t merely about stopping him. You must recruit him to ally with the Humboldt Association—by any means necessary.” Michael nodded, the gravity of Colin’s words weighing heavily in his mind. He understood that the mission had nothing to do with protecting citizens or restoring order; it was solely about advancing the Association’s agenda and serving Colin’s own interests.

Setting the Stage for Battle:

As they entered the mall, Michael spotted exactly what he needed—high ceilings with decorations and fixtures hanging overhead. This was the battleground he had been searching for. Taking a deep breath, he stepped forward to approach Raymond.

“Raymond,” Michael called out, his voice calm yet clear. “The Humboldt Association seeks to have you on our side. Your strength should not be wasted on mindless destruction—it can have purposes. There lies a place for you, an opportunity to transform that raw power into something extraordinary.” He took a step forward, each word carefully chosen yet impactful. “You’ve proven yourself, unveiled the depths of your potential. But remember, power without direction only leads to chaos. You should not be shackled by your anger and vengeance! Forge them into something lasting, something formidable and focused. Rise above the ruins you leave behind. Choose to be more. Choose to be greater.”

Michael’s speech was both compelling and richly dramatic. However, Raymond seemed deaf to his words, his gaze clouded and consumed by anger and vengeance. He muttered, as if he were a mindless puppet, “You’re wasting your breath. I hear only the clattering sound of shattering glass.”

“I take it as a no, then?” Michael replied, his voice steady but laced with disappointment. “I respect your choice, even if it means you’ll be sinking deeper into darkness. I made my offer, but now I must withdraw. I sincerely hope that someday you’ll find your path back to the light. In any case… I’ll take my leave now.”

It was a deception, a clever tactic to lower Raymond’s guard. As Michael passed by, he unexpectedly turned around, spinning 270 degrees in midair and delivering a rapid, powerful kick straight into Raymond’s chest. The impact was brutal, causing Raymond’s chest muscle to cave slightly inward upon contact, propelling him into a concrete wall a good twenty feet away. Blood burst from his lips in a quick spray as his body slammed into the wall and bounced back to the ground with a dull crash.

It would have been far easier for Michael to end Raymond with a single, decisive blow—even before the fight began. A quick chop of his hand to the neck to behead him, or a lethal stab of his fingers to the heart when Raymond was caught off guard, would have silenced him forever, if not for the mission that demanded he be captured alive. Beneath his calm expression, a hint of frustration bubbled within him; he wished he could end the fight quickly, yet at the same time, a spark of excitement ignited as he sensed the tension building in the air of the mall. Deep down, as an extraordinary fighter, he craved the stimulation of a real fight against an evenly-matched opponent.

The mall fell silent, but only for a heartbeat. Shoppers, shoplifters, and onlookers gathered in a large circle around the mall’s open space, drawn by the scene, fascinated and eagerly anticipating the incredible action about to unfold. It was a rare sight—a clash of two Class-A fighters in real life—and their excitement clouded their judgment about the fight’s potential dangers, unaware that they were too close to a battle far more powerful than they imagined. This could result in serious injuries or even death.

As Michael looked over the crowd, his expression remained calm and emotionless. They were far too close for comfort. One misstep, and a single concussive punch from Raymond could send shockwaves through the ground, knocking people unconscious—or worse. Nevertheless, due to his cold-hearted nature, Michael cared little for the fate of the crowd; his attention was locked entirely on the battle. Raymond had already regained his footing, wiping the blood from his mouth, and he appeared fully prepared for the next round.

The Even Match Begins:

Raymond threw a wild punch at Michael, who effortlessly dodged it with a smooth sidestep. In response, Michael delivered a quick kick aimed at Raymond’s ribs, but Raymond anticipated the move and blocked it with his forearm. Then, Raymond swung hard, but Michael ducked under the fist and used the momentum to spring back up and launch a counterattack. The two fighters continued to exchange blows, each matching the other’s speed and strength. It turned into a nonstop back-and-forth of strikes, blocks, and dodges, drawing gasps and shouts from the crowd.

The intensity of their battle escalated as they traded more than a hundred blows, with neither gaining a decisive advantage. The crowd around them gasped and cheered, fascinated by the incredible display of skill and strength, their eyes fixed on the fierce battle unfolding before them.

Michael, fighting wildly like a rampaging gorilla, threw a series of powerful punches, but Raymond blocked each one by crossing his arms in front of his chest like a shield. Strong gusts rippled through the air as the punches connected, creating dull colliding sounds. Then, with a sudden explosion of force, Raymond smashed his fist into the ground, unleashing his signature move—the Concussion Punch. The shockwaves sent massive vibrations rippling through the mall, causing nearby onlookers to stumble and fumble, with many suffering concussions and vomiting from the sheer intensity of the impact. The smell of bile quickly spread through the air as people fled the scene, recognizing the dangers of the fight. Chaos erupted, and the mall transformed into a hellish place in a matter of seconds.

Even with such a catastrophe unfolding, some onlookers stayed put, enjoying the fight too much to leave. Some kept a safe distance, while others moved closer to get a better look, boldly ignoring the danger around them.

The fight continued on. Every time Michael thought he had the upper hand, Raymond proved resilient, blocking the hits and striking back even harder. The fight dragged on, with both fighters locked in a tough standoff, neither one giving in. Sweat ran down their faces, and their breaths grew heavier.

Michael panted heavily, feeling his energy drain. The fight seemed endless, and he knew they were both on the brink of exhaustion. “We could go on… fighting like this… forever…” he gasped for air briefly, “…Raymond… just give up already!” However, Raymond showed no emotion, remaining cold and wordless as always, panting heavily as well.

“Captain Lam, you and Raymond are likely evenly matched. To defeat him, you’ll need a split second of opportunity.” Suddenly, Colin’s words of wisdom rang in his head. A split-second opening—he recalled these words and let them guide him to break through the long-standing stalemate. A faint smile emerged on his lips as he muttered, “You are truly the wisest of all, a magnificent lighthouse shining across the darkness, forever illuminating my journey.” He expressed his deepest respect and admiration for his remarkable boss, Colin.

He was desperate for an opening—anything to shift the balance. His gaze swept from the ad banner on the ceiling to the cracked concrete floor below. “There must be something—anything—I can use!” he thought to himself while dodging Raymond’s attacks. His gaze moved over the photo booth, the toy store’s shattered glass window, and even a nose-picking bystander… until it landed on a clueless-looking guy holding a cup of steaming coffee. His focus locked onto the cup. That was it! The very opening he’d been searching for.

In a moment of quick thinking, Michael deliberately lured Raymond closer to the clueless-looking guy holding a cup of steaming coffee. Once they were close enough, he seized the opportunity to snatch the hot coffee from the bystander and immediately threw it at Raymond, aiming for his eyes. The hot liquid splashed across Raymond’s face, and he reacted instantly, his eyes burning from the boiling coffee. Covering his face with both hands, he stumbled back, roaring in pain as the surprise attack caught him off guard.

Sock Attack:

Seizing the moment of his opponent’s vulnerability, Michael quickly took off one of his shoes and then his sock, preparing for his signature move—Sock attack. But just as he was about to strike, Raymond displayed a cunning smirk for the first time. It caught Michael off guard; he had never thought this rampaging madman was capable of showing emotions, let alone intelligence.

In that quick moment, Raymond capitalized on Michael’s surprise. His earlier act of pretending to be blinded by the boiling coffee had drawn Michael in too close to dodge his next Concussion Punch. As Michael moved in to carry out his sock attack, Raymond unleashed a sudden yet powerful Concussion Punch to Michael’s gut, catching him completely off guard. The blow sent violent shockwaves through Michael’s body, strong enough to knock out any ordinary fighter instantly.

“No way, he’s outsmarted me…” he thought in disbelief. “I have to brace myself for the oncoming impact…” As soon as the punch connected, he tightened every muscle in his body to counter the tremendous energy vibrating through him. He felt as though his very soul was being torn apart. The vibrations exited his body through the floor beneath him, and the force was strong enough to scar the floor with widely spread, deep cracks.

With quick, decisive action, he managed to minimize the impact of the Concussion Punch. Pain coursed through every muscle in his body, yet he appeared relatively unscathed. However, his prized possession—his golden flame glasses—suffered a different fate; while the golden flame remained intact, the glasses shattered from the shockwaves. Now, severely nearsighted, Michael found himself at a distinct disadvantage. The scales of victory quietly swung in Raymond’s favor.

Raymond quickly kicked at Michael’s hand, sending the dangling sock flying into the air. It arced perfectly before landing right in the mouth of a nearby nose-picking bystander. The poor man swallowed it whole and collapsed instantly, unconscious.

Raymond, witnessing the sock’s effect, recognized it as a dangerous weapon in Michael’s arsenal. He quickly realized he had to be careful around Michael’s foul-smelling socks.

Now at a disadvantage due to his poor eyesight, Michael found himself receiving more hits. Raymond’s concussive punches kept coming, and even though Michael was getting more accustomed to the vibrations, he knew he couldn’t keep up for much longer. As they continued to exchange blows, Raymond suddenly swept his leg, tripping Michael and sending him crashing to the ground.

Before Michael could regain his footing, he was taken by surprise when Raymond quickly yanked off his other shoe and grabbed the remaining sock, shoving it into Michael’s mouth with brute force. Pinning Michael to the ground with his entire body weight, Raymond pressed his elbow against Michael’s jaw, preventing him from spitting the sock out.

Time was running out for Michael. His breathing quickened as he struggled under Raymond’s pressing weight. Desperate, Michael grabbed Raymond’s elbow with both arms and pushed with all his might. To his shock, Raymond started to feel himself being lifted. Michael’s strength was incredible—he was actually pushing Raymond’s entire body upward.

Seeing a glimmer of hope, Michael spat the sock out, but it didn’t go far—not far enough. Just as it reached the edge of his mouth, Raymond quickly pressed it back in with his free hand, covering Michael’s mouth with his palm. Michael struggled to push Raymond’s hand away, but the awful smell of the sock overwhelmed his senses at last. He couldn’t make it in time; the stench was suffocating, causing his arms to drop limply as he lost consciousness. How tragically ironic—Michael, the proud creator of the sock attack, was ultimately undone by the very weapon he had invented.

Aftermath:

The mall fell silent, the few remaining onlookers too stunned to speak. They couldn’t believe it. Captain Michael Lam, the formidable Class A fighter, had been defeated. Raymond stood victorious, breathing heavily, his chest rising and falling as he gasped for air. Without wasting any time or celebrating his victory, he resumed his rampage, smashing glass windows in his path, his vengeance seemingly never-ending.

As videos of the fight flooded social media, they went viral on platforms like YouTube, spreading shock and disbelief across the city. The spectacle had everyone fixing their eyes on their screens, and the footage stirred a citywide panic.

News of Raymond’s destruction spread like wildfire through the streets. The authorities scrambled to control the situation as fear swept through the community. An emergency meeting was called at the police station. Police Chief Grayson and other top officials gathered in a tense room to plan their next steps. To everyone’s surprise, the strongest S-class fighter on Earth was there, ready to step in as chaos continued to unfold across the city.

With the tension thick in the air, a haunting question lingered: Could even the mightiest fighter hope to halt Raymond’s relentless rampage, or would the chaos spiral on, devouring everything in its path until it consumed the entire world?