The Underwear’s Reckoning

Brian, standing at 178 cm and weighing 145 lbs, is a Class-B fighter known for his intelligence and calculated fighting style. His large, sharp eyes capture every detail, enhanced by a technique called “The Golden Eyes.” When his eyes glow with a bright golden light, he can instantly analyze and learn the nuances of a move—its motion, force, speed, and more—allowing him to replicate it in an instant, as long as it’s physically possible for him to pull it out.

Brian’s body innately possesses a unique ability. As his heart rate increases, so does his energy output, exponentially boosting his agility and strength while granting him greater maneuverability for the moves he has learned from others. However, this comes with a risk: his body has limits, just like any normal human, and if his heart rate rises too high, he faces the danger of a heart attack or stroke. This forces him to constantly weigh the risks and rewards during a fight. To manage this better, he always wears a fitness watch to monitor his condition. Brian fights with honesty and precision, always calculating his next move.

In contrast to his honest fighting style, Brian is a disreputable womanizer with low moral standards in relationships. Since he doesn’t earn much, he takes on freelancing jobs from the Kung Fu Association to fund his excessive number of dates. This lifestyle has earned him several nicknames: “The Lady’s Deceiver,” “The Rose Wrecker,” “The Heartbreaker,” and “The Perverted Seducer.” However, among them, “The No Good Man” is the one that other fighters use most often.

On a quiet night in a small alley, the tranquility is broken by the roar of a motorcycle engine. Brian, riding the bike, focuses intently on his mission. Mr. Sang has tasked him with giving Dave a good beating for making a mockery of the Kung Fu Association.

After hours of searching, Brian finally spots Dave’s pinkish woman’s triangle underwear, illuminated by the bright beam of his motorcycle’s headlight. The light makes the underwear stand out vividly in the darkness; as if it’s floating and moving in midair down the alley. He approaches slowly.

“Hey, the ‘Underwear,'” Brian calls out, his voice mixed with mockery. “I’ve got a message from Mr. Sang. He wants to teach you a lesson.”

“What kind of lesson are you talking about?” Dave recognizes Brian at a glance, a smirk forming on his lips. “The Class-B No Good Man!”

Brian leans in closer, laughing unfriendly as he rides slowly alongside Dave. “Oh, you know the kind—the kind that leaves you begging for mercy. I’m talking about a good old-fashioned beat-up, one that’ll have you agonizing in pain and unable to walk for days. Hey, look, bro, I have no personal grudge against you; it’s just the task Mr. Sang assigned me today. Hope you don’t mind being the punching bag tonight.”

“Oh, Mr. Sang…” Dave recalls what happened the other day. There’s no irritation, no anger, no resentment in his voice, despite Brian’s mocking tone. Instead, he finds it intriguing. “So that’s how it is? Want a fight? Well, guess what… now you’ve got one! I’ll show you just how powerful I truly am!”

Brian chuckles, the sound cold and mocking, as he continues riding slowly alongside Dave. “You, a Class-C fighter? I’ve encountered countless fighters at your level, all claiming the same—how powerful they are, how strong they can be. Blah, blah. But no offense… I mean…” He pauses for a moment, letting the tension build. “To my eyes, you all… are just small fries.” He raises his hand in the air, palm facing up, a clear display of his arrogance as he looks down on Dave’s abilities.

Dave stops right next to a 6-cubic-meter dumpster, turning to face Brian with fierce passion and unwavering determination. “You may not acknowledge my strength, but I will show you the true might of my power! I swear… by the honor of my underwear!” His fists clench tightly, muscles tense, and veins bulge visibly as he stands ready for the imminent showdown.

Brian parks his motorcycle by the dumpster in the alley and quickly hops off. He pulls down the kickstand to stabilize the bike before walking back to the open area of the alley, standing face-to-face with Dave while maintaining a slight distance between them out of caution.

As he stands before Dave, Brian’s eyes shine with a golden light as he surveys his surroundings. The night is quiet, except for the soft sounds of rats running in the shadows and the distant hum of traffic. He carefully analyzes every detail, his gaze moving over Dave’s body from head to toe, the glow from the streetlights casting dim shadows across the alley. As he evaluates the possible outcomes of the fight, he realizes that despite Dave’s Class-C status, his steel-like muscles pose a greater threat than Brian initially anticipated.

Stealing a quick glance at his watch, Brian notices that his heart rate is in the steady 80s—normal levels. He knows he needs to elevate it a bit to boost his power level, ensuring a guaranteed victory. However, his attention is irresistibly drawn to the absurdly tight woman’s triangle underwear that Dave is wearing, its bright pinkish color boldly contrasting against the dim surroundings. Driven by curiosity, he laughs gently and asks, “Out of all the possible outfit choices, you went with that… perverted-looking underwear?”

Dave remains calm as ever, utterly unbothered by Brian’s rude comment. “My underwear is irrelevant,” he urges. “Let’s just get the fight commenced, shall we?” With that, Dave channels all his energy into his right arm, pulling his fist back to gather momentum. The tension in the air becomes tangible as small pieces of garbage swirl around his arm. He is about to unleash his special move: the Mega Legacy Punch.

“Hey… hey… hey, hold on a second! Please, don’t be so hasty!” Realizing he needs more time to build up his energy, Brian throws both hands up, palms facing out, wildly waving them to signal Dave to stop. “Just give me a minute; I haven’t even warmed up yet!” He’s certain Dave will allow him the break, counting on his reputation as a fair and honorable fighter.

Dave, ever the principled fighter, pulls back his fist and steps back. The swirling debris around him drifts to the ground like autumn leaves, gently settling as he folds his arms across his chest, watching Brian with calm, measured patience.

Brian begins with a quick stretch, then transitions into running in place with exaggerated high knees. The ridiculous exercise instantly reminds Dave of the homeless fighter, Tom, and a faint smirk creeps onto his face. Dave watches in silence, his fingers tapping rhythmically on his folded arm as Brian goes through his warm-up routine.

Brian’s heart rate climbs to 150, and an incredible rush of energy surges through his veins. A mystical aura seems to envelop him, radiating confidence. Standing tall, he grins at Dave. ‘At last… finally… I am now fully ready!’ he declares, his voice infused with excitement.

Without hesitation, Dave unleashes the Mega Legacy Punch, his signature move, aiming directly at Brian. Anticipating the attack, Brian raises both arms to block, using a muscle twitch technique he had learned from Frank to strengthen his defense. Upon the moment of impact, Dave is surprised to see a flicker of golden light in Brian’s eyes. Despite Brian’s preparation, the punch’s force sends a shock wave through his body, causing him to stumble back slightly, though the damage remains minimal. As Brian struggles to regain his footing, his foot suddenly lands on a discarded glass Pepsi bottle. Caught off guard, he slips and awkwardly falls onto his back.

Even the mightiest fighters feel helpless when they slip and fall. One wrong move can make the difference between life and death. As Brian falls, dread surges through him—this could truly be the end for him. Wide open, vulnerable, and exposed, he can’t help but feel utterly silly for being taken down by an empty Pepsi bottle.

Out of the corner of his eye, he spots Dave stomping the ground with one foot, cracking the pavement beneath it, and launching himself forward with explosive speed. In a split second, Dave is in front of Brian, giving him no chance to regain his balance.

Dave swings his leg back and then forward with all his strength, concentrating on his foot as the strike aims directly at Brian’s face. The kick is powerful enough to crack his skull open. As it closes in, Brian’s pupils widen, his focus fades, and his life flashes before his eyes at lightning speed. One by one, he re-lives the romantic moments with his hundreds of ex-girlfriends. He feels no regret—only satisfaction, ready to die happy. A contented smile spreads across his face as he awaits his imminent demise.

But instead of the crushing impact, Brian feels a gust of wind brush across his face. He opens his eyes to see Dave’s stinky foot just an inch away. Dave has clearly stopped the strike at the last moment. With a bitter smirk, Brian fully realizes what has just happened.

“What’s the matter? Not taking me seriously?” Brian stands up, casually brushing off the dust. “I hate being taken lightly. Don’t expect me to go easy on you; you might have just blown your best shot at beating me.” A hint of appreciation slips into his voice, revealing the respect he holds for Dave.

“I want to defeat you fairly and squarely,” Dave replies. “A hollow victory means nothing to me. I won’t feel satisfied if I exploit an advantage like that. I want to face you when you’re at your best.”

The stage is reset, and round two begins as they take their new stances. Brian channels all his strength into his right arm, pulling back his fist for momentum, debris swirling around him as the energy builds. To Dave’s surprise, he can hardly believe it—Brian is using his very own move: the Mega Legacy Punch. Noticing Dave’s confusion, Brian smirks and declares, “I can pull off a lot more moves than this… I possess skills that are far beyond your comprehension.” Dave is puzzled by how Brian knows his move, and this distraction prevents him from preparing a counter.

Brian releases the Meta Legacy Punch, and his right arm launches forward like a missile, powerful enough to drag his entire body along with it. His feet slide across the pavement, leaving two visible trails behind him. Dave immediately braces himself, crossing his arms in front of his chest to block the attack. The impact pushes him backward a few feet, but he remains completely undamaged. As Brian expected, this move looks flashy, but its effectiveness is limited. However, his main objective is to elevate his physical state, and he successfully raises his heart rate to 180. Then they exchange blows, and Brian stands firm in the same spot, effortlessly blocking all of Dave’s attacks single-handedly. Dave notices the dramatic increase in Brian’s speed and power, leaving him even more puzzled.

Blow after blow, Brian’s heart rate skyrockets, passing 200, creating immense pressure on his health. Yet, in return, he gains extraordinary agility and strength. He knows it’s time to act quickly and execute the finishing move he had foresightedly planned from the very start of the fight—a move that guarantees his victory. With a burst of speed, he leaps atop the dumpster, stomping down hard enough to twist and crumple its metal surface beneath him. Soaring to a combined height of 6 meters, he pulls his left leg back toward his torso for balance. As he reaches his maximum height, he extends his right leg straight out, toe pointed sharply, angling his body for a quick 45-degree descent, unleashing the move—Skyfall Kick.

Dave’s eyes widen in recognition—it’s Caleno’s signature move. Time stands still for a moment, but he can’t afford to be lost in confusion. He must act quickly as he senses the massive, blade-like impact slashing down from above. Tensing the muscles in his arms, he crosses them in front of his chest, bending his body into a low stance. With one leg bent forward and the other straightened to plant firmly against the solid ground, he braces himself for the impending strike.

They collide with explosive force, Brian’s kick driving down like a steel spear, while Dave’s arms form an unyielding shield of iron. Sparks erupt at the moment of impact, lighting up the dark alley as both fighters lock into a frozen struggle, muscles straining with every ounce of strength. As Brian presses harder, his heartbeat rapidly shoots up—210, 220, 230… and his power surges exponentially with each passing second. Dave refuses to yield, fighting fiercely against the overwhelming force. His arms endure brutal damage, becoming increasingly visible with each passing second—skin peeling open, muscle fibers ripping apart, and bones cracking under immense pressure. His elbow twists gruesomely, but he clenches his teeth, enduring the agony as he battles on. The pavement beneath him shatters, chunks of cement flying as the ground caves in under the weight of their clash. With one final, last-ditch, desperate effort, Dave shoves Brian away, but the sheer force sends him staggering off balance on the fractured ground.

On the other hand, Brian is propelled back into midair by a tremendous force. With remarkable agility, he bends his knees, spreads his legs wide, and plants one hand firmly on the ground, seamlessly transitioning into a new fighting stance as he swiftly regains his balance.

In his staggering state, Dave realizes what’s about to unfold. A smile creeps onto his lips as he acknowledges Brian’s remarkable skills, accepting his defeat and bracing himself for the finishing move. However, this time, Brian doesn’t go for the final blow. Instead, he walks over to his motorcycle, panting heavily and looking pale, yet still trying to act tough. “Consider this my favor returned,” Brian says, running out of breath. “We’re even now.” He hops onto the bike, the engine roaring and making a loud noise that disrupts the neighbors’ sleep. “Mr. Sang might not be a fighter,” Brian warns, recovering from his short breaths, “but he’s not someone you want to mess with. Next time, choose your battles wisely.” With those words lingering in the air, he accelerates into the shadows at the end of the alley, leaving a trail of black smoke behind him.

Not far away, a motorcycle lies on its side under a flickering streetlight, its wheels still spinning lazily. Brian leans against the pole, gripping his chest tightly, his face twisted in pain and exhaustion. His body is clearly suffering from the toll of the fight—he has pushed himself far beyond his limit. The truth behind his decision to spare Dave wasn’t just to return the favor; it was also because he could no longer keep fighting. Continuing could have put him in a life-threatening situation if he had gone for the finishing move. He simply isn’t the type of guy who would risk his life for something as insignificant as a task from the association.

The next day, back at the Kung Fu Association, Brian steps into the gloomy office to collect his payment—an envelope of cash, thin and weightless in his hand, barely enough to sustain his dates for a week. Just as he’s about to leave, he pauses and turns to the officials. “If I may, I’d like to offer my suggestion,” he says, his voice steady and serious. “The Underwear is far too strong for a Class C fighter, from where I stand. He deserves to be promoted to a higher ranking.”

The officials exchange glances, assessing Brian’s words with careful consideration. After thorough discussions over the next few days, they reach a mutual agreement. Dave, The Underwear, has officially ascended to the ranks of a Class B fighter. This news soon sweeps through the entire association.

Caleno lies on the couch at home, taking a drag from his cigarette as he reads the latest news in the association’s newspaper. He smirks and mutters, “Why am I not surprised?”