“Whoa…” The clown craned its neck to look up at the “giant” standing before it. “Hey! I know you — you’re Jefferson, the player who killed the one-eyed monster. You’re famous, did you know?”

The clown grinned cheerfully and circled around him for a look. “Tsk, tsk, tsk… Look at that build. Look at those muscles. No wonder some of the inspectors have had their eye on you. But wait your turn for now — someone got here before you, and even though the brawl arena doesn’t have many restrictions, the rules don’t allow multi-player combat~”

The man called Jefferson glanced at Shen Mo nearby, gave a dismissive smirk, and then looked away. He turned and stepped down from the stage.

His bearing was profoundly arrogant — as if everyone around him were nothing but insects, not worth a second glance.

Tan Xiao sidled up to Shen Mo, staring curiously at the “giant’s” retreating back, and said quietly, “This guy grew up on steroids, right?”

Shen Mo’s brow creased. He threw a punch at Tan Xiao’s shoulder and said, “Drop.”

Tan Xiao grabbed his shoulder, staring blankly at Shen Mo.

Two or three seconds passed. Then the realization hit him, and he hurriedly lay down on the ground with practiced speed.

“Ow! Ow, ow, ow, ow… I can’t move!”

It was a little fake, but the system somehow accepted it anyway. A large number — “10” — appeared in the air above Tan Xiao’s body!

The countdown had begun!

As the numbers ticked from 10 to 0, the scores shifted: Tan Xiao’s dropped from 6 to 5, while Shen Mo’s rose from 0 to 1.

“Excellent!” the clown announced with glee. “You’ve given everyone a perfect demonstration! Now, the loser please leave the stage, and the winner remain on stage for the next brawl! If no brawl occurs within 60 minutes, the mandatory draw will be triggered!”

No need to wait 60 minutes.

Because Jefferson, who had just left, turned around and came back — stepping back up onto the stage.

Everyone in the audience held their breath. They were certain Shen Mo was finished. Faced with a monster that size, unless he used items, how could anyone possibly handle him?

And items of an offensive nature were banned in the brawl arena!

What chance could he possibly have?!

Tan Xiao sprawled at the edge of the stage watching the match — he couldn’t bring himself to leave. He was worried about Shen Mo.

When the clown announced the brawl’s start, Jefferson charged at Shen Mo like a grizzly bear!

Shen Mo dodged to the side. But his opponent’s speed was no less startling — his left hand shot out and grabbed Shen Mo’s shoulder, while his right hook swung up and drove straight toward Shen Mo’s face!

Tan Xiao’s eyes went wide, heart lurching into his throat. “Boss!”

At the critical instant, Jefferson let out a roar of fury! His left hand released Shen Mo, and his hook swung through empty air!

The people in the audience had no idea what had just happened.

“What happened? He clearly couldn’t have dodged — why did he let go?”

“Right, why did he suddenly open his hand?”

“Was he letting the other guy off on purpose?”

……

Su Man, listening to the murmurs around her, kept her eyes fixed unblinkingly on the stage.

She understood.

Jefferson hadn’t let go on purpose. It was Shen Mo who had struck the gap between the bones at the base of Jefferson’s index and middle fingers — forcing his hand to release.

In combat, striking certain specific joints and pressure points could produce an effect that was hugely disproportionate to the force applied. She had learned these techniques too, but her precision in targeting the right location was nowhere near Shen Mo’s.

The “giant” of a man, who had been actively attacking, quickly found himself on the defensive.

Shen Mo’s moves were precise and targeted. Though he hadn’t caused significant injury, given how thick-skinned and heavily built his opponent was, the tide had clearly turned in his favor. Victory was only a matter of time.

“Boss! Keep it up!” Tan Xiao cheered for Shen Mo. “You big gorilla — prepare to die!!”

Jefferson fell with a thunderous crash under Shen Mo’s assault!

The countdown began above his body.

Shen Mo had barely broken a sweat. Not a scratch on him.

Tan Xiao was so excited he almost let out a whistle!

But Su Man in the audience seats went pale with shock and leapt to her feet screaming, “Watch out!!!”

In an instant, Jefferson’s right hook — like the clown’s head — telescoped outward! With a sharp whir, it plunged clean through Shen Mo’s abdomen!