Max was no longer standing on the staircase, like he was before, along with Chad and Wolf. He was now on the main floor, facing Dud directly.
The area around them was mostly clear. Tables and chairs had been shoved to the sides in the panic earlier, leaving a rough makeshift arena. Most of the remaining fighting was happening at the front of the venue, giving the two of them plenty of space to go at it without interference.
’This wasn’t how I planned it,’ Max thought, his fists tightening. ’I didn’t want to fight Dud so early. I wanted to grow stronger first, at least be on equal footing. That’s the kind of opponent he is. Even if everything was balanced between us, he’d still have a good chance at winning.’
But in the world Max lived in now, the world of gangs, betrayal, and the underworld, nothing ever went according to plan. You learned to fight with what you had, and if you came out on top, that’s how you knew you were growing.
Max dashed forward, throwing a swift kick. Dud blocked it cleanly with his forearm. Without pause, Max spun his body and followed up with a second kick, the movement sharp and well-practiced.
Dud leaned back at just the right time, narrowly avoiding the strike, before bursting forward with surprising speed.
Reacting fast, Max planted his foot and thrust it into Dud’s stomach with a powerful push, forcing the larger teen back a few steps.
From the side, the manager watched with keen interest.
’This Max Stern... he’s not just any ordinary fighter,’ the manager thought, eyes narrowing. ’Those kicks... they’re strong, and they sound heavy too. How can such power come from such a small frame?’
Of all the skills Max had learned and mimicked, Dipter’s techniques were proving to be the most effective in this moment.
With a breath, Max dashed in again, spinning sharply into his strongest move, a side kick aimed squarely at Dud’s abdomen.
But just before it could land, Dud’s hands shot out and clamped down on Max’s leg.
"You’re quick and strong," Dud said, his voice calm and confident. "But you’re predictable."
With a yank, he pulled Max’s leg past him. Off balance, Max had no time to brace as Dud’s fist smashed into his face. The impact was brutal, and Max dropped to the ground with a thud.
His head rang. The hit was solid, on par with Rick, who’d once claimed he had the strongest punches in all of Birnhurst High.
But Max wasn’t done. He rolled backward and popped up to his feet, instinct telling him to retreat just in time to avoid Dud’s stomp that shook the floor.
’I can’t let him get close,’ Max realized. ’I’ve seen Dud fight, he’s a grappler. If I get caught, it’s over.’
It was a good thing Max had kept his distance. If he’d rushed in earlier, this fight might already be finished.
Even if Max could copy Dud’s grappling style, there was no ignoring the physical gap between them. Dud had the edge in strength, speed, endurance, everything. That’s why Max was relying on his kicking techniques, keeping just enough space between them to stay out of reach.
"You’re smart," Dud commented, his eyes scanning Max’s stance. "I can tell why you’re sticking to kicks. You’ve definitely fought a lot for someone your age. You figured me out quicker than most."
His voice dropped an octave.
"But unfortunately for you... I’ve fought more."
Suddenly, it was Dud who charged forward, his body moving like a freight train. Max responded with a high kick, aimed straight for his head, timed perfectly.
But Dud wasn’t caught off guard. As if he knew exactly where the strike was coming from, he raised both arms and blocked it. Then, he stepped in and slammed his shoulder into Max’s side.
The impact sent Max reeling.
As Dud came in again, Max lifted his arms defensively and retaliated with a flurry of close-range punches. His combinations were tight, compact, and thrown with solid force.
Dud blocked them all, though it was clear he hadn’t expected that kind of strength from Max’s punches. He was surprised, but only for a moment.
Then, Dud launched a series of punches of his own. Max dodged most, but during the exchange, Dud managed to grab his wrist.
He twisted sharply, trying to throw Max off balance again.
But Max wasn’t going down so easily. Using the momentum, he flipped his entire body, twisting in the air before landing cleanly on both feet.
Wasting no time, he lashed out with another side kick. It didn’t connect cleanly, but it forced Dud to retreat a few steps, giving Max the distance he desperately needed.
Dud had been hit more during the fight so far, but it was hard to judge how much damage had actually landed, none of Max’s hits had been perfect.
’Dud might be an A+ rank, but most of that comes from his flashy submission moves,’ Wolf noted, watching from the side. ’He’s got insane strength and an iron grip, but Max has something no one else does...’
Wolf’s eyes narrowed.
’A skill like Max’s... it’s like he has a hidden stat. Because he can copy moves perfectly, he understands them, every nuance. He doesn’t just replicate what he sees. He predicts. He knows when an opponent is about to move, what feels awkward for them. That’s what’s throwing Dud off.’
"Ha!" Dud let out a laugh. "I knew it. I knew from the start that you were going to be trouble."
His expression darkened.
"I can’t believe I’m dealing with this. You shouldn’t even be here."
It wasn’t the first strange thing Dud had said tonight, and this time, Max took the bait.
"What do you mean?" Max asked, lowering his guard slightly. "I shouldn’t be here?"
Dud grinned bitterly.
"What, you really thought you could survive being hit by that car?" he asked. "Couldn’t you tell? I was aiming for you."