The Lethal Counter: Monster's Debut Roar
I tend to offer solutions over sympathy. Thierry rejected the glove touch. Thanks to that, I lightly bounced back, sucking in air. Thierry charged at me right away.
"Hup."
WFC is definitely different. Even if it's an era lacking technique, these guys' physical abilities push the limits of humanity. Of course drugs are standard, and the dinosaurs whose bodies respond best to them gather here in WFC.
The moment Thierry's thighs pumped as he planted his foot. He accelerated again, extending his loaded right hand in an overhand. I instinctively slipped to the right to dodge.
Pang!
My right hand was naturally pulled back due to my stance. I tensed my core, added rotational power, and drove a straight punch toward his chin.
Thierry stared blankly at the fist I threw with all my power. No, he just couldn't react.
Crack!!!
The instant it connected, Thierry's eyes lost focus. Drugs? Keep doping till you drop dead... My body was already unfair anyway, and I'd show the limits of evolved technique.
I smoothly sidestepped as he collapsed like a puppet with cut strings. Then I pressed my hand on the back of his head and slammed it into the mat.
Thud!
I followed with ground-and-pound to his face. The referee rushed in with a panicked look. This slow-ass ref only intervened after I'd landed two shots to the face—I spun away like a matador dodging a bull.
It was a hollow ending that fell way short of my expectations, but...
"Waaaaah!!!"
The crowd's cheers sent electric tingles through me, driving me wild. I spat out my mouthpiece for the celebration and tossed it back. With my left hand, I pointed at the crowd while placing my right on the pistol tattoo etched on my abs.
"Monster! Monster!"
"Monsteeeeer!"
Mom said she wouldn't come, but there she was cheering from afar with Harin, Beom-jun, and Hayun. She'd even brought Young-hoon, who trained under me, and my only friends, Kang-chan and Kim Min-hyuk.
Thanks to that, I approached the fence. Unlike everyone else, to show off my springiness, I jumped hard.
Thump!
I leaped straight onto the fence and balanced perfectly on it.
"Waaaaah!!!"
"Crazy... he flew."
"Whoa... he climbed that height without using his hands?"
Standing tall on the fence with both feet planted steady, I stunned everyone. Seeing Dad and my crew cheering, I turned to Mom and pounded my chest, yelling,
"I told you I'd prove it!!!"
"Waaaaah!!!"
"This is what I do best in the world, and I'll show you I have Earth's strongest genes!"
"Waaaaaaaah!!!"
The roar thickened as I pointed, vibrating my skin. Amid it all, I spotted Brown standing, hands on his cheeks. Good—he must've smelled the money rolling in from me.
I dropped down to see Thierry coming to, looking dazed as he scanned around. The ring doctor was directing with his busted face from two ground-and-pounds and maybe a cracked jaw. He was dragged out without even realizing the fight was over.
The crowd jeered him... I knew that feeling all too well. This modern Colosseum, this octagon, was kill or be killed.
The ref raised my hand, and I hugged Dad, Whittaker, and Tahar in turn as they climbed in. Then Colin eyed me.
"How was it?"
"Good call not following me into MMA."
"Why? You looked great."
I wanted to keep chatting, but commentator John Logan grabbed a mic and barged into the cage.
"Wow! How's the fight feeling? Went just like you planned, huh?"
"Planned? Never crossed my mind. His eyes glazed over and he charged, so I smashed him. Good lesson for Thierry too."
Cheers erupted at my words.
"Trained my ass off for half a year, and it lasted what, 10 seconds?"
"Haha, easy there, buddy."
"I only get one fight a year!"
"Think about your age~"
His stiff punches meant I should get checked too. John Logan wrapped up and held out the mic again.
"So, that KO the moment you threw the punch—felt it coming?"
"Anyone charging like that, even Dmitry's dead."
The crowd screamed at the champ mention. I grinned and looked at Mom this time.
"Mom. You wanted me to grow up pure, but nah, doesn't suit me. Sorry~"
I saw her face harden. Without the kids, she'd probably flip me off. Even unranked, I'd branded myself on everyone. Plenty still saw me as a boxing base fighter since I'd never shown other skills. Fair enough. But if asked my strongest? Kicks and jiu-jitsu. I'd been world #1 with those two. Had to keep 'em hidden.
We all had dinner like a party, celebrating my win with Whittaker and the friends.
"You were badass."
"Must've been tough coming all the way to Japan?"
"Nah, had to be there."
"You both got into college okay? Been too busy training to catch up."
Kang-chan and Min-hyuk gave pure congrats on my win. Fitting for smart Kang-chan—he'd gotten into Ohsedae. We caught up briefly.
Then Young-hoon approached.
"Can I... become like you, hyung?"
"Up to you, but dunno?"
"There's potential, right?"
"Yeah."
Young-hoon had clearly bulked into a fighter's build. Reading the vibe, Whittaker came over.
"My disciple I found—wanna raise him?"
"Hmm... not my style?"
Whittaker checked Young-hoon's arm and fist, stroking his chin at the lacking physique.
"Got grit?"
"Haven't watched a full year yet."
"Pushing him into MMA, huh?"
"Yeah."
"What'd you see in the kid?"
"Eyes. Better than mine."
He openly admitted superior talent to mine, eyes sparkling. Young-hoon didn't catch the English talk. Beom-jun rushed over and plopped on my lap. Post-fight, his eyes sparkled at me. Harin glared daggers. I cut steak and fed him as Mom finally spoke after agonizing.
"You..."
"Yeah?"
"What was that ceremony?"
"...?"
"You were rubbing it like you loved it?"
She'd clocked me touching my Desert Eagle tat on my abs. Murderous intent seeped from her smile—Dad bolted naturally. Even Beom-jun vanished from my lap. Kids' instincts...
"Just some lame... ceremony you wanted?"
Too on-point; no comeback. Brain stalled for survival, no answer. Sweating bullets, Mom spoke again.
"Did I raise you wrong...?"
Her gaze on the kids soured. Thought spoiling them was the issue.
"I-It was just there, so..."
"No kids around, so promise me."
"What kinda...?"
"If any sibling mentions getting a tattoo, you erase all yours?"
"Uh-huh."
I'd block it best I could, but when they grew, Mom'd lose her edge. Wouldn't fear her then.
I cut steak, eyed sneaky Harin, sliced neat, and plated hers. Mom halted at the sight. Dad sensed the thaw and chimed in.
"Talent's different, talent. That's the Becker way. No commanders tougher than our Becker clan~"
"Like it?"
"Ahem... yeah, so... my son's that great."
Dad rebelled in ant-crawl voice.
"Oh! Called it the world's most beautiful counter—got a cash bonus too."
"O? How much?"
"Minus win bonus 20k, wired 50k to the old bank, plus 10 million won cash envelope in the lounge? Bank hits need tax, cash doesn't."
"Insane..."
She praised skipping American citizenship again. I grabbed my bag, showed Dad the money envelope. Golden bill stacks inside.
"More memorable than the main event, they said."
Dad nodded. I handed pre-split envelopes to Mom and Dad. But Mom outstretched to Dad. He rebelliously peeled four 50k bills before giving it over.
Post-dinner, I followed Dad out for a smoke. Slipped him 5 million secretly.
"Actually gave 15 million."
"...!? Knew my eldest thinks of me...!"
"Who taught 'appa'? Use secret from Mom."
"Duh."
Beckers are macho, but weakest to the wife. Grandpa halted at Grandma's word too—family law.
Whittaker, Tahar, Colin headed to the US; we all flew back to Korea. My counterpunch highlight skyrocketed my Korean fame.
Caught Kim Hak-su on a radio interview.
Host: "Know the hot Yi Beom-ho fighter lately?"
Kim Hak-su: "Know him well. Friend I made a promise with."
Host: "What promise?"
Kim Hak-su: "Meet in the MMA world."
"That guy's the real deal, huh? Mixed heritage, right?"
"Yeah. Promising light heavyweight just emerged."
"Overseas, they call him Comon, short for Korean Monster?"
"Fits him—got that 'come on' vibe."
"Exactly. Provocative feel. Where's Beom-ho headed?"
"He said before he'd prove he's the strongest. I believe it."
Kim Hak-su's interview brought a smile. If we meet, swap numbers first.