Monster Vs Monster?

Ren stood inside the ring, completely frozen.

The basement roared with excitement. Dozens of people pressed close to the edge, shouting, laughing, throwing coins in the air as bets were placed in real-time. The atmosphere was wild, suffocating.

Across from him stood Skull Crusher — a mountain of a man. His arms looked like they’d been carved from stone, veins like rope, eyes cold and empty. A warrior who had no interest in theatrics, only in breaking whatever stood in front of him.

Ren's body tensed.

He didn’t know how to fight. Not properly. No stances, no technique. Just instinct.

And survival.

The crowd cheered wildly as Skull Crusher made the first move — a heavy step forward, fists clenched like boulders.

Ren panicked.

He darted to the side, narrowly dodging the incoming blow. It missed him by inches, and the force alone made the air tremble.

Boos erupted from the crowd.

“Fight, damn it!"    

"We didn’t pay to watch a rabbit run!”

Skull Crusher turned slowly, unfazed, and marched forward again — like a predator chasing prey.

This time, he didn’t miss.

His punch connected with Ren’s side, sending him flying across the ring. The air was knocked out of his lungs. He crashed hard, rolled, and groaned — expecting pain to shoot through his ribs... but it didn’t. Not the way it should have.

Still conscious.

Barely.

He clutched his head, more out of instinct than thought — not to protect himself, but to make sure he wasn’t bleeding.

The cheers were deafening now. They didn’t care who won. They just wanted blood.

Skull Crusher approached again. Calm. Efficient. No wasted movement.

He grabbed Ren by the leg and, with terrifying ease, swung him overhead before slamming him down on the opposite end of the ring. The ground shook. Dust rose. Ren coughed and curled in pain.

He wasn’t just outmatched.

He was outclassed.

And the worst part?

This wasn’t even close to over.

Even after all that beating, Ren realized something strange — he wasn’t really feeling any pain.

His body moved on pure instinct, shielding itself, reacting to danger... but the sharp stabs, the throbbing bruises? They weren’t there. Just a dull heaviness. Like his nerves had gone silent.

He stood up slowly, staring at his own arms, stunned.

Why doesn’t it hurt...?

Before he could process it, Skull Crusher came charging in again, throwing another heavy punch.

But this time, Ren didn’t run. He raised both arms in front of him and blocked the hit, locking into a stance like someone bracing against a truck. The impact thudded against his forearms, but he held steady.

The crowd went silent for a second.

The same guy who’d been tossed around like a ragdoll... had just taken a full punch and didn’t fall.

Whispers turned into murmurs. Murmurs into cheers.

“Yo, this kid’s still standing!”

“Show us some hidden moves, rookie!”

Kazuma whistled from the side, half-surprised, half-expecting it. “Knew something weird was gonna happen.”

Skull Crusher, now visibly annoyed, let out a roar like a beast. He slammed his fists against his own chest, drumming them like war drums before charging again — faster, angrier.

But this time, Ren was ready.

He dodged at the last second, slipped past Skull Crusher’s arm, and spun around him. Then, using every ounce of force he could muster, he punched him square in the back.

The hit landed hard.

Skull Crusher stumbled forward, knees buckling, and let out a guttural grunt of pain.

The basement exploded with cheers.

“Did you see that!?”

“Wait, is this kid actually gonna win?!”

Even the announcer stammered through the loudspeakers.

“Is this the moment, folks?! Will Skull Crusher taste defeat for the first time?!”

But Skull Crusher wasn’t done yet.

He rose again — slower now, angrier. His face twisted into a beastly glare as he charged in, slamming a brutal kick into Ren’s stomach.

The kind of kick that could take down a horse.

The crowd winced just watching it.

Ren hit the floor face-down, coughing, winded... but not broken. After a few seconds, he pushed himself up again.

More cheers. The whole room was on fire.

On the far side of the basement, a few figures watched quietly from the shadows. Familiar ones.

The thugs Ren had dealt with days ago. One of them pointed at the ring, whispering to the others.

“That’s the guy. Told you he wasn’t normal.”

“He’s gotta be using some kind of magic.”

“No way a kid like him takes that much punishment.”

Back in the ring, Skull Crusher rushed in again. Ren, still recovering, was on one knee when Skull Crusher got close, ready to knock his lights out — but with the last bit of strength he could muster, Ren lunged up and slammed his forehead into Skull Crusher’s chin from below.

The impact echoed.

Skull Crusher staggered backward, almost falling over. Blood dripped from the corner of his mouth.

Ren blinked in surprise.

So he can bleed...

His body wasn’t like Ren’s after all.

But with years of battle behind him, Skull Crusher rebounded — using the ropes of the ring for momentum — and lunged like a spring-loaded beast.

This time, his punch landed clean.

Ren collapsed instantly. The floor rattled under the weight of the hit. His head spun. For a few seconds, everything turned blurry. His body wouldn't move.

The referee began the count.

“One... two... three...”

By the time they reached ten, Ren was still down — not unconscious, but just too dizzy to get up.

The bell rang.

The basement erupted.

“Skull Crusher remains undefeated!” the announcer shouted, grabbing his massive arm and raising it high. “Is there anyone out there who can stop this monster?!”

Ren stayed on the floor, staring at the ceiling.

There was no pain.

No fear.

Just a quiet realization.

This body is strong… stronger than anything I ever imagined.

But strength alone isn’t enough.

Kazuma pulled Ren out of the ring, one arm slung over his shoulder.

"I almost thought you were gonna win, man," he said, half-laughing.

Ren groaned. "Bro... you did me dirty throwing me in there unprepared."

He tried to laugh too, but it came out somewhere between a wince and a wheeze.

Kazuma grinned. “But you held your own. That was something.”

Ren didn’t reply right away.

Then, slowly, with eyes still on the ring, he muttered, “But I know what I need to do now.”

Kazuma looked over. “Yeah? What’s that?”

Ren turned to him. “Will you teach me how to fight?”

That made Kazuma smile wide. “Now you’re talking, my man.”

He clapped Ren on the back. “Your body can take a beating. It’s the technique you lack.”

“I know.”

Ren looked back at the ring one last time — the crowd still buzzing, Skull Crusher still raising his arms in victory.

Next time.

He wouldn’t just stand there and take it.

He’d fight back — with everything he had.

To be continued...