The Kamogawa Gym buzzed with its usual energy, but the fighters inside were far from the same as they had been a month ago. The passage of time had sharpened everyone's skills, most notably Alex, Ippo, and Miyata.
For Alex, the journey of progressing the Gaolang template was both rewarding and frustrating. The higher his template proficiency climbed, the slower it progressed. After a grueling month of training, it had finally reached 4%, and the system continued to remind him that only real experience—sparring, fights, and practical application—would push it further.
System Panel[Template: Gaolang Wongsawat - Training Progression]Current Proficiency: 4%Experience Required for Next Threshold: Real Matches or Competitive Sparring
The reminder didn't bother Alex; if anything, it motivated him. It's supposed to be hard, he thought. If it were easy, he would've become invincible.Meanwhile, Ippo's progress was nothing short of meteoric. The timid fisherman had transformed into a gritty boxer, his punches carrying increasing weight and precision. Last week's sparring match between Ippo and Miyata had solidified a truth that neither wanted to admit out loud: they were rivals.
That match had everyone in the gym talking. Ippo had pushed Miyata harder than anyone expected. The turning point came when Ippo landed a devastating body shot—a crushing left hook to Miyata's ribs. The impact was enough to drop Miyata to his knees, the air rushing out of him in a gasp.
Miyata, ever the composed, took his standing eight-count before returning, eyes burning with fire. He countered with a sharp one-two combination that caught Ippo on the nose, leaving it bloodied.
The fight was relentless, both pushing their limits. When the match ended, it left the gym wondering.
"Did you see that?" one of the gym regulars had exclaimed afterward. "Ippo dropped Miyata with a body shot! That's insane! A few months in the gym and he's already that good."
"Yeah, but Miyata bloodied him up. What a war," another added.
Alex, leaning against the wall, had smirked through it all. The match didn't surprise him. He'd known at the beginning that Ippo had the raw power to knock someone like Miyata down. What intrigued him more was how Ippo would evolve next.
Alex sat on the bench, chuckling to himself as he recalled that match. His thoughts drifted to Ippo's potential and a particular move he was waiting to see.The Dempsey Roll.
Alex had read about it in the gym's boxing books and even caught glimpses of it in matches on old VHS tapes. He couldn't help but imagine Ippo developing that move, its devastating rhythm and unrelenting pressure.But what if I schooled him before he mastered it?
The thought made Alex excited. He pictured himself dodging every swing, flicking jabs at Ippo's nose, and maybe even tripping him up mid-spin just for the fun of it. It would be like Ricardo Martinez versus Ippo in the anime.
He laughed out loud at the thought, drawing a curious glance from Takamura, who was munching on a rice ball nearby.
"Oi, what's so funny?" Takamura asked, crumbs falling from his mouth.
Alex rolled his eyes. "Dream on, old man. I'm thinking of something."
"Thinking of what?" Takamura asked, curiously.
Alex grinned, leaning back against the bench. "You don't wanna know."
Takamura scoffed, waving him off. "Sure, kid. Whatever helps you sleep at night."
Over the month, Alex had settled into the gym's routines and relationships. Takamura's antics kept things light, often dragging Alex into playful banter. Kimura and Aoki, the gym's resident jokers, alternated between teasing Alex and being impressed by his rapid progress.
Despite the camaraderie, Alex remained focused. He trained harder than ever, pushing himself to outpace not just Ippo but anyone who dared to step into the ring with him.
The night before the sparring match between Ippo and Miyata, Alex had once again found himself in the cramped room he shared with Ippo. The dim light of the moon illuminated the space as he silently walked outside the house and imagined Takamura standing in front of him while doing shadow boxing.
Each punch was measured, but he was trying to see if he could dodge or even land a punch against Takamura.
"Faster jab.""Pivot sharper.""Reset your stance after the hook."By the time he finished, sweat dripped from his brow, and his muscles ached. Sigh, even in imagination, I couldn't land a single punch against Takamura.
Alex silently entered the house again and went to their room.As he climbed back into bed, careful not to wake Ippo, Alex stared at the ceiling, his mind racing. Just a little more…
The gym was alive with energy as usual, but the spotlight often fell on the trio of rookies: Alex, Ippo, and Miyata. Each day brought new lessons, and new moments that strengthened their bond as competitors.
While the rest of the gym members speculated if there was a limit to their potential.