Darno had only seen Na fight briefly back at reception. He remembered the guard's quick reactions, the sharpness in his movements, the heavy weight behind each punch. Na was clearly skilled, but the opponents he'd gone up against hadn't been enough to showcase his true ability. They had been low-ranking guards, inexperienced compared to the veterans that trained daily in Fortis.
That was why Darno had leaned over to his teammate, Brian, known among the group for his sheer size and steady composure, and told him to go all out. Darno didn't want the Fortis Group to embarrass themselves again. If he couldn't get revenge on that smug red-haired brat directly, then at the very least he could break down his guard.
Maybe that's the reason the kid acts so arrogant, Darno thought bitterly. Hiding behind his bodyguard. Let's see how cocky he looks after Na gets smashed into the mat.
The two men stepped forward onto a square of padded mats laid out across the floor. The mats were used for practicing slams and takedowns. In most real-life scenarios, Fortis guards weren't aiming to kill their opponents but to neutralize threats, pin them, and buy enough time for clients to escape to safety. The mats provided a practical training ring, and now, the stage for a test that would decide much more than just bragging rights.
Na glanced back toward Max before stepping onto the mat. His heavy brow furrowed. "I hope you're not sending me out here just to get beat up as punishment for earlier."
Max gave a dry laugh, crossing his arms as if he were entirely unconcerned. "Haha, I mean, if they beat you up it's a bonus. Watching you get roughed up might bring me a little joy. But if you win? That works too. Do what you want, and I'll play it by ear."
Na smirked faintly, shaking his head. That was the answer he'd been hoping for, permission to cut loose however he saw fit. He let out a quiet exhale and rolled his shoulders as he studied his opponent.
Several of the Fortis trainees circling the mat exchanged whispers. Even without seeing Na move, they could tell from his build and presence that he was dangerous. But many of them had backgrounds in the military or professional fighting circuits. They weren't used to being underestimated.
Na, however, came from a different world entirely. The Rejected Corps had been an unforgiving environment where every mistake could cost your life. These guards might have discipline, but compared to the underworld, their experiences were on another level entirely.
"Alright, begin!" Nesa's voice rang out, crisp and commanding.
Brian moved first. His stance was wide, arms raised, eyes locked on Na. He circled cautiously, testing for an opening. "Just to warn you," he muttered, voice carrying across the mat. "The two of us aren't the same. I'm a completely different animal."
Na didn't respond. He simply shifted with him, calm and watchful, waiting for the strike.
Then Brian lunged. Instead of going for the expected tackle, he snapped out a clean, sharp punch. It was sudden and fast, faster than Na had anticipated from a man of his size. The strike shot straight for Na's head.
Na tilted to the side, just narrowly avoiding the blow. Another punch followed, then another, Brian's fists flashing forward with crisp precision.
"Hey, not bad!" one of the watching guards shouted. "The big guy can actually dodge!"
"Careful, Brice, don't show us up! Remember, this is a competitor, we can't afford to lose!" another barked.
Urged on by the calls from his comrades, Brian's punches lost their form. He abandoned clean strikes for wild swings, his speed and strength surging with frustration.
And that was exactly what Na had been waiting for.
The moment Brian lunged with all his weight, Na stepped in. His fist shot forward, a perfect counter, and slammed directly into Brian's jaw.
The sound of the impact echoed across the hall like a gunshot.
Brian's momentum combined with Na's strike, doubling the force. His head snapped back violently, and in the same instant, his body crumpled. The massive man hit the mat with a heavy thud, unconscious before he even landed.
Gasps erupted around the room. A man of Brian's size, durable as he was, wasn't supposed to go down in a single hit. And yet here he was, out cold.
Na relaxed his stance, rolling his shoulder as if it had been nothing more than a warm-up.
Max chuckled, raising his voice just loud enough for the others to hear. "I told you, didn't I? My guard is strong. But if you really want to impress me, I'd like to see someone actually land a few hits on him."
Na's victory didn't discourage the Fortis members, it had the opposite effect. Instead of retreating, it lit a fire in their eyes. Murmurs rippled through the hall, voices overlapping.
"Let me try next! I'm ranked higher than Brice!"
"Don't worry, I'll handle it!"
The ranking system had already been explained to Max earlier. Every guard was tested and scored, their skill levels meticulously categorized. It was a way of marketing their "best of the best" image to clients. Max leaned back against the railing, eyes sharp. He wanted to see if those rankings meant anything, or if they were just for show.
Another guard stepped forward, leaner than Brian but quick on his feet, eyes burning with determination.
This time, Na didn't wait. The moment the signal to begin was given, he charged in. The guard snapped a kick into Na's ribs, a clean strike that would have left most men gasping.
Na took the hit without flinching. His body absorbed the blow, and in the same motion, he drove a heavy punch into the man's side. The strike landed hard, shaking the guard's core.
The man tried to counter, swinging desperately, but his strength faltered from the rib shot. Na followed up with a brutal uppercut to the chin, and the guard collapsed backward onto the mat, unconscious.
The hall fell silent for a moment, the second knockout in a row sinking in.
Max tilted his head toward Nesa, his tone flat but laced with sarcasm. "Is this really the best of the best? Because if so, I'm not exactly impressed."
Nesa's smile tightened, but she said nothing.
The tension finally snapped when one of the remaining guards shouted from the edge of the mat, anger and frustration in his voice.
"Hey, you red-haired brat! Enough standing on the sidelines and running your mouth! If you really want to see how strong we are, why don't you step into the ring yourself?"
The entire hall shifted, all eyes swinging to Max.